Every year on June 29th, the National Statistics Day is observed. This year, it is the 132nd birth anniversary of Prof. P. C. Mahalanobis. His birthday, June 29th, is celebrated as National Statistics Day in India to honor his monumental contributions to statistical science and its application in national development. This observance highlights his legacy as the “Father of Indian Statistics“ and aims to inspire greater awareness of the importance of statistics in shaping informed policies and societal progress.
The National Statistics Day 2025 celebration at SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) was organized on July 4th, which was a vibrant and intellectually enriching event, meticulously organized through the collaborative efforts of the Centre for Statistics, School of Public Health, Department of Mathematics and Statistics (FSH), and Department of Mathematics (E&T). The event brought together students, scholars, and faculty to celebrate the enduring impact of statistics and the vision of Prof. Mahalanobis.
The program commenced with Tamizh Thaai Vaazhththu followed by a warm welcome address by Dr. H. Gladius Jennifer, Professor, School of Public Health, who set an inviting tone for the day by greeting the distinguished guests, faculties, research scholars, and students gathered from various departments.
To add a note of spirituality and to ignite knowledge and wisdom, the dignitaries of the event lit the lamp. Prof. Vinay Kumar, Pro Vice Chancellor (FSH, Management & Law) delivered the presidential address, emphasizing the far-reaching significance of statistics in both academic pursuits and societal progress, and underscoring the discipline’s transformative power. Dr. Hari Singh, Dean, School of Public Health followed with a special note address, reflecting on the evolution of statistical science and its profound impact on both national and global scales.
The guest of honour, Dr. R. Ramakrishnan was honoured by the dignitaries: Dr. Hari Singh, Dean, School of Public Health and Dr. M. Bagavandas, Professor and Head, Centre for Statistics.
The ceremonial address by Dr. Raghul Gandhi, Assistant Professor, Centre for Statistics highlighted the symbolic importance of the occasion, fostering a sense of unity and purpose within the academic community. Dr. Venmani, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics provided an engaging introduction to the keynote speaker, Dr. R. Ramakrishnan.
The distinguished guest of honour, Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Scientist G (Retd.), ICMR–National Institute of Epidemiology delivered the special keynote lecture, which captivated the audience with practical insights into the vital role of statistics in the daily lives of ordinary people, illustrating how statistical literacy empowers individuals and informs better decision-making. He highlighted the importance of inter-disciplinary research, research methodology, sample size calculation and quality of data. He also highlighted that “Statistics is nothing but common sense quantified”. He also spoke about John Snow and Bradford Hill, who were both influential figures in the development of Epidemiology. Adding to this, Dr. Ramakrishnan also spoke about Dr. Gift Siromoney from Madras Christian College, who applied statistical methods to different branches of knowledge (in the good British tradition) such as Karnatic music, Tamil poetry, Meteorology and Linguistics.
The concluding remarks were given by Dr. M. Bagavandas, Professor and Head, Centre for Statistics. The event concluded with Dr. Prakash delivering a heartfelt vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all participants, speakers, and organizing teams for their dedication and contributions, followed by the National Anthem.
This celebration not only honored the visionary legacy of Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis, the architect of modern statistics in India, but also fostered interdisciplinary collaboration, inspired excellence in statistical research, and reinforced the enduring relevance of statistics in shaping informed, progressive societies.
