1. THE CRUSADER OF ISHM
Professor B S Yadav spearheaded the activities of ISHM for almost three decades.
Born in Mathura, India, he dedicated his whole life to the
cause of mathematics and history of mathematical
sciences. After obtaining his B Sc (1953) and M Sc
(1957) degrees from Agra University and Aligarh
Muslim University, respectively, he pursued research in
mathematics at M S University, Baroda, for which he
was awarded Ph.D. in 1965. Through his extended
research career he made significant contributions to
Functional Analysis, Operator Theory, Fourier Analysis
and studies in History of Mathematics. His teaching
career started at M. S. University, Baroda (Lecturer,
1956-1964). He then moved to Sardar Patel University,
Vallabh Vidya Nagar, Gujarat (Reader, 1964-1970), and (31.07.1931 – 24.02.2010)
later to Delhi University (Reader, 1970-1976 & Professor
1976-1996). He played an influential role at various universities and Indian boards of
studies. Besides serving on numerous important committees such as Academic Council
and Research Degree Committee, he worked also as Head of the Department of
Mathematics and as Dean of the Faculty of Mathematical Sciences in Delhi University
for several years. He was widely traveled, with over 25 visits to various universities
abroad, and was a Visiting Professor of Mathematics at Cleveland State University,
Cleveland, Ohio, USA during 1987-1988. He was associated with several academic
bodies and research journals. He was a founder member of the Indian Society for History
of Mathematics, founded by his guide and mentor late Professor Udita Narayana Singh
in 1978. He was deeply emotionally involved with this Society and was the main driving
force behind its activities for over two decades. He served the Society as its
Administrative Secretary over a long period and was the Editor of the Society’s bulletin
Gaņita Bhāratī in recent years. His tireless efforts contributed a good deal in creating a
new awareness in the study and research in history of mathematics in the Indian context.
He inspired many, young and old, to enter into new ventures in the study of ancient,
medieval and modern history of mathematics. He continued to be engaged with
mathematics to his last breath.
B S Yadav was an organizer par excellence. He organized many national and
international conferences, seminars and workshops. He always encouraged the
publication of their proceedings and had been anxiously awaiting an early release of his
two edited volumes till his last but the cruel hands of destiny did not allow the fulfillment
of his wish.