Prof. S R. Rajagopalan Institute Chair in Chemistry Department

Description

Profile of Dr. SR Rajagopalan

Rajagopalan is an IITian. He received his PhD from IIT, Madras in the 1970 convocation. He was research scholar in the Chemistry Department of IIT Madras in the years 1964-67, working on optical properties of electrodepodited films , which culminated in his thesis on this subject and earned him his PhD degree. He had his early education in Madurai and obtained his BSc degree with chemistry main and physics and zoology subsidiaries from Madras University in 1952. He was a student of Madura college in Intermediate and studied BSc in. American college, Madurai. After completing his graduation he worked for a year as a demonstrator in American College. In 1953 he joined as a laboratory Assistant in CECRI ( a CSIR lab) and worked till he joined IIT, Madras in 1964, on various aspects of electro deposition. He published his findings in several International Journals. Based on his research records and publications, IIT Madras, admitted him for the PhD programme, waiving the requirement of MSc degree, a rare honour. At that time Prof. Sengupta was the Director and Prof. MVC Sastri was heading the Chemistry Department. Prof. Sastri was his supervisor for PhD programme.
After completing his experimental work he joined NAL another CSIR lab , in Nov. 1967. He sought the permission of IIT to write the thesis from NAL and IIT most graciously gave him the permission, considering the fact that he was pursuing his studies on study leave without pay. He submitted his thesis in 1968 and was awrded PhD in 1970. He continued his R&D at NAL till he retired in 1991 as a Scientist G. At NAL Rajagopalan worked on applied research developing know how and transferring them to industries. Concept to commercialisation was his passion. He and his team developed 18 know how and worked closely with the Industries to commercialise all of them. His R& D activities spanning over 4 decades, lead to publication of 164 research papers, 76 reports, 11 patents and 18 know how. His research is multifaceted. It covers electrochemistry, corrosion, electro chemical instrumentation, surface modification, surface engineering and trace analysis.
    He was a supervisor for 9PhD programmes.
    He was elected as a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences.
    He received many awards such as
           VASVIK Award
       CSIR Technology Award
           Gold Medal of MRSI
           Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Award of Govt. if Madhya Pradesh
           Life time achievement Award of
           Metal Finishers Association of India.
       Hari Om Ashram Award
He was a guest edit of FETSCHRIFT to commomerate the 80 th Birth Day if Prof. PKSG Doss ,one of his teachers, responsible for molding him. Rajagopalan was born on 30-12-1931 in Madurai to Sri S Rama Iyengar, a renowned Tamil Scholar, and Smt. Mohanavalli. He is happlily married to Dr. Indira who is an eminent scientist in her own rite who has a penchant for developing technology and who has a green thumb for developing metal finishing recipes. She has been a collaborator of Rajagopalan in many of his research programmes Since 1996 he is helping a couple of industries as a consultant.

How the money will be used

The endowment interest will be used to fund a salary increment for the awarded Professors for the Chair. The occupant of the Chair is M. V. Sangaranarayanan