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Encouraging the Spirit of Research

Encouraging the spirit of research

Infosys Science Foundation Science is an endless frontier. It is a human activity without needs to recreate the magic of the 1920s and 1930s limits. Advancing this frontier requires intensive and in Indian science, where we saw the likes of Srinivasa extensive fundamental research. India's contribution to Ramanujan, C. V. Raman, Meghnath Saha, S. N. Bose, this endeavor in recent times has been a matter of much J. C. Bose, etc., scale new heights, which surpassed the best concern. With around 16% of the global population, in the world. For this, we need to move on multiple fronts India's share in the world of with speed and determination. scientific research publications is First, the future of science in India only 2%. Of course, some might say, “There is evidence to suggest will depend on getting the best that this 2% share is achieved with that young Indian scientists from minds in India to opt for science. only 0.5% of global spend on R&D. Cambridge, Harvard, MIT, Caltech We have to place a very heavy But that is not of much comfort, and similar reputed institutions are emphasis on radical reforms in since other countries have moved returning to India. One is sensing school science education, while ahead much faster. a movement from brain drain to brain gain, to brain circulation, helped again changing the pedagogy of science Let us consider, for instance, by the attractive National Fellowships teaching methods, creating exciting R. A. Mashelkar India and China. In 1980, the science curricula, attracting the National Research Professor; Chancellor, that have been set up to bring back Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research; research papers from China were our brightest scientists. But, I must say, best talent for teaching science President, Global Research Alliance, one‑fifteenth of the research one of the best news for Indian science with special incentives for the most CSIR‑National Chemical Laboratory papers produced in India. By 2005, has been the .” inspiring science teachers. research papers from China had Second, the best minds that study almost tripled! During 1995 – 2005, science should stay in science. the papers from India increased by 2.5 times, China's At the school‑learning level, there is a great enthusiasm had gone up ten‑fold. The R&D spending by China had for science. Indian students out‑perform those from increased from 0.8% to 2% of GDP by 2011. India has advanced nations in international science olympiads, continued to spend around 0.9% of GDP on R&D, over the winning several gold medals. past two decades.

Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Unfortunately, these gold medalists do not stay in science. Although there are many concerns, there is plenty of , but it is now the ‘most valued prize’ in India today. We have to do everything possible to see that they good news too. The INSPIRE program launched by the What is more, when there is an outcry that the corporate continue to love science, live science and live for science. Department of Science & Technology in India now draws world does not do enough for science in India, Infosys as close to a million bright young people into science, with an iconic corporate leader, has been able to send a strong Third, in science, technology and innovation, India has schemes and very attractive incentives to ensure that they signal that Indian science matters to us and that we want built physical as well as intellectual infrastructure but stay in science. For the first time, funding fundamental to matter more to Indian science. it needs to be made world‑class. We need to create an scientific research exclusively, a National Science and environment which provides for flexibility and freedom This book is valuable for several reasons. It provides us Engineering Research Board was created and it has to think and act. This means complete eradication with the essence of the great work of the Infosys Prize begun functioning. Five new Indian Institutes of Science, of , elimination of mediocrity, worship of laureates, in a language that is simple. It serves as a great Education and Research have been set up, with the excellence and rewards for performance with world‑class inspiration for budding scientists, while giving them a hope of these becoming world‑class centers of research. benchmarks. feel about the very best in Indian science. Finally, it also There is evidence to suggest that young Indian scientists projects before the rest of the world the best of Indian Fourth, we should remind ourselves always that teaching from Cambridge, Harvard, MIT, Caltech and similar science done by its stars. without research is sterile. Education disseminates known reputed institutions are returning to India. One is sensing knowledge, research converts into knowledge a movement from brain drain to brain gain, to brain I congratulate all those who are responsible for this and innovation converts knowledge into money. In the circulation, helped again by the attractive National elegant and impressive creation. When the history of Indian context, this connect between Saraswati (Hindu Fellowships that have been set up to bring back our Indian science is written, one can look at this book as one goddess of learning) and Lakshmi (Hindu goddess of brightest scientists. But, I must say, one of the best news with supreme archival and inspirational value. wealth) is missing. Every effort should be made to create for Indian science has been the Infosys Prize. that connect by linking education, research, innovation I have been privileged to be a jury member for the Infosys and entrepreneurship. This would mean some cultural Prize since the past four years. I have watched with pride shifts, where wealth creation through knowledge is valued this Prize grow and attain the status of a mini‑Nobel and supported through instruments such as incubators, prize. The selection is done by a selection committee technology parks, ‘ad’venture capital, innovation clusters, comprising global leaders in science. With ` 55 lakh as etc. These need to be provided on a scale and with a cash prize, not only is this the highest prize in rupee a quality that will prove game‑changing.

Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Contents

Quest for beautiful minds...... 2 Physical Sciences...... 32 ...... 34 Engineering and Computer Science...... 4 Sandip Trivedi...... 35 Ashutosh Sharma...... 6 ...... 36 Kalyanmoy Deb ...... 7 A. Ajayaghosh...... 37 Ashish Lele...... 8 Shiraz Naval Minwalla...... 38 V. Ramgopal Rao...... 9 Social Sciences...... 40 Humanities ...... 10 Abhijit Banerjee...... 42 Amit Chaudhuri...... 12 Upinder Singh ...... 43 Sanjay Subrahmanyam...... 13 Amita Baviskar ...... 44 Ayesha Kidwai...... 14 Nandini Sundar ...... 45 Nayanjot Lahiri...... 15 Pratap Bhanu Mehta...... 46 Life Sciences...... 16 Raghuram G. Rajan...... 47 K. VijayRaghavan...... 18 ...... 48 Chetan E. Chitnis ...... 19 Aninhalli R. Vasavi...... 49 Imran Siddiqi ...... 20 Of origins and journeys...... 50 Satyajit Mayor ...... 21 Rajesh S. Gokhale ...... 22 Bibliography...... 51

Mathematical Sciences...... 24 ...... 26 Chandrashekhar Khare ...... 27 ...... 28 ...... 29 Rahul Vijay Pandharipande ...... 30 Infosys Prize @InfosysPrize

[email protected] Awardees receive a gold medallion, a citation and a prize purse of ` 55 lakh www.infosys‑science‑foundation.com (increased this year from the previous, ` 50 lakh). Prof. Aninhalli R. Vasavi says, “The Prize will make a difference. Quest for beautiful minds It's come at the right moment when our work needed recognition and the Human enterprise and intellect has Infosys Prize funds will give us some assurance and @InfosysPrize been celebrated by the Infosys Science financial security.” Foundation through the Infosys Prize (the Prize), since 2009. The Prize has Exploring the world of ideas furthers Trustees of ISF grown in stature and is fast becoming our understanding of the universe. the most coveted award for researchers. We endeavor to honor such Unwavering support from ISF trustees remarkable minds. Srinath Batni, has helped the Prize reach its fifth year President, Board of Trustees, ISF and milestone. Member of the Board, Infosys Limited #InfosysPrize2013 Infosys Prize @InfosysPrize Prof. Aninhalli R. Vasavi

We honor those who've made the quest for knowledge their life's Infosys Prize calling and scientific excellence their @InfosysPrize pursuit. N. R. Narayana Murthy, Trustee of ISF and Chairman, Prof. Raghuram G. Rajan We want winners to benefit from Infosys Limited the prize money. Indian #InfosysPrize2013 “India, as it comes of age as supported the Prize, making the an economic power has to also sum, tax exempt. V. Balakrishnan, become an intellectual power,” says Trustee of ISF Prof. Raghuram G. Rajan, winner of #InfosysPrize2013 the Infosys Prize 2011 and Governor, Reserve Bank of India.

2 | Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Infosys Prize Infosys Prize @InfosysPrize @InfosysPrize

We engage with educational The Prize can inspire the next institutions, to involve the youth generation of thinkers. Support in an ongoing dialog about from academia, media and the research. K. Dinesh, Trustee of ISF public will make this possible. #InfosysPrize2013 K. Gopalakrishnan, Trustee of ISF and Executive Co‑Chairman, Infosys Limited ISF also hosts insightful lectures and #InfosysPrize2013 exciting events through the year. In her Prof. Michael J. Sandel Jury Chairs with Prime Minister lecture, Good to eat, good to think : Why The Prize celebrates those who storm Manmohan Singh we should study India's changing food new frontiers, be it to create novel culture, Prof. Amita Baviskar, Associate ISF works with academicians, materials, find solutions, invent cures Jury Chairs with Infosys Prize 2012 Professor, Institute of Economic researchers and students globally, for deadly diseases or further discourse winners. The Jury Chairs for the Prize Growth, states, “The sociology and to promote the spirit of enquiry. In his that enriches the standard of life and includes stalwarts from various fields – anthropology of changing agrarian Justice Lecture Series, Michael J. Sandel, living. Speaking on the impact of the Prof. , Dr. Inder Verma, still awaits our attention as Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor Prize, Prof. Ashish Lele, Scientist at the Prof. Pradeep Khosla, Prof. Kaushik Basu, does the study of self and personhood of Government, National Chemical Laboratories, Pune Prof. Shrinivas Kulkarni, Prof. Srinivasa embodied in practices of , says, “ involves a certain and Infosys 2012 winner says, “In the Varadhan and Prof. Subra Suresh as does the transformation of food into amount of cacophony. It is not neat research that I'm doing on hydrogen (who stepped down after being commodity forms.” and tidy. And yet, the arguments that fuel cells, when the media came to me nominated as Director of the National we have do have a certain shape. after the Prize was announced, I talked Science Foundation by U.S. President, We can identify certain philosophical about fuel cells. A lot of companies ). principles and when we do, if we do, who read it came to me saying they we can do a better job of respecting would be interested in collaborating one another.” Infosys Prize with us in developing this technology.” @InfosysPrize Infosys Prize The wisdom, guidance and @InfosysPrize experience of our jury multiplies Prof. Amita Baviskar the inspirational power of the Aspiring scholars need Infosys Prize. T. V. Mohandas Pai, encouragement. The ISF Lecture Trustee of ISF Series lets them interact with Prof. Ashish Lele #InfosysPrize2013 laureates and learn more. S. D. Shibulal, Trustee of ISF, CEO and Managing Director, Infosys Limited #InfosysPrize2013

Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation | 3 Engineering and Computer Science “Our future relies directly on how people who are young today are going to mature and become adults. How they are going to behave and what is it that they are going to do. We have to motivate them and to motivate them we need to have examples of people who have accomplished something.”

