1.1. The Indian Academy of Sciences.

The Indian Academy of Sciences (IAS) was founded and registered as a society in 1934 with the aim of promoting the progress and upholding the cause of science, in both pure and applied branches. It strives to meet its objectives through promotion of original research and dissemination of scientific knowledge to the community via meetings, discussions, seminars, symposia and publications.

The Academy was founded in 1934 by Professor C V Raman (Nobel Laureate) and was registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act of 1860, on 27 April 1934. The formal inauguration took place on 31 July 1934 with 65 Founding Fellows. On the same day, the first general meeting of Fellows was held at which C V Raman was elected its President, and the draft constitution of the Academy was approved and adopted. The first issue of the Academy "Proceedings" appeared in two sections in July 1934. Since then, the "Proceedings" were split into theme journals and several new ones added.

1.2. M S Raghunathan elected a fellow of the IAS.

M S Raghunathan was elected a fellow of the IAS in 1975. The IAS website gives (in May 2026) the following information about M S Raghunathan:

Specialisation: Lie Groups, Algebraic Groups, Discontinuous Groups.

Service in the IAS Council: Member, 1984-1986.

Summary: Madabusi Santanam Raghunathan obtained BA (Hons) (Mathematics) (1960) from University of Madras. Thereafter, he joined Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai as Research Assistant and obtained PhD (Mathematics) (1966) from the University of Bombay. He then joined TIFR as Associate Professor (1966) and continued to work there till his retirement. He is currently Professor of Eminence (2006- ) as DAE-Homi Bhabha Chair Professor at TIFR.

Academic and Research Achievements: Raghunathan has made pioneering contributions in the area of algebraic groups and their discrete subgroups and is regarded as one of the leading researchers who have influenced development in the field. His work on the cohomology of arithmetic groups, congruence subgroup problem and contributions to the study of principal bundles in affine algebraic geometry are specially noteworthy. He has mentored about 10 students for their PhD.

Other Contributions: Raghunathan has been involved in the promotion of higher mathematics in the country. As Chairman of the National Board for Higher mathematics (1987-2006), he initiated many programmes and projects for the development of mathematics. He was Member of the Executive Committee of the International Mathematical Union (1998-2006). As Chairman of the Governing Council of Harish Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad, he played a key role in its growth.

2.1. The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize.

The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prizes are named after the founder of the Indian Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, and is known as the 'Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology'. The Prize is given each year for outstanding Indian contributions to science and technology. Recipients of the Prize must be no older than forty-five. Prizes are awarded in each of the following disciplines: (i) Biological Sciences, (ii) Chemical Sciences, (iii) Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, (iv) Engineering Sciences, (v) Mathematical Sciences, (vi) Medical Sciences and (vii) Physical Sciences. The Mathematical Science prize was first awarded in 1959.

2.2. M S Raghunathan awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize.

M S Raghunathan was awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in 1977 in the discipline of Mathematical Sciences. His specialisation is given as Lie Groups and Algebraic Groups. The Award Citation reads as follows:

Dr Raghunathan has made advancements in the area of Lie groups, particularly discrete subgroups of Lie groups. In his earlier work he proved the rigidity of "non-uniform" arithmetic lattices connected with Selberg's conjecture. Later, he essentially solved Selberg's conjecture for non-uniform lattices before the complete solution of the conjecture by G A Margulis. Through his recent work he has made significant contributions to Serre's conjecture on the "Congruence Subgroup Problem" and generalisations of Quillen's solution of Serre's problem on vector bundles on the affine space.

3.1. The National Academy of Sciences (India), Allahabad.

The National Academy of Sciences of India (NASI), Allahabad was established in 1930, for cultivation and promotion of Science and Technology in all its branches, providing a national forum for publication of research work, holding symposia/seminars on scientific topics of national relevance, organising a Science Library including students section for students of plus two level, organising meetings and discussions on scientific and technological problems, promoting scientific and technological research concerned with the problems of national welfare. The research journal and proceedings of the academy are being published regularly in two sections covering Physical Sciences and Biological Sciences. The Academy also publishes a monthly research journal, "National Academy Science Letters".

3.2. M S Raghunathan elected a fellow of the NASI.

M S Raghunathan was elected a fellow of the National Academy of Sciences (India) in 1989. His specialisation is given as Mathematical Sciences: Lie Groups & Algebraic Groups.

4.1. The TWAS Awards.

We note that the TWAS was originally Third World Academy of Science but is now known as The World Academy of Science. The TWAS Awards (previously called 'TWAS Prizes') are awarded to individual scientists from developing countries in recognition of an outstanding contribution to scientific knowledge in nine fields of sciences and/or to the application of science and technology to sustainable development. The nine fields are: Agriculture, Nutrition & Food Systems Sciences; Biological Sciences; Chemical Sciences; Earth, Climate & Environmental Sciences; Engineering & Computer Sciences; Mathematical Sciences; Medical & Health Sciences; Physics, Astronomy & Space Sciences; Social Sciences. Each award is accompanied by a plaque. Awards are usually presented on a special occasion, often coinciding with the General Meeting of TWAS.

4.2. M S Raghunathan awarded the TWAS Prize in Mathematics.

Madabusi S Raghunathan, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay, India, was awarded the TWAS Prize in Mathematics in 1991 for his fundamental contributions to the theory of discontinuous groups and algebraic groups, and in particular for his work on cohomology of arithmetic groups, the congruence subgroup problem and principal bundles which constitute substantial progress in these areas.

5.1. The Srinivasa Ramanujan Medal.

The Srinivasa Ramanujan Medal, established by the Indian National Science Academy in 1961, recognises outstanding contributions in the mathematical sciences and is open to scientists of Indian origin or those working in India. It is, of course, name for the remarkable Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. It was first awarded in 1962 to Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar and was awarded ever second year except 1970 and 1976. Beginning in 1979, it was awarded ever third year, again with a few exceptions. The winner is presented with a Silver Plated Medal.

5.2 M S Raghunathan awarded the Srinivasa Ramanujan Medal.

M S Raghunathan was awarded the Srinivasa Ramanujan Medal in 1991 from the Indian National Science Academy:

For his outstanding contributions to the theory of algebraic groups, discrete subgroups of Lie groups and the congruence subgroup problem.

6.1. M S Raghunathan elected a fellow of TWAS.

M S Raghunathan was elected a fellow of TWAS in 1994. The TWAS website gives (in May 2026) the following information about M S Raghunathan:

Raghunathan is Distinguished Guest Professor and Head, National Centre for Mathematics at IIT-Bombay, Mumbai, India. He obtained his PhD in mathematics from the University of Mumbai in 1966 and was appointed associate professor at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research the same year. His awards include: the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in Mathematics; Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India, 1977; TWAS Prize for Mathematics, 1991; and the 1991 Srinivas Ramanujan Medal, Indian National Science Academy (INSA) He is a fellow of INSA, Delhi, the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore, and the Royal Society, UK. He has been awarded (2012) the Padma Bhushan award for Science and Engineering, a high civilian award by the Government of India.

7.1. The Royal Society of London.

In the mid-17th century, informal gatherings of London- and Oxford-based intellectuals coalesced to form a chartered organisation. Its name would be The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge.

From its first meeting, on 28 November 1660, following a lecture by the Professor of Astronomy at Gresham College in London, Christopher Wren, the new Fellowship would concern itself with natural philosophy – what we would now term science. Wren considered that it should act to transform knowledge, profit, and health and the conveniences of life. The Royal Society would gather information by correspondence, but its Fellows would also observe the natural world, conduct experiments, discuss their outcomes, and eventually publish the results.

The Royal Society's motto 'Nullius in verba' was adopted in its First Charter in 1662. is taken to mean 'take nobody's word for it'. It is an expression of the determination of Fellows to withstand the domination of authority and to verify all statements by an appeal to facts determined by experiment.

