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N.R. Sen: Father of Indian Applied mathematics

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Abstract

Nikhilranjan Sen (1894–1963), popularly known as N.R. Sen, is known as the Father of Applied Mathematics and founder of the Calcutta School of Relativity Theory. He did Ph.D. in Berlin under the Nobel Laureate Max von Laue. In Berlin he came in contact with renowned physicists like Max Planck, Albert Einstein and their contemporaries. The present article, which is based on the primary sources, discusses the lesser known facts of his life, like the beginning of scientific career, background of his D.Sc. as well as Ph.D. theses, and detailed summary of his scientific works.

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Acknowledgements

SR is grateful to the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, India for providing Associateship Programme under which a part of this work was initiated. In this connection, he specially thanks to the Librarian of IUCAA Ms. Nirupama Bowdekar and all the staff there for helping in collection of several documents on Prof. N.R. Sen. With great pleasure, RS acknowledges Prof. Michael Komorek, University of Oldenburg, Germany for providing him research facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Government College of Engineering and Ceramic Technology, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700010, India

    Saibal Ray

  2. Satyabharati Vidyapith, Nabapally, Barasat, North 24 Parganas, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700126, India

    Utpal Mukhopadhyay

  3. Research Group - Physics Education and Science Communication, Physics Institute, University of Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany

    Rajinder Singh

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  1. Saibal Ray
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  3. Rajinder Singh
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Correspondence to Saibal Ray.

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Ray, S., Mukhopadhyay, U. & Singh, R. N.R. Sen: Father of Indian Applied mathematics. EPJ H 46, 1 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjh/s13129-021-00003-y

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