Raj Chandra Bose, an illustrious Indian American mathematician, left an indelible mark on the realms of design theory, finite geometry, and error-correcting codes. Born on June 19, 1901, in Hoshangabad, India, Bose’s journey is a testament to resilience, brilliance, and unwavering passion for mathematical exploration.
Early Life of Raj Chandra Bose
Bose’s early life was marked by tragedy when, in 1918, he lost both his parents to the influenza pandemic. Undeterred, he pursued his education with tenacity, securing first-class honors in both Pure and Applied Mathematics during his master’s studies at the University of Calcutta.
Despite facing adversity, he continued his academic pursuits, delving into the intricate world of geometry under the guidance of Professor Syamadas Mukhopadhyaya.
Academic Life
Raj Chandra Bose’s academic trajectory took an unexpected turn in December 1932 when P. C. Mahalanobis offered him a part-time position at the newly established Indian Statistical Institute.
Initially unfamiliar with statistics, Bose embraced the challenge, immersing himself in extensive readings, including Ronald Fisher’s Statistical Methods for Research Workers. Collaborating with Samarendra Nath Roy, Bose became the chief mathematician at the Institute, setting the stage for his groundbreaking work.
Research and Discoveries
Raj Chandra Bose’s pivotal shift into statistics paved the way for significant contributions. In collaboration with Mahalanobis and Roy, he explored multivariate analysis.
During Fisher’s visit in 1938–9, Bose delved into the design of experiments, incorporating finite fields and finite geometry. This marked the beginning of his extensive work on the mathematical theory of design, which became his primary focus until the mid-1950s.
Academic Achievements
In 1940, Raj Chandra Bose joined the University of Calcutta, teaching future luminaries such as C. R. Rao and H. K. Nandi. Despite lacking a formal doctorate, Bose’s prolific published papers on multivariate analysis and experimental design earned him a D. Litt. in 1947.
Subsequently, he ventured to the United States, contributing significantly to coding theory and disproving Euler’s conjecture on Latin squares alongside S. S. Shrikhande and E. T. Parker.
Later Years and Legacy
Raj Chandra Bose’s academic journey led him to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1949, where he continued to make groundbreaking discoveries. He retired in 1971 but accepted a chair at Colorado State University, retiring for the final time in 1980. Raj Chandra Bose passed away in Colorado in 1987, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations of mathematicians.
Noteworthy Publications
R. C. Bose’s impactful contributions are encapsulated in several seminal articles, including “On the construction of balanced incomplete block designs” (1939), “Partially balanced incomplete block designs” (1939), and “On linear associative algebras corresponding to association schemes of partially balanced designs” (1959).
Autobiography
In the autobiographical compilation “The Making of Statisticians” (1982), edited by J. Gani, Bose provides a firsthand account of his remarkable life, offering insights into the challenges and triumphs that shaped his journey.
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