Some Leaders Who Helped Shape Science in India and Who Left Us Recently

SOME LEADERS WHO HELPED SHAPE SCIENCE IN INDIA AND WHO LEFT US RECENTLY

Prof. K. VijayRaghavan Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India

HE COVID-19 pandemic has Mitra, and Dr Shailja Vaidya Gupta for Prof. Shashikumar wreaked havoc in India and all the concept and content. Madhusudan Chitre over the world. Many scientists The Prime Minister Shri Narendra T (7 May 1936-11 January 2021) passed away in 2020 and 2021; some Modi, when he addressed the nation due to COVID-19 complications and during Mann Ki Baat on National some due to other causes. When we Science Day 2021 said: Prof. Shashikumar Madhusudan lose people in our communities, we Chitre, known as Kumar Chitre to his always meet to share memories and friends, was born in Bandra, Mumbai to grieve. This pandemic has not only “The way we know of other (then Bombay) in 1936. He did his killed many but has also disrupted our scientists of the world, in the schooling in Mumbai itself and went to grieving and mourning and made these same way, we should also obtain a B.A. in Mathematics from the a remote exercise. We should not let know about the scientists of Elphinstone College, Mumbai, in 1956. this de-humanising of interactions — India... I definitely would He then won the Duke of Edinburgh a compulsion of the times — become want that our youth know, Scholarship to study at Cambridge, St. the new normal. It is important that understand and read a lot Peter’s College (Peterhouse) where he we remember each of these lives and about the history of science obtained the Mathematical Tripos in celebrate them while mourning their of India; about our scientists 1959. While at Peterhouse, he wrote departure and being supportive of as well.” an essay on “Why are sunspots dark?” family and friends. It is in that spirit that for his final Tripos. Reading this, Fred this collection — not comprehensive, Hoyle suggested he develop this into a not complete — is to be viewed. Here are a few who left us but not PhD thesis and this earmarked a life- I would like to acknowledge the before they gave us lessons, we will live long affair with the Sun. For his PhD, support and efforts of my colleagues by and not without leaving an impact on he moved to Churchill College and was Dr H.S. Sudhira, Gubbilabs, Dr Siuli the global scientific community. neighbours with Stephen Hawking.

August 2021 | Science Reporter | 9 eldest son of RL Narasimhaiah and ‘Kumar’ Chitre was a scholar, scientist, and a thoughtful colleague. There Leelavati. His father was a professor in was, and still is, collegiality, and only a modest level of hierarchy at the [Tata Physics at Bengaluru’s Central College Institute of Fundamental Research] and, much interaction over tea, across and among one of the early science disciplines. Kumar nucleated these with his understated wit and insights. communicators in Kannada. His father At a personal level, I owe him a lot. My Molecular Biology Unit PhD had a significant influence on Roddam. interview, which had him on the panel, focused on fluid mechanics, of which His younger brother, Prof. RR Simha I had a very modest understanding; and not on biology, of which I had no was a mathematician and a faculty at training, poor knowledge, and no understanding. TIFR, Mumbai. He is also known My fortuitous entry into TIFR, a scientific paradise, a biology questioner for his work on Simha – Narasimhan would not have permitted, was facilitated by this gentle and understanding measures on Riemann surfaces. interviewer… A big loss. Narasimha studied in Acharya - Prof. K. VijayRaghavan tweeted Pathashala, Bengaluru, the same school where Prof. CNR Rao also studied as batchmates. He later went on to obtain a Bachelor of Engineering degree His PhD thesis was on the structure of his group was in the mapping of in Mechanical Engineering from the Sunspots with Fred Hoyle. differential rotation of the solar interior University Visvesvaraya College of Chitre then worked as a Lecturer and the measurement of heavy element Engineering in Bengaluru. After his at the University of Leeds and then abundances in the solar interior. He was graduation, he was initially unsure and went to Caltech for his post-doctoral also interested in gravitational lensing one visit to IISc (then, Tata Institute) research. While at Caltech, a meeting and carried out studies through his changed the course of his life. When with S.K. Bhattacharjee, a nuclear students. During his research career, he visited for the first time, he was physicist from TIFR, resulted in him he collaborated with his colleagues at mesmerized with the Spitfire aircraft applying to TIFR for a position in TIFR and abroad as well. that was on display in front of the 1966, the year when Homi Bhabha had After his retirement at TIFR as a Department of Aerospace at IISc, which passed away in an accident. However, Senior Professor in 2001, he shifted Prof. MGK Menon, the Director of his focus to science communication TIFR then, offered him a position and and outreach. He was instrumental in Chitre came back to Mumbai in 1967 to setting up the Centre for Excellence spend the rest of his life. in Basic Sciences, for which he was During his career at TIFR, the Academic Chairperson, until his he primarily worked on the demise. Chitre received numerous magnetohydrodynamics of the Sun. honours during his vast career. He was One of the major contributions from a Fellow of the Third World Academy of Sciences, Royal Astronomical Society, and all three Indian science academies. He also served as the President of the Astronomical Society of India. He was also awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2012. Chitre also served on the board of Trustees of JN Tata Trust and worked as an Honorary Executive Director of Homi Bhabha Fellowship Council. Chitre died on 11 January 2021, aged 84.

