Obituary of Mangalam R. Parameswaran

DR. MANGALAM RAMASWAMY PARAMESWARAN
May 8, 1928 - May 13, 2023

Dr. M. R. Parameswaran peacefully passed away at home in Austin, TX with his family at his side. He was a doting father, adoring grandfather, supportive husband and much admired by all who knew him. He will be remembered as a brilliant and witty person, exceptionally well read, with a keen sense of humour. 

He was born in India in 1928, the 6th of 11 children. A chess prodigy at age 12, he was regarded as a brilliant chess problemist. He joined Loyola College and went on to earn a D.Sc. degree in Mathematics at Annamalai University.  He then joined the Ramanujan Institute as a Research Scholar.

In 1963, he won a Fulbright scholarship to teach a year at the University of Washington in Pullman, WA.  On board the ship from Mumbai, he met his future wife, Uma.  They were married in Princeton, NJ a year later. He taught at Michigan State University from 1964-1965 and returned to India in 1965 as Head of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.  In 1966, he and his wife emigrated to Winnipeg, Canada where he taught Mathematics at the University of Manitoba until retirement.

Parameswaran took to Gandhian teachings and lived in Gandhian simplicity all his life. Known for his adherence to his convictions, he always fought for the underdog both at work and in the community. For instance, he volunteered as a translator, to help Sri Lankan refugees.

A philosopher at heart, he earned his Master’s in Religion and taught Sanskrit as an adjunct Professor.  Erudite in Tamil literature, and proficient in 7 languages, he published his research, Studies in Srivaishnavism, in 2005. After retiring, he intensively studied the Ramayana and his Condensed Valmiki Ramayana was published by Manipal University Press in 2013. He revived his interest in chess problems which were published in chess magazines. 

In 2019, he and Uma moved to Austin Texas, to be with their daughter Raji, her husband, Ravi Srinivasan, and their grandchildren Kavya and Keshav. 

As per his wishes, his body has been donated to the UT Southwestern Medical School.