Wednesday, May 18, 2022

D D Kosambi: Looking back on those who claim to known the legend better than the best

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Sometime back, I had the opportunity to interview a professor who has authored a book on D D Kosambi's selected works in mathematics and statistics.

En route the pleasentaries, I presumed he was a congenial scholar willing to share his humble perspectives on DDK; right or wrong was besides the point! Half way through his 'high and mighty' replies to the questions, I realised our friend is on an ego trip of sorts, trying to stamp his authority with conclusive claims. We can ignore all of that, had he done the least in DDK's honour: a cost effective price for his book on DDK's works. But alas, here too we have to face a big disappoitment to match the book's whopping price. 

I have no quarrel with our learned friend's views - he has evey right to feel what he feels - but the condescending tone of his answers and the disdainful attitude (of ignoring a few questions and cutting off the conversation abruptly without any intimation whatsoever) left a bad taste.

Thank God there are several good resources on DDK that cherish him with all his plusses and minuses! And the best resource to appreciate the mathematical genius of DDK is DDK himself. None like him!