Prof RP Bambah: A life dedicated to maths & learning

Eminent mathematician Prof RP Bambah, a former Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University and former member of The Tribune Trust, passed away at his Sector 19 residence here on Monday morning.

Prof Bambah, who would have turned 100 this September, donated his body to the PGI, Chandigarh,

for research. He is survived by his daughters Bindu A Bambah and Sucharu Khanna.

A recipient of the Padma Bhushan and the Ramanujan Medal for mathematics, he was passionate about numbers and his life mirrored the clarity and logic of the subject he cherished. Just like mathematics, there was no ambiguity in his life — only clarity that transformed negatives into positives, presented solutions to problems and established a fine balance of learning and contribution. From the geometry of numbers to the foundations of Panjab University, he contributed to both academia and institution-building.

Academic par excellence, says NN Vohra

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Professor RP Bambah, who passed away on Monday morning, had a truly glorious innings as an internationally renowned mathematician. He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, besides having received the highest academic recognition and numerous awards at home and abroad.

I had the good fortune of getting to know Prof Sahib after I joined as a junior lecturer in English in 1957. Years later, in 2001, I joined The Tribune Trust and had the privilege of sitting beside him in the meetings of the Trust, which he served for a decade and a half, until 2010 when he voluntarily stepped down.

An eminent academic, all of us who knew him should celebrate Prof Sahib’s life (he would have turned 100 this September) and his most outstanding contributions to mathematics.

I convey my sincere condolences to Prof Bambah’s daughters and pray to the Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace.

NN Vohra, President, The Tribune Trust

“He was a scientist till the very last and pledged his body for research. The family has honoured his wish. A life well-lived!” shared his daughter Bindu. Despite his towering stature in the field of academics, Prof Bambah passed away as he lived — quietly and simply. As family and friends gathered at his home to pay tributes, his younger daughter Sucharu recalled that while he had made known to all his wish to donate his body, he had also made a conscious decision to stay out of hospital. “He made it very clear that he didn’t want to be admitted to hospital and preferred the peace of home. He remained alert till the end,” she remembered.

In a statement, the family said, “Panjab University was a lifeline for him. He cared about it till the last breath…. Perhaps the only thing he cared about more was mathematics. He was always eager to know the latest developments on YouTube and wanted us to read Chandigarh Tribune for the latest updates on the university.”

Born into a middle-class family in Jammu, Prof Bambah rose to prominence due to his sheer brilliance. After securing a record 600 out of 600 in his master’s degree at the Government College in Lahore, he headed to the University of Cambridge for PhD, which he completed in a record two years.

Prof Bambah, along with Prof Hans Raj Gupta, established the Department of Mathematics at Panjab University in Hoshiarpur, which later shifted to Chandigarh, where it became the first Centre of Advanced Study in the university.

Having spent five years at Ohio State University as professor, he returned to Panjab University where he remained the Vice-Chancellor from 1985 to 1991. His tenure at the top saw the university touch new heights. His students remember him as a teacher with a gentle manner and pushing ways that inspired them to solve the trickiest of the problems.

A pall of gloom descended over the academic world and Panjab University where he continued to serve as Professor Emeritus at the Centre for Advanced Study in Mathematics.

Panjab University Vice-Chancellor Renu Vig said, “His passing is a big loss to mathematics, the university and society. Panjab University was preparing to celebrate the centenary of the Punjab School of Mathematics and the 100th birthday of Prof Bambah in September.” Sucharu recalled that her father was more excited about the seminar to mark the centenary of the Punjab School of Mathematics than his 100th birthday.

His former student Prof Rajinder Jeet Hans-Gill, who met him last week, said Prof Bambah was still concerned about cracking arithmetic problems. “His passing has come as a shock. We discussed mathematics when I met him last Wednesday. He was unwell but that didn’t stop him from asking about the intricacies of a complex mathematical concept,” she said.

Though Prof Bambah leaves behind a legacy that will be difficult to match in the mathematical world, it is his warmth, humility and strength that will be remembered more by those who knew him personally.

Condoling the death, the Panjab University Teachers’ Association said Prof Bambah left an indelible mark on the institution. During his tenure as the Vice-Chancellor, he spearheaded the university’s development, which showcased his visionary leadership. “We remember him as a kind, conscientious and duty-bound individual who embodied the spirit of a true scientist. His selfless decision to donate his body reflects his commitment to advancing knowledge,” the statement said.