Evolution of Statistics in India

  While statistics have been collected and used in the Indian subcontinent from antiquity, major changes in collection and use took place during the British period (1757-1947) in Indian history. Some of this change was due to new imperial needs, but much of it occurred indirectly as a result of western education and a spirit of scientific curiosity and experimentation. Interest in rapid social, economic and technological development added a new dimension after India's independence in 1947. Half a century after that momentous event seems a good time to take stock of how Statistics has developed in India. The architect of modern statistical methods in the Indian subcontinent was undoubtedly P.C. Mahalanobis, but he was helped by a galaxy of very distinguished scientists that included C.R. Rao, R.C. Bose, S.N. Roy, S.S. Bose, K.R. Nair, D.B. Lahiri and many others. There were also others like P.V. Sukhatme, and V.G. Panse who worked independently of Mahalanobis. Our history is a histo...