I wish all the readers of ITIHAS a Happy New Year.

SASTRA has crossed a significant milestone completing 20 years in its journey towards academic excellence. Started as an Engineering College in 1984 with only three branches of Engineering, SASTRA has in two decades grown into a premier Deemed University and has occupied a prime position in the academic map of India.

I look back the track traversed and visualize all the events that SASTRA encountered, the achievements and the glory it has attained, and look forward and beyond to foresee the things to be achieved in future. I gratefully remember all those who worked with me for elevating SASTRA to its present position. I am sure the support from various quarters will continue in propelling SASTRA to attain newer heights.

The last quarter of 2004 witnessed many activities - the International Conference on Number Theory and Fourier Techniques, Endowment lectures delivered by eminent personalities, National Level Mathematics Olympiad Contest, etc.

I join along with millions world over in paying my respects to those who lost their lives and many others who were left homeless by the tsunami that hit South Asia on 26th December, 2004.

Prof. R. SETHURAMAN

Vice - Chancellor

An International Conference on “Number Theory and Fourier Techniques” was conducted on 20th & 21st December 2004 at Srinivasa Ramanujan Centre, Kumbakonam. This conference was a fitting tribute to the mathematical wizard Srinivasa Ramanujan whose excellent contributions to Number Theory has laid the foundation for emerging applications in modern areas. Renowned Number Theorists, Computer Scientists, Fourier Technique Analysts and Wavelet practitioners from all over India and abroad participated in the conference.

Dr. Krishnaswamy Alladi, Professor and Chair, Department of Mathematics, University of Florida, U.S.A., inaugurated the conference and delivered the inaugural address. In his inaugural address he said, “Computational Number Theory is fast