One of the best-known names in Pune is an accomplished mathematician, teacher, and science educator Mrs. Mangala Narlikar who suffering from cancer died in the early hours of Monday.
She was also recognized as the wife of Jayant Narlikar who is the founder and director of the Pune-based Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA)
Early Life of Mrs. Narlikar
Mangala Narlikar was born in Mumbai. She achieved a degree in Masters in Mathematics from Mumbai University with first rank, an achievement that made her the recipient of the chancellor’s gold medal.
Mangala Narlikar was working initially with the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai before working as a lecturer at Mumbai and Pune universities.
Mangala Narlikar’s crucial fields of interest were real and complex analysis, analytic geometry, algebra and topology, and number theory.
Life Journey of Mangala Narlikar
Mangala and her husband Mr. Jayant Narlikar moved to Cambridge, England. According to a report from Indian Express Mangala wrote“Fortunately, my husband respected my wish to study Mathematics although he too did not wish me to prioritize career over family.”
In Cambridge, she supervised some undergrad students and attended a few graduate lecture courses. As she had two daughters full-time research remained difficult for her.
When Mangala and Jayant returned to Mumbai in 1972, Mangala was able to restart her interest in mathematics and she published several academic papers mainly with number theory and analytic theory.
Mangala contributed to the revision of the Math syllabus for school students and was an adherent of wisdom and scientific attitude.
Mangala Narlikar also wrote books on introductory mathematics and enjoyed teaching math to those who were afraid of it.
Mangala and her husband Jayant moved to Pune in 1980 where Jayant became the founder-director of the Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics IUCAA.
IUCAA is now progressed into one of the finest research institutions in the country.
Mangala Narlikar Colleagues
Vice-Chancellor of Ashoka University and former director of IUCAA Somak Raychaudhuri said “ Her death is shattering news. I knew her since the mid-1980s long before our IUCAA days. She was foremost an intelligent witty academic, but without intending to, she had a motherly presence over the whole institute. She has been a constant source of inspiration and wisdom.”
In an interview with The Indian Express, Srianand said “Dr. Mangala was a multi-faceted personality and strong supporter of women in science. She had such a positive personality. We are going to miss her.
Image credit: The Indian Express