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{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox scientist
| honorific-prefix = [[Padma Bhushan|PB]]
| name = Hosur Narasimhaiah
| image = H-Narasimhaiah.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1920|06|06|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Hossur]], [[Karnataka]], India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2005|01|31|1920|06|06|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Bangalore]]
| residence = Bangalore
| citizenship = [[India]]n
| nationality = Indian
| fields = [[Physics]]
| workplaces = [[National College, Bangalore]]<br>[[Southern Illinois University]]<br>[[Bangalore University]]
| patrons =
| alma_mater = [[Central College of Bangalore]] (BSc, MSc)<br>[[Ohio State University]] (PhD)
| thesis_title = The Radioactive Decay of Hafnium and Thulium Isotopes
| thesis_url = http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1960PhDT........16N
| thesis_year = 1960
| doctoral_advisor =
| academic_advisors =
| doctoral_students =
| notable_students =
| known_for = [[Scepticism]]
| influences = [[Mahatma Gandhi]]
| influenced =
| awards = [[Rajyotsava Award]] (1969) <br>[[Padma Bhushan]] (1984)
| signature = 
| signature_alt =
| website = 
| footnotes =
| spouse =
| children =
}}

'''H. (Hanumanthappa) Narasimhaiah''' (more popularly '''Hossur Narasimhaiah'''; 6 June 1920 – 31 January 2005) was an Indian [[physicist]], educator, writer, [[Indian freedom struggle|freedom fighter]] and [[rationalist]] from [[Karnataka]].<ref name=hindu>{{cite news|last1=Jayaram|first1=A|title=He scaled the heights of fame in education|access-date=22 March 2015|date=1 February 2005|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/01/stories/2005020102100400.htm}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Publicly known as "HN",<ref name=balaram>{{cite journal|last1=Balaram|first1=P.|title=Popularizing science: Memories of an icon|journal=Current Science|year=2005|volume=88|issue=3|pages=329–330|url=http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/feb102005/329.pdf}}</ref> he was the Vice-Chancellor of [[Bangalore University]] and the president of the National Education Society. He was conferred the [[Padma Bhushan]] award by the [[Government of India]] in 1984.<ref name=nic>{{cite web|title=Padma Bhushan Awardees|url=http://archive.india.gov.in/myindia/padmabhushan_awards_list1.php?start=580|website=india.gov.in|publisher=NIC|access-date=29 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151207224024/http://archive.india.gov.in/myindia/padmabhushan_awards_list1.php?start=580|archive-date=7 December 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

As there was no formal school in [[Hossur]], where he was born, he attended the Government School in [[Gauribidanur]], and continued high school at the [[National High School, Basavanagudi]] in Bangalore. He walked 85 km for two days to reach the city. A meeting with [[Mahatma Gandhi]] in 1936, in which he served as an interpreter to Gandhi, inspired him to follow [[Gandhism]] the rest of his life. While in his final year of BSc at the [[Central College of Bangalore]], he gave up his education to join Gandhi's [[Quit India Movement|Quit India movement]] in 1942. He was arrested and imprisoned for about nine months.<ref name=nh>{{cite web|last1=Narasimhaiah|first1=H|title=I love life and I want to work, work and work...|url=http://icast.org.in/news/2003/mar03/mar12ta.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609181635/http://icast.org.in/news/2003/mar03/mar12ta.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=9 June 2016|work=Times of India|access-date=29 October 2015|date=23 February 2003}}</ref>

He finished his bachelor's degree with physics honours in 1944, and master's degree in 1946. He was immediately recruited to the faculty of physics at the [[National College, Bangalore]], where he taught until 1957. He went for doctoral research in the [[United States]] and earned a PhD in 1960 in [[nuclear physics]] from [[Ohio State University]]. From 1961 he was Principal of the [[National College, Bangalore|National College]], Basavanagudi. He became the Vice-Chancellor of the [[Bangalore University]] in 1972, the post he held until his resignation in 1977. He went on to serve in the [[Karnataka Legislative Council]].<ref name=menon>{{cite news|last1=Menon|first1=Parvathi|title=An unconventional citizen: H. Narasimhaiah, 1920-2005|url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2204/stories/20050225001709600.htm|access-date=29 October 2015|work=Frontline|year=2005}}</ref>

