India has always been home to brilliant mathematical minds—think Bhaskaracharya or Srinivasa Ramanujan. Carrying that proud legacy forward is Raman Parimala, a mathematician who’s made a global mark with her extraordinary contributions to algebra.
A Love For Numbers From The Start
Born in 1948, Parimala grew up in a progressive household where her love for maths was nurtured early on. Even as a child, she had a knack for numbers and stood out in school. While most women at the time were nudged towards teaching or medicine, her father, an English professor, supported her dream to explore maths further.
Her schooling at Sarada Vidyalaya in Chennai played a huge role in sparking her passion. Later, during her time at Stella Maris College for Women, Professor Thangamani became a key influence on her career path. Interestingly, Parimala briefly considered pursuing Sanskrit poetry but quickly realised that her heart truly belonged to numbers.
With her family’s full backing, Parimala pursued research at the Ramanujan Institute for Advanced Studies in Mathematics. She credits mathematicians like Professors Bhanumurthy and Rema for encouraging her during the early days of her research.
It wasn’t always easy. At a time when women in maths were rare, Parimala had to break barriers to find her place. And break barriers she did—her work has since inspired generations of women mathematicians.
Achievements
Parimala’s expertise lies in algebra, with connections to algebraic geometry, topology, and number theory. One of her most notable achievements was publishing the first example of a nontrivial quadratic space over an affine plane. She also made significant contributions to solving the second Serre conjecture, a major milestone in the field of algebra.
Parimala’s work has earned her immense respect and recognition, both in India and abroad. She’s a Fellow of some of the country’s most prestigious scientific academies:
• The Indian National Science Academy (New Delhi)
• The Indian Academy of Science (Bangalore)
• The National Academy of Sciences (Allahabad)
In 1987, she was honoured with the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, India’s highest award in science. Then, in 2010, she was invited as a plenary speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians—one of the greatest honours a mathematician can receive.
In 2020, her achievements were recognised once again when the Ministry of Women and Child Development named one of 11 Chairs in science after her to inspire more girls to take up STEM careers. Parimala is the only living scientist on that list, which speaks volumes of her legacy.
Family And Support
Parimala often credits her family for helping her achieve so much. After her marriage, she joined her husband Raman in Tanzania, where he was working as Chief Internal Auditor. At the time, she wasn’t sure what her next career move would be. But then Raman made an incredible decision—he left his job so Parimala could pursue postdoctoral work at ETH Zurich.
Parimala doesn’t just love maths—she loves teaching it too. She’s passionate about mentoring students, especially women, and encouraging them to pursue maths as a career. Her message to aspiring mathematicians is simple:
Raman Parimala’s story is one of talent, determination, and breaking stereotypes. Her contributions have expanded the frontiers of algebra, and she’s paved the way for future generations of women to pursue maths without fear.