Prof. Roddam Narasimha

(20 July 1933-14 December 2020) helped him to resolve his decision to pursue studies at IISc. He obtained a Prof. Roddam Narasimha was an Master's (then, Diploma) in 1955 and eminent scientist who worked on worked under Prof. Satish Dhawan. On aerospace and particularly on fluid Prof. Dhawan’s insistence, he went to dynamics. He was also referred to as Caltech to pursue his doctoral research Roddam in professional circles and under Hans Liepmann, which he Simha in family circles. He was the obtained in 1961. He returned to IISc

10 | Science Reporter | August 2021 “Deeply pained by the demise of noted aerospace scientist Prof. Roddam holding several positions including Narasimha today who contributed immensely to space technology. His that of the Director during 1980-1997. research in parallel processing, aerospace electronics, surface technologies, She has also contributed her efforts and computational fluid dynamics, leadership at National Aerospace as a member of many national and Laboratories, and policy contributions to aerospace technology proved to international committees. be the stepping-stones to make India self-reliant in civil aviation. Indian Dr Shanta was born on 11 March science is indebted for his remarkable contributions to many of India’s 1927, in Chennai in an illustrious major scientific programs from issues of climate change, the design and family that boasted of two Nobel development of civilian aircraft programs, and of the Light Combat Aircraft, Laureates, C.V. Raman (grand uncle) Tejas. His passing away creates a void in the scientific community globally and S. Chandrasekar (uncle). She and in India.” studied at the National Girls High School, Chennai. Completing her pre- - Prof. K. VijayRaghavan wrote in his obituary for Prof. Narasimha university course at Presidency College in Madras, India, Dr Shanta went on in 1962 as a faculty that he remained Dr V. Shanta to pursue her ambition to become a until his retirement in 1999. While at doctor. She then graduated in MBBS (11 March 1927-19 January 2021) IISc, he was instrumental in setting up in 1949, and MD in obstetrics and the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences gynaecology in 1955. A chance meeting Dr V. Shanta was an Indian oncologist (now, Centre for Atmospheric and during her last year of MBBS drew her well known for her efforts in making Oceanic Sciences) in the early 1980s. towards cancer. But the key moment cancer treatment affordable. She was the His interest in the atmosphere, and was when Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy, chairperson of Adyar Cancer Institute, more particularly the monsoon and the first woman house surgeon in India, Chennai. She has been associated with clouds, continued to drive his research set up the cancer centre in Chennai. the Adyar Cancer Institute since 1955, interests till his final years. She was looking for a medical officer While being the Professor at IISc, and Dr Shanta jumped in. he served as the Director of CSIR- And the rest is history. National Aerospace Laboratories Dr Shanta dedicated all (NAL) on deputation from 1984-1993. her life at the Cancer Post his retirement from IISc, he Institute to support served as the Director of the National cancer patients, studying Institute of Advanced Studies until the disease, its detection, 2004. He was then affiliated with the and its treatment. Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Dr Shanta was Scientific Research (JNCASR), where elected as a fellow of he continued his research. During all the National Academy these years, he published extensively. of Medical Sciences. He also served as a visiting faculty and She has received several held various positions during his career. accolades in recognition While at the CSIR-National for her work including Aerospace Laboratories, he was the Magsaysay Award instrumental in setting up of a parallel (2005) and Padma computing system, which was not Vibhushan (2016). conceived hitherto, to solve several Dr Shanta died on computational problems. He also 19 January 2021, aged 93 offered critical support to ISRO, years. particularly in investigating failures of certain launch vehicles, which greatly “Dr V. Shanta, Chairperson of the Adyar Cancer Institute, Chennai passed helped in their rectification later. He away early this morning. She will be greatly missed by the cancer care and was also a member of the Indian Space research community