Pradeep K. Khosla Jury Chair, Engineering and Computer Science, and Chancellor, University of California, San Diego, U.S. Engineering and Computer Science 2010

“We are probing materials at a deeper level, looking • B.Tech. in Chemical Prof. Ashutosh Sharma has made scholarly at how patterns arise in nature, and the inspiration for Engineering from the scientific contributions in the broad areas that comes from art, and we translate that question Indian Institute of of nanoscale surface pattern evolution, Technology, Kanpur into the language of science, and we ask questions instability, and the dynamics of thin liquid like — how do small‑scale patterns form in nature and in • M.S. in Chemical and solid films and soft matter. These Engineering from scientific studies have provided fundamental technology?” Pennsylvania State contributions to the fields of surfaces and University interfaces, adhesion, structure evolution, Ashutosh Sharma • Ph.D. in Chemical nanocomposites, and hydrodynamics. Institute Chair Professor and C. V. Seshadri Chair Professor and Engineering from State Coordinator, DST Unit on Nanoscience & Center for Environmental Science University of , and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur Buffalo

Nanotech chronicles

Another practical Today, nanotechnology is application of his work is in used in everything from understanding some of the Sharma's nanofabrication consumer such as Working with other surface‑chemical aspects work in collaboration What do the Rose Window scientists, he created water‑repellent clothing A major focus of Sharma's of the dry eye syndrome with other scientists in the Notre Dame smart adhesive tapes and cosmetics, computing, work has been in probing which affects millions of has also led to cathedral and anti‑wrinkle Sharma's research finds that could be reused space exploration, the how and why nano‑thin people worldwide. A rapid novel carbon based creams have in common? new interfaces between the and was non‑fouling. wider areas of health, films and coatings of soft breakup of the tear film on composite materials Nanotechnology! disciplines of mechanics, The sticky pads of environment and energy. materials, such as polymers, the cornea in the inter‑blink with hierarchical micro Nano has been around materials and manufacturing climbing animals Prof. Ashutosh Sharma's become unstable and period is often indicative of and nano elements that for centuries but with direct applications in such as tree frogs work in nanotechnology self‑organize spontaneously dry eyes. Sharma's research could have enormous its understanding, inexpensive fabrication of and geckos were the combines elements of into a variety of micro and into wetting of bio‑surfaces benefits for the manipulation, control and nanostructures on large inspiration in creating engineering, surface nano‑structures, patterns has led to some clues about environment (filtration industrial applications areas, flow of liquids in the special adhesive. chemistry and soft matter and textures. Controlling the the mechanism and control systems), energy storage have come of age in a big small spaces (micro and physics with a sprinkling of self‑assembly of these small of the tear film breakup. (micro‑batteries) and way only recently. nano‑fluidics used in the biology and biomimetics. structures leads to futuristic Unlike most of the other health (platforms lab‑on‑a‑chip devices), manufacturing techniques studies, he used Interfacial for cells). novel adhesives, and for creation of materials with Science for validating and patterning for polymer based special properties of wetting, testing his research instead electronics and sensors adhesion, friction and color. of using animal models. including solar cells.

6 | Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Engineering and Computer Science 2011

“At some point, I think all of us should just stop and • B.Tech. in Mechanical Prof. Kalyanmoy Deb has made fundamental think — What is the big picture of my work? — And, Engineering from the contributions to the emerging of when we do that, we come up with some really sweet Indian Institute of Evolutionary Multi‑objective Optimization (EMO), Technology Kharagpur spots that needed to be looked at. And then, the field where his work has led to significant advances progresses.” • M.S. in Engineering in the areas of non‑linear constraints, decision Mechanics from the uncertainty, programming and numerical University of Alabama methods, computational efficiency of large‑scale problems and optimization . • Ph.D. in Engineering Mechanics from the Kalyanmoy Deb University of Alabama Professor and Koenig Endowed Chair, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University

Resolving the problem of conflicting goals

Evolutionary Multi‑objective Suppose you want to buy How would the phone Optimization (EMO) is the the best smart phone This has in turn available. You consider manufacturer resolve those helped academic and process of simultaneously Prof. Kalyanmoy Deb has Deb's solution battery life versus screen same problems on a larger industrial practitioners optimizing two or more worked out a concept known known as NSGA‑II size versus weight of the scale and for maximum to come up with conflicting objectives as ‘innovization’. This approach Implementation was phone versus the cost and commercial rewards? multiple trade‑off subject to certain allows you to come up with commercialized by of course how the piece Is there a way of objectively solutions and analyze constraints. But what does innovative solutions while taking various software looks before settling on coming to the optimum them before choosing this mean? into account different criteria. companies. the best phone based on conclusion factoring in every a single solution. It helps you learn more about your needs. criteria even if they are in conflict with each other? the problem being solved, the This is where the process of factors that affect the solution multi‑objective optimization and arrive at optimized ways to comes in. solve the problem.

Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation | 7 Engineering and Computer Science 2012

“I think the biggest challenge in my area of research is • B.Chem. Eng. from the Prof. Ashish Lele has made many novel and for scientists to leave their ivory towers and go out and Department of Chemical impactful contributions to polymer science see the real world, find relevant problems and apply their Technology, University of and engineering. These include molecular Bombay skills and expertise in material science to those problems.” tailoring of stimuli responsive smart • Ph.D. in Chemical hydrogels, new insights into the anomalous Engineering from the rheological behavior of complex fluids and University of Delaware the coupling of macromolecular dynamics and polymer processing.

Ashish Lele Senior Principal Scientist, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune

Exploring the many uses of hydrogels

Prof. Lele's body of work Imagine being able to has profound implications wear eye glasses made in the use of hydrogels as of material that can Smart hydrogels are a sensors and soft actuators, self‑repair scratches type of hydrogel that have which are a type of motor on their surface in water swollen networks for moving or controlling response to light. a mechanism or system. Gels are materials composed of cross‑linked polymers Imagine being able that respond to stimuli Soft actuators or organic to use a self‑healing of both a solid and a liquid actuators are made of component. When the liquid such as temperature and sticky substance to electrical fields that leads to organic materials such as hold surgical implants component is water, the gel is Prof. Ashish Lele has worked Over the years hydrogels have volume phase transitions. hydrogels. These actuators in place instead of called a hydrogel. A hydrogel extensively with hydrogels found many uses in several Prof. Lele's work revealed are able to act on their stitches. If you think this is usually composed of and has been probing areas especially in medical that under the influence of external environment by is science fiction, think a polymer network. Polymers the microstructures in science. They are commonly these stimuli, the cylindrical changing input energy into again. Such substances are large chain‑like molecules polymeric materials at the used in cell culture, tissue shape of the hydrogel mechanical work. These are already found in made up of monomers molecular and mesoscopic engineering, and sustained changes spontaneously into are extremely important nature and over the which are smaller molecules. (the intermediate length release drug delivery a coconut‑like structure, in medical devices such as years, scientists have Hydrogels have super between microscopic and systems. They are also used which is also reversible. prosthetic limbs, as they been trying to create absorption capabilities, and macroscopic) length scales. in everyday items such as improve their strength and them in laboratories. are also highly flexible. They performance. are similar to natural tissue. disposable diapers to soak in more fluid.

8 | Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Engineering and Computer Science 2013

“It is not always money which makes many people • B.Tech. from Kakatiya Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao has made substantial happy. There are of course people who may be happy University, Warangal, contributions in the science and engineering seeing a huge bank balance. But for many of us the Andhra Pradesh of nanoscale electronic devices and their satisfaction is in doing something which can change • M.Tech. from the Indian use in semiconductor integrated circuits, lives, which can improve the life of a common man in Institute of Technology, which has led to significant performance Bombay improvements and industrial impact. our own country.” His leadership in nanoelectronics at the • Dr. Ingenieur from national level has enabled industry‑academia Universitaet der V. Ramgopal Rao Bundeswehr, Munich partnerships that have led to growth of this Institute Chair Professor in the Department of Electrical industry in India. • Post‑doctoral Fellow at Engineering; and Chief Investigator, Centre of Excellence in the University of California, Nanoelectronics, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay Los Angeles

Behind the magic of nanoscale electronics

The devices and techniques that Prof. Rao's research Nanoelectronics is Prof. Rao's research has brought has come up with have responsible for making new insights into the chemistry had a major impact in the Prof. Rao's work has had our devices smaller and of selective binding between areas of security and health. Over the years, our devices a major impact especially more efficient and is a field organic and organometallic This technology is used in have become more handy Prof. Ramgopal Rao has on the semi‑conductor that is getting increasing molecules. Organic compounds effective drug delivery systems and portable. Gone are made major contributions industry. His work has attention. Nanoelectronics is are composed of carbon while and in medical imaging the days when a computer to the development of helped in manufacturing responsible for the display organometallic compounds technologies. Nanoscale needed a whole room to nanoscale electronics. significantly more screens on devices getting have a metal bound with devices could also detect toxic hold it. Tablets and laptops His work integrates the efficient semi‑conductor better by reducing their carbon. Organometallic substances in the environment have become ubiquitous. disciplines of chemistry, devices. The technologies weight and thickness and compounds containing and in food. Nanostructures Our telephones have mechanics and electronics and products that have improving their power lead, tin and mercury are can be used to vastly improve gotten smaller. Have you to invent smarter and been created using consumption, for improving commercially important. existing sensor technologies ever wondered about the better functional devices. Prof. Rao's research are the density of memory Prof. Rao has found ways of such as radiation sensors. This technology responsible of tremendous value to chips, and reducing the size integrating these molecules could also be used in various for making the devices society. of transistors in integrated with highly sensitive mechanical security applications. around us smaller? circuits. and electronic transduction in This is just one instance micro / nanodevices. This in where the discipline of turn has led to a new platform nanoelectronics comes in. for chemical sensing.

Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation | 9 Humanities

10 | Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation “The Humanities as a subject, a cluster of subjects complements the sciences. The sciences add to our knowledge in a more direct way and often translate into immediately realizable benefits in the long run. Humanities work rather more slowly. On the other hand, they also have a huge impact. First, to place science in the context of society and also to make people think about themselves and think about others in the context of themselves, and think about their country in the context of the world. And, in all these respects humanities have a very important role in broadening human life in a way that science has, but working in a somewhat different channel.”

Amartya Sen Jury Chair, Humanities, Thomas W. Lamont University Professor and Professor of Economics and Philosophy, Harvard University, U.S.

Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation | 11 Humanities – Literary Studies 2012

“The kind of criticism I write has gone against the grain • B.A. in English from the Prof. Amit Chaudhuri is one of India's of a lot of academic thinking about the role of criticism University College London foremost novelists and among its most today – where the role of literature and criticism are seen • Ph.D. in Critical widely‑admired literary and cultural to be important as a kind of adjunct almost to history and the poetry of critics, and theorists. His literary and the social sciences and not primarily undertaken for D. H. Lawrence from Balliol research ranges from an early book College, Oxford on D. H. Lawrence to a recent book literature itself. I have tried to grapple with this particular on Rabindranath Tagore, and a large problem and also find an answer to it without ignoring it.” number of critical essays on Indian and English Literature.

