BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

RAJA RAMANNA, DR

Ph.D.(London),L.R.S.M. (London)- Diploma of Licentiate of the Royal School of Music ; Nominated; s. of late Shri B. Ramanna and late Shrimati Rukminiamma; b. at Tumkur (Karnataka), January 28,1925; ed. at (i) Madras Christian College and (ii) London University; m. Shrimati Malathi Ramanna, May 19, 1952; 1 s. and 2 d.

Scientist; President, (i) Indian National Science Academy, 1977-78 and (ii) 30th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1986; Vice-President, Indian Academy of Sciences, 1977-79; Chairman, (i) Governing Council, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, (ii) Council of Management, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, (iii) Board of Governors, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, 1972-78, (iv) Atomic Energy

Commission, 1983-87 and (v) Indian Vaccine Corporation Limited, New Delhi, 1989; Vice-Chairman, Council of Management, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore; Director-General, Defence Research and Development Organisation , 1978-81; Director (i) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay, 1972-78 and 1981-83 and (ii) National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, August, 1987 to December, 1989 and 1991 to June, 1997; Secretary, (i) Department of Defence Research, Government of India, 1978-81 and (ii) Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, 1983-87; Scientific Adviser to the Minister of Defence, 1978-81; Member/Chairman, Scientific Advisory Committee to the Director-General, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1986; Fellow, (i) Indian National Science Academy and (ii) Indian Academy of Sciences; Honorary Fellow, (i) Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay, (ii) Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and (iii) Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore; Honorary Visiting Fellow, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore; Member, (i) Scientific Advisory Committee to the Union Cabinet 1986-87, (ii) Citizens for Civic Amenities, Bangalore, (iii) R.T.Nagar Civic Forum, Bangalore and (iv) Save Bangalore, Bangalore; previously associated with Janata Dal; Minister of State for Defence, Government of India, January to November, 1990; elected to the Rajya Sabha in March, 1990; nominated to

the Rajya Sabha in August, 1997.

Clubs: (i) India International Centre, New Delhi, (ii) Bangalore Club, Bangalore, (iii) Century Club, Bangalore and (iv) International Centre, Goa.

Travels abroad: U.S.A.,Canada, U.S.S.R., European countries, China, South America, Africa, Australia and Far-Eastern countries.

Accomplishment in arts and science : Awarded, (i) Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Memorial Award, 1963, (ii) Padma Vibhushan, 1975, (iii) Nehru Award (Engineering and Technology) by Madhya Pradesh Government, 1983, (iv) Meghnad Saha Medal, INSA, 1984, (v) Om Prakash Bhasin Award, 1985, (vi) R.D.Birla Memorial Award, 1985-86, (vii) Honorary Degree of Desikottama (Doctor of Literature) by Visva Bharati, 1993 (viii) Asutosh Mookerjee Memorial Award (Gold Medal), 1996 and (ix) D.Sc.(Honoris Causa) by several universities; was leader of the Group which successfully conducted Peaceful Explosion at Pokhran in 1974.

Publications: (i) Years of Pilgrimage - an autobiography, Panguin Books India Pvt. Ltd, 1991, (ii) The Structure of Music in Raga and Western Systems, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 1993 and (iii) several scientific publications and articles in the international and national journals.

Special interest: Music, Drama, Philosophy, Literature, Nuclear and Particle Physics (experimental and theoretical).

Favourite pastime and recreation: Reading.

Permanent address: 407, II Block, 9th Cross Road, R.T.Nagar, Bangalore - 560 032.