7.2. M S Raghunathan elected a fellow of the Royal Society.

M S Raghunathan was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 2020. The citation given on the Fellows Directory reads:-

Madabusi Raghunathan has made fundamental contributions to the field of discrete subgroups of Lie groups, an area which has deep connections with geometry and number theory. He is a leading figure in this field, which has witnessed remarkable progress in the past few decades. His work on the cohomology, rigidity and arithmeticity of discrete groups, as well as his work on the congruence subgroup problem, are among his contributions which have advanced this field. His conjecture on the unipotent flows on homogenous spaces has had far-reaching consequences in number theory and was a catalyst to major progress in this area.

7.3. S G Dani writes Recognition for a mathematician.

M S Raghunathan joins the select band of Indian mathematicians elected Fellows of the Royal Society, London.

On 14 July 2000, one more Indian mathematician affixed his signature to the Register of the Royal Society, London, a parchment book which also bears the signatures of Sir Isaac Newton and many other eminent names in science: Professor M S Raghunathan, of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai. Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society this year, he joins the rank of distinguished Indian mathematicians, the legendary Srinivasa Ramanujan, Harish-Chandra, C S Seshadri, M S Narasimhan and S R S Varadhan, who have received this coveted recognition.

It is tempting to mention here that the signing in as Fellow takes place at a distinctive function with a traditional flourish on the premises of the Society at Carlton House Terrace in London, and the signatures are affixed with a traditional quill, furnished with a nib that one dips in an ink-pot. A rehearsal is held before the ceremony for the Fellows to practise affixing their signature on parchment. For Raghunathan the recognition (which many in the profession considered long overdue) comes in the wake of a long list of honours, such as the Third World Academy Prize, fellowships of several academies including the Third World Academy (based at Trieste, Italy), the Srinivasa Ramanujan Medal of the Indian National Science Academy, the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize and others. Raghunathan has also had the distinction of being invited to give a talk at the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) when he was only 29. The ICMs, held once in four years at different centres around the world, are of highest significance to the mathematical community and play an important role in the shaping of mathematics as a continuing discipline. Mathematicians covet being invited to give a talk at the Congress, and only about a dozen mathematicians from India have been invited to give such talks, to all the Congresses together. Raghunathan was invited to give a talk on his work at the Congress held at Nice in 1970, and was one of the first few to represent India in the forum. The rather unique book, A Panorama of Pure Mathematics, was published by French mathematician Jean Dieudonné in 1977 (the English translation of the original French version appeared in 1982), recounting important results from various areas of pure mathematics, based on the choice of the well-known Bourbaki group in France, in just about 300 pages. Raghunathan was one of the few Indian mathematicians named in the book for having made substantial contributions, though he was still in his mid-thirties when the book was published.

Personally, however, what Raghunathan finds most gratifying is a reference in an interview given by eminent physicist and Nobel laureate, Professor S Chandrasekhar, which he noticed most unexpectedly, in The Times of India dated 18 November 1984. The reference ran like this: "On the Faculty of TIFR now, just to mention one name, Raghunathan - he is considered by everyone outside as one of the best mathematical intellects." Professor Chandrasekhar was making a point about what India has been able to achieve in research, and it is apt that Raghunathan's name came to his mind in that respect.

8.1. The Padma Awards.

The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. The Awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service). The award seeks to recognise works of distinction and is given for distinguished and exceptional achievements/service in all fields of activities/disciplines. The awards are presented by the President of India usually in the month of March/April every year where the awardees are presented a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion. The recipients are also given a small replica of the medallion, which they can wear during any ceremonial/State functions etc., if the awardees so desire. The names of the awardees are published in the Gazette of India on the day of the presentation ceremony.