Amit Chaudhuri Professor of Contemporary Literature, University of East Anglia, Norfolk

Explorations in literary criticism

Prof. Chaudhuri takes In his attempt to shed Since the days of Plato, particular in the new light on Indian the field of literary criticism pleasures of writing about writing, Prof. Chaudhuri has seen the pleasure of the world we live in, whether explored, among many language, form, content he is writing a story, or A widely‑read essayist, other things, Rabindranath and style being studied writing about a story. An internationally acclaimed Prof. Chaudhuri is persuasive Tagore's poetry. Although and analyzed to better novelist and literary critic, in his writings, while using the Tagore's work had been understand literature Prof. Amit Chaudhuri has creative medium to provide studied and interpreted and the times we live in. been able to provide a deeper a scholarly understanding several times through the Literary criticism goes to understanding of Indian and of what makes any form years, Prof. Chaudhuri the heart of the question English literature to global of literature engaging and helped us towards a new of what makes a piece of readers. His literary criticism effective. Prof. Chaudhuri understanding of how writing beautiful and allows has been able to tease out the began his endeavor as an the great poet remains us to appreciate nuances, cultural contexts and original critic with a masterful imaginatively challenging that beauty better. complex literary sensibilities in exploration of the poetry of today. works of literature. the English poet and writer D. H. Lawrence.

12 | Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Humanities – History 2012

“I think it is very important to remember that first and • M.A. Economics from Prof. Sanjay Subrahmanyam has foremost your history is a history as a human being. the University of Delhi transformed the field of early modern And, therefore your natural way of thinking of history • Ph.D. in Economics history for South Asia, and for much of the should be of a human being living in the world, not as from the Delhi rest of the world. His geographical reach someone belonging to one country or another.” School of Economics, extends from South Asia to Southeast University of Delhi Asia, West Asia, Europe and Latin America. He has also contributed to a wide array of historical sub‑disciplines (economic, social, Sanjay Subrahmanyam intellectual and literary history). Distinguished Professor of History, and Navin and Pratima Doshi Endowed Chair, Pre‑Modern Indian History, University of California, Los Angeles

Framing the concept of connected histories

Prof. Sanjay Subrahmanyam has proposed and While Prof. Subrahmanyam's developed a genre of primary focus is the history of early modern South Asia, History as a discipline history called ‘connected histories’. The concept he has not confined himself teaches us about our past. In his work, Explorations of connected histories to this region. He has We often tend to think of However, even a cursory in Connected History, tells us that cultures all transformed the study of In addition to his our collective past in terms reading of history teaches Prof. Subrahmanyam over the globe were history for the rest of the contributions to history, of only certain regions or us that no human culture shows the links that have interconnected. Different world including Southeast Prof. Subrahmanyam particular experiences of has developed in isolation. connected the countries contemporary cultures have Asia, Latin America, West has also contributed particular groups of people. Different cultures and groups of Eurasia in times past, had enormous impact on Asia and Europe. enormously to of people have influenced helping us transcend the each other through trade sub‑disciplines within each other. walls that have traditionally and other interactions. history such as economic, confined the histories of Indian history for instance social, intellectual and Asian nations for the past has been shaped by trade literary history. century. and interaction with many cultures including the Persian, French, Portuguese, English and many more.

Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation | 13 Humanities – Linguistics 2013

“My area of work is to look at the syntax of the world's • M.A. in Linguistics from Prof. Ayesha Kidwai is an outstanding languages, and living in India, it is to of course look at the Jawaharlal Nehru theoretical linguist. Her work has earned the syntax of Indian languages. By syntax we mean the University, New Delhi recognition from leading international experts, arrangement of linguistic words or even units below • Ph.D. in Linguistics from as it relates the general theoretical framework the word, to be able to understand what underlies, the Jawaharlal Nehru of the principles of Universal Grammar to some University, New Delhi of the particular syntactic features of Indian or what constitutes the business of the human ability languages like Hindi‑Urdu, Santali, Meiteilon, for language.” Bangla and Malayalam, analyzing these within the structures of human cognitive systems Ayesha Kidwai and their general properties. Professor, Centre for Linguistics, School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Discovering the intricacies of Indian languages

Prof. Ayesha Kidwai is a theoretical linguist. Prof. Kidwai has made She studies the scientific tremendous contributions to Our ability to vocalize hypotheses that must the study of a phenomenon our thoughts through a underlie humans' knowledge Prof. Kidwai analyzes called scrambling. Scrambling in its simplest sense is the language sets us apart of language, and the abstract these languages within Along with making study of the word orders from other living beings principles that connect the the structures of the theoretical linguistics a that a language can have. and has evolved over structure of one language human cognitive systems. significant field in Indian Linguistics is the study of the Some languages have a much the years. Each human to another. Her work deals This analysis helps in academia, Prof. Kidwai structure of language, how it greater range of possible language is a complex with these principles, within understanding how language has also emphasized is acquired, how it changes word orders than others, and entity that allows us the framework of Universal structures are perceived the political and cultural over time, and how it is these are known as languages to communicate ideas, Grammar, and how they within the human brain and importance of studying used to convey messages with scrambling languages. emotions and desires. relate to the characteristics its influence on cognition India's phenomenal and meaning. The discipline The structure of scrambling and construction of sentences and psychology. diversity in languages. of linguistics also attempts in Indian languages such languages has been a much to answer questions about as Hindi‑Urdu, Bengali, debated one, and Prof. Kidwai what connects human Malayalam, Meiteilon has proposed an innovative languages and what makes and Santali. The theory of account of scrambling through each of them different. Universal Grammar is a her analysis of the model of the way in which Hindi‑Urdu language. these abstract principles interact to yield individual human languages.

14 | Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Humanities – Archaeology 2013

“What I've tried to do is to get a sense of the past • M.A. in History from the Prof. Nayanjot Lahiri is an exceptional from what appears on the ground, from artifacts, from University of Delhi scholar of proto‑historic and early India, monuments, from mounds and related aspects of the • M.Phil. in History from the and her wide‑ranging work on the past material past. Along with this, very crucial to my own University of Delhi and present illuminates many aspects work has been understanding how my area of study even of contemporary Indian life. Her work • Ph.D. in History from the on resource mobilization and routes of (archaeology) has actually evolved.” University of Delhi access in proto‑historic and early historic India (1992) deals with archaeological and historical data, and their geological dimensions and integration into Nayanjot Lahiri the ethnographic aspects of their Professor, Department of History, University of Delhi .

Unearthing the mysteries of ancient India

Prof. Lahiri's archival research into the study of archaeology Prof. Nayanjot Lahiri is a in India ranges from how scholar of proto‑historic and Prof. Lahiri made a India's first cities — Harappa historic India. Proto‑history significant contribution and Mohenjodaro — were usually denotes cultures Prof. Lahiri's work includes to the study of ancient discovered to the which have not yet developed a historical analysis of the India by highlighting regarding monuments in a writing system but which the interface between British and independent India. Archaeology is the study ancient inscriptions of Assam. sometimes figure in the the use of copper and Through this archival research, of the material remains India has a historic and Her extensive research of written sources of other its alloys as reflected she has also highlighted how of the past in order to prehistoric past that goes the movement of people civilizations. In India, though, in the archaeological multi‑cultural historic places understand the character back many centuries. and goods and trade routes it is used to designate cultures record, and ancient of worship like Bodh Gaya, as and changes in human The knowledge we have in proto‑historic and early that coincide with and texts as also modern reflected in the archaeology cultures over time. It is accumulated so far only historic India has led to rich follow the beginning of food ethnographic literature. of worship there, came to be through the knowledge begins to scratch the descriptions of cultures from production till the advent of Ancient cultural transformed into sites that and scientific examination surface of what we know these eras based on the historic India around the sixth , through were merely rooted in one of these remains that we of the past. metallurgical traditions of century BCE. Proto‑history this approach, are shown religious tradition. are able to understand the India. This has in turn helped is also used for describing as being an important lives of our ancestors and in connecting not only the the Harappan Civilization, factor in understanding also perhaps the reasons archaeological and historical a specific focus of Prof. Lahiri's the minutiae of why we are what we are data but also the geological work, because even while it metallurgical data. today. dimensions of these had its own script, that still mobilizations. remains undeciphered.

Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation | 15 Life Sciences

16 | Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation “My experience as the jury chair for the life sciences has been the exposure that I gained into the wide variety of different sciences in biological sciences that is being carried out in India. It ranges from medical sciences to plant sciences to basic sciences to nanobiology and nanotechnology. And, I was very pleasantly surprised on the wide breadth of it.”

Inder Verma Jury Chair, Life Sciences, American Cancer Society Professor and the first incumbent of the Irwin Mark Jacobs Chair in Exemplary Life Sciences, Laboratory of Genetics, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, U.S.

Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation | 17 Life Sciences 2009

“My work has actually been the consequence really of • B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering Professor VijayRaghavan is being recognized keeping company far better than myself. My students, from the Indian Institute of for his many contributions as an outstanding Technology, Kanpur post docs, my collaborators in India and abroad have developmental geneticist and neurobiologist. all been superb and have been a great stimulus to • M.Tech. in Chemical Engineering His elegant work with Drosophila has revealed from the Indian Institute of make science happen, to make good biology happen important principles and mechanisms Technology, Kanpur that control the assembly and wiring of and also to make doing science fun and I'm really • Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from nerves and muscles during development, grateful to all of them.” the Tata Institute of and he has recently begun to define how Fundamental Research, these neuromuscular circuits direct specific K. VijayRaghavan • Research Fellow and locomotor behaviors. Senior Research Fellow at Professor, National Centre for Biological Sciences, and the California Institute of Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, New Delhi Technology, Pasadena

Unlocking the secrets of Hox genes

Prof. VijayRaghavan's Most animals begin life as Once an embryo has work defines how these a mass of undifferentiated differentiated into discrete powerful Hox genes cells called embryos that segments, the Hox genes function to create then undergo specialization determine the structures connections between Using the tools and to form various organs Hox genes are genetic formed at each segment. the nerves and muscles concepts from the fields and appendages. But what materials that determine the For example, antennae, and direct simple motor of genetics, molecular determines which section specialization of an embryo wings, legs, vertebrae, etc., behaviors. He has used biology, microscopy, of the embryo forms which along the antero‑posterior are formed at the direction the fruit fly, Drosophila developmental biology body part? What is it that or the head‑tail axis. These of the Hox genes. These melanogaster, and behavioral biology, determines if a fly becomes genes are in a sense the genes are so powerful as the model Prof. VijayRaghavan and a fly or a mouse becomes a master code that unlocks that even small differences for his study. his team are trying to mouse? the potential of the embryo. could bring about dramatic unlock the secrets of They implement the ‘body evolutionary changes. this powerful genetic plan’ of an animal. material.

Through his work on the development of sensory and motor organs in the fruit fly, Prof. VijayRaghavan sheds new light on the way target muscles develop their specific biomechanical connections through cell differentiation and division.

