Damodar Dharmananda Kosambi

Damodar Dharamananda Kosambi was an Indian polymath with interests in mathematics, Statistics, Philology, history and genetics. He contributed to genetics by introducing the Kosambi map function. In statistics he was the first person to develop orthogonal infinite series expression for stochastic process via the Kosambi-Karhunen-Loeve Theorem. He was also known for his work in numismatics and compiling critical editions of ancient Sanskrit texts. He was an enthusiast of chinese revolutions and its ideas and in addition a leading activist in the World Peace movement. He was born on 31-07-1907 to Dharmananda Kosambi and Balabai in Kosaben Villege,Goa . His father was expert in Buddha Shastra and Pali Language.
Career
When he was 11 years old Damodar and his sister went to Massachusetts with their father Dharmananda Kosambi. He was admitted to Cambridge Latin School. In 1929, Harvard awarded him B.A. degree with a Summa Cum Laude. He was also granted membership to the esteemed Phi Beta Kappa Society in the United States. Later he worked as a professor teaching German and mathematics at Banaras University and Aligarh Universty. There he published his 8 research papers in the general area of differential geometry and path spaces. In 1932, he joined Fergusson college in Pune, where he taught mathematics for 14 years. One of the most important contributions of Kosambi to Statistics is “Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD). His studies in numismatics that initiated him in to the field of historical research. He made a thorough study of Sanskrit and ancient literature and published exemplary critical editions of Bhartrihari’s work. During the period of Independence movement, he became outspoken Marxist and wrote some political articles. In the 1940s, Homi j. Bhabha invited Kosambi to join Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. Even today also his research works are applicable in the field of computer and Biology. He worked on his marxist rewriting of ancient Indian history, which culminated in his book, “An Introduction to the Study of Indian History”. He has published 4 books and 64 articles on history. He has published several articles and wrote two books on Mathematics.
Honour
Kosambi was an inspiration to many across the world, especially to Sanskrit philologists and Marxists scholars. He deeply influenced historiography. Government of Goa has instituted the Annual D.D. Kosambi Festival of ideas since February 2008 to commemorate his birth centenary. India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp to honour him in 2008.