8.2. M S Raghunathan awarded the Padma Shri.

The Government of India conferred the Padma Shri upon Raghunathan in 2001 for his distinguished service in science and engineering. This fourth-highest civilian honour recognises his significant impact on Indian mathematics.

9.1. The Aryabhata Medal.

The Aryabhata Medal is presented by the Indian National Science Academy. Established in 1977, and generally awarded every three years, the Aryabhata Medal is awarded to eminent Indian scientists who have outstanding lifetime achievements in any branch of science and technology. Recipients are invited to deliver the Aryabhata Medal Lecture detailing their achievements.

9.2. M S Raghunathan awarded the Aryabhata Medal.

M S Raghunathan was awarded the Aryabhata Medal for his groundbreaking work in the geometry of discrete subgroups of Lie groups. While designated as the 2006 Aryabhata Medal, the formal award ceremony and subsequent lecture were hosted at the beginning of January 2007 during INSA's annual general meeting. Raghunathan delivered the Aryabhata Medal Lecture entitled The Concept of Space in Mathematics: From Geometry to Topology on 2 January 2007.

10.1. M S Raghunathan welcomes participants.

M S Raghunathan, Chairman of the Executive Organising Committee addressed the Opening Ceremony on 19 August 2010. Here is an extract from his speech:

It gives me great pleasure to extend to you all a warm welcome to this inaugural function. We are grateful to the honourable President of India for kindly agreeing to be the Chief Guest and to inaugurate this function today. We are also greatly honoured by the presence of the Honourable Governor, Shri E S L Narasimhan and the Honourable Chief Minister, Shri K Rosaiah on this occasion. I extend them all a warm welcome.

The International Congress of Mathematicians has more than a hundred year old history and it is, by far, the most important, prestigious and biggest international gathering of mathematicians, which takes place once every four years. It is for the first time that India is hosting this event. It is, thus, a really historic landmark in the annals of Indian mathematics. On behalf of the Indian mathematical community, I would like to thank the International Mathematical Union for giving us this opportunity to hold this Congress and welcome mathematicians from all over the world to India, and to Hyderabad, the venue of the Congress. This is really a great opportunity for the Indian community to interact with the finest mathematical minds from all over the world, an opportunity which we are very grateful for.

10.2. M S Raghunathan gives his closing comments.

I am very happy to welcome you all to this closing function of the ICM 2010. It has been a great experience organising this. As you all know, it is a collaborative effort of the International Mathematical Union and the Local Organising Committee. I must add to that the University of Hyderabad, whose Vice Chancellor is present here today. The University of Hyderabad has extended every possible help to us. Many of their staff have worked hard for this Congress. As I said, the IMU and the Local Organising Committee are partners in this effort, and I have had a very enjoyable collaboration with the IMU Executive Committee. Despite the fact that I am a somewhat laid-back person and the Secretary personifies all thoroughness and efficiency, we did work together very well. And I am very thankful to the EC for their support. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the prize winners who will be felicitated today and awarded their prizes today: Professor R C Gupta for his work on history of mathematics, and Dr Simon Singh for his work on public outreach for mathematics.

11.1. M S Raghunathan awarded the Padma Bhushan.

The Padma Bhushan Award is described in 8.1. above. M S Raghunathan received the award for Science and Engineering in 2012. He was presented with the award by the President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, at an Investiture Ceremony-II, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on 4 April 2012.

Raghunathan has made pioneering contributions in the area of algebraic groups and their discrete subgroups and is regarded as one of the leading researchers who have influenced development in the field. His work on the cohomology of arithmetic groups, congruence subgroup problem and contributions to the study of principal bundles in affine algebraic geometry are specially noteworthy. He has mentored about 10 students for their PhD. Raghunathan has been involved in the promotion of higher mathematics in the country. As Chairman of the National Board for Higher mathematics (1987-2006), he initiated many programmes and projects for the development of mathematics. He was Member of the Executive Committee of the International Mathematical Union (1998-2006). As Chairman of the Governing Council of Harish Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad, he played a key role in its growth.