The School of Mathematics was founded in the late 1940s as a centre for research in pure mathematics. The School of Mathematics of TIFR is at the frontiers of modern day mathematical research. Several brilliant contributions to mathematics have come from the School. Over the years it has established itself as one of the leading centers in many branches of mathematics, like algebra, algebraic geometry, ergodic theory, Lie groups and number theory. Applied mathematics is pursued at the Bangalore center (TIFR CAM). Most of the post-independence prominent mathematicians in India have spent some part of their careers as a member of the School.
Though research in mathematics in the Institute was initiated by D.D. Kosambi and F.W. Levi, the School of Mathematics evolved out of the efforts of two people, K. Chandrasekharan and K.G. Ramanathan, who joined the Institute in 1949 and 1950, respectively. The School was built up through training of students selected from across the country. The key objective was to make the School a place for scholars to carry out pure research on a long-term basis without distraction of teaching and administrative duties. Visits of several mathematicians during the initial years played an important role in developing state of the art expertise at the School, in various areas. We owe a particular debt in this respect to Laurent Schwartz and C.L. Siegel who visited the School several times in the early years.
The recognition of the School as a major center of mathematics became evident when the International Mathematical Union co-sponsored an International Colloquium at TIFR in 1956. The Colloquium, held every fourth year since, has become a major international event where leading experts from all over the world gather to discuss and share their ideas.
By the early sixties notable contributions were made by several members of the School, in Algebraic Geometry, Algebra and Number Theory. Interest developed in the mid-sixties in the theory of Lie groups, and broadened over the years to several areas around Lie groups. Some members also worked in Differential Geometry and Topology. In the seventies Discrete Mathematics was also introduced at the School, through contact with the University of Mumbai.
Research is now carried out in the broad areas of Algebra, Algebraic Geometry, Combinatorics, Dynamics and Analysis, Geometry, Number Theory, Probability Theory, Representation Theory and Automorphic Forms and Topology. Research in most of these areas has flourished over the decades, sometimes with changes in emphasis and topics. The pursuits have also responded to the trends in the international context, as they evolved.