After getting upgraded as an organ of the University of Madras, to conduct the FA Course in Mathematics, The department had on its role several teachers of reputation, some of them legendary. The History of Matheruatics Department would not be complete, without recalling the days of the Mathematical wizard Srinivasa Ramanujan, who was part of this department in the years 1906 and 1907. as a student of F. A.
According to Robert Kanigel, who writes in his epic book, (The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of Genious Ramanujan-page 53) "Ramanujan's early days at Pachaiyappa's college seemed filled with new promise. Shri.N Ramanuja Achariyar, the Math teacher, always had great regards for Ramunjan and often he will interrupt his own lecture, turn to Ramanujan and ask "And what do you think Ramanujan!"
Kanigel further writes," Sometimes Ramanujan would get together with the college's senior most Professor P. Singaravelu Mudaliar, who was struck by Ramanujan's gifts Together, two of them would tackle problems appearing in Mathematical Journals If Ramanujan could not crack one of them, he would give it to Singaravelu to work on overnight.
The mother of all observations is here. The Article in The Hindu. "Another house on Eldarns Road" written by S. Muthiah, dated 30 Jan, 2016, says when Ramanujan was very ill, he placed two large note books stuffed with Mathematics in to the hands of a close associate, saying" If I die, please handover to Professor Singaravelu Mudaliar from Pachaiyappa's or to Edward Ross of the madras Christian College (Prof Ross learnt under the legendary Karl Pearson in the University of London and was the seventh wrangler in the Mathematical tripos of Cambridge University in 1904)
Another Legendary teacher in this department was Professor Chinnathambi Pillai, who was also the Principal of Pachaiyappa's College and was a prominent member of the Senate of University of Madras, those days. When one Mr. Subbayya Sivasankara Narayana Pillai was denied admission into M.A.(Mathematics) in the University of Madras, simply because he did not have a first class in B.A, Mr.Pillai, in his capacity as the member of the Senate fought with the University, citing the case of Srinivasa Ramanujan, who was provided an admission, in spite of his disqualification at the school level, based on his prowess in Mathematics. These arguments forced the Senate to pass orders in favour of Mr.Subbayya Pillai in the Year 1927. And this man Mr. Subbayya Sivasankara Narayana Pillai, later proved to the world that Prof. Chinnathambi pillai was right, by obtaining a Doctor of Science in Mathematics, from the University of Madras and solving the most complicated "Waring's Problem" posed by the British mathematician Waring in 1770 and was invited to work along with Albert Einstein in August 1950 at the Princeton With contributions from such legendary teachers, the Department of Mathematics, was gradually entering into the annals of South Indian Education, and when the college started functioning in a sprawling Campus at Chetpet, Chennai, entered a new dimension in the year 1940, by offering the under-Graduate and honours courses in Mathematics, affiliated to the University of Madras. Immediately the Misc (Mathematics) course was also introduced. From that stage onwards, the department has proved itself to be a flagbearer of the University of Madras and has produced several rank Holders and medalists in the M.Sc Examinations.
In the early sixtees, Prof. A. Ramanathan, took over as the Head of the Department, from professor TS Sankara Narayana Pillai, who was elevated as the Principal Prof. A. Ramanathan wrote the famous "Treatise on Real Analysis" comprising of three volumes, which was the only book in English those days, to give a thorough exposition of the Abstract concepts of Analysis. He was among the first Indian authors to write books for Post-graduate Mathematics. He did an extraordinary piece of research on "COMPACT SPACES IN TOPOLOGY" and submitted his thesis for the award of the degree of Doctor of Science. Unfortunately, a similar piece of research was recorded in the name of a researcher from Czechoslovakia, and the examiners offered only a Ph.D in Mathematics to Prof. Ramanathan... But, Prof. A.R. Stood his ground saying that his thesis deserved nothing short of a D.Sc and refused the award of Ph.D. A month later, the researcher from Czechoslovakia, wrote to him, "I have gone through your findings and they are far superior than my findings. You deserve a D.Sc. Professor A. Ramanathan considered this letter as the award of D.Sc. till his death.
To meet the demands of the inextricable association of Mathematics with the latest developments in Computer Science, the Department was equipped with a well-established Computer Lab in the year 2004, with as many as 30 computer systems.
The Post-Graduate Library of the Department has around 3000 books, comprising of major titles written by experts in Mathematics world over, covering a variety of topics of Mathematics, particularly, rare treatises on Mathematics involving Analysis, Algebra, Geometry and Topology.
To cater to the needs of aspiring researchers, a fully furnished Research Hall, with all facilities of a Digital Smart Class room was opened and dedicated to the department in the name of former professor, Squadron Leader, Air Wing commander, Prof. V. Ganesa Raman (whose family has donated the entire amount for the making of the hall).
