trusciencetrutechnology@blogspot.com

Vol.2012, Issue No.10, Dated: 23rd October 2012

Time 2h37m A.M.

by

Professor Dr. Kotcherlakota Lakshmi Narayana 

(Retd Prof. of Physics, Shivaji University, India)   17-11-10, Narasimha Ashram, 

Official Colony, Maharanipeta. P .O, Visakhapatnam -530002. A. P.

Cell: Phone: +91 9491902867

Fourth of the Series of Articles on

Prof. K. R. Rao

D.Sc. (Madras) D.Sc. (London)

[9^th September 1899 to 20^thJune 1972]

{A Researcher of the Universe}

He was a singular personality who nurtured the entire Electromagnetic Spectrum from one end to the other and gave a fill up to several people.

Foundation of Andhra University Effort of Prof K R Rao in 1931year.

Life of Prof K R Rao D.Sc. (Madras) D.Sc.(London) after the appointment in AU, in the Year 1932, following his efforts to establish the AU with the generous grant of the Maharaja of Odisha state, has been one of a sacrifice to the intelligent students of Andhra Pradesh.  And the involvement of a relative of Prof K R Rao in building the JVD College of Science and Technology building at Waltair in 1931, a place very much dreaded by people to visit, the sites due to its solitude and remoteness, from Visakhapatnam City of just two lakh population. It is unfortunate, that the relative  who is a supplier of milk to remote places, in Waltair and Erravada Park, and a contractor by choice  to build the JVD College of Science and Technology died accidentally,  within a few months, at the Turning Point of Siripuram culvert  to the beach road, whereat now a petrol bunk stands.

Prof K R Rao after his return from abroad struggled hard to join the Andhra University which had no building of its own. And by his valiant efforts and with the generous grant of Maharaja of Odisha state, he is able to have the building constructed, to house his Spectroscopy laboratories and the research work in spite of the continued offensive and oppressive attitude of a noted Prize Winner of those Days.

First Person to Greet a Diploma Holder in Physics

What surprises me most is the fact that Prof K R Rao was the first person from Sweden, to send a cable of Congratulations to the Learned Man regarding his coveted Nobel Prize (of a diploma in Physics), after he having been informed by his learned Professor Manne Siegbahn. Things are different in India, the then British Ruled country, where a diploma holder is much honored and so a genuine Professor of Physics with double D.Sc. Degrees is decried. Prof K R Rao given a menial position of an ordinary lecturer post in Andhra University, the only place for the Andhra people. The manipulation is by appointing the Diploma Holder as an Expert Member by the then Indian and the British Rulers of the Country and another Sir Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan as another expert. It is very amazing how the twosome have managed to have a reputed double degree D.Sc. holder for nearly four times of his due appointment and denial of research facilities to undertake his outstanding investigative research in Physics. It is amazing how this simple man of great preservance has made amazing mark by guiding research over the entire electromagnetic spectrum range with different students in different ranges of the spectrum. Neither the students nor the University authority able to realize how effortlessly he guided and made enormous publications with each paper read of his disciples and students at research doctorate levels and made due corrections before their publication in foreign reputed journals.  A slow growing group of students with remarkable affinity and capturing the blessings of the learned professor for their honor and glory is remarkable.

Problems of the Then Rule of Andhra University

Skilful manipulation by British authorities to sustain the talented people to work hard  and benefit the interest of England and secondly to outsmart them by way of several pupils and followers to get benefit of their expertise, in spite of academic excellence results in the total neglect and suppression of a spirited and dedicated Indian. Prof. K R Rao is no exception in this treat. Prof K R Rao faced on one side the Prize Winner Physicist (a diploma holder of the coveted award) and on the other hand and more significant and hidden danger of the White supremacy in India. During the years 1930 to 1942 a period of about 12 years of life of an academician of unparallel learned achievements Prof K R Rao has been subjected to many diverse influence of the white rule and its continues surrogate methods. 

