trusciencetrutechnology@blogspot.com, Vol.2010, Issue N0.7, Dt. Tue. 20th July 2010 Proprietary Rights are reserved:
Professor Dr. Kotcherlakota Lakshmi Narayana
A TRIBUTE TO Dr. K. RANGADHAMA RAO
Dr . K. Krishnamurthy,
Ex-Principal, College of Science, Nagpur
and
Ex-Professor of Physical Chemistry, Baghdad University, Iraq.
I first knew about Dr. K.Rangadhama Rao in 1925 as a
research scholar working with Dr. A.L.Narayana at Vizianagarm. But
I really came into personal contact with him in London in September
1927, when he went there as Government Research Scholar, after taking
the D.Sc.degree of Madras University. He then joined the Spectroscopy
laboratory at the Imperial College, London, under the direction of
Professor A. Fowler F.R.S, a world renowned spectroscopist of that
time, and carried out researches on Atomic spectra, on which he published
several research papers and obtained the D.Sc.degree of
London University in 1929. He later went to Professor M. Siegbhan’s lab-
oratory at Uppsala and then to Germany before finally returning to
India, after obtaining the highest degree (D.Sc) at London and
acquiring great research experience in England and Sweden.
It was during the two years of his stay in London, 1927-1929,
that I had the previlege of meeting Dr. Rangadhama Rao very often
and knowing him closely. I found him to be a great gentleman and a good
friend, who was very simple, sincere, good-hearted, helpful and unassuming
and always clean and correct in his behaviour to others. We remained
as good friends during our stay in London, and later in India, although,
being far away from Waltair, I could not meet him often, except during
my occasional visits to Waltair AS University examiner. We had great
trust in one another. I had a very high regard for Dr.Rangadhama Rao,
as a sincere and reliable friend, as a fine gentleman, as a man of
independence and integrity, who, althoghu quite and gentle by nature, had a
strong, independent and powerful mind, as a man of high character, and
a good organizer and skilled administrator, great scholar and researcher
in Physics-spectroscopy. I longed to have a friend like him at
Nagpur. I got an opportunity in 1959, when on behalf of the Dean of
College of Science, Baghdad University, IRAQ, I invited him to go to
Baghdad as Professor of Physics on a very high salary and hoped
to have his association again for some years there. But, unfortunately
he could not accept this offer, owing to his ill-health.
Later, after my return to India in November 1962 I wished to
see him, but owing to my responsibilities in Poona I could not go to
Waltair again, and thus for ever lost the chance of seeing once again
a dear and good friend.
Dr.Rangadhama Rao’s contributions to Science were very many
and outstanding. In the field of Spectroscopy-Atomic, Molecular and
Microwave-he has accomplished much and attained a very high status
in Indian Science. He was the Principal of the University College of
Science, Andhra University, when he organized the departments and
carried out the administration of the Institution with skill and
distinction. Later he went to Tirupati to organize the University there.
He has thus made a distinguished mark as a scholar, researcher, of high
merit, as an organizer and administrator and always a great gentleman.
K. Krishnamurthy,
Ex-Principal, College of Science, Nagpur.
and
Ex-Professor of Physical Chemistry, Baghdad University, Iraq.
93/4A, Erandwana,
Poona-4
24th Feb, 1980.
------------------------------------------------
Editor’s Note:
Dr K. Krishnamurthy has entertained the present author at his residence during several of the later’s visit to his residence at Poona and had a lovely interacting with his children all daughters and met some of his on-in-laws. Dr. K.Krishnamurthy and his fond Maharashtrain wife from Kulkarni family were very much dear and had a special affection to the author. In fact they desired to adopt the son of Prof. Dr. K. Rangadhama Rao. His son went to Nagpur Institute of Science in the summer of 1956 or so and but, later when Prof. Dr. K. Rangadhama Rao visited him in the summer of 1957 while, returning by First Class mail train travel, he suffered a heat stroke and was unable to get good drinking route the train travel. (Some IIT students were his co travellers in the compartment). In the month of June he suffered a heart attack and was admitted to the KGH for about 9 months treatment and had miraculously survived till the age of 72 years for the blessed academic progress of his five younger children.
The present author remembers that Professor K R Rao declined the invitation of Baghdad University, though suggested by the present author to accept it. The reason he told to decline the offer during the 1960s was that he was more concerned of not upsetting the Children’s’ academic careers.
Dr K. Krishnamurthy was very fond of his British Physical Chemistry experts in London but, happens to be a great admirer and oratory prosier of Prof R. (as Dr.J. S. Badami refers the Nobel Prize winner of India)He was good to mention Dr. K. L. Narayana, present author as a Theoretical Physicist of Shivaji University, in one of his books on science. Icchapurapu Ramakrishna Rao, R K Asundhi, J S Badami, Sonti Dakshinamurthy, T.Vasundara Devi ,and K Krishna murthy were all associated with Dr K Rangadhama Rao.
The tribute to Dr K Rangadhama Rao reflects the dire need of a friendly hand in his life and to lead an academic life of distinction and merit. He was one of the six Indians with whom Prof K R Rao enjoyed in London, his first school of academic guidance, teachings and practical training in Modern Science.
Also it emphasizes the fact, that Dr. K. Krishnamurthy garu knows Dr .K. R Rao both at H H Maharaja College of Vizianagaram in 1924 and also in London during 1927-1929. He was aware of Prof K R Rao’s continued success in the Physics-spectroscopy subject by way of his outstanding research merit and contributions.
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