| S. R. Srinivasa Varadhan is an American mathematician renowned for his work on stochastic processes and mathematical physics. He is a professor at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University. In 2023, he was honored with the Padma Vibhushan award. |
| Varadhan is known as the 795th most popular mathematician globally and the 12th most popular Indian mathematician. |
| He moved to Tambaram, Madras in 1954, where he studied at a local college before progressing to higher studies. |
| His interest in mathematics was sparked during high school when his teacher introduced him to problem-solving sessions, which he found enjoyable. |
| Transitioning from Tamil to English as the language of instruction posed challenges when he entered college, leading Varadhan to study both languages. |
| Starting as a postdoctoral fellow in 1963, Varadhan eventually became a professor at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. |
| Varadhan's pioneering work in probability theory has revolutionized our understanding of rare events and had applications in various fields. |
| His collaboration with other mathematicians led to significant advancements in diffusion processes, population genetics, hydrodynamics, and large deviations. |
| Varadhan's research has greatly contributed to mathematics, especially in diffusion equations, large deviation theory, and Martingale problems. |
| He has authored several research papers and books on diverse mathematical topics. |
| Tragically, his eldest son lost his life during the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. |
| Varadhan has played important roles, such as chairing the Mathematical Sciences jury for the Infosys Prize. |
| In an interview, Varadhan shared that he once aspired to become a doctor but later changed his career path. |
