Indian Mathematics genius Vashishtha Narayan Singh emerged as one of the most brilliant minds in Indian history. Originating from a small village in the Basantpur area of Bihar, Vashishtha Narayan Singh showed great potential by topping both B.Sc and M.Sc in consecutive years. Born in 1942, the mathematical genius’s academic excellence led him to collaborate with esteemed institutions such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), and Berkeley.
Hailing from an obscure village in the Siwan region of Bihar, Vashishtha Narayan rose to international prominence, with some claiming that he challenged Albert Einstein’s well-known theory. According to anecdotes, he participated in critical NASA calculations during a computer breakdown and made contributions to the Apollo missions, which were designed to land humans on the moon.
Vashishtha Narayan was the son of a police constable who began his journey at Netarhat School in Jharkhand. He then proceeded to Patna Science College, where his mathematical prowess earned him special attention. The college principal facilitated an accelerated education plan, leading him to complete his doctorate degree in 1969.
Professor John L Kelly acknowledged his brilliance and arranged for Vashishtha Narayan to study in the United States at the University of California, Berkeley. After nearly a decade abroad, he returned to India to teach at prestigious institutions like IIT Kanpur, TIFR Mumbai, and ISI Kolkata. Despite his early promise, his career trajectory took an unexpected turn due to mental illness, converting him from a possible successor to Ramanujan into a ‘could-have-been.’ His life took a tragic turn when he developed schizophrenia, leading to the breakdown of his marriage and a decline in academic recognition.
Vashishtha Narayan, who suffered from schizophrenia, faced personal and professional setbacks. After his marriage broke up in 1976, he was placed in an institution by the mid-80s. After undergoing treatment, he mysteriously disappeared during a train journey, only to be discovered living pennurrely in his hometown.
Vashishtha Narayan battled his disease after being admitted to NIMHANS Bengaluru and receiving treatment at IHBAS Delhi with the help of BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha. Despite the challenges, the mathematical genius returned to academia at BNMU Madhepura. The 72-year-old math prodigy, who was never able to reach his full potential, breathed his last on November 14, 2019, receiving a posthumous Padma Shri award in appreciation of his contributions.
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