The Orissa Mathematical Society (OMS) felicitated former Professor of Mathematics of Sambalpur University Dr Indulata Sukla (71) with the lifetime Achievement Award for her pioneering work in Number Theory, Cryptography and Analysis. Dr Sukla, who had the rare privilege to earn a PhD from the Jabalpur University under the direct supervision of world-renowned mathematician late Prof Tribikram Pati, received the award from eminent mathematician Prof Ramachandran Balasubramanian, Director of the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai, at the OMS’ 42nd Annual Conference held at the Vyasanagar Autonomous College at Jajpur Road on Saturday.

Besides Prof T Pati, her academic association with renowned English mathematician late Prof Brian Kuttner, who worked on Fourier Series, is another rare privilege and achievement in her life. Dr Sukla’s textbook Number Theory and Its Applications to Cryptography is widely followed by postgraduate students of Odisha universities. Her numerous research papers have been published in many international journals.

She has been invited to countries like Canada, the US, Switzerland, Japan and China to present papers in conferences such as the prestigious International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM). Her first foreign visit in 1987 to the historic laval University, the oldest centre of education in Canada, is a memorable event for her. A popular and revered teacher among her students, she has also supervised many doctoral fellows during her illustrious academic career. At present, she resides in Cuttack since her retirement in 2004.