Subramaniam Ranganathan (1934–2016) was an Indian bioorganic chemist, professor and author. Subramaniam was the head of the Department of Chemistry at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. He is known for his significant contributions to chemistry, especially organic synthesis and mechanistic organic chemistry. Subramaniam Ranganathan died in 2016.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Subramaniam Ranganathan was born on Friday, 2 February 1934 (age 81 years at the time of death) in Tamil Nadu. Subramaniam attended the University of Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, from where he obtained Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in 1957. After this he worked in the Biochemistry Department of Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI). Subramaniam was awarded a Sloan Kettering Foundation Fellowship for three years, on which he went to Ohio State University for doctoral studies. In 1962 he obtained his PhD on the advice of Professor Harold Schechter. From 1962 to 1964 he worked under Nobel laureate Professor RB Woodward. From 1964 to 1966, Subramaniam worked at the Woodward Research Institute in Basel, Switzerland.
Subramaniam Ranganathan, at the Woodward Research Institute, Basel, Switzerland
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 7″
Hair Color: Black
Eye colour: black
Family
parents and siblings
Not much is known about Subramaniam’s parents and siblings.
wife and children
Subramaniam Ranganathan was married to organic chemist Darshan Ranganathan. Darshan died in 2001 due to breast cancer. Darshan and Subramaniam met at a seminar in 1969. After their meeting, Subramaniam sent Darshan a letter asking him to marry her, to which she said yes. Both of them got married on 4 June 1970. Their son Anand Ranganathan was born on 4 December 1972. Anand is a scientist, political analyst and writer.
Anand Ranganathan, son of Subramaniam Ranganathan
Darshan Ranganathan with her husband Subramaniam Ranganathan
livelihood
professor
In 1966, Subramaniam Ranganathan joined the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur. During his career at IIT Kanpur, which ended when he retired in 1994, he has held the positions of Professor, Head of the Department of Chemistry and Dean (Professor in Charge, Faculty Affairs). Subramaniam taught subjects such as General Chemistry and Frontiers in Biology. He also co-taught a course on biochemistry and biophysics. He was awarded the rank of Senior Scientist by the Indian National Science Academy from 1994 to 1999. In 1994, Subramaniam worked as a senior scientist at the Regional Research Laboratory (later renamed the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology or NIIST). From 1998–99, Subramaniam and his wife worked at the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) in Hyderabad. Subramaniam Ranganathan played an important role in the establishment of the Indian Society of Bioorganic Chemists (ISBC). He was the President of ISBC from 1994 to 2002.
chemist
When Subramaniam was working with Professor Woodward, he made contributions that led to the formulation of the Woodward–Hoffman rules. It was Subramaniam’s idea of reaction mechanisms that helped formulate these rules, which led to Professor Woodward winning the Nobel Prize in 1981. Subramaniam went to Stockholm to see Woodward receive the Nobel Prize. Subramaniam used the craft to create complex molecules; To achieve this he used the paper folding technique of origami.
Subramaniam Ranganathan with the origami model of ‘Buckyball’ prepared by him
Subramaniam has worked in more than 15 areas of carbon science such as organic chemistry, bio-organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, bio-inorganic chemistry, DNA recognition, protein engineering, crystal engineering and chemical topology.
Subramaniam Ranganathan has written several research papers, co-authored several books and even runs a newspaper with his wife Darshan. From 1971 to 1979, Darshan and Subramaniam wrote, edited, typed, cyclostyled (an earlier version of copy making), stapled, and mailed their newsletter. The newsletter was named “Current Organic Chemistry Highlights” and discussed the literature on the chemistry. Subramaniam has also published articles in the Journal of Chemical Education. He has also written several articles for the magazine Resonance, which is published by the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore. Subramaniam wrote his first book “Fascinating Problems in Organic Reaction Mechanisms” (1967).
Cover of Subramaniam Ranganathan’s first book – Fascinating Problems in Organic Reaction Mechanisms (1967)
He then wrote the books “Challenging Problems in Biological Reaction Mechanisms” (1972) and “Further Challenging Problems in Biological Reaction Mechanisms” (1980) with his wife Darshan Ranganathan.
Cover of the book “Challenging Problems in Organic Reaction Mechanisms” by Darshan and Subramaniam Ranganathan
Subramaniam also co-wrote a book with Nitya Anand and Jasjit S. Bindra, titled “Art in Organic Synthesis” (1988). Subramaniam Ranganathan contributed a chapter on Darshana Ranganathan for the book “Lilavati’s Daughters – The Women Scientists of India” (2008).
Awards, Honors, Achievements
- In 1966, Subramaniam was succeeded by Professor S. The lectureship was awarded for Swaminathan’s 60th birthday commemoration lecture.
- Subramaniam Ranganathan was awarded the Basudev Banerjee Medal in 1975.
- Subramaniam Ranganathan received the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in Chemical Sciences from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in 1977.
- Subramaniam Ranganathan received the RC Mehrotra Endowment Gold Medal in 2000.
- Subramaniam Ranganathan received the Silver Medal of the Chemical Research Society of India in 2001.
- The Chemical Research Society of India honored Subramaniam Ranganathan with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.
- Subramaniam Ranganathan was awarded the Best Teacher Award for the year 2014 from the Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi.
- MF Hussain awarded the first prize in the All India Cultural Competition to Subramaniam Ranganathan for his cell painting.
A copy of Subramaniam Ranganathan’s painting ‘Sail’ which won him first place in the All India Cultural Competition
Death
Subramaniam Ranganathan died on 8 January 2016. On 28 December 2015, Subramaniam suffered a broken bone after falling in his apartment. His son, Anand Ranganathan, took Subramaniam to the hospital after which he moved to Delhi to live with his son’s family. On 8 January 2016, Subramaniam was in the recovery room of a hospital in Delhi when he died.
Facts/General Knowledge
- In 2000, Subramaniam Ranganathan and his wife Darshan established a registered society called Vidyananth Education Centre. The aim of the center is to promote education, art and culture.
- Subramaniam Ranganathan was known by his pseudonym Ranga.
- Subramaniam and Darshan Ranganathan used to cycle to work.
- Subramina used to practice arts like origami and painting. He held an exhibition for his paintings titled “Capturing Science in Art”.
A photo of Subramaniam Ranga’s origami model of the Platonic solids
- Subramaniam Ranganathan was an avid reader.
- To celebrate Ranga’s 80th birthday in 2014, his students, colleagues and admirers came together at CSIR-IICT (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology). They chatted and shared memories about organic chemistry, and were praised for his great memory as he also recited Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address at the age of 80.
Subramaniam ‘Ranga’ Ranganathan gathered with his students, colleagues and friends to celebrate his 80th birthday in 2014.
- Instead of testing students by giving them standard 1-hour exams, Subramaniam gave them open-book tests that they could work on for as long as needed.
- Subramaniam traveled throughout India giving seminars and lectures. He also traveled with his son Anand and conducted chemical demonstrations in an effort to popularize chemistry.
A chemical demonstration of chemiluminescence presented by Subramaniam Ranganathan
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn