The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Encomium for scientist turns focus on fostering research among youth

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 21, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Encomium for scientist turns focus on fostering research among youth

Special Correspondent

Photograph of Alladi Ramakrishnan with Niels Bohr unveiled

— Photo: R. Ragu

HONOUR FOR AN ICON: Former Vice-Chancellor of Anna University M. Anandakrishnan unveiling the portrait of Alladi Ramakrishnan with Nobel Laureate Niels Bohr in Chennai on Sunday. Prof. Krishnaswami Alladi is in the picture.

CHENNAI: The walls of the unassuming room in ‘Ekamra Vilas’ at Mylapore, where Nobel Laureates have lectured eager students on theoretical physics and higher mathematics, are adorned with photographs of eminent scientists and national leaders.

On Sunday, M. Anandakrishnan, former Vice-Chancellor of Anna University, unveiled a photograph of Alladi Ramakrishnan with Niels Bohr taken in Copenhagen.

Resurrected from the old slides of the 1950s and 1960s by Prof. Krishnaswami Alladi, the photograph shows the two important figures behind the founding of the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (MATSCIENCE) here.

While Bohr’s work had inspired generations of young scientists in India and abroad, it was his favourable impression of Prof. Ramakrishnan’s group of young researchers that led the Indian government to sanction an institute of higher mathematics and theoretical physics in Chennai. Prof. Krishnaswamy said that on his visit to India in 1960, Bohr had commented that he was impressed mainly by two things: the massive Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, run by Dr. Homi Jahangir Bhabha, and by the students of the Theoretical Physics Seminar conducted by Prof. Ramakrishnan.

Unveiling the photograph, Dr. Anandakrishnan said Prof. Ramakrishnan was guaranteed a prominent position in the history of Indian science in the 20th century. But he reminded the audience that Prof. Ramakrishnan had always encouraged youngsters to take to science, and said this approach was essential in current times when many of the brightest minds were turning from science to other careers.

Versatile personality

Many students and intimate associates of Prof. Ramakrishnan spoke, remembering his versatility as a scientist, orator, gold medal-winning law student, connoisseur of fine arts and sportsman.

His son, Prof. Krishnaswami Alladi, said proudly: “In addition to being a loving father, he was my academic mentor, my inspiration and my idol.”

V.S. Ramachandran, eminent neurologist and Prof. Ramakrishnan’s favourite nephew, summed up the feelings of the audience, paraphrasing a Shakespearean line: “Here was a Balu mama [Prof. Ramakrishnan]! When comes such another?”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu