K. V. Tirumalesh (1943–1997) was an Indian mathematician, physicist, and computer scientist. He is considered one of the pioneers of modern computer science in India.
K. V. Tirumalesh Biography and Lifestyle
Tirumalesh was born in 1943 in a small village in Karnataka. He had an early inclination towards mathematics and science and was encouraged by his father to pursue higher studies in the same field. He attended Central College, Bangalore and obtained a B.Sc in mathematics from the University of Mysore in 1964. He then went on to obtain a Master's degree in Physics from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in 1966.
It was during his time at IISc that Tirumalesh got his first exposure to computers. He was part of a team that developed a programming language for the newly arrived IBM System/360 computer. This experience sparked a deep interest in computers and their applications. He went on to pursue a PhD in Computer Science from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1970.
During his time at UCLA, Tirumalesh developed an interest in artificial intelligence (AI). He wrote his dissertation on the subject, and upon completing his degree, returned to India and joined the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in 1971. At C-DAC, he worked on a number of projects related to AI, including the development of a computer-based expert system for medical diagnosis.
In 1982, Tirumalesh left C-DAC and joined the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Madras as a professor of computer science. Here, he continued to pursue his research interests in AI, developing a number of computer-based solutions for problems in the field. He also wrote several books on the topic, and was an invited speaker at numerous international conferences.
Tirumalesh also served as a professor at the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Kolkata, where he taught courses on computer science and AI. He was also an active member of the Indian Academy of Sciences, and served on the editorial boards of several journals.
Tirumalesh was a recipient of numerous awards and honors. In 1997, he was awarded the prestigious Padma Bhushan by the Government of India. He was also awarded the Srinivasa Ramanujan Medal by the Indian National Science Academy in 1996.
Tirumalesh passed away in 1997 at the age of 54. He left behind a legacy of work in computer science and artificial intelligence that has had a lasting impact on the field. He will always be remembered as one of the pioneers of modern computer science in India.