all over the world and the many tens of thousands of lives she Commission. has impacted. At 93, Dr Shanta was active to the end. A month ago, she wrote to He was awarded the Padma a science agency on a matter related to the cancer institute and was pleased that Vibhushan, India's second-highest it was resolved. Her attention to detail, and caring were legendary. The great civilian award, in 2013. institution she has built will live and grow.” He passed away on 14 December - Prof. K. VijayRaghavan tweeted 2020, after a brief illness. August 2021 | Science Reporter | 11 Prof. Khadg Singh Valdiya he taught and researched various to popularize science among young institutions including Wadia Institute students, particularly in his home state (20 March 1937-29 September 2020) of Himalayan Geology, Jawaharlal of Uttarakhand. Prof. Khadg Singh Valdiya or Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific He passed away on 29 September KS Valdiya as he was popularly Research (JNCASR), and Kumaon 2020. referred to, was a leading Indian University. He also served as the Vice- Chancellor of Kumaon University. geologist, educationist, and science Prof. M.S. Narasimhan communicator. He was popular for Valdiya was instrumental in the his contribution to an understanding of establishment of several key geological (7 June 1932-15 May 2021) Indian geodynamics. institutions in India, notably, Wadia Valdiya was born to Dev Singh Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dr Narasimhan was a renowned Valdiya and Nanda Valdiya on 20 March Central Himalayan Environmental mathematician who carved a niche for 1937 in Kalaw, now in Myanmar. His Association, Nainital, G.B. Pant himself through some of his seminal Institute of Himalayan Environment and contributions in the field of algebraic Development, Almora, and the Geology and differential geometry. Department at Kumaon University. He was elected as a Fellow of the Third World Academy of Sciences, Geological Society of India, Geological Society of America, Geological Society of Nepal, and all three Indian science academies. During his scientific career, he extensively published many journal articles and authored many books. He was conferred with Padma Bhushan by the Government of India. Valdiya’s key contribution was on understanding Himalayan geology. His studies have greatly contributed to the understanding of the paleogeography of the region and shed light on geodynamics. This resulted in providing a more detailed account of the evolutionary history of the family moved back to Pithoragarh Himalayas. A synthesis of his work on in Uttarakhand where he did his geodynamics has led him to author a schooling. He obtained his BSc, MSc, very popular book called, The Making Narasimhan was born into a family and PhD from Lucknow University. He of India: Geodynamic Evolution. hailing from the North Arcot district in then joined there as a faculty in 1957. During the latter part of his life, Tamil Nadu. He was the eldest of five He was a Fulbright Scholar during he had dedicated himself to science siblings. He completed his schooling 1965-66, during which he was at Johns communication. He was actively and joined Loyola College in Chennai Hopkins University. During his career, involved in science outreach activities for his Bachelor’s degree. He then joined the Tata Institute of Fundamental “With the passing of Khadg Singh Valdiya, we have lost a Himalayan scholar Research (TIFR), Mumbai for his and a scholar of Himalayan proportions. Born in Myanmar he returned to his doctoral studies in 1953. He obtained native Pithoragarh and then studied at Lucknow University where he completed his doctorate from the University of his Ph.D. Mumbai in 1960 under the guidance of Valdiya was a geologist focusing on sediments and tectonics. His research K. S. Chandrasekharan, a well-known interests were wide. He helped establish and grow the best geology institutions mathematician working on number in the country and found a welcoming research abode after retirement [from theory. He then joined as a faculty at JNCASR], where he continued to be productive. the TIFR in 1960. An abiding interest of his research was the origin of the Himalayas and the Narasimhan’s major contributions origin of the Himalayan rivers in general and the Ganga in particular.” are in the field of algebraic and differential geometry, more specifically - Prof. K. VijayRaghavan tweeted in the field of vector bundles. His

