Sunil N. Shabde

Meteoric Life of a Mathematician: a Tribute to Dr. N.g. Shabde Sunil N. Shabde

In British India during the 1920s, a brilliant student jumped from graduation directly into research in the subject of his passion, mathematics, rejecting lucrative career options. In the next 20 years with whirlwind speed he made exceptional achievements with his voluminous work in Legendre polynomials and his original work in Albert Einstein's 'Unifi ed Field Theory' at the Edinburgh University using a futuristic approach of 'fi fth dimension' His research was characterized not only by its originality and speed, but by the fact that it was done almost single-handedly without the luxury of working in a top tier university such as Harvard or Berkeley. His publications, including a book on 'Unifi ed Field Theory' received highly favorable reviews from renowned mathematicians such as Bateman, Erde'lyi and McC of Caltech Pasadena, and Rainich of the University of Michigan. In 1947, at the age of 40, he became one of the top few mathematicians in India and he was in a position to reach greater heights by moving to a better known research institution in India or in the United States. Instead, he followed his second passion, education. With a desire to give back to India, he chose to contribute to higher education, which the newly independent India desperately needed if she was to make rapid progress in science and technology. Innocently unaware of hurdles he would face from the government he struggled through. With sheer drive and creativity he made phenomenal contributions to the colleges of his state. However being a man of research, he was working against his instincts in a politically driven system. Without recognition he fought for his dreams, causing an unseen impact on his health. This brilliant mathematician and devoted educator passed away at an early age of 54 before he was able to reach his goals, as if somebody took away Van Gogh's paintbrush!