A self-proclaimed rationalist,<ref name=nh/> he was a renowned sceptic. While in office, he constituted and chaired the "Committee to Investigate Miracles and Other Verifiable Superstitions" that led to public challenges of the miraculous claims of [[Godman (India)|Hindu godmen]], including [[Sathya Sai Baba]] and Sai Krishna. As a leader of the Karnataka legislators to investigate a [[Black magic|black-magic]] curse called banamathi, he disproved the existence of such claims. He was the founder of the Bangalore Science Forum. He is so far the only Indian to become elected Fellow of the [[Committee for Skeptical Inquiry|Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal]].<ref name=balaram/>

== Life ==

Narasimhaiah was born in [[Hossur]], a village near [[Gauribidanur]] in Karnataka, India. His father was a village school teacher, and mother, a labourer.<ref name=madur>{{cite web|author=Madur|title=Educationist Beyond Compare – H Narasimhaiah|url=http://www.karnataka.com/personalities/h-narasimhaiah/|website=karnataka.com.|access-date=29 October 2015|date=30 September 2011}}</ref> He had a younger sister. Having no formal school in his village, he attended the Government School in Gauribidanur, the nearest town. He completed his elementary education in the primary school, which had no further studies beyond eighth standard. He stopped school for a year.<ref name=nh/> His school headmaster M.S. Narayana Raio, who had just been transferred to the [[National High School, Basavanagudi]] in [[Bangalore]], invited and helped him get admission in his new school. Without money, he went on foot to Bangalore (about 85 km), taking two days to arrive, and joined the school in 1935.<ref name=good>{{cite web|last1=Parthasarathy|first1=Shruti|title=Remembering Dr H Narasimhaiah|url=http://www.goodnewsindia.com/index.php/Supplement/article/remembering-dr-h-narasimhaiah/P1/|website=GoodNewsIndia|access-date=29 October 2015|date=17 February 2005}}</ref> He stayed with his headmaster for six months, until he could get allotment in the school hostel, the Poor Boys' Home, as he called it. He met with [[Mahatma Gandhi]] when the latter visited the National High School in 1936. His teacher selected him to be the interpreter of Gandhi's Hindi speech into Kannada. From this moment on, his life was entirely influenced by Gandhi's views and lifestyle, including wearing ''khadi'' throughout his life. He went on to [[Central College of Bangalore]] studying for his B.Sc. During his final year in 1942, Gandhi launched the Quit India movement to end British rule. He gave up his degree to join the movement, the event which he described as "the most momentous decision in my life." The consequence of his decision was his imprisonment for nearly nine months, in different jails, in [[Yerwada Central Jail]], in [[Mysore]] jail and in the Central Jail in Bangalore. Comparing his Central College hostel and the Central Jail, he remarked that he found "no difference" between the two as both provided him "free boarding and lodging."<ref name=nh/> After a year he completed his bachelor's degree, B.Sc. with physics honours. He earned his MSc in [[physics]] with first class from the Central College in 1946. The same year he started his academic career as a lecturer at the [[National College, Bangalore]].<ref name=menon/>

After teaching for over ten years, in 1957, he went to [[Columbus, Ohio]], for further degree. He received his PhD degree in [[nuclear physics]] from the [[Ohio State University]] in 1960. His thesis was ''The Radioactive Decay of Hafnium and Thulium Isotopes''.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Narasimhaiah|first1=Hanumanthappa|title=The Radioactive Decay of Hafnium and Thulium Isotopes|bibcode=1960PhDT........16N|url=http://harvard.edu|publisher=The SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System|access-date=29 October 2015|year=1960}}</ref> From 1961 to 1972 he was Principal of the National College, Basavanagudi, in Bangalore.<ref name=balaram/>

He became the fourth [[Vice-Chancellor]] of the [[Bangalore University]] from 1972, and was reappointed in 1975.<ref name=menon/> He remained in office until 1977, during this time he introduced psychology, social work, drama, music and dance as new subjects. He went on to serve the Karnataka Legislative Council. At the time of his death, he was the President of the National Education Society of Karnataka.<ref name=hindu/>

Narasimhiah was a connoisseur of Carnatic Music and had close association with the renowned Carnatic Musician R K Padmanabha. R K Padmanabha led a 1000 people goshti in remembrance of Dr H Narasimhiah as a mark of respect.

