19. ALEXANDER GROTHENDIECK

(March 28, 1928 – November 13, 2014)

A dazzling whiz-kid, Grothendieck’s originations have eclipsed those of any mathematician born in 20th century. Apart from revolutionizing Topology, Vector Space, Functional Analysis and Theory of Numbers, his exploits on Algebraic Geometry are prettier than Mona Lisa. In the process he inaugurated the alluring Theory of Schemes. Comprising his epoch-making prolegomena (which revitalized 20th century mathematics) are the 1955 Produits tensoriels topologiques et espaces nucléaires, the 1960 Éléments de géométrie algébrique, as well as the 1973 Espaces vectoriels topologiques. Even half-a-century afterwards, these works still inspire research in numerous fields. From helping to prove Weil Conjectures, Mordell Conjecture, and Fermat’s Last Theorem, Grothendieck’s innovations have aided researchers in overcoming diverse impediments. But the fact that he abandoned maths in his prime and dejectedly burned thousands of pages of his unpublished manuscripts, made it hard for me to find extra impetuses which could have propelled him higher here. Still, enough proofs remain to consolidate his placement in the annals of the greatest. He won every top math accolade during his era. Unfortunately, his anti-military stance vis-à-vis oppositions to wars made him abandon his professorial chair at Montpellier. He as well, rejected his Crafoord Prize: alongside its US$250,000 reward. The turbulent genius eventually became a recluse in the French Pyrenees: from 1988 until he died in 2014, despite being the greatest living mathematician during that period. A poignant formulator, Grothendieck’s triumphs dwarfed those of his 20th century contemporaries. That was epic for a researcher — who forsook research and developments — during his last 30 years on earth.

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