>Citation bot at 14:36, 17 March 2021

2021-03-17T14:36:18Z

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'''A. R. Rao''' (23 September 1908 – 4 April 2011) was a twentieth century [[Indian people|Indian]] [[mathematician]] who popularized maths among youngsters.<ref name="book">{{cite book|title=Glorious innings of Prof. A.R.Rao|date=23 September 2008|publisher=Vikram Sarabhai Community Science Centre|location=Ahmedabad|url=http://www.vascsc.org/images/pdfs/Glorious-Innings-of-Prof.A-R-Rao.pdf|access-date=21 March 2018}}</ref>

==Life==
Rao was born on 23 September 1908 in [[Salem district]]. He studied B. Sc. from [[Presidency College, Chennai|Presidency College, Madras]] and M. Sc. from [[Wilson College, Mumbai|Wilson College, Bombay]]. He joined Bahauddin College, [[Junagadh]] as a [[professor]] and made [[Gujarat]] his residence. After teaching for 27 years in Junagadh, he was transferred to [[Gujarat College]], [[Ahmedabad]]. In 1964, he was appointed as a principal of Sir P. P. Institute of Science, [[Bhavnagar]] and he retired from it in 1976.{{fact|date=August 2020}}

After his retirement from active academics, Rao joined the newly formed [[Vikram A. Sarabhai Community Science Centre]] (VASCSC) in Ahmedabad as head of the mathematics department. Here, I began to explore methods on popularizing maths through fun workshops and toys. He lived in Ahmedabad with his family, most of which continues to live in Ahmedabad and Thane.<ref name=GV>{{cite book|title=ગુજરાતી વિશ્વકોશ(Gujarati Encyclopedia)|language=gu|volume=18|page=847|last=Vasavada|first=Mahavir|publisher=Gujarat Vishwakosh Trust|editor=[[Dhirubhai Thaker]]|date=January 2004|place=Ahmedabad |oclc=552367195}}</ref>
Rao was interested in education, research, experimentation, problem solving and popularizing mathematics among the masses. He pioneered a mathematical laboratory at the Sarabhai center (posthumously renamed in his memory) in Ahmedabad. Here, he designed models and experiments to teach mathematics. He was also active in attempts to popularize mathematics in the state and in academics, and prepared students to participate in [[International Mathematical Olympiad]] .<ref name=GV/>

Rao has written a number of books including ''Brain Sharpners'', a book on mathematical puzzles.<ref name="Hattangadi 2016">{{cite book | last=Hattangadi | first=A.A. | title=Explorations in Mathematics | date=6 October 2016 | isbn=9788173713873 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gS1ZrOEAmswC | access-date=16 October 2016}}</ref>

He remained active till January 2011 and died at the age of 103 years on 22 October 2011 following a heart attack.<ref name="admin 2011">{{cite web | author=admin | title=Eminent mathematician Prof Rao dies at 103 | website=Gujarat Global | date=22 October 2011 | url=http://www.gujaratglobal.com/eminent-mathematician-prof-rao-dies-at-103/ | access-date=16 October 2016}}</ref>

==Recognition==
He had received the national award from the Department of Science and Technology, [[Government of India]]. He was felicitated by National Board for Higher Mathematics, Indian Mathematical Association and Gujarat Ganit Mandal and received a prize of recognition from the President of India as well as the then Chief Minister of Gujarat [[Narendra Modi]]. The Gujarat Ganit Mandal has produced a documentary on him.<ref name=GV/>

==References==
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[[Category:1908 births]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian centenarians]]
[[Category:Scientists from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:People from Salem district]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian mathematicians]]

A. R. Rao - Revision history

>Citation bot at 14:36, 17 March 2021