National Statistics Day: Here is how P C Mahalanobis dabbled with computing in early 20th century
September 27, 2023
  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • North America
    • South America
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • G20
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • International
  • More
    • Sports
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • Politics
    • Vocal4Local
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Law
    • Health
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
MAGAZINE
No Result
View All Result
  • ‌
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • North America
    • South America
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • G20
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • International
  • More
    • Sports
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • Politics
    • Vocal4Local
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Law
    • Health
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • G20
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Culture
  • Defence
  • International Edition
  • RSS in News
  • Magazine
Home Bharat

National Statistics Day: Here is how P C Mahalanobis dabbled with computing in early 20th century

June 29 marks the 130th birth anniversary of Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, the father of Indian statistics

by Dinesh C Sharma
Jun 29, 2023, 09:00 am IST
in Bharat, Sci & Tech
FacebookTwitterWhatsAppTelegramEmail

We are all familiar with number crunching, data mining and the use of supercomputers today. How did people handle large calculations before the advent of modern computers? They simply employed people who could compute or calculate. Such persons were called ‘human computers.’ Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis was among the earliest Indians to have employed ‘human computers’ in his pursuit of statistical studies in the early twentieth century.

Mahalanobis is well known for being the founder of the discipline of statistics in India, economic planning and for organization of science but his pioneering role in nurturing another branch of science – computing – is less known though it was equally far reaching.

The physicist-turned-statistician, in fact, played a key role in the advent of design, development and use of modern computing machines in India. His work in computing precedes the efforts of Homi Jehangir Bhabha who also needed modern computers for research relating to atomic reactors. Mahalanobis’ contributions led to development of capacity and skills in computing necessary for statistical research and applications.

From using human computers in 1920s, Mahalanobis graduated to mechanical calculating devices. Much before he founded the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Kolkata in 1931, he had installed a mechanical tabulator at his own expense at his home to help him in statistical calculations. Mahalanobis was the first Indian to have recognized the importance of using tabulating machines for scientific work. Once ISI was established, he introduced the use of mechanical desk calculators.

Having realised the importance of mechanical calculating and tabulating devices, including unit record machines, Mahalanobis wanted to start local assembly and manufacturing of such equipment because it was difficult to import. This led to establishment of the Indian Calculating Machine and Scientific Instrument Research Society by Mahalanobis in September 1943. ISI by now had a full-fledged workshop for repair and maintenance of calculators.

In 1950, Mahalanobis consolidated computing related activities under the umbrella of an Electronic Computer Laboratory at ISI, with the objective of taking the next logical step – development of an electronic computer. He engaged Samarendra Kumar Mitra and Soumyendra Mohan Bose to design and fabricate an analogue computer which could solve linear equations required for regression analysis. Importing components was still a difficult task, so Mitra and Bose had to look for used and discarded parts from junkyards in the city. The result of this effort was India’s first ‘analogue electronic computer’ in 1953. The invention was announced in scientific journals and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited ISI to see the achievement in December 1953.

While building indigenous capacity in computing, Mahalanobis stayed in touch with contemporary technologies and scientists working in this field globally. He visited the Harvard Mathematical Laboratory met John von Neumann and Howard H Aiken who were working on electronic computers. He was in touch with John Desmond Bernal, a professor of physics and crystallography at Birkbeck College, then working with Donald Booth, another pioneer in electronic computing.

Such friendship with leading scientists resulted in ISI acquiring some of the newest computers, such as the Hollerith Electronic Computer (HEC-2M) designed by Booth for British Tabulating Company. Just a handful of such machines were sold globally, and the one at ISI was Asia’s first in 1955. In 1958, Mahalanobis used his connections with the Soviet Science Academy to get another large computer – Ural – funded under the United Nations Trade Assistance Programme.

A high point of ISI’s contributions to computing was development of a second generation, transistor-based computer. jointly by ISI and Jadavapur University. It was named ISIJU-1 and was built with inputs from N C Metropolis, who had worked with John von Neumann in electronic computers research for the U.S. Defense Department. Metropolis suggested incorporating ‘significant digit arithmetic’ (SDA) in the hardware design of the computer. The machine was commissioned in 1966 at Jadavpur University.

