DR. K. S. KRISHNAN, THE DEVOTED STUDENT OFDR. C. V. RAMAN

AN ICONIC EXAMPLE OF GURU-SISHYA MODE OFEDUCATION

Jambunatha Sethuraman*

Senior ProfessorVinayaka Mission’s Kirupananda Variyar Engineering College,

Salem Tamil Nadu, India 636 308.

INTRODUCTION: Guru-Sishya relation becomes stronger whenguru and sishya (master and disciple) live together in a place far way from ‘maddening’ crowd, in a forest or a university remotely connected with the general population. This traditional mode of teaching-learning process is a longabandoned technique. But in the scientific pursuit of Mr. K.S. Krishnan and Mr. C. V. Raman this tradition got revived. I say Mr. Krishnan and Mr. Raman as they just began their study in IACS as freshers. Raman was working in Indian Auditand Accounts Service (I. A. A. S) as an officer in Calcutta after his post-graduation in physics from the Presidency College, Madras. He received Gold medals in B. a. and M. A.degrees. While moving in a tram from his house to the office, he saw a small board bearing the name: IACS: Indian Academy of Cultivation of Science. He made it a point to visit this place in the evening. The visit kindled the interest in research, which was somewhat tarnished by the coveted administrative job under the British Government. Thus began the active research It was established by the medical doctor and a philanthropist Dr. Mahedralal Sircar with the contribution form his own resources and generous contribution from the industrialists, well-wishers and the

public. Raman was born in the south of Tamil Nadu. Thus in Calcutta, Raman started working in IACS after the ‘office’ hours i.e., before 9 am and after 5 pm! His biodata impressed the nephew Sri, Amritlal Sircar the Secretary of IACS and made all arrangements and encouraged Raman to pursue his interest in research [1, 3]. Raman was born in aBrahmin Iyer family.

A PRODIGY FROM WESTERN SIDE of TAMIL NADU: Kariamanickam Srinivasa Krishnan was born in a Brahmin Iyengar family in a village Wathrap about 70 km from Madurai, Tamil Nadu. He was born on Dec 4, 1898. Raman was born on November 21, 1888. After school education in Watrap and Srivilliputhur, he joined the American College, Madurai for his F. A. (Intermediate) degree in physics in 1914. He is an alumnus of the American College (which is 130 years old and older than the University of Madras). I am happy that I am working in a college where Dr. K. S. Krishnan (KSK) studied and studied in a college where his mentor Dr.C. V. Raman studied (the Presidency College, Madras). He received his F. A. degree in physics in 1916 and immediately joined Madras Christian College (MCC), Madras and took his B. A. degree in physics in 1918. He joined as ademonstrator in chemistry department as vacancy existed only in that department!

GURUKULAM: After serving for two years, in 1920 he joined as a student to work with C. V. Raman in IACS, Calcutta. Thus the tie of Guru-sishya relationship was established between Raman and Krishnan. He worked with C. V. Raman for eight years till 1928. K. S. Krishnan joined Dakka Univeristy (now in Bangladesh) as a reader in physics in December 1928. After a tenure of five years Dr. KSK returnedto Calcutta University an occupied the Chair of Mahendralal

Sircar Professor of physics. In 1942 when war cloud was hovering over Calcutta during the Second World War, Dr. KSKjoined Allahabad University as a professor of physics. AfterIndependence of India, Dr. KSK became the first director of National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi in 1947. Unfortunately, the nemesis cut the thread and at the age of 63 Dr. KSK died due to heart attack on June 14, 1961. He died in harness. His scientific pursuit stretched for forty years from the time he joined the group of Raman in IACS in 1920.

In scientific circle, C. V. Raman is regarded as a great spectroscopist, Satyendra Nath Bose (of Bose-Einsteinstatistics), a great theoretical physicist, Homi Bhabha, anoutstanding particle physicist, Meghnad Saha, a great nuclear physicist, but KSK is regarded as a complete accomplished physicist. In his work in communication theory,he had already discovered (Shannon’s) sampling theorem[2]!

His research covered a wide range of topics: scatteringby light by materials and associated properties, magnetic behavior of crystals, relation between magnetic anisotropy and atomic arrangements in crystal lattice., electronic transport phenomenon in solids and liquids and condensed matter physics- to mention a few.

One statistics shows that the paper published by Raman and Krishnan in 1928 in Nature announcing the incoherent scattering (Raman effect) has been quoted as reference as many as 54980 times in the various publications of papers indifferent journals during seventeen years from 1980 to 1997.Such prolific reference to one paper might have crossed a million times as reference from 1928 onwards!

DIRECTOR of NPL: During the period of the Director of National Physical Laboratory, Dr. KSK was a resident of Kushak Marg, New Delhi and Teen Murti Bhavan, where the first Prime Minister Pandit Jawahal Lal Nehru was living, were close by. Often Pandit Nehru(Prime minister is known to all) used to visit KSK and had lengthy chat with him. Nehru expressed that by talking to Dr KSK he used to relax from the tension of administration. KSK used to tell storiesfrom the great epics of India (Mahabharata and Ramayana) appropriate to the need of the situation. Just as Kavutilya (Chanakya) was to Chandra Gupta, was KSK to Nehru.Prof. KSK used to visit the school he studied in Watrap and address the students on the richness and heritage of the Indian culture and epics.