18 | Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Life Sciences 2010

“We are making many new discoveries about how • M.Sc. in Physics from Dr. Chetan E. Chitnis is credited for the the malaria parasite works, and we're trying to use the Indian Institute of identification of the erythrocyte binding this information to develop new vaccines. It's a long Technology, Bombay protein on malarial parasite that binds process that could take 10 to 15 years, but if these • M.A. in Physics from Rice to the Duffy protein on the host blood vaccines work, then we can have an enormous impact University, Houston, Texas cell. His work helped in narrowing the region of association and development of on the lives of people.” • Ph.D. in Biophysics from antibodies to prevent this association and the University of California, infection. Clinical trials with vaccines that Berkeley target malaria parasites are underway and Chetan E. Chitnis offer hope for the development of a viable Principal Investigator, Malaria Research Group, International Centre malaria vaccine. for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi

Winning the battle against malaria

In 1898, a Scottish physician, Sir Ronald Ross, working Dr. Chetan Chitnis has been at the Presidency General working on understanding Hospital in Calcutta the molecular basis of Both parasites, Today, 3.3 billion people, discovered the complete how the malarial parasite P. vivax and around half the world's lifecycle of the malarial invades red blood cells by P. knowlesi, invade population, are at risk parasite in mosquitoes using the malarial parasite the red blood cells of contracting malaria. and since then researchers Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) by binding with a In spite of the best across the globe have been and a closely related protein called Duffy efforts of researchers, working relentlessly to malarial parasite in monkeys antigen, found a vaccine against malaria combat this disease. called Plasmodium knowlesi on the surface of has proved elusive. In 1880, a French army (P. knowlesi). these cells. doctor, Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran found Dr. Chitnis studied a parasite in the red Duffy antigen binding blood cells of people proteins from P. vivax sick with malaria. and P. knowlesi to understand the interaction between the host and parasite. His research could lead to the development of an effective vaccine against this dreaded disease and save millions of lives.

Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation | 19 Life Sciences 2011

“Our work is on the basic biology of plant • M.Sc. in Chemistry from Dr. Imran Siddiqi made breakthrough reproduction, but it has important implications on the Indian Institute of contributions to the basic understanding developing new methods in plant breeding. These new Technology, Bombay of clonal seed formation in plants. methods have the potential to really revolutionize • Ph.D. in Biology from the Apomixis (asexual reproduction) could agriculture. The target beneficiary would be the University of Oregon revolutionize agriculture for poor farmers in developing countries. farmer, particularly farmers in developing countries.”

Imran Siddiqi Chief Scientist, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad

Revolutionizing agriculture through clonal seed formation

Mendel's subsequent experiments with Hawkweed did not follow In the beginning of the the rules he saw in the pea 20th century, Mendel's plant because Hawkweed work was re‑discovered In the mid‑1800s Gregor reproduced asexually. and a phenomenon Dr. Imran Siddiqi Siddiqi's work could Mendel conducted He concluded that perhaps known as apomixis worked with the plant potentially revolutionize experiments by cross was recognized and agriculture, allowing his discoveries did not The process of apomixis Arabidopsis thaliana to breeding the common acknowledged. Apomixis farmers to be more apply universally. ensured the continuance identify and isolate the pea plant. Through is a type of asexual self‑sufficient and clone of hardy genes and genes responsible for these experiments, he reproduction propagated their own high yielding healthy crops. Now the apomixes. This discovery discovered that one through seeds and is food crop seeds instead question was how to could be used to identify could accurately predict found in a very small of buying them for each bring apomixis into crop the apomixes genes in which genetic traits number of plant species. planting. plants. food crops. parents would pass on to their offspring.

20 | Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Life Sciences 2012

“I believe that unless basic research is supported • M.Sc. in Chemistry from Prof. Satyajit Mayor defined the nanoscale and recognized in our country, we'll have nothing to the Indian Institute of organization of GPI‑linked proteins using translate into technologies. So I'm very happy that this Technology, Bombay fluorescence anisotropy, showing that these Prize (Infosys Prize) is being given to us for the basic • Ph.D. in Life Sciences from proteins exist in small (tens of nanometers) research that we do.” the Rockefeller University, clusters. He showed that these microdomains New York are organized by actin and are endocytosed by a novel pathway that is clathrin‑ and dynamin‑independent and regulated by CDC42 — a newly discovered pathway that is also responsible for a significant fraction of the Satyajit Mayor micropinocytosis Director of the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore (fluid‑phase uptake) by cells.

Exploring the secrets of living cells

Prof. Satyajit Mayor's work has provided deep insights Membrane receptors into how cells organize situated at the outer molecules in the living cell Mayor's work has also shown membrane of the membrane. His research that the specialized domains Mayor's research has cell require a special delves into the process of within the cell, organized by the enormous implications for environment consisting molecular organization and protein actin, are then absorbed the process of immune of lipids and proteins transport within the cell by the cell, in a process known system regulators and the Proteins embedded in the in order to function. in order to carry out the as endocytosis. This process modulation of signaling membrane of the cell called From what we know different tasks they have been takes place along a route where responses. Understanding membrane receptors help of biological cells so assigned. Mayor has proposed like motorists, little packets or the pathways of cells sense the external Have you ever far, the cell membrane a mechanism that could vesicles try to find their way to a endocytosis may lead to environment and respond wondered how the cell is organized as a fluid generate specialized domains destination through traffic inside a means to combat viruses to it. These receptors send senses and responds to bilayer. Given the around membrane receptors the cell. The molecules that enter such as HIV and other messages to the inside of its environment? How complexity and fluidity and at the same time provide the cell need to find the correct pathogens that attack the the cell. Each second, several a virus such as HIV that of this environment, it is local control on membrane pathways to their destinations body's immune system by molecules and, inadvertently, enters the human body, difficult to understand protein and lipid composition. within the cell just as the motorists piggy backing on these a virus, may enter and exit knows where to go and how such a special The mechanism utilizes short in a traffic jam try to find roads routes that the cells have the cell by homing in on how to get there? How environment may filaments of the protein called that are easy to negotiate. How do created for their own these receptors. is it able to beat the be created for these actin that pairs up with motor they do this? The cell has many survival. body's defense systems? receptors to function. proteins to engage with proteins that could be compared molecules on the cytoplasmic to maps or GPS that a motorist side of the cell surface. would use to find the easiest routes to their destination.

Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation | 21 Life Sciences 2013

“...So my group for almost a decade now, we've been • M.Sc. in Biotechnology Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale is a leader in the study interested in looking at an organism called Mycobacterium from the Indian Institute of of the enzymology of polyketide synthases tuberculosis that causes TB in humans. I think the work Technology, Bombay in tubercle bacilli. He discovered fatty acyl that we have done has a tremendous future in terms of • Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics AMP ligases in tubercle bacillus, their role either diagnoses or medical treatment you would do for from the Indian Institute of in the generation of the lipid components Science, Bangalore of its cell wall and of their existence in a tuberculosis patient.” other organisms, where they play a role in biosynthesis of complex molecules.

Rajesh S. Gokhale Director, CSIR – Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi

Battling the tuberculosis menace

This intelligent bug has developed thick lipid Through the ages, cell walls that protect it The current treatment scientists have tried from the sentinels of the regime includes a to combat this deadly host. This strong wall is combination of drugs that Dr. Gokhale's studies The only way out in this army of mycobacteria impermeable to several makes the patient weak due A deadly killer is on the discovered a large TB warfare is to completely by understanding its drugs thereby enabling to its multiple side effects. prowl! It strikes and cluster of multifunctional decode and understand properties. These tiny its survival. So the key ‘Single drug – multi target’ kills one person every enzymes called Polyketide the biochemical pathways organisms are capable is to penetrate these approach is the driving minute! Mycobacteria – synthases (PKS) and that help in the formation of generating a novel set fortress‑like walls. force behind Dr. Gokhale's the menace that Fatty acyl‑AMP ligases of lipid cell walls. Disrupting of cell wall lipids which research which will help inflicts tuberculosis (FAAL) which assist in the this barricade will help us is encoded by its unique expedite the treatment (TB) is spread through formation of unique lipids vanquish this pathogen. set of genes. Dr. Gokhale's against this life threatening air and infects the that construct these cell pioneering research is disease. patient's lungs. barriers. aimed at decoding these genetic clusters.

22 | Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Mathematical Sciences “ is a bit different from other sciences in the sense that most of the work done tends to be abstract. They have a huge impact, but the impact is in several layers. Mathematics impacts physics, physics impacts engineering and engineering impacts other things. So the ideas in mathematics may not be immediately useful, but over the long run they do exert an influence and are very useful to society.”

Srinivasa S. R. Varadhan Jury Chair, Mathematical Sciences, Professor of Mathematics and Frank J. Gould Professor of Science at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, U.S. Mathematical Sciences 2009

“I think this Prize (Infosys Prize) will go a long way in • B.Sc. in Physics from Prof. Ashoke Sen is being recognized for his attracting young talent to science and that's what we Calcutta University important contributions to Theory, which need to build a strong country…Whatever I've done is • M.Sc. in Physics from is a vital part of . Among built on the work of many others and my work should the Indian Institute of his contributions is his work on S‑duality that really be thought of as a tiny piece of a vast effort Technology, Kanpur established links between weak and strong coupling regimes of certain String . that is going on, in trying to understand the basic • Ph.D. in Physics from the This made it possible to make inferences laws of nature.” State University of New York, concerning the behavior of the system in the Stonybrook strong coupling regime by a perturbative • Post doctoral research at analysis of the system in the weak coupling Ashoke Sen Fermilab, Batavia, and at regime. SLAC, Stanford Professor, Harish‑Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad

Unifying gravity and quantum mechanics

The theory suggested that these strings vibrate (known as ‘excitations’) and depending on how they vibrate they form different particles. Many advances have been made in proving . The string theories have Prof. Ashoke Sen's landmark Prof. Sen's research attempts For many years now, scientists been classified according to whether contribution to string theory to unify the theories of gravity have been trying to work out and quantum mechanics and to So, what was the nature of the strings are open or closed and has been his work on dualities. the composition of our universe. complete the task that Einstein particles and forces? Several are further classified according to the Sen has worked out a surprising They first discovered that the world had begun. His work on entropy theories came up, including allowed modes of vibration of the connection between weak and around us was made up of atoms function formalism has helped String Theory. According to string. At one time, string theorists strong coupling regimes of a String and these in turn were made up provide a statistical interpretation this theory all particles and believed that each of the string Theory. Coupling regimes refer to of even tinier particles such as of Bekenstein‑Hawking entropy forms of energy are arranged theories were distinct and could exist the strength of interaction in string electrons, protons, neutrons, quarks of black holes. He has also made in the form of strings. These without the other. Soon they realized theories. The coupling constants in and others. These particles interact other important contributions hypothetical strings had only that these theories are connected to the string theories are controlled via four different types of forces. to String Theory, including the the dimension of length. each other and these connections by particular oscillation modes of These are gravity, electromagnetism, came to be known as ‘dualities’. the string called and they construction and study of time weak nuclear forces and strong exhibit symmetry, which is called dependent solutions that has nuclear forces. S‑duality. led to cosmological models.