Mahalanobis wanted to take the computer development activities at ISI to its logical next stage – large scale commercial manufacturing. For this, he had set up a company called Sankhya Yantra Private Limited in the ISI campus. But the First ISI Review Committee – chaired by Humayun Kabir – shot down the idea in 1966 saying it did not form a legitimate activity of the institute. The committee felt that large scale manufacturing activity would retard the work of the institute in its core areas. The unit was closed down and its assets transferred to the Garden Reach Workshop.

(India Science Wire)

Topics: Indian Statistical Institutebirth anniversaryNational Statistics DayFather of Indian StatisticsP C MahalanobisPrasanta Chandra MahalanobisHomi Jehangir BhabhaStatistics
Share1TweetSendShareSend
Previous News

Biological Terrorism: China engineered Covid-19 “bioweapon” to purposely infect people, reveals Wuhan researcher

Next News

Bihar: Amit Shah to address rally in Bihar’s Lakhisarai today, days after Opposition meeting in Patna

Related News

Birth Anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya: The unheard story of a nationalist, social reformer and writer

Birth Anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya: The unheard story of a nationalist, social reformer and writer

PM Modi remembers PV Narasimha Rao, says his “far-sighted leadership was noteworthy”

PM Modi remembers PV Narasimha Rao, says his “far-sighted leadership was noteworthy”

Harbinger of Equality with Fraternity: Remembering RSS third Sarsanghchalak Balasaheb Deoras on his death anniversary

Harbinger of Equality with Fraternity: Remembering RSS third Sarsanghchalak Balasaheb Deoras on his death anniversary

Bhagwan Birsa Munda: The Freedom fighter who fought against the British and missionaries

Bhagwan Birsa Munda: The Freedom fighter who fought against the British and missionaries

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar visits family of Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi in Kashi on his birth anniversary

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar visits family of Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi in Kashi on his birth anniversary

Here is how Prime Minister Narendra Modi established Oct 31 as Rashtriya Ekta Divas and Statue of Unity as its venue

Here is how Prime Minister Narendra Modi established Oct 31 as Rashtriya Ekta Divas and Statue of Unity as its venue

Load More

Comments

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Organiser. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.

Latest News

India ageing report 2023 unveils insights into elderly care challenges and solutions

India ageing report 2023 unveils insights into elderly care challenges and solutions

Minor Rape

Maharashtra Shocker: Eight-year-old raped by 53-year-old in Mumbai’s Jogeshwari area

Tamil Nadu: High level VHP delegation meet TN Governor and submits a memorandum on Sanatan row

Tamil Nadu: High level VHP delegation meet TN Governor and submits a memorandum on Sanatan row

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor cooperation faces hurdles in energy, infrastructure projects: Report

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor cooperation faces hurdles in energy, infrastructure projects: Report

Uttar Pradesh: Minor attempted suicide after being harassed by Mohd Afzal during Ganpati Visarjan 

Uttar Pradesh: Minor attempted suicide after being harassed by Mohd Afzal during Ganpati Visarjan 

How Industry 4.0 will be a game changer for Bharat

How Industry 4.0 will be a game changer for Bharat

Pakistan’s ISI responsible for ‘killing’ of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, rift in Indo-Canadian ties: Sources

Pakistan’s ISI responsible for ‘killing’ of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, rift in Indo-Canadian ties: Sources

Marxist Dravidianism: A troubled legacy

Marxist Dravidianism: A troubled legacy

Telangana: Dalit woman dies after assault by ex-boyfriend Mohd Imran; police ruled out communal angle

Telangana: Dalit woman dies after assault by ex-boyfriend Mohd Imran; police ruled out communal angle

Pragjyotishpur Literature Fest: Exploring North-East  through lenses of culture, history, and ethos

Pragjyotishpur Literature Fest: Exploring North-East through lenses of culture, history, and ethos

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Cookie Policy
  • Refund and Cancellation
  • Delivery and Shipping

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • North America
    • South America
    • Europe
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Defence
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Business
  • RSS in News
  • Entertainment
  • More ..
    • Sci & Tech
    • Vocal4Local
    • Special Report
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Politics
    • Law
    • Economy
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
  • Subscribe Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Circulation
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Policies & Terms
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Refund and Cancellation
    • Terms of Use

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies