Mysuru: The Lifetime Achievement Award, instituted by Karnataka Science and Technology Academy (KSTA), was presented to renowned Science writer Prof. J.R. Lakshmana Rao (JRL) by KSTA officials at his residence in city on Saturday.
The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 50,000 and a citation. The award was a prelude to the first Kannada Conference on Science and Technology organised by KSTA in association with JSS College of Arts, Science and Commerce to be held at the College premises here Nov.24 and 25.
PROFILE
Prof. J.R. Lakshmana Rao (Jagaluru Raghavendra Rao Lakshmana Rao) was born in Jagaluru, on Jan. 21, 1921. Jagaluru was earlier in Chitradurga and now in the newly-formed district of Davanagere. His parents were Nagamma and Jagaluru Raghavendra Rao. His father was the Shanubhog (Village Accountant) of Jagalur.
JRL had his initial education in Jagalur, Chitradurga and Davanagere. He did his Intermediate course in Yuvaraja‘s College in Mysuru and B.Sc Honours & M.Sc in Chemistry from The Central College, Bengaluru.
KSTA Chairman Dr. S.K. Shivakumar and Member Dr. Shakib Ur Rehman are seen presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to J.R. Lakshmana Rao with his wife Jeevu Bai seen seated beside him. Also seen are (from left) Dr. B.Y. Satishkumar, Chairman, Biotechnology Department, JSS College – Ooty Road, B.V. Sambashivaiah CEO, Dr. H. Honnegowda, Member-Secretary, KSTA, S.R. Sudarshan, retired Assistant Director, Prasaranga, University of Mysore, Prof. Chidananda Gowda, retired Vice-Chancellor, Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, relatives of Prof. Lakshmana Rao — daughter Vidya Shankar, niece Jayanthi and her husband Mohan — Dr. A.M. Ramesh, senior Scientific Officer, KSTA, Madegowda, Administrative Officer, Prof. M. Mahadevappa, Principal, JSS College-Ooty Road and Prof. D.S. Sadashiva Murthy, Assistant Professor.
He started his teaching career, teaching Organic Chemistry, in Tumakuru. Later, he taught in The Central College, Sahyadri College in Shivamogga, Maharani‘s College and Yuvaraja‘s College in Mysuru. He was a popular teacher and a public speaker on the subject of science, popularisation of science and environmental issues.
Among the many books that JRL has written, some have received the Karnataka Rajya Sahitya Academy award. He has received the NCERT award and the Sahitya academy award for his work Galileo. The play Galileo has received Nataka Academy award and Sahitya Academy award. Vijnana Vicaara, Archimedes, Meghnad Saha, and the collection of essays, Chakra, have received awards too. He is also the recipient of the Indian Government’s National Council for Science Communication’s National Award for Communication of Science in 1992. Mudabidare’s Shivarama Karantha Pratishthana has honoured him with its Shivarama Karantha Award in 1977. He is also the recipient of Kannada Rajyotsava Award – 2016. The English – Kannada Vijnana Pada Kosha (Dictionary of Scientific Terms) that he published along with the famous science writer Adyanadka Krishna Bhatta has already seen many editions.
Recent Comments