Google has honoured Indian scientist and applied statistician Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis with a doodle on his 125th birth anniversary. Born on June 29, 1893, the man is best remembered for Mahalanobis distance, a statistical measure, and for being one of the members of the first Planning Commission of India. The day is known as 'Statistics Day' in India and 2018 will be the 12th edition of the celebrations.

He made pioneering studies in anthropometry in India and also founded the Indian Statistical Institute in 1932, and contributed to the design of large-scale sample surveys. Mahalanobis introduced mechanical desk calculators for the first time and in 1943 set up the Indian Calculating Machine and Scientific Instrument Research Society to explore the fabrication of such devices locally.

After India received independence, he worked towards developing indigenous computers and garnered the likeness of then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Along with this, Nehru also gave him the responsibility of developing India's scientific capabilities with scientists like Mahalanobis and Homi Jehangir Bhabha.

Mahalanobis and Bhabha decided to begin a race to start India's computer revolution. Their work yielded results when the first indigenous analog computer was made in 1953. Mahalanobis and Bhabha were a terrific duo and bonded well with Western scientists who helped them come close to the global computer community. He died at 78 on June 28, 1972.

The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) will celebrate the Statistics Day in collaboration with the Department of Statistics, the University of Kashmir at EMMRC Auditorium University of Kashmir on June 29. The celebrations not only commemorate the notable contributions of the late Professor in the various fields but also create public awareness about the importance of statistics in different sections of the economy. Every year the day is celebrated centred around a theme. This year the theme is 'Quality Assurance in Official Statistics'.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 29, 2018 12:57 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).