Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis: The Architect of Modern Statistics

Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis (1893–1972), a pioneering statistician, profoundly influenced modern India’s statistical landscape. Born on June 29, 1893, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Mahalanobis emerged from an educated Bengali family in Dhaka, Bengal Presidency, now part of Bangladesh. His early education at Brahmo Boys School laid the foundation for a remarkable academic journey, which included studying physics at Presidency College, Calcutta, under esteemed figures such as Jagadish Chandra Bose and Prafulla Chandra.

Mahalanobis’s academic pursuits took him to Cambridge University, where he began his studies in physics. A pivotal moment occurred when he encountered the journal Biometrika, established by Karl Pearson, Francis Galton, and Raphael Weldon in 1901. This encounter sparked his enduring passion for statistics, leading him to establish the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Calcutta in 1931. Under his leadership, the ISI evolved into a globally recognised centre for statistical research and training, marking a significant step in institutionalising statistics in India.

Foundational Contributions to Statistics

In 1933, Mahalanobis founded Sankhyā, a journal that gained international acclaim for advancing statistical theory and its applications. His introduction of the Mahalanobis distance in 1936 provided a groundbreaking multivariate measure to quantify the distance between a point and a distribution. This innovative tool has had far-reaching implications across various fields, including multivariate analysis, pattern recognition, and machine learning, influencing applications from genetics to artificial intelligence.

Mahalanobis was a strong proponent of large-scale sample surveys, advocating for them as a cost-effective and scientifically robust alternative to complete enumeration. His influence led to the establishment of one of the world’s largest coordinated survey systems in India. He played a crucial role in founding the National Sample Survey (NSS) in 1950 and the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) in 1951, both of which became foundational elements of India’s official statistical framework.

His vision extended beyond statistics into economic policy. As a member of the Planning Commission of India in 1955, Mahalanobis significantly influenced the Second Five-Year Plan (1956–1961). He introduced the Feldman–Mahalanobis model, which emphasised rapid industrialisation through investments in heavy and capital goods industries. While debated, this strategy played a vital role in shaping India’s economic trajectory in the years following independence.

Global Recognition and Lasting Legacy

Mahalanobis’s influence extended internationally, particularly through his work with the United Nations Sub-Commission on Sampling from 1947 to 1951, where he shaped global standards in survey design. His contributions earned him notable recognition, including his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1945 and the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour, in 1968.

Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis passed away on June 28, 1972, in Calcutta, just one day short of his 79th birthday. His legacy continues to be celebrated in India on June 29, recognised as “Statistics Day,” a tribute to the role of statistics in socio-economic development. Mahalanobis’s ability to blend intellectual rigour with practical applications has solidified his status as a towering figure in the realms of modern statistics, institution-building, and national planning.