H. Narasimhaiah
Encyclopedia
Hosur Narasimhaiah was a physicist
, educator, freedom fighter and rationalist from Karnataka
, India
. He was popularly known as HN. He was conferred Padma Bhushan
by Government of India
in 1985.
, a village near Gauribidanur
in Karnataka
, India. His parents were poor, illiterate and belonged to Lowest caste also known as Schedule caste. Upon completion of elementary education, he left for Bangalore where he joined the National High School, Basavanagudi
, in 1935. He received his B. Sc. (Honors) and Master's degree in Physics
with first class from Central College of Bangalore
(1946). The same year Narasimhaiah started his academic career as a lecturer in National College, Bangalore
.
He taught from 1946 until 1957 when he proceeded to Columbus, Ohio
to get his PhD degree in Nuclear physics
from Ohio State University
(1960). During 1961-72 he led National College, Basavanagudi, Bangalore, as its principal. During 1967-68, as a Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Narasimhaiah taught as a Visiting Professor at Southern Illinois University
at Carbondale, Illinois. In 1962, he founded the Bangalore Science Forum, which conducts a weekly series of public lectures on science topics.
As the Vice-Chancellor of the Bangalore University
from 1973–77, he introduced psychology, social work, drama, music and dance as subjects. He went on to serve the State Legislative Assembly; and in 1984, received the Padma Bhushan
from the Indian Government. At the time of his death on January 31, 2005, Dr. Narasimhaiah was the President of the National Education Society.
and translated Mahatma Gandhi’s Hindi speech into Kannada, when the latter visited the National High School.
He published a collection of essays entitled "Tereda Mana" (”ತೆರೆದ ಮನ’) (Open Mind) and an auto-biography named "Horaatada Haadi" (’ಹೋರಾಟದ ಹಾದಿ’), (The Path of Struggle) which were awarded sahitya academy book prizes.
“Do not accept anything without questioning” was his motto in life. Keeping with this, his office was adorned with a quotation of Albert Einstein on the wall “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds” and a question mark-signifying a spirit of inquiry.
He was an atheist. Prof.V.T.Srinivasan, the then Principal of Vijaya college, Bangalore was a staunch believer in God and both used to advocate their faith through letters in the Deccan Herald daily.In spite of this they were close friends.
After he returned to National College with his doctorate degree from the US, with the help of friends from NAL, IISc., and elsewhere he started The Bangalore Science Forum. This non-profit organisation has already conducted more than 1,800 popular science lectures by eminent scientists and over 525 popular science films so far.
During his tenure as Vice-Chancellor, he constituted and chaired The Committee to Investigate Miracles and Other Verifiable Superstitions, to scientifically investigate claims of miracle
s and paranormal
phenomena. The committee challenged the claims of Sathya Sai Baba
, one of the most prominent godmen
of India, who said that he could materialize
holy ash and gold chain from nothing. A public controversy ensued, causing some of the godman's followers to desert him. The committee was also involved in a controversy with Sai Krishna of Pandavapura (a tiny village near Mysore), a mini-Avatar
and an alleged protégé of Sathya Sai Baba. See allegations against Sathya Sai Baba. In 1983, he was elected the President of Indian Rationalist Association.
A Hindu
by birth, Narasimhaiah often refused to follow religious beliefs blindly. He refused to tonsure his head when his father died and more famously, ate food during a solar eclipse
to show it does not cause indigestion, a reason for which some Hindus go on fasting
.
, one of the top civilian awards instituted by Government of India for his services in the field of education in 1985. He received the Tamrapatra award for his participation in the Indian Freedom Struggle
. For his contribution to the popularisation of science he won the Sir M Vishweshwaraiah Award. He was also the only Indian Fellow of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal
(CSICOP International), set up by Paul Kurtz
in the USA.
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
, educator, freedom fighter and rationalist from Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was popularly known as HN. He was conferred Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
by Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
in 1985.
Early life
He was born in HossurHossur
Hossur is a village in the southern state of Karnataka, India. It is located in the Gauribidanur taluk of Chikkaballapur district in Karnataka.-Demographics:As of 2001 India census, Hossur had a population of 6496 with 3366 males and 3130 females....
, a village near Gauribidanur
Gauribidanur
Gauribidanur is a historical town in Kolar district; now a part of Chikballapur district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is about 75 km from Bangalore, and 25 km from the Educational Hub of Muddenahalli-Kanivenarayanapura. kannada is spoken widely as primary luanguage...
in Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, India. His parents were poor, illiterate and belonged to Lowest caste also known as Schedule caste. Upon completion of elementary education, he left for Bangalore where he joined the National High School, Basavanagudi
National High School, Basavanagudi
National High School is a government-aided high school in Bangalore. It is one the prime high schools and most sought after, in the southern part of Bangalore, in a location called Basavanagudi...
, in 1935. He received his B. Sc. (Honors) and Master's degree in Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
with first class from Central College of Bangalore
Central College of Bangalore
Central College of Bangalore is one of the oldest colleges in science in India. This college originally affiliated to Madras University part of Central College of Bangalore is one of the oldest colleges in science in India...
(1946). The same year Narasimhaiah started his academic career as a lecturer in National College, Bangalore
National College, Bangalore
The National College, Bangalore is the name given to two sister institutions in Bangalore, India: the National College Basavanagudi, founded in 1945, and the National College, Jayanagar, founded in 1965...
.
