This biography investigates the life and intellectual contributions of Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, the foundational figure of Indian statistics and economic planning. Author Ashok Rudra, a contemporary and colleague, utilizes personal correspondence, institutional records, and historical context to construct a comprehensive portrait of Mahalanobis. The text evaluates his role in establishing the Indian Statistical Institute and his influence on national economic policy, while simultaneously examining his complex personality and multifaceted interests beyond the scientific realm.

Scholars and historians recognize this work as a definitive primary source for understanding the development of modern Indian economic policy and statistical infrastructure. Readers frequently note the balance between technical detail and personal narrative, providing a nuanced view of a central figure in 20th-century Indian intellectual history.