Prof.

GN Ramachandran, FRS: Scientist par excellence

-Udayan Singh
Roll No. 113ME0425,
Deptt of Mechanical Engineering, NIT Rourkela
Background:
Prof. G.N. Ramachandran, FRS was a legendary Molecular Biophysicist of India. Prof.
Ramachandran did his doctoral studies under the supervision of Sir C.V. Raman and joined
the Department of Physics at University of Madras. He founded the Molecular Biophysics
Unit at IISc, Bangalore. He discovered the triple helical structure of collagen, which was a
breakthrough in science. He guided many students, including distinguished scientists like
Prof. Samir K. Brahmachari and Prof. Manju Bansal.
Prof. Ramachandran wrote a poem on Linus Pauling, which began with Linus Pauling is a
name to conjure with. On the same lines, this poem has been dedicated to him.
G.N. Ramachandran
is a name to conjure with
in the whole of science
Especially in Molecular Biophysics
He came from the background of C.V. Raman
but created an area of his own
The discipline of structural biology
where he is very well known
He discovered the structure of collagen
existing in triple helix
Something that was a mystery to
even the great Watsons and Cricks
He was in the truest sense
a scientist of Nobel Class
With his going away
an era in Science did pass
Despite being so influential
he held no official post
the height of humility
he genuinely did host
In Indian Science,
we have had greats like CNR and Raman
yet no name resonates as much as
Prof. G.N. Ramachandran