Norbert wiener and prasanta chandra mahalanobis

Abstract

For seven months from late 1955, Norbert Wiener (1894-1964) worked at the Indian Statistical Institute at the invitation of Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis (1893-1972). Mahalanobis had achieved a remarkable feat, the creation of a world class institution within a decade of India's independence. Wiener was also at the peak of his career, having established the field of cybernetics a few years earlier. These two major 20th century leaders in the application of technology shared similarities in their backgrounds, and in their approach to the social value of science and technology. For Mahalanobis, Wiener's visit was one of many which he oversaw, bringing international experts to his students and s..