12 | Science Reporter | August 2021 work with C.S. Seshadri, an Indian mathematician, on unitary and stable “Prof. M. Anandakrishnan’s passing is a loss for engineering. Felled by COVID bundles, the Narasimhan-Seshadri at age 92, his brisk stride, sharp mind, infectious cheerfulness, all shook others theorem, is considered a pioneering from sluggishness. Son of a brick-layer, Head of Civil Eng, [IIT Kanpur], VC of work and has significant applications [Anna University], a caring teacher is gone.” in gauge theory and conformal field - Prof. K. VijayRaghavan tweeted theory used in mathematical physics. Narasimhan also characterised real analytical functions, these are Nadu on Information Technology and Technology. He then joined the United functions with derivatives of all orders e-Governance. Nations Commission on Science and that obey Taylor’s series--via Cauchy Anandakrishnan was born in Tamil Technology for Development (CSTD) type inequalities. With S. Ramanan, Nadu. He obtained his Bachelor of as the Chief of New Technologies at another Indian mathematician, he Engineering in Civil Engineering from the Office of Science and Technology worked on the proof of the existence of the College of Engineering, Guindy, (OST), where he served until his universal connections, generalization of Madras University, Chennai in 1952. retirement in 1989. While at UN, he well-known results on the existence of He went on to obtain a Master's degree was also the Deputy Director of CSTD universal bundles in topology. He also in 1957 and a PhD in Civil Engineering and served as the secretary of the collaborated with mathematician Prof. in 1960 from the University of UN Advisory Committee on Science R. R. Simha, another TIFR faculty Minnesota. and Technology for Development. (younger brother of Professor Roddam Anandakrishnan returned to Anandakrishnan returned to India in Narasimha) to prove the existence India in 1962 and worked briefly at 1990 to become the Vice-Chancellor of of moduli of general type complex the Central Road Research Institute, Anna University, which he served until structures on a real analytic manifold. New Delhi. After working for a year, 1996. These measures were called Simha– he joined as a member of the faculty Anandakrishnan has received Narasimhan measures on Riemann of civil engineering at the Indian several awards and honours for his surfaces. Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT services. Notable among them is Padma Narasimhan played a key role Kanpur) where he worked till 1974. Shri in 2002 and the Distinguished in the development of mathematics He held various positions at IIT Leader Award by the University in India. He was the first Chairman Kanpur including the Chairman of of Minnesota in 2003. He was also of the National Board for Higher the Department of Civil Engineering, conferred the Commander of the Mathematics. He was elected as a Dean, and Acting Director. National Order of Scientific Merit by Fellow of the Royal Society. He was Anandakrishnan moved to the the Government of Brazil in 1996. also a Fellow of all the three science USA in 1974 to work as a Science Anandakrishnan was also elected as academies in India. He was a recipient Counsellor at the Indian Embassy a Fellow of the National Academy of of the French National Order of Merit in Washington DC, on deputation Sciences, India, Institution of Engineers (1989) and the Padma Bhushan award from the Department of Science and (India), and the Indian Society of in 1990. To date, he is the only Indian Technical Education. to win the King Faisal International He passed away on 29 May 2021, Prize for Science from Saudi Arabia, aged 92 years. which he received jointly with Simon Donaldson of Imperial College. Dr Srikumar Banerjee Narasimhan passed away on 15 May 2021 in Bangalore, aged 88 years. (25 April 1946-23 May 2021)

Prof. Munirathna Dr Srikumar Banerjee was the former Chairperson of the Atomic Energy Anandakrishnan Commission of India and the former (12 July 1928-29 May 2021) Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India. He was Prof. Munirathna Anandakrishnan was well-known as a metallurgical engineer an engineer, educationist, and science by training. administrator. He was the chairperson Banerjee obtained his B.Tech. with of the Indian Institute of Technology, honours in Metallurgical Engineering Kanpur, and a former Vice-Chancellor from the Indian Institute of Technology, of Anna University. He also served as Kharagpur in 1967. He then went to an Advisor to the Government of Tamil attend the Training School at Bhabha

August 2021 | Science Reporter | 13 “Dr Srikumar Banerjee’s passing is too sudden, too soon. Former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission [DAE, India], his interests straddled the most fundamental to the most applied. In every discussion, his astute leadership ensured that there was more light and no heat.” - Prof. K. VijayRaghavan tweeted