Narasimhaiah remained a [[Bachelor|confirmed bachelor]].<ref name=good/> He quipped,

{{Quote|Marriage is a gamble, a lottery: I have told many people the reason I have not got married is that I forgot! ... Now sometimes I do feel lonely. only momentarily. I miss companionship, not just in the sense of having a wife.<ref name=nh/>}}

He was considered as champion of [[humanism]] and [[atheism]] in India.<ref name=ath>{{cite web|title=Dr. H. Narasimhaiah (1921-2005)|url=http://www.atheistcentre.in/eminent/DrHNarasimhaiah.html|website=atheistcentre.in|access-date=29 October 2015}}</ref> But he described himself as rationalist, and added,

{{Quote|I'm not an atheist: I don't go to a temple because God is everywhere. A temple is like a jail for God. I don't believe in religious practices or commercial Gods either.<ref name=nh/>}}

In his later years, he suffered from prolonged [[Sepsis|septicaemia]] and died on 31 January 2005 in an intensive care unit of Maiya Multi-speciality Hospital in Bangalore.<ref name=deccan>{{cite news|title=H Narasimhaiah passes into history|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb012005/i1.asp|access-date=29 October 2015|work=Deccan Herald|date=1 February 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305023713/http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb012005/i1.asp|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> His body was kept in the National High School for public viewing.<ref>{{cite news|title=Renowned educationist Dr HN no more|url=http://www.sify.com/itihaas/fullstory.php?id=13659831|access-date=29 October 2015|work=Deccan Herald|date=31 January 2005}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He was [[Cremation|cremated]], as he had willed (he had reserved [[Indian rupee|INR]] 2,000 for it), at Hossur with a [[State funeral|state official funeral]] the same day evening.<ref>{{cite news|title=H. Narasimhaiah passes away|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/01/stories/2005020105770600.htm|access-date=29 October 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=1 February 2005}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

== Contributions ==

Narasimhaiah wrote a collection of essays titled ''Tereda Mana'' ('ತೆರೆದ ಮನ', Open Mind) and an autobiography named ''Horaatada Haadi'' ('ಹೋರಾಟದ ಹಾದಿ', The Path of Struggle).<ref name=ncb>{{cite web|title=Dr. H. NARASIMHAIAH|url=http://www.nationalcollegebagepalli.org/our-inspirer.php|publisher=National College Bagepalli|access-date=29 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227025907/http://nationalcollegebagepalli.org/our-inspirer.php|archive-date=27 December 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In 1962, he founded the Bangalore Science Forum, which conducts a weekly series of public lectures on science topics. This non-profit organisation has conducted almost 2,000 popular science lectures by eminent scientists and over 500 popular science films.<ref name=deccan/> He was also responsible for establishing the Bangalore Lalithakala Parishat and B.V. Jagadeesh Science Centre.<ref name=ncj>{{cite web|title=Dr. H.N : Our Source of Inspiration|url=http://ncjayanagar.com/administration/our-management/|publisher=National College Jayanagar|access-date=29 October 2015}}</ref><ref name=ncg>{{cite web|title=Dr.H.Narasimhaiah: Our Source of Inspiration|url=http://www.aesnc.org/administrator/our-management/|publisher=National College Gauribidanur|access-date=29 October 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926045736/http://www.aesnc.org/administrator/our-management/|archive-date=26 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