26 | Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Mathematical Sciences 2010

“Pure mathematics does not have a direct impact on • B.A. in Mathematics In collaboration with J. P. Wintenberger, people's lives, because we think of the questions for from the University of Prof. Chandrashekhar B. Khare settled themselves, and are not motivated by their applications. Cambridge the Serre conjecture, formulated by But like with any good idea, these too will add value in • M.A. in Mathematics mathematician, Jean‑Pierre Serre, in the affirmative. Prof. Khare's work is a major their own way, and eventually impact the way the subject from the University of Cambridge breakthrough in the field with many is taught.” spectacular consequences, and many new • Ph.D. in Mathematics ideas introduced in it are expected to from the California Institute of Technology dominate the field for years to come. Chandrashekhar Khare Professor, Department of Mathematics, University of California, Los Angeles

Unlocking puzzles in

Number theory is The Serre conjecture widely considered The Serre conjecture is named implies the truth of to be one of the after the French mathematician The connection between Mathematicians spent the Fermat's last theorem, most challenging Jean‑Pierre Serre who formulated solutions of polynomial next couple of decades a notoriously puzzling Though number theory and and exciting fields it in the 1970s. The conjecture equations and symmetry was grappling with the conundrum that the idea of groups may seem of mathematics. essentially postulated a first discovered in the 19th solution to the conjecture. had mathematicians very abstract, it is these Among the many surprising connection between century by Evariste Galois who In 2009, Prof. Khare along flummoxed until it was theories that were used to challenging puzzles in solutions of some polynomial interestingly enough died in with his French colleague solved by A. Wiles in 1993, invent things like public key number theory, a long equations and analytic functions a duel at the age of 21 and J. P. Wintenberger solved more than three hundred which is used standing one has been with symmetry properties. Put wrote down his ideas the night the Serre conjecture. years after it was first to ensure information security the Serre conjecture. simply, the former are equations before he died. He developed formulated. The conjecture when you use credit cards on that contain positive integers the idea of the symmetry group builds a bridge between the internet. with operations such as addition, of a polynomial. Groups are a algebra and geometry on subtraction and multiplication technical term which represents one hand and analysis on but not division while analytic a group of permutations. the other. functions are functions that are Groups are one of the central given by a convergent power objects of current mathematics. series and can be thought of as bridges between polynomials and general functions.

Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation | 27 Mathematical Sciences 2011

“A large part of doing research is to be stuck and to be • B.S. in Mathematics from the Prof. Kannan Soundararajan has made confused and to feel like one doesn't make progress. fundamental contributions to analytic But then, every once in a while you make progress. • Ph.D. in Mathematics from number theory. His recent development Then something comes out, a light turns on and that of new unexpected techniques to study insight or feeling of discovery, of finding something the critical values of general zeta functions has led to the proof of the Quantum new, carries with it such joy that you go back and are Unique Ergodicity Conjecture for classical willing to be frustrated yet again.” holomorphic modular forms.

Kannan Soundararajan Professor of Mathematics, and Director, Mathematics Research Center, Stanford University

Finding order in chaos with number theory

At the microscopic or We assume that chaos means the quantum level, the QUE comes from the disorder but each seemingly associated path of objects area of physics known as The turbulent flow of disordered phenomenon is is also affected by waves Quantum Chaos. Quantum a river in spate, the closely governed by natural Understanding and known as Hecke Eigenforms. The outcome of Chaos tries to understand flapping of a butterfly's laws that determine the interpreting chaos helps This complicates matters. Prof. Soundararajan's the relationship between wings, and the trajectory initial conditions. These initial us understand our Prof. Soundararajan uses research can potentially the chaotic motion of of a falling object are conditions in turn determine environment and ourselves the example of a billiard be used in disciplines macroscopic objects like phenomena that seem multiple paths and patterns better. Prof. Soundararajan's ball on a frictionless table to as diverse as computer people and planets to to have unpredictable which taken together seem research has helped us explain this phenomenon. science, medicine and the rules that govern the outcomes. The chaos chaotic. understand the physics of If a ball is hit in a certain meteorology. Trying to microscopic world or the theory in physics chaos in a mathematical direction, it will move along work out the seemingly quantum world. attempts to explain framework. He has made on one path around the chaotic workings of the these seemingly random headway in solving a billiards table. Hitting it in human brain or heart or outcomes. long standing problem other directions, however, atmospheric disturbances in number theory called will cause the ball to bounce could potentially help Quantum Unique Ergoditicy in a more chaotic manner, predict medical conditions Conjecture or QUE. covering paths around or weather changes. the table.

28 | Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Mathematical Sciences 2012

“Doing scientific research is quite an amazing feeling. • A.B. in Mathematics from Prof. Manjul Bhargava has proved a series of You feel like an explorer, like an artist trying to find Harvard University beautiful theorems that greatly enhance our patterns in places where people previously thought • Ph.D. in Mathematics from understanding of number fields and algebraic there was chaos. So doing science is like a big Princeton University curves, two of the most studied topics in number theory. In particular, he showed how adventure. It is a lot of fun and is also very important to count quartic and quintic number fields, and for the world.” proved that the average rank of elliptic curves over the rational numbers is less than 1.

Manjul Bhargava Professor of Mathematics, Princeton University

The beauty in numbers

Among Prof. Bhargava's contributions is the answer to a problem that Many fascinating and puzzling had eluded the legendary Carl problems are encountered in Prof. Manjul Bhargava is a Friedrich Gauss (1777 – 1855). One of Number theory is one of number theory. The following is Along with his student, passionate mathematician Gauss' discoveries was a law of the oldest branches of one such example : Say you have Prof. Bhargava also worked who has been trying to composition on binary quadratic mathematics that involves two 200 digit prime numbers and on a problem called the solve such mysteries. forms, i.e. expressions of the type the study of whole numbers you feed these numbers into a 2 2 Birch and Swinnerton‑Dyer He thinks of mathematics ax + bxy + cy , with a, b and c being The real world implications and how they relate to computer which multiplies these conjecture, which is as art. Prof. Bhargava's whole numbers that are fixed, and of the problems that one another. It deals with numbers and gives a 400 digit basically a problem research in number x and y being the variables. It was an Prof. Bhargava works finding patterns in whole number. If this 400 digit number is in advanced calculus theory deals specifically open question as to whether this was on are not immediately numbers such as prime then fed into a computer in order but which has deep with the development isolated or part of a bigger theory. evident. However, numbers and squares. to work backwards to arrive at the implications in they have profound of novel techniques to Prof. Bhargava showed that quadratic number theory as well. Number theory helps original two 200 digit numbers, implications in areas such count objects that were forms were not the only forms with The conjecture involved in developing theories it would take billions of years for as encryption schemes, previously considered such composition, but that other elliptic curves or equations that allow one to find even the most advanced computer credit card security and inaccessible. forms such as cubic forms also have of the form y2 = x3 + ax + b. whole number solutions to come up with the solution. such composition. He was also able to internet applications. to equations such as However, no one knows why this show that the Gauss composition is in 2 3 y = x + 2x + 3. is so. Therefore, this property is fact only one of at least 14 such laws. used in security related measures such as encryption schemes on the internet.

Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation | 29 Mathematical Sciences 2013

“Research has one very nice aspect to it, which is that • A.B. in Mathematics from Prof. Rahul Pandharipande is a leader in the field you wake up in the morning, you can think about Princeton University of algebraic geometry. During the last 15 years, questions that interest you the most. The difficult side • Ph.D. in Mathematics from he has made profound contributions to the is that often you don't make very much progress on it. Harvard University Gromov‑Witten theory. This theory introduced in So it is psychologically sometimes difficult. But I find it the 1990s has forged deep connections between many areas of mathematics including algebraic is a great career.” geometry, symplectic geometry, , etc. He excels in doing explicit computations and in finding beautiful formulae Rahul Vijay Pandharipande and rich structures within these theories. Professor, Department of Mathematics, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH), Zurich

Uncovering the relationships between invariants

Invariants help in identifying The objects in Prof. Rahul similar objects or even the Pandharipande's work are Calabi‑Yau A circle can be drawn on a sheet As the degree of the same object that appears in ‘3‑folds’ that are geometric shapes Recently, of paper and is a geometric polynomials that define the a different disguise. A circle of keen interest in mathematics Prof. Pandharipande object. But a circle of radius r equations increase, the curve is determined by its radius. and theoretical physics. They are and his student In mathematics, an can be described as those points or the surface tends to be more An ellipse by its major and determined by algebraic equations, Aaron Pixton proved invariant is a quantity (x,y) on the plane that satisfy the twisted. For example x + y = 1 minor axes. There could be typically of degree equal to the this conjecture. which remains quadratic equation x2 + y2 = r2. is a straight line while x2 + y2 = 1 more than one set of invariants number of variables. There are two The results are unchanged under Similarly, polynomial equations is a circle. In mathematics, often for the same set of objects. sets of invariants associated with important because of certain classes of are algebraic objects but their spaces of dimensions larger A triangle can be determined them. The Gromov‑Witten invariants their connection to transformations. solutions represent geometric than three have to be studied. by either the lengths of its ‘count’ the number of different string theory which Invariants are extremely objects. So, a curve in a plane is For a seven dimensional space, three sides or by one side and maps of standard curves of varying is supposed be the useful for classifying described by one equation but four equations define a surface the three angles that add up types into a Calabi‑Yau ‘3‑fold’. theory of everything! mathematical objects in space, a surface is defined by of three dimensions. Each to 180 degrees. Trigonometry The Donaldson‑Thomas invariants because they usually solutions of one equation and equation reduces the dimension provides a relation between are intrinsically defined through an reflect the intrinsic a curve is defined by solutions of by one. The geometry of the the two sets of data. algebraic construction on the same properties of the object two simultaneous equations. being studied. resultant object has to be “3‑fold” and provide a different set understood in terms of the of ‘counts’. The MNOP conjecture of the of Maulik-Nekrasov-Okounkov- equations that define it. Two Pandharipande predicted a deep and surfaces that are presented unexpected relation between the differently can be very similar. two, providing in particular an explicit recipe for computing one set from the other. 30 | Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Physical Sciences “The joy of doing research is very clear, especially in the sort of research which I do, to discover new kinds of cosmic or celestial sources. The rush one feels on discovering something new is incomparable; there are no words to describe that experience. In order to make these discoveries you have to go through a very long process of modest failures, tries, repeated tries, then hopefully with some luck one makes a discovery.”

Shrinivas Kulkarni Jury Chair, Physical Sciences, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Professor of Astronomy and Planetary Science, California Institute of Technology, U.S. Physical Sciences 2009

“The kind of awards they (the Infosys Science • B.Sc. in Physics from Professor Padmanabhan has distinguished himself Foundation) have instituted I'm certain is going to go Kerala University with fundamental contributions to several areas a long way in instilling a sense of belonging in this • M.Sc. in Physics from of theoretical astrophysics. Through a series country. And, also to feel what we achieve here will be Kerala University of papers, he has shown that the link between Einstein's Theory of General Relativity and duly recognized and it is more appropriate because of • Ph.D. in Physics from thermodynamics is far deeper than suggested by the kind of international standing which these awards the Tata Institute of the early work done in the 1970s. This work opens Fundamental Research, are destined to occupy very soon.” a new perspective on gravity as an emergent Mumbai phenomenon and is expected to provide fresh Thanu Padmanabhan • Post doctoral research at insights into the nature of dark energy in the the Institute of Astronomy, Professor and Dean of Core Academic Programs of Inter‑University universe. University of Cambridge Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune

Tackling the origins of the universe

The problem was that Around the same time, there were mathematical inconsistencies between these Prof. Thanu Padmanabhan has A few hundred years later, the theory of quantum made major contributions to this mechanics showed two theories. In order to have Albert Einstein came up a unified theory that explains endeavor. His work has provided with the theory of relativity phenomena on the deeper insights into Einstein's This leads to an important microscopic level of atoms our universe, it is necessary to consequence : Scientists have Sir Isaac Newton's that explained gravity as theory of gravity using the and elementary particles align the theories explaining hypothesized that ‘dark energy’ theory of gravitation being more than a force language of thermodynamics, such as electrons, protons the macroscopic and the is what has led to the accelerated stated that all bodies that attracts objects at a specifically in terms of entropy and neutrons. microscopic. One of the expansion of the universe, as attract each other and distance. It defined gravity's and temperature which can be challenges in physics has been determined from observations. the attraction depends relationship to space and attributed to space‑time itself, and to combine the two theories Prof. Padmanabhan's research on the mass of the time. The general theory of shows that the physics of gravity and come up with a quantum has contributed to a better bodies. relativity describes the force theory of gravity. This is is similar to physics of a fluid or of gravity and the large‑scale elastic solid. It is emergent from understanding of the nature essential to our understanding of dark energy and holds the (macroscopic) structure of of the universe around us. deeper structures rather than a the universe. fundamental description by itself. promise for solving the key problem in theoretical physics today.

34 | Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Physical Sciences 2010

“To fulfil the basic human need to understand the • M.Sc. in Integrated Physics In recent years, physicists have pursued the possibility universe and its workings, to understand how it all from the Indian Institute of of achieving a unified account of all the known forces began, how it may end, what lies in the future for us… Technology, Kanpur of physics using concepts of . It was difficult to construct solutions of the equations it is in understanding these basic kind of questions • Ph.D. in Theoretical of Superstring Theory that did not contain massless that I think my work can contribute, and these Physics from the California Institute of Technology, particles of a kind not observed in nature, and that questions are of importance or of interest to Pasadena describes an accelerating or inflating universe, which common people.” seem to be required by cosmological observations. • Post Doctoral Research Through an ingenious construction that introduced Associate at the Institute several theoretical innovations, Prof. Sandip Trivedi Sandip Trivedi for Advanced Study, showed that these difficulties are Princeton, New Jersey Professor, Theoretical Physics Department, connected, and can be Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai overcome simultaneously.

Tackling the mysteries of Superstring Theory

How did our universe Superstring Theory is begin? How does it work? different from other versions Over the years, scientists of String Theory because it have put forward many includes fermions and the However, this has proved theories that attempt to In recent years, physicists Through his work, Trivedi has Trivedi's work helps to make concept of . difficult to do and so far answer these questions. around the world have also been able to find a way important links between Fermions include particles the only solutions to the In recent years, String been pursuing the of solving an outstanding the fields of Superstring such as quarks and leptons. equations of Superstring Theory has been a much possibility of achieving puzzle in Superstring Theory, cosmology and Bosons are another kind Theory that physicists have studied field and is a a unified theory of all Theory regarding the particle physics. His research of particle which include constructed involve massless promising attempt in this the known forces of origin of dark energy in the has made important the photon and the particles of the kind not direction. Superstring nature including gravity, universe. In cosmology and contributions to the study recently discovered Higgs seen in nature. Prof. Trivedi, Theory or Supersymmetric strong forces, weak forces astronomy there is increasing of superstring cosmology, Boson. Supersymmetry is with collaborators, has String Theory is an and electromagnetic evidence that the universe is flux compactifications a symmetry that relates shown a way of overcoming attempt to define all the interactions. They have dominated by a form of dark (a particular way to deal with fermions and bosons. this problem by using an particles and fundamental been trying to achieve energy which is thought to the additional dimensions ingenious construction forces in nature as the this using the concepts of contribute to its expansion. required by string theory), that introduced several vibrations of microscopic Superstring Theory. physics and theoretical innovations. supersymmetric strings. supersymmetry breaking.

Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation | 35 Physical Sciences 2011

“Eventually our work on active matter will be relevant • B.S. in Physics from the Prof. Sriram Ramaswamy's work on the to a complete understanding of the mechanics and University of Maryland mechanics and of active matter has statistical properties of cells, tissue and organisms. • Ph.D. in Physics from the given birth and shape to this rapidly growing The field involved in this case is biology which is University of Chicago field. He used simple yet powerful arguments a fantastic source of problems for physicists to think based on symmetry and conservation principles to uncover the strange laws governing the about.” collective behavior of active particles in a medium, which could be motor proteins walking on cytoskeletal filaments, or schools of fish Sriram Ramaswamy swimming in an ocean and forming a pattern. Senior Professor and Centre Director, TIFR Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Hyderabad

Studying the mechanics and statistics of Active Matter

Remarkably, the mechanism he Prof. Sriram Ramaswamy has Ramaswamy's research is proposed for bacteria been studying how groups of important to understand moving through Ramaswamy offers new living things move together. Ramaswamy's research not how the collections of In our everyday lives we fluids applied on even insights into the collective Specifically, he wanted to only explores the movement living cells and tissues often encounter natural smaller scales, to the movements of these understand how groups of on a macroscopic scale as in develop and grow. phenomena that are filaments in a single self‑propelled organisms living things move together the case of schools of fish but It could also potentially symmetrical and follow living cell. In addition, using Active Matter physics. in a fluid. When groups of also microscopic movements help us understand how interesting patterns. Flocks he showed how to His research elucidates how living matter move in a liquid as in the case of bacteria. In the bacteria form colonies. of migratory birds, schools create artificial flocks Active Matter takes in free medium, a disturbance is latter, he discovered that the If we understood these of fish, tessellations in in a layer of bits of energy and is consumed at created, which then affects movement of bacteria created movements fully, we could a honeycomb, and the metal wire. the level of each particle, the movement of others in subtle ripples in the fluid in even manufacture small wildebeest migration – all leading to systematic the group. which they moved, which in turn objects that can move follow set patterns. These movements. His research led to the colony arranging itself by themselves, such as patterns are subject to a is attempting to uncover in complex patterns. little gadgets that follow certain order that we often the laws that govern the chemical traces or scents. do not understand. collective movements of living creatures that seem to follow some sort of order.

36 | Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Physical Sciences 2012

“The types of materials that we create are highly • M.Sc. in Chemistry from Dr. Ajayaghosh's landmark research in advanced fluorescent and they are very sensitive to their ambience Calicut University supramolecular chemistry, most specifically or surroundings. So we are trying to use this for • Ph.D. in Chemistry from in investigations that have led to the design diagnostic purposes, mainly for the detection of certain Calicut University and synthesis of molecular assemblies called organogels (pi‑gels), a new class of materials diseases at an early stage. And this is a dream project with great potential for photonic and electronic which we are now trying to pursue.” applications. He has demonstrated that these self‑assembled nano materials can be used to control the electronic energy transfer processes, A. Ajayaghosh paving the way for the development of superior CSIR Outstanding Scientist, National Institute for Interdisciplinary light harvesting devices. Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram

Discovering the secret language of molecules

In the natural world supramolecular architectures are When we hear of magical created by non-covalent materials that repair interaction of molecules. Prof. A. Ajayaghosh's or clean themselves or Non-covalent interactions research on There are many types of spontaneously emit light, between molecules supramolecular structures highly sensitive materials is trying to create it may sound very like a utilize weak electronic such as fluorescent An important and molecular architectures Harry Potter novel, but it forces such as hydrogen Prof. Ajayaghosh's research is materials which can enormously useful of different sizes and turns out that scientists are bonding, pi‑stacking uncovering the process of how be used for sensing application of shapes using a special like wizards who can create and electrostatic forces. these connections could be other molecules. Such Prof. Ajayaghosh's class of molecules that When different types of converted to signals, which can ‘magic material’ would work would be for such magic material by are electronically and molecules of different then be used for certain kinds be enormously useful the early detection harnessing the properties photonically active. He has of applications. in electronic devices of diseases such as of molecules. For example, sizes and shapes are put been studying how they and in creating security cancer. This could organic electronics has together, they are able interact in nature to create labels which are made potentially be used been used to invent novel to ‘communicate’ with these architectures and if of substance selective as an important devices after extensive each other. these can be mimicked in optical sensing materials diagnostic tool and research in supramolecular the laboratory. for documents and help with providing structures, which are made . treatment in a of large molecules formed timely manner. by grouping or bonding smaller molecules together.

Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation | 37 Physical Sciences 2013

“It is a completely remarkable fact about the world we • M.Sc. in Physics from Prof. Shiraz Naval Minwalla is a leader in live in that everything appears to function according the Indian Institute of quantum gravity research. He has made deep to mathematical laws. Moreover these laws seem to be Technology, Kanpur contributions in the field of string theory, accessible to our limited human thought. It seems like a • Ph.D. in Physics from in particular to the study of the AdS / CFT natural — and perhaps the most important — endeavor Princeton University correspondence. Prof. Minwalla uncovered an unexpected connection between the equations for human beings to try to understand these laws. To try to of fluid and superfluid dynamics and Einstein's figure out what the rules of existence are.” equations of general relativity. Shiraz Naval Minwalla Professor, Department of Theoretical Physics, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai and IBM Einstein Fellow and Visiting Professor, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton

Understanding gravity within the framework of quantum mechanics

Prof. Shiraz Naval Minwalla The de Sitter space is the established that, in the long relativistic analog of Elliptical wavelength hydrodynamic There are four known fundamental space and Anti-de Sitter space limit, a black hole in Anti‑de forces in nature : the gravitational (AdS) is the hyperbolic space Several years ago, Prof. Juan Maldacena Sitter space is governed by force, electromagnetic force, strong that follows the tenets of the discovered the Anti‑de Sitter / exactly the same equations as force and weak force. Physicists theory of relativity. A conformal (AdS / CFT) the nonlinear Navier‑Stokes Prof. Minwalla's work unifies have a satisfactory mathematical field theory is a special kind of correspondence which is a conjectured equations of a fluid. This AdS / two of the best‑studied description of the last three of these , one which holographic relation between gravitational theory in the bulk of CFT‑like holographic view of nonlinear partial differential within the framework of quantum has no dimensionful constants. Anti‑de Sitter space and a conformal fluid dynamics is called the equations in physics. Using field theory. The only theory The conformal field theories of quantum field theory that resides on fluid / gravity map. the fluid / gravity map, currently available for gravitational most relevance to string theory its boundary. Since then scientists have Prof. Minwalla established force, however, is Einstein's classical often also enjoy invariance under a connection between the supersymmetry, a symmetry that tried to understand the significance of theory of general relativity. this correspondence, which provides an classical area theorems of A satisfactory quantum theory of ensures that every particle has black hole physics and the a corresponding super particle in‑principle complete description of at gravitation is not currently available. least some quantum theories of gravity. positivity of the divergence partner with opposite statistics. of the entropy current in fluid dynamics.

38 | Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Social Sciences “Within the social sciences, and the range is very big, from the more technical ends of the social sciences to the non‑technical social sciences, there are different contributions you can make to the development of a society. It changes the way human beings think, the way human beings interact with one another, the way we participate in discourse and in the end, the ideas that fructify and take a nation further.”

Kaushik Basu Jury Chair, Social Sciences, Chief and Senior Vice President, and Professor of Economics and the C. Marks Professor of International Studies, Cornell University, U.S. Social Sciences – Economics 2009

“This Prize is particularly special to me because on both • B.Sc. in Economics from Professor Abhijit Banerjee has long been sides…one of the first pieces of empirical research I did in University of Calcutta recognized for his outstanding contributions India was on the software industry and that was facilitated • M.A. in Economics to the economic theory of development, massively by Mr. Murthy.” from Jawaharlal Nehru and for his pioneering work in the empirical University evaluation of public . In widely cited contributions to the former, Banerjee has • Ph.D. in Economics from presented his novel departures in the Harvard University understanding of herd behavior in financial markets, and also his analysis of occupational Abhijit Banerjee distribution in conditions when the poor find Professor, Department of Economics, it difficult to raise credit. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge

Analyzing the economics of alleviation

Prof. Banerjee has also provided unique insights into the workings of financial markets. His theories mark a major departure in Prof. Banerjee established the understanding the herd behavior Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Lab have long struggled The core argument of this book is in financial markets. The latter (J‑PAL) along with two other with solving the problems that anti‑poverty policy measures is the imitative behavior that is founders. Researchers from the of poverty and inequality. have failed because of inadequate often exhibited by traders and lab conduct social experiments Questions such as — What understanding of poverty by investors. In Prof. Banerjee's to find out what actually causes poverty and what are the the policy makers. Prof. Banerjee model of herd behavior, works for poverty alleviation most effective ways of fighting Prof. Abhijit Banerjee's work deals and his co‑author argue that the individuals prefer to act as others, in different scenarios across it? Are state policies effective with these questions. Over the battle against poverty can be won even if they are in possession of various countries of the world. in alleviating poverty? Do the course of nearly two decades, with well thought out policies unique information, which in turn poor exhibit different behaviors along with his colleagues, he has especially those aimed at effective leads to an unbalanced system. that create the situations that collected a rich body of evidence delivery of state aid, essential they are in? — are investigated that shows why the poor end up health and education services. for plausible answers and with entirely different lives despite implementable solutions. having the same desires and abilities as anyone else. This was collected into a widely‑acclaimed book, Poor Economics : A radical rethinking of the way to fight global poverty.

42 | Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Social Sciences – History 2009

“I know that it (Infosys Prize) will be a source of great • M.A. in History from the Professor Upinder Singh is being recognized for inspiration for my future research and writing. I would University of Delhi her contributions as an outstanding historian of like to add that I think it is wonderful that the Infosys • M.Phil. in History from the ancient and early medieval India. She has been Science Foundation has thought of this way of making University of Delhi a pioneer in supplementing literary sources with a statement that the world of academics, research and an impressive array of archaeological, epigraphic • Ph.D. in History from and numismatic evidence to reconstruct early teaching counts. That our universities and research McGill University, Montreal Indian history brilliantly. The vast chronological institutions count; that science, the social sciences, history, span of her scholarship stretches across even ancient history matters.” millennia from the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic ages to 1200 CE. Upinder Singh Professor, Department of History, and Reader, University of Delhi

Rediscovering ancient Indian history

History is about keeping records about our past. It is also about Prof. Singh's work has covered Working meticulously, putting events in the past in a different regions in India and looked Prof. Singh has attempted context that's relevant to our at the roles people have played in This liberal historian also a modern rediscovery of present. From the Stone Age to shaping the country's history. She has contributed to the study of ancient India. Her intense a modern day India, the nation's used sources such as texts, currency, ancient cities in India with study, connecting elements history has often been studied inscriptions and other objects Prof. Upinder Singh's work is a detailed study of the city of in archaeology and history, and interpreted by scholars from various periods unearthed by an exciting and challenging Delhi through the ages. while also drawing on relevant from various schools of thought. archaeologists to build a strong exploration of ancient Indian literary sources, has made her These analyses were often account of ancient India. history. Her work not only works commendable. colored or shaped by several attempts at giving us a factors — be they political, deeper understanding of cultural, religious or economic. Indian history, but also evokes intellectual inquiry and debate that form a standard part of learning history for university students and general readers.

Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation | 43 Social Sciences – Sociology 2010

“Research to me is important because it is a way of • B.A. in Economics from the Prof. Amita Baviskar is widely recognized as illuminating what often seems to be either very University of Delhi the premier sociologist of social movements obvious and commonsensical or so difficult that it • M.A. in Sociology from the involving environment and development in seems impossible to understand.” University of Delhi contemporary India. Her studies have shown how major government interventions for rural • Ph.D. in Development and urban development in India often adversely Sociology from Cornell affect the ability of socially disadvantaged University groups to secure access to natural resources, livelihoods and democratic rights.

Amita Baviskar Associate Professor, Institute of , Delhi

Working for environmental and social justice

Have you paused to think how our fetish for instant food and an easy lifestyle is altering the Mining for coal, iron An important part of Prof. Baviskar is a ecological balance? Have India's economic growth and bauxite, building Prof. Baviskar's work has been to premier sociologist you wondered where large dams and other Prof. Amita Baviskar has analyze how poor people in rural of current social the water and electricity has benefited some of us at the expense of others. projects has displaced been examining the social and urban India come together to movements in in your city comes from more than 50 million and ecological impacts protect their lives and livelihoods. India. Her work has and where your sewage This injustice has often been worsened by government people in India since of unequal economic Her research has shown that poor highlighted many social goes? The true cost of our independence. Many growth in India. She people overcome their lack of inequality and resource comfortable lives is being policies that have displaced or deprived indigenous and of them who come has focused on the ill power by building alliances with conflict issues that need paid by others, usually to cities in search of effects of industrial and other social groups. She also to be resolved. Her work poor villagers and the land, other poor people of their rights. The same policies work are forced to urban development and shows how social movements has exposed the critical rivers and forests that they live in slums, without has analyzed how poor fight for justice by mobilizing their need to mobilize civil depend upon. have also depleted our natural resources, affecting clean water or toilets. people are fighting to cultural heritage to win support society, especially in other species and the fate of Denied legal rights, they defend their rights and from the media and the judicial a democratic country future generations. struggle to survive in a resources. systems. like ours. hostile environment.

44 | Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Social Sciences – Social Anthropology 2010

“Anthropology, and anthropological research, allows you • B.A. in Philosophy, Prof. Nandini Sundar is an outstanding social to enter worlds that are different from your own, in a and Economics from anthropologist of South Asia, who has made major comparative perspective as well as a very detailed analysis Oxford University and original contributions to our understanding of particular communities. What keeps me going is the • M.A. in Anthropology from of environmental struggles, of the impact of opportunity of combining fieldwork with theoretical reading.” Columbia University central and state policies on tribal politics, and of the moral ambiguities associated with subaltern • M.Phil. in Anthropology political movements in contemporary India. from Columbia University Prof. Sundar has placed her detailed studies of • Ph.D. in Anthropology tribal politics in Central India in the broader frame from Columbia University of studies of the law, bureaucracy and morality in Nandini Sundar modern India. Professor, Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics

Analyzing indigenous identity and inequality

Prof. Sundar has also Prof. Sundar has placed her written on the politics Nandini Sundar also studies Prof. Nandini Sundar's work detailed studies of tribal of knowledge ranging violence by both state and Prof. Sundar has contributed Even as she has the ability deals with the changing social politics in Central India in from schooling to the non‑state actors and the to our understanding of to speak to different identities and the politics of the broader frame of studies history of academic question of accountability environmental struggles, the audiences in the public knowledge in modern India. of the law, bureaucracy and disciplines. She has for crimes committed. She impact of central and state and policy sphere, Anthropologists are often morality in modern India. had a major impact on has managed to bring policies on tribal politics, Prof. Sundar has made accused of wanting to keep In so doing, she has combined a new generation of impartiality to controversial and the moral ambiguities invaluable scholarly tribal groups or indigenous innovative empirical and scholars of sociology subjects in which social associated with subaltern contributions to social people as museum pieces, ethnographic methods and and anthropology all scientists encounter the political movements in scientific research at an away from mainstream cutting‑edge approaches to over the world. conflicting of contemporary India. These international level. culture. Prof. Nandini Sundar those sociological debates policy‑makers, activists and contributions are anchored in feels that these communities which link the study of social political parties. her deep grasp of the legacies have never been outside of colonial rule for cultural change in modern India to the ‘mainstream’ of history. politics in contemporary central debates in comparative Instead, the mainstream has India, and in her theoretically social theory. She has also been built by using their innovative understanding of the contributed significantly to resources and appropriating relationship of major historical international debates on theory their culture. events to persistent structural and research methodology. tensions in Indian society.

Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation | 45 Social Sciences – and 2011

“My own conviction is that Indian democracy needs • B.A. in Philosophy, Politics Dr. Pratap Bhanu Mehta has established himself honest brokers. By honest brokers, I mean people and Economics from as one of India's finest scholars and public minds, who can impartially and objectively assess different St. John's College, Oxford who has inspired a new generation of intellectual University kinds of arguments. And, if my writing can be a small enquiry. He has contributed to not only political contribution to that, I think I'll take some satisfaction.” • Ph.D. in Politics from philosophy and social theory in general, but has Princeton University also addressed urgent issues of Indian politics and .

Pratap Bhanu Mehta President and Chief Executive, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi

Role of intellectual inquiry in a democracy

What is the nature of good governance? How In addition to his work can a democratically Dr. Mehta's work however is in academia and in the Ever since Plato's elected government not confined to the academic public sphere, Dr. Mehta examined the nature of and its institutions be space. His insightful and has contributed to justice and what makes Dr. Mehta's research made accountable and critical analysis of India's institution building with a just society, political in transparent? How can these politics and policy has his leadership of the theorists have delved into and social theory has societies achieve the idea of resulted in broadening the Center for Policy Research how democratic societies A prolific writer, Dr. Mehta's inspired a new wave justice? These are some of sphere of public debate. (CPR) which has become can approach an ideal scholarly works cover a wide of intellectual enquiry the questions that Dr. Pratap Political discourse in the the foremost non‑partisan of justice so that their range of subjects such as Indian in political science and Bhanu Mehta has been public sphere is an important center for research citizens can realize their political thought, constitutional theory in India. trying to answer over the part of nation building and into public policy and full potential. years through his research. law, Indian society and India's Dr. Mehta has initiated many role in international affairs. democratic institutions. debates by successfully His non‑academic writing as a challenging the many reigning columnist captures the zeitgeist orthodoxies. of the moment and encourages citizens to ask the right questions on the most urgent issues facing the nation.

