Eminent mathematician Dr Mangala Narlikar dies at 80

Dr Mangala Narlikar carried out research in pure mathematics. She initially worked at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai before joining as a lecturer at Bombay and Pune universities. Her core fields of interest were real and complex analysis, analytic geometry, number theory, algebra and topology.

Arvind Paranjpye, director of Nehru Planetarium, Mumbai, said Dr Mangala’s death was a huge loss for India’s scientific community. “On behalf of the academic and scientific outreach fraternity in India, I extend my deepest condolences to Dr Jayant Narlikar and his family on the passing of Dr Mangala Narlikar. She dedicated her life to teaching mathematics and science in India. She has written several books for school students on mathematics in English, Hindi and Marathi,” he said.

Eminent astrophysicist Prof Jayant Narlikar felicitated at a function held to celebrate his 80th birthday at IUCAA. (Express photo by Pavan Khengre)

“Alongside teaching, she also dedicated time for scientific outreach across the entire nation. In Pune, she used to teach mathematics to school and college students and is remembered by generations of students who learned from her. It is a huge loss for the mathematics and scientific community of India and her home state of Maharashtra. In this difficult moment, we stand in solidarity with the Narlikar family,” he added.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Srianand said Dr Mangala was a multi-faceted personality and a strong supporter of women in science. “She had such a positive personality. We are going to miss her.”

The Narlikars have three daughters, Geeta, Girija and Leelavati.