As a Vice-Chancellor, he constituted and chaired the "Committee to Investigate Miracles and Other Verifiable Superstitions" in 1976. Members of the committee included scientists, academics and rationalists such as A.R. Vasudeva Murthy, [[Roddam Narasimha]], Vinodha Murthy, [[Anupama Niranjana]] and A.M. Dharmalingam. The committee aimed to debunk claims of [[miracle]]s and [[paranormal]] phenomena, specifically by [[godman (Hindu ascetic)|Hindu godmen]].<ref name=hindu/> The first challenged was [[Sathya Sai Baba]], one of the most prominent godmen of India, who was observed to [[materialization (parapsychology)|materialise]] [[holy ash]] and objects out of thin air, among other reported miracles such as bi-location and healing of the sick and wounded. Narasimhaiah personally wrote three letters to Sai Baba asking him to publicly demonstrate the miracles under controlled conditions. Sai Baba refused to comply, and remarked, "Science must confine its inquiry only to things belonging to the human senses, while spiritualism transcends the senses." Narasimhaiah commented this refusal as indication of fraudulence in the miracle stories. A public controversy and debate then ensued.<ref>{{cite web|title=Satya Sai Baba|url=http://www.findmyguru.in/satya-sai-baba/|publisher=108 MEDIA LTD.|access-date=29 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201033108/http://www.findmyguru.in/satya-sai-baba/|archive-date=1 February 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> When the committee requested to visit Sai Baba, he locked himself in. The committee was also involved in exposing a 7-year old Sai Krishna of [[Pandavapura]] (a tiny village near [[Mysore]]), a mini-[[Avatar]] and an alleged protégé of Sathya Sai Baba. This exposition compelled many godmen to admit that they did not have special abilities.<ref>{{cite web|title=SATYA SAI BABA Retelling The Story|url=http://www.staff.uni-giessen.de/~gk1415/sai-baba.htm|publisher=Prakash Arumugam|access-date=29 October 2015}}</ref> The committee was dissolved in 1977, as he was forced to resign from the office of Vice Chancellor.<ref name=ath/>

In 1985, Narasimhaiah challenged a godman, Shivabalayogi, who claimed that he could let down rain by praying. To test the claim, Shivabalayogi was to specifically fill up the T.G. Halli reservoir by rain to feed Bangalore. It never rained.<ref>{{cite web|title=H. Narasimhaiah : Rationalist|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article/h-narasimhaiah--rationalist/202355|website=Outlook|access-date=29 October 2015|date=23 October 1996}}</ref>

Although a [[Hindu]] by birth, Narasimhaiah refused to practice religious rituals. He did not perform [[tonsure]] (cutting the hair off the head) upon the death of his father. He would eat food during a [[solar eclipse]] to demonstrate that it does not cause indigestion, as Hindus believed to be so and would fast.<ref name=ncb/> He did inaugurate the procession at [[Dasera]], a festival with homage to Goddess [[Chamunda|Chamundeshwari]], in 2004. But he explained that it was out of respect of "tradition and culture".<ref name=hindu/>

His famous quote is: A poor teacher complains, an average teacher explains, a good teacher teaches, a great teacher inspires.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hosur Narasimhaiah quotes|url=http://www.azquotes.com/author/47636-Hosur_Narasimhaiah|website=azquotes.com|access-date=29 October 2015}}</ref>

== Awards and honours ==

Narasimhaiah was conferred the [[Padma Bhushan]] in 1984, the third highest civilian awards instituted by the Government of India, for his services in literature and education.<ref name=nic/> He received the ''Tamrapatra'' award for his participation in the [[Indian independence movement|Indian Freedom Struggle]]. For his contribution to the popularisation of science he won the [[Vishweshwaraiah|Sir M Vishweshwaraiah]] Award. He was also the only Indian to be elected Fellow of the [[Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal]] (CSICOP International), set up by [[Paul Kurtz]] in the USA. He received the [[Sahitya Akademi]] book prizes for his books ''Horaatada Haadi'' and ''Tereda Mana''. In 1983, he was elected the president of [[Indian Rationalist Association]].<ref name=ncb/> He was awarded the [[Rajyotsava Prashasti]], the second highest civilian honour, and [[Basava Puraskara]] (2001) of the Karnataka state government. He also received the Karnataka Nataka Academy Fellowship in 1990, the [[Kannada University|Nadoja]] award (equivalent to [[Doctor of Letters|Honorary Doctor of Letters]]) by [[Kannada University]] at [[Hampi]], in 1996, and Honorary D.Lit from the [[Gulbarga University]].<ref name=ncj/><ref name=ncg/> In 1995, the Government of India (under the ministry led by [[H. D. Deve Gowda|Deve Gowda]]) appointed him Chairman of the Kannada Development Authority. In 1980, the Karnataka state government under [[R. Gundu Rao|Gundu Rao]] nominated him to the [[Karnataka Legislative Council]], which he refused. He served as an independent legislator. He became the head of a legislature committee which investigated banamathi (a black magic involving curse) in some villages of northern Karnataka.<ref name=hindu/> His committee concluded that there was no such thing.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Nayak|first1=Narendra|title=BHANAMATHI: The scourge of Hyderabad Karnataka|journal=Indian Skeptic|year=2007|volume=20|issue=6|page=(online)|url=http://www.indiansceptic.in/oct2007/art4.htm}}</ref> He was awarded the Goruru Award in 2001.<ref>{{cite news|title=Goruru award for H Narasimhaiah|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Goruru-award-for-H-Narasimhaiah/articleshow/1327232162.cms|access-date=30 October 2015|work=The Times of India|date=20 November 2001}}</ref> In 2003, he received the Jawaharlal Nehru National Prize for popularising science, on behalf of the Karnataka Science Forum. He was awarded by the then Prime Minister of India, [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee|Atal Behari Vajpayee]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Progress in science should benefit poor|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2003/01/04/stories/2003010403540600.htm|access-date=30 October 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=4 January 2003}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In April 2011 the executive council of the [[Committee for Skeptical Inquiry]] (CSI, formerly Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal) selected Narasimhaiah for inclusion in CSI's Pantheon of Skeptics. The Pantheon of Skeptics was created by CSI to remember the legacy of deceased fellows of CSI and their contributions to the cause of scientific skepticism.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Pantheon of Skeptics|url=http://www.csicop.org/about/the_pantheon_of_skeptics|website=CSI|publisher=[[Committee for Skeptical Inquiry]]|access-date=30 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131054129/http://www.csicop.org/about/the_pantheon_of_skeptics|archive-date=31 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

There is a school named in his honour, H. Narasimhaiah Memorial High School in Hossur, established in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|title=School Wise Report|url=http://202.138.101.21/schregrte/reportschoolsmng.aspx?blockcd=ezxIFyH7PY8=|publisher=Government of Karnataka|access-date=29 October 2015}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Sathya Sai Baba#Criticism]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
*Haraldsson, Erlendur, ''Miracles are my visiting cards'' {{ISBN|81-86822-32-1}}, published by Sai Towers, [[Prashanthi Nilayam]] (1997) chapter 21 ''The Critics''
*Narasimhaiah, H. (editor) ''Science, Nonscience and Paranormal'', Bangalore Science Forum (1987)

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041206225209/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/04/04/stories/2002040400540200.htm Champion of pure sciences in an IT hub] by A. Narayana Article in the newspaper ''[[The Hindu]]'' 4 April 2004
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050308022313/http://www.rationalistinternational.net/home/welcome.htm Biography at Rationalist International]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070225041723/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb032005/netmail.asp Tributes to H.Narasimhaiah]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050203192224/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb012005/i1.asp H.Narasimhaiah passes into history]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050305033213/http://www.hindu.com/mag/2005/02/27/stories/2005022700160300.htm Past & Present Rationalist and nationalist article by Ramachandra Guha in ''The Hindu'' 27 February 2005]
*[http://www.worldofsai.org/html/blitz_interview.html The Blitz interview Sathya Sai Baba's September 1976 interview] with editor [[R. K. Karanjia]] of ''Blitz News Magazine'', containing a rebuttal to Narasimhaiah
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT1HlffzYn8 Dr. HN's Room at National college Hostel on YouTube]

{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1980–89}}
{{Sathya Sai Baba}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Narasimhaiah, H.}}
[[Category:1920 births]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
[[Category:Critics of Sathya Sai Baba]]
[[Category:Educators from Karnataka]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Karnataka]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in literature & education]]
[[Category:Indian sceptics]]
[[Category:Scientists from Bangalore]]
[[Category:Bangalore University faculty]]
[[Category:Indian atheists]]
[[Category:Indian rationalists]]
[[Category:Indian nuclear physicists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian physicists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian educators]]

Hosur Narasimhaiah - Revision history

>GreenC bot at 01:59, 5 November 2021