He taught from 1946 until 1957 when he proceeded to Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
to get his PhD degree in Nuclear physics
Nuclear physics
Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of atomic nuclei. The most commonly known applications of nuclear physics are nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons technology, but the research has provided application in many fields, including those...
from Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
(1960). During 1961-72 he led National College, Basavanagudi, Bangalore, as its principal. During 1967-68, as a Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Narasimhaiah taught as a Visiting Professor at Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
at Carbondale, Illinois. In 1962, he founded the Bangalore Science Forum, which conducts a weekly series of public lectures on science topics.
As the Vice-Chancellor of the Bangalore University
Bangalore University
Bangalore University is a public university located in Bangalore, Karnataka State, India. The university is one of the oldest in India, dating back to 1886...
from 1973–77, he introduced psychology, social work, drama, music and dance as subjects. He went on to serve the State Legislative Assembly; and in 1984, received the Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
from the Indian Government. At the time of his death on January 31, 2005, Dr. Narasimhaiah was the President of the National Education Society.
Contributions
Narasimhaiah had interactions with Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
and translated Mahatma Gandhi’s Hindi speech into Kannada, when the latter visited the National High School.
He published a collection of essays entitled "Tereda Mana" (”ತೆರೆದ ಮನ’) (Open Mind) and an auto-biography named "Horaatada Haadi" (’ಹೋರಾಟದ ಹಾದಿ’), (The Path of Struggle) which were awarded sahitya academy book prizes.
“Do not accept anything without questioning” was his motto in life. Keeping with this, his office was adorned with a quotation of Albert Einstein on the wall “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds” and a question mark-signifying a spirit of inquiry.
He was an atheist. Prof.V.T.Srinivasan, the then Principal of Vijaya college, Bangalore was a staunch believer in God and both used to advocate their faith through letters in the Deccan Herald daily.In spite of this they were close friends.
After he returned to National College with his doctorate degree from the US, with the help of friends from NAL, IISc., and elsewhere he started The Bangalore Science Forum. This non-profit organisation has already conducted more than 1,800 popular science lectures by eminent scientists and over 525 popular science films so far.
During his tenure as Vice-Chancellor, he constituted and chaired The Committee to Investigate Miracles and Other Verifiable Superstitions, to scientifically investigate claims of miracle
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
s and paranormal
Paranormal
Paranormal is a general term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
phenomena. The committee challenged the claims of Sathya Sai Baba
Sathya Sai Baba
Śri Sathya Sai Baba , born as Sathyanarayana Raju was an Indian guru, spiritual figure, mystic, philanthropist, and educator. He claimed to be the reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi, a spiritual saint and miracle worker who died in 1918 and whose teachings were an eclectic blend of Hindu and...
, one of the most prominent godmen
Godman (Hindu ascetic)
A godman is a colloquial name for a particular type of charismatic guru who has a high-profile presence, is capable of attracting attention and support from Indian society, and makes claims of spiritual attainments...
of India, who said that he could materialize
Materialization (parapsychology)
In spiritualism, paranormal literature, and some religions, materialization is the creation or appearance of matter from unknown sources. It is the transformation of something abstract or virtual into something concrete and tangible...
holy ash and gold chain from nothing. A public controversy ensued, causing some of the godman's followers to desert him. The committee was also involved in a controversy with Sai Krishna of Pandavapura (a tiny village near Mysore), a mini-Avatar
Avatar
In Hinduism, an avatar is a deliberate descent of a deity to earth, or a descent of the Supreme Being and is mostly translated into English as "incarnation," but more accurately as "appearance" or "manifestation"....
and an alleged protégé of Sathya Sai Baba. See allegations against Sathya Sai Baba. In 1983, he was elected the President of Indian Rationalist Association.
A Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
by birth, Narasimhaiah often refused to follow religious beliefs blindly. He refused to tonsure his head when his father died and more famously, ate food during a solar eclipse
Solar eclipse
As seen from the Earth, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun as viewed from a location on Earth. This can happen only during a new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth. At least...
to show it does not cause indigestion, a reason for which some Hindus go on fasting
Fasting
Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time. An absolute fast is normally defined as abstinence from all food and liquid for a defined period, usually a single day , or several days. Other fasts may be only partially restrictive,...
.
Awards
Dr. H.Narasimhaiah was conferred the Padma BhushanPadma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
, one of the top civilian awards instituted by Government of India for his services in the field of education in 1985. He received the Tamrapatra award for his participation in the Indian Freedom Struggle
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
. For his contribution to the popularisation of science he won the Sir M Vishweshwaraiah Award. He was also the only Indian Fellow of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal
Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal
The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry , formerly known as the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal , is a program within the U.S...
(CSICOP International), set up by Paul Kurtz
Paul Kurtz
Paul Kurtz is a prominent American skeptic and secular humanist. He has been called "the father of secular humanism." He is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the State University of New York at Buffalo, having previously also taught at Vassar, Trinity, and Union colleges, and the New School for...
in the USA.
External links
- Champion of pure sciences in an IT hub by A. Narayana Article in the newspaper The HinduThe HinduThe Hindu is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded and continuously published in Chennai since 1878. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it has a circulation of 1.46 million copies as of December 2009. The enterprise employed over 1,600 workers and gross income reached $40...
April 4, 2004 - Biography at Rationalist International
- Tributes to H.Narasimhaiah
- H.Narasimhaiah passes into history
- Past & Present Rationalist and nationalist article by Ramachandra Guha in The Hindu February 27, 2005
- The Blitz interview Sathya Sai Baba's September 1976 interview with editor R. K. Karanjia of Blitz News Magazine, containing a rebuttal to Narasimhaiah