RAMAN AND KRISHNAN: My attempt to narrate the scientific biography of Prof. KSK will not be complete if I do not tell briefly about the apparent controversy on the discovery of the Raman Effect. Prof. Ramaseshan who worked with both Raman and Krishnan, writes on this aspect in the commemorial issue of Current Science (Dec 1998 issue). Prof KSK was rather intrigued by the question raised by Ramaseshan. KSK immediately took the diary he preserved over years and read the pages of record during the sensational moments in 1928 when the great discovery was made. These pages of the diary are available in print in the earlier mentioned issue of Current Science. Prof. KSK recalls that C. V. Raman was extremely a generous person. The lively conversation with KSK as narrated by Ramaseshan stands vindictive testimony that Prof. K. S. Krishnan never entertained an iota of animosity towards Prof. C. V. Raman. Prof. K. S. Krishnan had great respect and regard for his master. And mentor and never entertained any ill-feeling against his Guru. In fact Ramaseshan was embarrassed for raising the question. Prof.

KSK always said that he had “Gurukulavasam” (teacher and students living together) with Prof. C. V. Raman at Calcutta for eight years (1920-1928). If C. V. Raman is Sri.Rama, then KSK is Hanuman (Rama bhaktha Hanuman- Hanuman the devotee of Sri Rama). The devotion, admiration and bhakthi thatKSK had for his master CVR is akin to the devotion, admiration and bhakthi that Hanuman had for his master Sri.Rama (in the epic Ramayana).

TRIBUTES BY POLITICIANS AND SCIENTISTS: Rashtrapathi (the then President of India) Sri. K. R. Narayanan, giving the key note address in the Centenary Celebrations of Prof. K. S. Krishnan, organized by the National Institute for Advanced Studies, Bangalore, remarked: “Dr. K. S. Krishnan is an outstanding scientist, agreat Indian and a human being, a symbol and product of Indian Renaissance”.

Speaking on the occasion of the Sixtieth Birth Day Celebration of Prof. KSK in 1959, Pandit Nehru paid laurel tribute: “What is remarkable about K. S. Krishnan is not that he is a great scientist (India produced) but something much more. He is a perfect citizen, whole man with integrated personality”.

Dr. S. Chandrasekhar, the Nobel Laureate and renowned astrophysicist, remembers KSK as great in heart, great in mind, and great in chosen are of research.

MAHATMA GANDHI AND PEACE: Prof. K. S. Krishnan is agreat pacifist. In 1947 after assuming office as the Director of NPL, Prof. KSK took initiative to recommend Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation, for the Nobel Prize for Peace for 1947. A draft was made by Dr. KSK on theadvice of Sri Rajagopalachari, the Governor General of

India. “ Why this proposal did not fructify, we do not know”-observed by Rashtrapathi Sri K. R. Narayanan. Next year, no Nobel Peace prize was awarded in 1948 as no living suitable candidate was available for the prize! It appearedthat the Nobel Committee for Peace made ‘prayachittam’ (reconciliation) for not awarding the Nobel Peace prize for Mahatma Gandhi in 1947 by not awarding in 1948. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948.

HONORS AND AWARDS: Numerous honors and awards were presented to Prof. K. S. Krishnan. He was elected Fellow of Royal Society (FRS) in 1940. He received the knighthood of the British Government and the Order of Lenin presented by the USSR Science Academy. He was the first recipient of Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar award in 1957, the highest award to scientific excellence in India. He was decorated with PadmaBhushan award in 1954. Almost all major universities have awarded honorary doctorate degree honouris causa.

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN RAMAN AND KRISHNAN: Raman joined IAAS service and earned Rs. 1100 per month salary. Itwould fetch more than 100 sovereigns per month. But he gladly preferred to be a professor with a salary of Rs. 600 per month. It is something unbelievable! Being born in a rich agriculturist family , Krishnan was offered by his father fabulous cash and asked him not to go to Calcutta. But determined Krishnan was not lured by the offer and preceded to Calcutta. The career of KSK is an example for the youth in India to follow and emulate. Two great scientists from different places in Tamil Nadu had united atWest Bengal capitol city Calcutta in pursuit of a common goal: pursuit of truth to unfold the mystery of nature.

KSK’s life is an example for the Biblical Proverb. Chapter 16: verse 16: “How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver”. Young Krishnan refused silver for the understanding of the mystery of nature. He refused gold to get wisdom. We join in paying homage to this illustrious scientist, a great Indian and distinguishedalumnus.

This talk was delivered by Dr. Jambunatha Sethuraman on the occasion of the Birth Centenary Celebration of Dr. K. S. Krishnan on December 1, 1999. A one-day seminar was arranged. A portrait of Dr KSK was unveiled by the Principal. Dr. M. A. Thangaraj, former Principal and the Head of the physics department of physics also graced the occasion by his presence. An Exhibition on the work of Dr. K. S. Krishnan was opened to all. The two year records of KSK as a student of the American College were displayed.

REFERENCES:1. “Sir C. V. Raman the Great Saga of Indian Science” by

Jambunatha Sethuraman, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2n_OLjigzU

2. R. Simon, “Krishnan and the Sampling Theorem”, Current Science 1998 (75), Dec issue, 1239-1245.

3. Sethuraman Jambunathan, Sir C. V. Raman, the Great Saga of Indian Science, https://www.academia.edu/7439800/SIR_C._V._RAMAN-_THE_GREAT_SAGA_OF_INDIAN_SCIENCE