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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = K. R. Ramanathan
| image = K R Ramanathan.jpg
| caption =
| birth_name = Kalpathi Ramakrishna Ramanathan
| birth_date = {{birth date|1893|02|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Kalpathi]], [[Palakkad]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1984|12|31|1893|2|28|df=y}}
| nationality = Indian
| doctoral_advisor = [[C. V. Raman]]
| awards = *Fellow, [[Indian Academy of Sciences]], 1934
*[[Padma Bhushan]], 1965
*[[Padma Vibhushan]], 1976
*The Aryabhata Medal, awarded by [[Indian National Science Academy]], 1977
| field =[[Physics]] and [[Meteorology]]
}}

''[[Dewan Bahadur|Diwan Bahadur]]'' '''Kalpathi Ramakrishna Ramanathan''' [[Indian National Science Academy|FNA]], [[Indian Academy of Sciences|FASc]], [[Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science|FIAS]], [[Royal Meteorological Society|Hon.FRMetS]] (28 February 1893{{spaced ndash}}31 December 1984) was an Indian [[physicist]] and [[meteorologist]]. He was the first Director of [[Physical Research Laboratory]], [[Ahmedabad]].<ref>http://www.ias.ac.in/jarch/currsci/54/00000060.pdf</ref> From 1954 to 1957, Ramanathan was President of the [[International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics]] (IUGG). Ramanathan was awarded [[Padma Bhushan]] in 1965<ref>http://india.gov.in/myindia/padmabhushan_awards_list1.php?start=810</ref> and [[Padma Vibhushan]] in 1976.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://india.gov.in/myindia/padmavibhushan_awards_list1.php?start=150 |title=Padma Vibhushan Awardees |publisher=India.gov.in |access-date=2012-04-14}}</ref><ref name="Ramanathan_bio_INSA">{{Cite journal | last1 = Pisharoty | first1 = P. R. | url = http://insaindia.res.in/BM/BM13_8803.pdf | title = Kalpathy Ramakrishna Ramanathan: 1893-1984 | journal = Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the [[Indian National Science Academy]] | volume = 13 | pages = 35–47 | year = 1984 }}</ref>

==Early life==
Ramanathan was born in Kalpathi, [[Palakkad]] to Ramakrishna Sastrigal, an astrologer, printer and [[Sanskrit]] scholar. After completing secondary school, he entered the [[Government Victoria College, Palakkad|Government Victoria College]], [[Palakkad]] in 1909. In 1911, he received a government scholarship to attend the [[Presidency College, Chennai|Presidency College, Madras]], where he studied for a B.A. (Hons.) degree in physics.<ref name="Ramanathan_bio_INSA"/> He received his honours degree in 1914, and an M.A. two years later in 1916. After taking his M.A., the principal of the Maharaja's College of Science in [[Thiruvananthapuram]] in [[Travancore]] (now the [[University College Thiruvananthapuram]]), who was one of his examiners, offered him the post of a demonstrator in physics. At the college, Ramanathan enjoyed the freedom to conduct his own investigations and to hone his laboratory skills. He travelled across the kingdom and developed the first rainfall map of Travancore; in conjunction with this study, he published his first research paper: "On Thunderstorms over Trivandrum."<ref name="Ramanathan_bio_INSA"/> In late 1921, Ramanathan moved to [[Kolkata|Calcutta]] to collaborate with [[C. V. Raman]], who had accepted him as a doctoral student, on studies of [[X-ray scattering techniques|X-ray diffraction]] in liquids. For this work, in June 1922 he received the first-ever D.Sc. degree awarded by the [[University of Madras]]. He joined [[University of Yangon|Rangoon University]] as Assistant Professor of Physics in late 1922. During the university holidays, he continued to carry out post-doctoral research under Raman's guidance, and in 1923 observed an unusual "fluorescence" in a beam of light when it was diffracted in water - which Raman eventually concluded was an [[Raman scattering|effect caused by the substance]], associated with a change in frequency equal to the molecular vibrational frequency.<ref name="Ramanathan_bio_INSA"/>

==Indian Meteorological Department==
In 1925, Ramanathan was appointed as a senior scientist in the [[India Meteorological Department]]. Over the next 20 years, he made numerous observations and conducted studies on the nature of the atmosphere, atmospheric ozone, monsoonal patterns and solar and atmospheric radiation, among other areas. As director of the Colaba and Alibag Magnetic Observatories and subsequently as director of the Kodaikanal Solar Physics Observatory, he had a role in their later conversions to the [[Indian Institute of Geomagnetism]] and the [[Indian Institute of Astrophysics]].<ref name="Ramanathan_bio_INSA"/> Appointed Superintending Meteorologist of the Poona Observatory during the [[Second World War]], he assisted in training meteorological personnel for the [[Indian Air Force]] as it rapidly expanded during the wartime years.<ref name="Dewan_Bahadur">{{Cite journal |url =http://www.currentscience.ac.in/Downloads/article_id_012_06_0182_0182_1.pdf | title =Diwan Bahadur K. R. Ramanathan, M.A., D.Sc. | journal = [[Current Science]]| volume = 12.6 | pages = 182 | year = June 1943 }}</ref>

