30 Years of Solvi-tude: Celebrating Prof. TSSRK Rao’s Research

How fast must the Earth spin for sunrise in New Delhi to be delayed by 2.5 hours compared to Jakarta? How long would the global economy withstand the Panama Canal running dry? What happens to time perception on a supersonic jet crossing time zones at breakneck speed? The world, in all its complexity, can often be distilled into mathematical functions—precise relationships between variables that shape reality as we know it.

Prof. Taduri Srinivasa Siva Rama Krishna Rao, Head of the Department of Mathematics at the Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, has dedicated his career to unravelling these intricate relationships. 2025 marks his 30th year as a Professor of Mathematics.Better known as Prof. TSSRK Rao, he has published over 100 papers in functional analysis, a branch of mathematics that explores the nature of function spaces.

A function space is defined as a set of functions between two fixed sets of variables. It is a type of vector space, which can be roughly understood as a mathematical set of objects (vectors) that are characterised by their dimensions in space (think of the x, y, and z-axes and any lines that can be expressed as a combination of these three variables). Functions and function spaces are used to describe a wide variety of phenomena across disciplines, from basic science to engineering and social sciences. Some commonly known applications includearrays in computer science, set theory, Newton’s law of cooling, asset pricing in economics, game theory, and Fourier analysis.

One of the fundamental questions that arises while studying any phenomenon is how quickly itwould change if one of itscharacteristics was modified. “Most often, these kinds of ‘rates of changes’ can be formulated in terms of certain differential equations, and finding the solution would give you what kind of functions would satisfy the parameters you’re looking at. A lot of functional analysis tools are used in solving differential equations,”explains Prof. Rao.

His work has also significantly advanced the understanding of Banach spaces, a cornerstone of modern mathematical analysis.Vector spaces come equipped with an additional structure, called a ‘norm,’ which is a way to quantify the magnitude of a vector. “Banach spaces are vector spaces where the norm is complete in a technical sense,” mentions Prof. Rao. “Most people are familiar with continuous functions on a closed and bounded interval—this actually forms a Banach space.”His research further explores areas such as L1-predual theory and Choquet theory, crucial for solving intricate mathematical problems with wide-ranging implications in science, engineering, and economics.

Prof. Rao is a recipient of several prestigious honours, including two Fullbright–Nehru fellowships. He is also a fellow of both the Indian Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences. He has served on the governing council of the Indian Statistical Institute for multiple terms, andis the Chief Editor of the Journal of the Ramanujan Mathematical Society.He is a member of the American and European Mathematical Societies, and has been an editor and reviewer for number of mathematical journals.

Mathematics is often seen as an abstract pursuit, but its power lies in its ability to uncover patterns, predict outcomes, and solve real-world challenges. Prof. Rao’s 30-year journey is a testament to unwavering passion and intellectual curiosity. For researchers interested in the field, it is a reminder of how deep mathematical inquiry continues to shape our understanding of the universe.

Here’s to celebrating Prof. TSSRK Rao’s remarkable contributions—and looking forward to the milestones yet to come.

This blog is written by Editage Digital Media Solutions, the research promotion division of Cactus Communications.