Ram Prakash Bambah (17 September 1925 – 26 May 2025) was an Indian mathematician working in

number theory Number theory is a branch of pure mathematics devoted primarily to the study of the integers and arithmetic functions. Number theorists study prime numbers as well as the properties of mathematical objects constructed from integers (for example ...

and

discrete geometry Discrete geometry and combinatorial geometry are branches of geometry that study combinatorial properties and constructive methods of discrete geometric objects. Most questions in discrete geometry involve finite or discrete sets of basic geom ...

Life and career

Bambah was born on 17 September 1925.Fellow profile
Indian Academy of Sciences, retrieved 14 March 2013. He earned a bachelor's degree from

Government College University, Lahore The Government College University (colloquially known as GCU; Punjabi, Urdu: ) is a public research university in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Founded as Government College, Lahore, in 1864 under British administration, it became a university i ...

, and a master's degree from the University of the Punjab, Lahore. He then went to England for his doctoral studies, earning his Ph.D. in 1950 from

St John's College, Cambridge St John's College, formally the College of St John the Evangelist in the University of Cambridge, is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge, founded by the House of Tudor, Tudor matriarch L ...

under the supervision of Louis J. Mordell. Returning to India, he became a reader at

Panjab University, Chandigarh Panjab University (PU) is an Indian collegiate public state university located in Chandigarh. Funded through both State and Union governments, it is considered a state university. It traces its origins to the University of the Punjab in Laho ...

, in 1952, and was promoted to professor there in 1957. Maintaining his position at Panjab University, he also held a position as professor at

Ohio State University The Ohio State University (Ohio State or OSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio, United States. A member of the University System of Ohio, it was founded in 1870. It is one ...

in the US from 1964 to 1969. He retired from Panjab University in 1993. He was president of the Indian Mathematical Society in 1969, and

vice chancellor A vice-chancellor (commonly called a VC) serves as the chief executive of a university in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya, other Commonwealth countr ...

of Panjab University from 1985 to 1991. Bambah died on 26 May 2025, at the age of 99.

Awards and honours

Bambah was elected to the

Indian National Science Academy The Indian National Science Academy (INSA) is a national academy in New Delhi New Delhi (; ) is the Capital city, capital of India and a part of the Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three b ...

in 1955.Fellow profile
,

, retrieved 14 March 2013. In 1979 he was awarded the Srinivasa Ramanujan Medal, and in 1974 was elected to the Indian Academy of Sciences. In 1988 he received the Aryabhata Medal of the Indian National Science Academy and the

Padma Bhushan The Padma Bhushan (IAST: ''Padma Bhūṣaṇa'', lit. 'Lotus Decoration') is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 Januar ...

award.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bambah, Ram Prakash 1925 births 2025 deaths 20th-century Indian mathematicians Indian number theorists Geometers Government College University, Lahore alumni University of the Punjab alumni Alumni of St John's College, Cambridge Ohio State University faculty Presidents of the Indian Mathematical Society Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in science & engineering