                                      Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors of AU at the time of

                                     Prof K R Rao joined the Andhra University in 1932

However, the learned Sir Prize Winner did not leave Professor K R Rao for his enthusiastic enterprise of research and academic pursuits. He was greatly assisted by no person other than Sir Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. It cannot be forgotten that the learned Professors of British India were honored by Sir Titles and including the Chancellors. The Nobel Prize Winner created obstacles during the years 1932 to 1940 and by his determined sheer of will, ruthlessly oppressed Prof K R Rao nearly four times, getting his Professor’s post, also the facilities for excellent research work for denied to him. It was those days when Prof K R Rao turned his attention to safe guard his children and built a house during the years 1931-1942 built it in Official Colony as Narasimha Ashram. He could become a Professor only in 1940. 

Ambition of Prof A Fowler

             What I surmise is the interest of Prof A Fowler from England, who wanted his school of research established with help of Prof K R Rao in India as well.  I have seen papers that prompted the appointments of several Indians in India to the Andhra University Physics Department just to suppress the talented Prof K R Rao. One should note the British Valiant efforts intelligently to suppress away the talented India.  God’s Grace is slightly different but Prof K R Rao experienced his most bad times at Andhra University during the years 1932 to 1940.

Having not been able to move to America in pursuit of his research interests, in 1931, denied with superb intelligence as a blockier, and then appointed to muster as a lower grade person in his own state and country seems to be very far fetching ambition and calculated effort by the learned people. sucking away the ambitious and learned people effort is noteworthy.

Obedient Indian students are very mindful of their teachers and Prof K R Rao is no exception to support and gear to the ideas of the learned Professor A. Fowler from UK. Alas, the war has killed the learned Prof. A Fowler while crossing the railway line in Britain during the world war time (possibly the year 1942) otherwise Prof K R Rao would have been an FRS.

A Singular Personality and a Great researcher

Prof K R Rao has planned and established the Andhra University Laboratories and spent most of his valuable time two-fold in Research and the upbringing of the University Departments. Because of his D.Sc. (London) and D.Sc. (Madras), degrees no one has ever dared to speak against his selection and choice of appointments from 1942 to 1972. He was a singular personality who nurtured the entire Electromagnetic Spectrum from one end to the other and gave a fill up to several people.

            Many people are not aware that Prof K R Rao was an expert member as The Principal of AU Colleges he was given the opportunity of appointing the Indian Administration Services Cadre talented people and conduct of their examinations. He did it with utmost secrecy and law-abiding character.  He without regard to cast and creed identified the most talented people and I specifically mention learned Mathematics Professor Omi Ramswamy as an ideal member for IAS examinations.

            He was above the ordinary rules of favoritism and when Prof Omi Ramswamy died he suggested Dr Meenakshi Sundaram (a student of Astro-Physicist Dr. Chandra Sekhar of USA) to take over the Mathematics Department and gave the Mathematical Physics Department to Prof T. Venkatarayudu (a Group Theory expert of India). He thus helped V.C, Dr. A. L. Narayan to tie over the crisis during the years 1965-1966. Systematic effort made by the concerned people to deny the V.C. Post to Prof. K R Rao of AU colleges, though they favored his appointment as expert member to establish the Sri Venketaswara University, Tirupati in 1954.

Deed of Dr Rangadhama Rao dated 25 February 1934

Prof A Fowler Testimonial 

of a fowl Play of British Rule

A Fowler's Letter

Useful Prof K R Rao to guide and 

assertion of findings in Spectroscopy 

Note the P.S

National Institute of Science of India 

New Delhi November 1937 

Fellowship of Honor

Forward for a book in Telugu by 

Prof K Rangadhama Rao D Sc (Madras) D. Sc (London) 

to Vasantrao Venkatarao

Regd Post Ack.due 11th April 1946 letter 

for the Lakshmi Nilayama house at Maharanipet and 

continued letter dated 26th February 1946 about vyasa vilas house

 Income Tax Officer letter and 

Prof K R Rao's emoluments

true copy details from Income Tax office

Mr. P V Gopalkrishna Murthy from

 Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, Physics Department, AU, Waltair

V C Apparao's tribute to Late Prof K R Rao 

and unveiling of his Picture in TLN Sabha

Noteworthy that Shri Apparao VC realized that Professor K. Rangadhama Rao D. Sc. (Madras), D. Sc. (London) did work to establish Andhra University since its inception.