==Physical Research Laboratory==
Having reached the statutory retirement age of 55 in 1948, Ramanathan left the Indian Meteorological Department that year and joined the newly established Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmadabad as its first Director. He established [[Dobson ozone spectrophotometer]] stations in India and expanded on his earlier researches into atmospheric ozone; among his major contributions to the field was elucidating the relationship of atmospheric ozone in connection to atmospheric circulation. During his time at the PRL, he and his students made important contributions to studies on the physics of the [[ionosphere]]. Under Ramanathan's directorship, the PRL also played an important role in building the early [[ISRO|Indian space programme]], notably through testing [[sounding rocket]]s and helping to develop the [[Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station]] (TERLS).<ref name="Ramanathan_bio_INSA"/>

==Later life==
Ramanathan retired in 1966 but continued to serve PRL as Emeritus Professor until his death on [[New Year's Eve]] 1984 at the age of 91. He guided over 30 research scholars during his scientific career. While a student at Presidency College Madras, he married Parvati Ammal, the daughter of a railways official, with whom he had four daughters and two sons. His wife predeceased him in 1952.<ref name="Ramanathan_bio_INSA"/>

==Honours and awards==
*Foundation Fellow of the [[Indian Academy of Sciences]] (FASc; 1934)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ias.ac.in/php/pfell_all.php3?alpha= |title=IAS |access-date=2012-04-14}}</ref>
*Foundation Fellow of the [[Indian National Science Academy]] (FNA; 1935)<ref name="INSA" group="note">Prior to 1970, the [[Indian National Science Academy]] was named the "National Institute of Sciences of India", and its fellows bore the post-nominal "FNI". The post-nominal became "FNA" in 1970 when the association adopted its present name.</ref>
*Title of ''[[Diwan Bahadur]]'' (British Government, [[1943 Birthday Honours]] list)<ref name="Dewan_Bahadur"/>
*Fellow of the [[Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science]] (FIAS; 1952)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://arxiv.iacs.res.in:8080/jspui/bitstream/10821/462/1/ANNUAL%20REPORT-1952-53.pdf |title=The Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science: Annual Report for 1952-53 |date=1953 |publisher=IACS |access-date=15 July 2018}}</ref>
*[[International Meteorological Organization Prize]] of the [[World Meteorological Organization]] (1959).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wmo.int/pages/about/awards/winners_imo_en.html |title=Winners of the IMO Prize |publisher=World Meteorological Organization |access-date=9 December 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122014635/http://www.wmo.int/pages/about/awards/winners_imo_en.html |archive-date=22 November 2015 }}</ref>
*Honorary Fellow of the [[Royal Meteorological Society]] (Hon. FRMetS; 1960)<ref name="Ramanathan_bio_INSA"/>
*[[Padma Bhushan]] (1965)<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web |url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6U68ulwpb?url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 November 2014 }}</ref>
*[[Padma Vibhushan]] (1976)<ref name="Padma Awards" />
*The Aryabhata Medal, awarded by [[Indian National Science Academy]], 1977<ref name=insa>{{cite web |url=http://www.insaindia.org/recipients.htm |title=INSA |publisher=Insaindia.org |access-date=2012-04-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.is/20120910110751/http://www.insaindia.org/recipients.htm |archive-date=2012-09-10 }}</ref>

The Kalpathi Ramakrishna Ramanathan Medal was established in 1987 in honor of him by the [[Indian National Science Academy]].<ref name=insa />

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Padma Vibhushan Awards}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1960–69}}
{{Scientific Research in Kerala}}
{{Padma Award winners of Kerala}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramanathan, K. R.}}
[[Category:1893 births]]
[[Category:1984 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian physicists]]
[[Category:Indian meteorologists]]
[[Category:Presidency College, Chennai alumni]]
[[Category:Scientists from Kerala]]
[[Category:People from Palakkad district]]
[[Category:University of Madras alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in science & engineering]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in science & engineering]]
[[Category:Government Victoria College, Palakkad alumni]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Indian National Science Academy]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Indian Academy of Sciences]]
[[Category:Dewan Bahadurs]]
[[Category:Indian recipients of British titles]]
[[Category:Maharaja's College, Ernakulam alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian earth scientists]]
[[Category:Space programme of India]]

K. R. Ramanathan - Revision history

imported>Monkbot at 01:41, 26 December 2020