Manjul Bhargava became first person of Indian origin to win Fields medal, officially known as International Medal for Outstanding Discoveries in Maths.

Bhargava was born of Indian immigrants in Hamilton, Ontario, but grew up in Long Island, New York. Bhargava's mother, Mira Bhargava, is a mathematician at Hofstra University and his father was a chemist.

Bhargava is also an accomplished tabla player, having studied under guidance of his guru  Zakir Hussain.

The Fields Medal is widely accepted as the most prestigious award in mathematics. The Fields Medal is given to between two and four mathematicians under age 40 at the International Congress of Mathematicians, held once every four years. According to the International Mathematical Union , the body that awards the Fields Medal, the award intends "to recognize outstanding mathematical achievement for existing work and for the promise of future achievement."

Maryam Mirzakhani became the first woman and Artur Avila became the first mathematician from Latin America to be awarded a Fields Medal.