Department of Mathematics and Astronomy

The Department of Mathematics and Astronomy came into existence in 1921, when the then Canning College was taken over by the newly constituted Lucknow University. As a unit for conducting teaching and research it has acquitted itself creditably during this period of nearly eight decades. On the teaching side instruction is being imparted to the UG and PG classes. The UG courses have undergone significant changes and form a useful combination of the essentials of the pure and applied mathematics with adequate emphasis on modern approach. The PG courses offer a wide range of specialization in branches of pure and applied mathematics. Facilities exist for advanced work in several modern areas of mathematics which include algebra, analysis, astronomy, geometry and mechanics. Presently, the department has position of twenty-five faculty members.

Headed by Prof. J.A. Strang, the department in its initial stages consolidated and standardized the courses. After a decade of its existence, the Department of Mathematics & Astronomy started enrolling students for Ph.D. The next head Dr. A.N Singh with his profound scholarship and planning revived the dormant Banaras Mathematical Society, which later on became Bharata Ganita Parisad in 1950. He also started a section on Research in Hindu Mathematics. In 1943, the number of UG students was doubled and Statistics was introduced as an optional subject. In 1950, Dr. Singh who was also the Superintendent of Works as well as Dean, Faculty of Science succeeded in constructing the present building of the Department of Mathematics and Astronomy. Dr. Singh together with Dr. Sampurnanand, Education Minister of Uttar Pradesh, marked the introduction of Astronomy as subject of study for B.Sc. Degree first time in India.

Construction of Planetarium, the first of its kind in India, to augment the teaching of Astronomy, was completed in 1949. The present library of the Department which has vast collection of books and journals along with some rare collection of Monographs and Manuscript is named after Dr. A.N. Singh.
In 1954, Professor Ram Ballabh, the first Ph.D. of the Department, took over as the Head and organized a good team of workers in Hydrodynamics and related areas. Over a score of research students pursued research investigation under his dynamic supervision and guided the destiny of the department. The books written by him for UG students are still very popular among the students and teachers. In 1956, Dr. Ram Ballabh, who was also Superintendent of Works and Dean, Faculty of Science, constructed a new block for Statistics department and Statistics section was transferred there. As a tribute to the great leadership and vision of Prof. Ram Ballabh, the present Computer Lab, equipped with state- of-art computing facility, is named after him.