Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao (born 1934), is an Indian chemist who has worked mainly in solid-state and structural chemistry.
C.N.R. Rao was born in a Kannada Deshastha Brahmin family in Bangalore. His parents, being rather learned, created quite the academic atmosphere at home. His father, an Inspector of Schools, ensured young CNR was well-versed in English from a young age, even though he started his schooling in Kannada. Interestingly, he was so bright that he used to tutor his classmates in Maths and English despite being the youngest in class.
The moment that truly sparked his scientific journey? Apparently, hearing Nobel laureate C. V. Raman give a 'fantastic' lecture at his school in Basavanagudi. This made such an impression that he made a "subconscious decision to become a scientist".
After his schooling and college in Bangalore, CNR headed to Benaras Hindu University (BHU) for his Master of Science in 1951. He published his very first paper based on his MSc thesis at the tender age of 19. From there, it was onwards and upwards to Purdue University for his PhD. He finished his doctorate in a brisk two years and nine months. His time at Purdue, and a subsequent stint as a post-doc at the University of California at Berkeley, really allowed his research potential to blossom. Despite finding the academic environment at Berkeley overpowering, he made the decision to return to India in 1959, not only to be closer to his parents but also to marry his sweetheart Indumathi.
Back in India, CNR joined the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore as the youngest lecturer. While he appreciated the extraordinary academic freedom at IISc, the facilities were a tad meagre. After a spell at IIT Kanpur, he returned to IISc in 1976, where he finally established a solid state and structural chemistry unit (SSSC). He even became the director of IISc from 1984 to 1994. Later, his dedication to science and his organisational skills shone through in the founding of the SSSC and the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) in Bangalore. He’s still active at JNCASR as the Linus Pauling Research Professor and Honorary President.
Professor Rao is renowned as one of the world's leading figures in solid state and materials chemistry, having contributed to the field for over five decades. He’s got a knack for spotting the next big thing, making solid-state chemistry respectable in the 1960s when it wasn't exactly the 'in' subject. His philosophy, much like his hero Michael Faraday, seems to be that "if anything is worth doing it must be worth publishing," which might explain his staggering output. He is an author of over 1650 research papers and 50 books! If there were a Guinness World Record for research output, it might just have his name on it. He has supervised over 100 PhDs and advised five Indian prime ministers.
The accolades have certainly poured in! Professor Rao has been showered with honours from all corners of the globe. He’s a Fellow of pretty much all the major science academies. Notably, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2013, making him the third scientist to receive this honour. He is the second person after Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya from Chikkaballapur district to get the Bharat Ratna.
He’s also a recipient of the Padma Shri (1974) and the Padma Vibhushan (1985). International recognition includes the Dan David Prize (considered the "Israeli Nobel") in 2004, the Royal Medal in 2009, and the International ENI award in 2020. He even has honorary doctorates from a rather impressive 86 universities worldwide.
Interestingly, CNR believes that "science and administration cannot go together". He even turned down the directorship of IITK because he didn't want to give up research and teaching. He also had a one-year stint on the Planning Commission but found it "much too bureaucratic". Despite avoiding direct government involvement, he did taste the "corridors of power" as chairman or member of the Science Advisory Committee to successive Prime Ministers for many years.
Away from the lab, Professor Rao enjoys classical music every morning and evening. He's also made efforts to connect with young students across India. He’s described as being "technophobic" and apparently doesn't check his own emails, using his mobile phone mainly to chat with his wife.
Now, a little aside, there have been some mentions of controversies regarding publications. These include allegations of backdating papers and instances of copied text appearing in some publications where he was a co-author. Apologies were issued, and while some scientists felt the plagiarised portions didn't affect the findings, the incidents did spark debate. Despite these issues, he received the Bharat Ratna.
In a rather memorable moment after the announcement of his Bharat Ratna, he didn't mince his words about Indian politicians, calling them "idiots" for not investing more in science. He later clarified he was referring to their "idiotic" way of ignoring research funding.
Despite any bumps in the road, Professor C. N. R. Rao remains a towering figure in the world of science, a prolific researcher, and an influential voice in India's scientific landscape.
In his autobiography "Climbing the Limitless Ladder – A Life in Chemistry", C.N.R. Rao shares valuable advice for young scientists beyond simply steering clear of overcrowded research fields. He emphasizes the importance of choosing the right place to launch one’s career, warns against envy and selfishness as obstacles to good research, and advises letting go of a rebellious streak since it can stifle creativity. Ultimately, he believes success comes down to dedication, hard work, and choosing the right problems to solve.