46 | Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Social Sciences – Economics 2011

“I think the field of economics, the field of business • B.Tech. (Electrical) from Prof. Raghuram G. Rajan's work has analyzed is extremely exciting. Partly because we've seen that the Indian Institute of the contribution of financial development to sometimes economies seize up, they don't work. Technology, Delhi economic growth, and its potentially harmful And, the old answers we had explaining these kinds of • M.B.A. from the Indian effects of dysfunctional incentives that lead to things, we find they don't work so well. So there's an Institute of Management, excessive risk‑taking. He presented convincing Ahmedabad evidence of the possibility of a global financial enormous amount of work to be done to understand what crisis in 2005, well before the actual crisis has happened and what kind of changes we need.” • Ph.D. in Finance from the occurred during 2008 – 09. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Raghuram G. Rajan Governor, Reserve Bank of India, and Eric J. Gleacher Distinguished Professor of Finance, Graduate School of Business, University of Chicago

Predicting a financial meltdown

In the 1950s and 60s, the economies in the West enjoyed a tremendous As trade barriers came growth buoyed by the down, between end of the war, the companies increased. Prof. Rajan has since reconstruction boom, and In order to perform better, suggested several the resurgence of trade. In 2008, a catastrophic they needed increased Prof. Raghuram Rajan's work As early as 2005, safeguards to financial By the 1970s, this rate of meltdown hit the financing. This was provided mainly focused on financial Prof. Rajan predicted markets including a growth slowed leading global and by banks which became the institutions and their role in a meltdown based plan to create a form to a massive slump in most people were cornerstone of the economy. the growth stories of nations. on his extensive of financial catastrophe the western economies. caught unawares. Bankers went from being He pointed out that the research of global insurance that banks To counter this, in the 1980s boring and safe to taking on structure of financial sector financial systems. could buy into. and 1990s deregulation of increasingly risky ventures. compensation was such that trade became the norm. A so‑called ‘bonus culture’ bankers were given huge cash This led to a rise in new where you were rewarded incentives to take tremendous entrepreneurial ventures. no matter what, rewarded risks with other people's them for actions that could money, while imposing no destroy their own institutions penalties for any losses or even the entire system. incurred.

Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation | 47 Social Sciences – Economics 2012

“If we have to progress as a country, we really need • Ph.D. in Economics from Prof. Arunava Sen's research recognizes that far higher numbers of people contributing ideas. Princeton University information pertinent to And, I think that's what the Prize (Infosys Prize) will • M.Phil. in Economics from design is held by individuals who may do. It will make research not just respectable but Oxford University benefit by misrepresenting it, and that policy attractive and inspirational for younger people.” implementation is constrained by the freedom • M.A. in Economics from of individuals to act. Therefore, it has large the Delhi School of implications on real‑world policy‑making. Economics, University of His main contribution (in joint work with Delhi Prof. Dilip Abreu) shows that any social choice rule can be approximated by one that is Arunava Sen a Nash equilibrium of such Professor, Planning Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, New Delhi individual interaction.

Examining individual strategic behavior

One of the areas in which is a Prof. Sen's work could be Prof. Sen's work can be sub‑field of applied to is the issue The theory of mechanism used to design the best that allows economists of land acquisition in Have you ever wondered design can be applied to Prof. Arunava Sen's research outcomes or desirable to analyze and compare the Special Economic how individuals decide who practical problems such centers around game theory, outcomes, where the way in which markets Zones (SEZs) or for other to vote for in an and as auctioning of resources mechanism design, social individuals realize that or institutions, such as a industrial developments. how this effects the outcomes such as oil, setting rules for choice, and auction design. they have strategic power. government, can efficiently His findings reveal that in a democracy? How does in and even His work has been at the His research recognizes allocate it may be impossible one understand and analyze deciding the number of public purely theoretical level. that information always allowing for the to achieve the kind of outcomes in events such as goods that the government However, his work could have applicable to designing possibility that the buyers voluntary participation, the Indian Premier League should provide. Similarly, profound implications for the economic policy is and sellers are privy to efficiency and auctions? Economists use the area of social choice way policies are formulated held by individuals information that the other incentive compatibility game theory for this purpose. theory is the philosophical by the government. Prof. Sen who may benefit from is not aware of. that is required for Game theory is the formal and mathematical study of has done extensive research misrepresenting it, and government policies analysis of strategic behavior. the types of conclusions that in social choice theory and the implementation of this to work. He outlines It considers situations where can be drawn from studying builds on the work of Kenneth policy is restricted by the other alternatives that several agents mutually affect individual preferences as a Arrow and Amartya Sen in ability of individuals to act the government could each other and tries to predict whole to produce a social this field. independently based on implement. outcomes. function. their information.

48 | Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Social Sciences – Sociology and Anthropology 2013

“I've tried to do social anthropology at three levels. • M.A. in Sociology from the Prof. Aninhalli R. Vasavi's wide‑ranging, distinctive Basically research and teaching related to contemporary University of Delhi and pioneering research spans four fields : issues in India, but I've also tried to take some of this • M.Phil. in Sociology from agrarian society as the intersection of economy, research to the field. I've tried to see how people who are the University of Delhi culture and environment; school education in not in academics engage with and understand some of varied regional contexts; moral economy of • Ph.D. in Social globalized, glamorized occupations like the IT these issues. I'm also now trying to set up a new initiative, Anthropology from industry, and interface between (western) social which is an alternative learning program for rural youth.” Michigan State University sciences and (vernacular) intellectuals in India. Her two most important contributions enrich our understanding of farmer suicides Aninhalli R. Vasavi and rural schooling. Senior Fellow, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi

Studying the effects of globalization on agrarian societies

Globalization and Prof. Vasavi's approach to industrialization have also In addition to her work social science research is changed people's aspirations. on agrarian societies, notable for the various Prof. Aninhalli R. Vasavi has been Prof. Vasavi also examines Traditional ways of life have research methodologies conducting research in a wide Prof. Vasavi has also school education and its she employs which include Mahatma Gandhi once been replaced by new social range of areas including how studied emerging impact in various regional documentary film making said that India lives in experiences. Burdens that were globalization affects agrarian new global contexts. Her work and classical ethnography. her villages. India is still earlier shared in a community societies. She has delved deeply economies such helps us understand the She has also drawn on primarily an agrarian are now increasingly borne by into the phenomenon of farmer as the Information functioning and culture various Indian languages society. Over the past few individuals. This has changed suicides that has led to the Technology industry of schools as institutions as part of her research. decades, however, more the landscape of the country unexpected revelation that it is and its significance. especially in rural areas. She believes that the biggest people have moved to in previously unimagined ways. not just debt and other financial The concept of moral Her work could help incentive for young social cities and semi‑urban pressures that lead to these economy looks at decide how disadvantaged science researchers is the areas, and society and the suicides but it is also farmers' economics as tied to students can be provided opportunity that it provides economy have changed experience of social and cultural moral behavior and with better schooling to be deeply involved and rapidly. change. This change in the its links to power, options. engaged with the societies social order has forced farmers dominance and that they themselves live in. to manage their problems cultural norms. by themselves, without the traditional community support.

Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation | 49 Of origins and journeys

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Infosys Science Eminent experts A Prize is set up Lecture Series begins The Year of Mathematics Prize grows bigger Foundation is born appointed as Jury Chairs

Infosys and the National The Infosys Science The founding Jury Chairs of ISF instituted the Infosys The Government of India ISF celebrates its fifth year Institute of Advanced Studies Foundation (ISF) was the Infosys Prize, some of Science Foundation Lecture declared 2012 as the Year of anniversary announcing an (NIAS) awarded the first established as a trust with six the best minds in academia, Series to inform and inspire Mathematics. ISF organized increase in the Prize purse Infosys Mathematics Prize trustees and N. R. Narayana committed to extend the youth to consider careers lectures, contests and events from ` 50 lakh to ` 55 lakh to Prof. Murthy as its President. their tenure to five years. in research. The laureates to observe this special year. and a study on research from the Department of The Prize corpus fund The Jury Chairs comprise and jurors through their Humanities category careers in India. Computer Science and which stands at ` 100 crore Prof. Amartya Sen, Dr. Inder lectures demystify the world added Engineering at the Indian today was just ` 20 crore. Verma, Prof. Subra Suresh, of academia and research. The Humanities was added Institute of Technology, What started as a Prize for Prof. Shrinivas Kulkarni and This intervention provides as a new category and the Kanpur. On February 18, Mathematics expanded Prof. Srinivasa Varadhan. insights for the student Infosys Prize in 2012 for 2009, before the Prize to include the larger field Prof. Subra Suresh left community especially Humanities was awarded ceremony commenced at of sciences : Engineering the jury to join as the about the advances in their in the areas of History and NIAS, the Prize purse was and Computer Science, Director of the National respective fields. Literary Studies. Prof. Kaushik increased from ` 10 lakh to Life Sciences, Mathematical Science Foundation in Basu, Chief Economist at ` 50 lakh. Sciences, Physical Sciences the U.S. Prof. Pradeep the World Bank and former and Social Sciences. Khosla, Chancellor, Chief Economic Adviser to University of California, the Government of India San Diego, U.S. was then was appointed as the Jury appointed as the Jury Chair for the Social Sciences Chair for Engineering and category and Prof. Amartya Computer Science. Sen became the Jury Chair for Humanities.

50 | Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Bibliography Banerjee, Abhijit. (1992). A Simple Model of Herd Behavior. The Quarterly Journal of Economics. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2118364

Books Banerjee, Abhijit. (n.d.). Pieces in Popular Press. Retrieved from http://economics.mit.edu/faculty/banerjee/pieces Hawking, Stephen. (2001). A Brief History of Time from the Big Bang to Black Holes. Bantam. Baviskar, Amita. (2010). Good to Eat, Good to Think: Why we should study India’s changing food cultures. Infosys Science Foundation Lectures. Retrieved from Audio http://www.infosys-science-foundation.com/lectures/videos/index.asp

Mehta, P. B. (2011). Interview with CNN-IBN. Baviskar, Amita. (2010). Good To Eat: Gandhi And The Ethics Of Food. Ahimsa Day Ramaswamy, Sriram. (2011). Interview with CNN IBN Lecture. Retrieved from http://www.gandhitopia.org/profiles/blogs/good-to-eat- gandhi-and-the Online sources Baviskar, Amita. (2012). Sweat of Shiva’s Back. Outlook India. Retrieved from A. Ajayaghosh profile. (n.d.). In Infosys Science Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?279397 http://www.infosys-science-foundation.com/prize/laureates/2012/ajayaghosh.asp Chandrashekhar Khare profile. (n.d.). InInfosys Science Foundation. Retrieved from Analytic function. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.infosys-science-foundation.com/prize/laureates/2010/chandrashekhar- http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Analytic_function.html khare.asp

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