Dr Nandivada Rathnashree Soon, in 1999, she also became its (26 November 1963-9 May 2021) Director. Since then, she was a force to reckon with for numerous activities Dr Rathnashree was an avid astronomer on astronomy outreach, that not only and science communicator. She was impacted within the National Capital the Director of Nehru Planetarium Region, but across the country. where she started her career as a senior Rathnashree’s key contribution educator. Earlier she was trained in has been towards the preservation of theoretical astrophysics. the Jantar Mantar observatories of Raja Rathnashree was born in Sawai Jai Singh. She and her team have Hyderabad on 26 November 1963. After been instrumental in enabling these her schooling in Kendriya Vidyalaya accessible to the general public. She (1981), she studied at the University firmly believed that astronomy outreach carried out at archeo-astronomy heritage Atomic Research Centre (BARC). College for Women in Hyderabad. She sites and through archeo-astronomy Soon after, in 1968 he formally started obtained her Master’s in 1986 from instruments, had immense potential for his career there with the Metallurgy Hyderabad Central University. She then wider communication and appreciation. Division at BARC and went on to joined for her doctoral research at the Rathnashree and her students have become its Director during 2004-2010. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research extensively worked in the cleaning and Earlier in 1974, for the work he with the theoretical astrophysicist Prof. carried out at BARC, he was awarded Alak Ray. She received the PhD in Metallurgical Engineering her PhD in 1992 for the from IIT Kharagpur. In the latter part work on binary stars. of his career, he also served as DAE She was a postdoctoral Homi Bhabha Chair Professor at fellow at the University BARC. Banerjee held various visiting of Vermont, USA positions abroad at the University during 1992-1994, of Sussex, Brighton, England, Max- where she worked on Planck-Institut für Metallforschung, the pulsar observations University of Cincinnati, and the Ohio using the Arecibo State University, USA. radio-telescope. During He also served as the Chairman, the 1994-1996, she was a Board of Governors of IIT Kharagpur postdoctoral fellow at during 2014-2017. He was elected the Raman Research as a fellow of the Indian Academy Institute in Bengaluru. of Sciences, National Academy Rathnashree of Sciences, India, and the Indian moved to New Delhi National Academy of Engineering. He in 1996 as a Senior received numerous recognitions for Planetarium Educator at his work and contribution to services. the Nehru Planetarium. Dr Banerjee was awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science “Rathnashree’s key contribution has been towards the preservation and Technology in Engineering Science of the Jantar Mantar observatories of Raja Sawai Jai Singh. She and (1989) and Padma Shri in 2005. her team have been instrumental in enabling these accessible to Banerjee passed away during the the general public.” early hours of 23 May 2021 due to a heart attack.

14 | Science Reporter | August 2021 restoring of some of the Jantar Mantar instruments, apart from creating a host “Professor Govind Swarup was an exceptional scientist. His pioneering works in of outreach collaterals to train tour radio astronomy have attained global commendation. Anguished by his passing guides in both Jaipur and New Delhi. away. My thoughts are with his near and dear ones.” She has also written extensively on the - Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India tweeted mathematics behind these instruments. Acknowledging her role in these, the Archaeological Survey of gyro-radiation model, a model that joined the CSIR-National Physical India appointed her to the committee considers radiation from electrons Laboratory in New Delhi (1950-53). overseeing the restoration of Jantar whose speeds are much smaller than the A fellowship he chanced upon led him Mantar in New Delhi. Rathnashree speed of light, to explain microwave to work at CSIRO in Australia during also worked with the National Council solar emissions. Several observations 1953-1955. He returned to India in 1955 of Science Museums advising them made by him and his students provide and was back at NPL till 1956. He then on astronomy-related exhibits and independent support for the Big Bang proceeded to pursue doctoral research at activities at various science centres. model of the Universe. Stanford University which he obtained Rathnashree passed away on 9 Swarup was born in 1929 at in 1960. He was an Assistant Professor May 2021. Thakurdwara, Uttar Pradesh. He came at Stanford University from 1961-1963. Prof. Govind Swarup from a relatively wealthy family. He His notable contribution has been had an early education in English and to initiate and start the radio astronomy (23 March 1929–7 September 2020) many other subjects. program and activities in India. With Swarup went on to obtain a his brief stints at CSIRO, Australia, Prof. Govind Swarup, a radio Bachelor’s (1948) and Master’s degree and while at Stanford University, USA, astronomer, discovered the ‘type-U’ (1950) in Physics from the Allahabad he had the urge to establish something solar bursts. He also developed the University. After his Master’s, he similar back home. He and a few of his colleagues wrote to about five key organisations in India about this. And the most encouraging one was from Dr Homi Bhabha who was the Director of TIFR, Mumbai. This prompted Prof. Swarup to return to India in 1963 while joining as a Reader at TIFR in 1965. Swarup is known for building the Ooty Radio Telescope (ORT) on the hillslopes of Ooty and the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) near Pune. These ingenious, economical, and powerful observational facilities are used not just by Indian scientists, but also by scientists from 31 countries the world over. A recipient of the Padma Shri, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Department of Atomic Energy, Prof. Swarup was a promoter of an all- inclusive approach to teaching science. The proposal that he made along with Prof. V. G. Bhide for a 5-year integrated program for an intensive education in science led to the establishment of the Indian Institutes of Science Education With Professor Govind Swarup’s demise, the world of astronomy has lost a and Research (IISERs). great scientist, institution-, and telescope-builder. Ever-smiling, not one to take Prof. Govind Swarup passed away a no for anything he wanted to be done, he took on many impossible tasks, on 7 September 2020. inspired colleagues to accomplish them. - Prof. K. VijayRaghavan tweeted

August 2021 | Science Reporter | 15