First Indian Woman to Win the Ramanujan Prize: The Story of Sujatha Ramdorai

Born in Bengaluru in 1962, Sujatha Ramdorai’s fascination with mathematics began early, driven by curiosity and a love for patterns. She pursued her B.Sc. at St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore, followed by advanced studies at Annamalai University and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai.

Her research in non-commutative Iwasawa theory and the arithmetic of algebraic varieties earned her international acclaim. In 2006, she became the first Indian woman to win the ICTP Ramanujan Prize, awarded for outstanding contributions to mathematics by researchers from developing countries. She has also received the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (2004) and the Padma Shri (2023).

Currently, she serves as a Canada Research Chair at the University of British Columbia, continuing her mission to advance mathematical research and education globally.

Key Highlights

• Historic Achievement: First Indian woman to win the Ramanujan Prize (2006).
• Research Focus: Algebraic number theory, Iwasawa theory, arithmetic geometry.
• Academic Roles: Former professor at TIFR; Canada Research Chair at UBC.
• Awards: Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (2004), Padma Shri (2023).
• Inspiration: Role model for women in STEM, challenging stereotypes in mathematics.

Her journey underscores the importance of perseverance, intellectual curiosity, and breaking barriers in a traditionally male-dominated field.

Sources: India Today, Wikipedia, Ordinaari