Dr. C. V. Raman: Comprehensive Study Notes & Personal Tribute

Character and Personal Qualities of Dr. C. V. Raman

Dr. C. V. Raman possessed a human side that was as admirable and lovable as his scientific achievements were eminent. He was characterized as a kindly, sympathetic man, though he occasionally delivered sharp barbs of irony and invective to those he believed deserved them. These barbs carried no venom, were viewed by disinterested third parties as the mild peeves of a good child, and were invariably followed by the balm of generous friendliness.

Raman was deeply captivated by the natural world, deriving rapture from sights such as expansive lakes of clear water, running brooks, the green on trees, birds warbling on the wing, sunrises, and the serene glow of sunset hours. Upon purchasing a small agricultural estate near Bangalore, he frequently expressed intense enthusiasm to friends regarding its scenic features, including its water-tank, the ripples of a small rivulet, the woodland, and the clear blue sky.

Lady Lokasundari Raman served as a stabilizing influence in his life, managing his daily routines with tactfulness, grace, judgment, and self-suppression. She strictly supervised what, when, and how much he ate, as well as his attire, preventing potential chaos and disorder. Raman submitted cheerfully to her discipline, demonstrating his finest character when deferring to her care.

Aesthetic Pursuits, Musical Studies, and Acoustic Research

Before assuming charge of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Raman was a frequent visitor to Bangalore, where he stayed as a guest of Mr. K. S. Chandrasekhara Iyer, who later became Chief Judge of the High Court. The two shared deep interests in music and mathematics, regularly attending concerts organized by a Music Sabha where they became deeply absorbed in raga elaboration and rhythmic movements.

Raman approached music from both an aesthetic and a scientific standpoint. His extensive research in sonics involved sacrificing hours intended for sleep and recuperation to measure the depth and velocity of sound waves produced by Indian percussion instruments, specifically the mrdanga and the tabla.

Literary Depth, European Impressions, and Public Speaking

Raman possessed extensive literary knowledge across multiple languages. In addition to his native Tamil, he knew Sanskrit and Telugu, and was a devoted student of Valmiki's Ramayana. In English literature, he appreciated modern authors, notably expressing admiration for John Buchan (Lord Tweedsmuir) and offering to gift a set of Buchan's works to acquaintances.

As an extempore orator, Raman commanded total audience attention with animated delivery, powerful phrasing, and his characteristic expression "Amazing." During an address to a Bangalore literary association composed primarily of lawyers on one of their jubilee days, he spoke eloquently on European civilizations. He emphasized Greece as the origin of seminal and imperishable values in European civilization, detailing memory-pictures of Athens's sculptural and architectural riches, amphitheatre, noble columns, and ancient fanes.

In contrast to his extensive praise of Greece, Raman dismissed Rome in two or three sentences. When reminded that Rome had contributed to Law, he rejected the notion with impatience, stating: "Law, what is law? Law restricts life; art enriches and enlarges life."

Financial Generosity, Intellectual Values, and Facilities

Raman demonstrated a disregard for personal wealth accumulation, quickly expending his Nobel Prize money over the years. His financial management was marked by extreme forgetfulness and generosity. He purchased vast forestland in Assam after being captivated by its scenery, only recalling the purchase upon receiving a government tax notice. Similarly, he acquired real estate sites in Madras to construct a personal laboratory, but subsequently changed his mind and forgot his ownership.

He expended significant personal funds to nourish the Academy of Science and to build and equip his own Physics Institute. When cheated by others, Raman displayed no malice, choosing instead to laugh off the incident while admiring the perpetrator's cleverness.

During a wedding tea party on the lawns of a host's house, Raman gestured toward a nearby residential structure and remarked in Tamil regarding academic research priorities: "Look at that house there; the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge is not bigger. It is in such a small place that the Rutherfords did all their work and there are seven Nobel Laureates working there. What is the use of towers and colonnades? You must have men first to make use of your halls and equipment."

During the same gathering, while sipping water after being gently reminded by Sir Mirza Ismail to partake in the refreshments, Raman immediately launched into an impromptu scientific lecture stating: "Water is of two kinds: soft water and hard water," before being redirected to the food by Lady Raman.

Administrative Tenure and Discipline at the Indian Institute of Science

Approximately two months after becoming Director of the Indian Institute of Science, Raman addressed student grievances regarding hostel dining halls. Student mess representatives repeatedly complained about culinary preferences based on regional backgrounds:

The representative for the Andhra mess complained that Tamilian cooks prepared insipid food lacking sufficient chillies.
The representative for the Bengali mess requested Andhra cooks be replaced because the food was excessively spicy, demanding sweet dishes instead.
Additional complaints were brought forward by the Mahratta mess, the Karnataka mess, and the Malayali mess.

Losing patience with these culinary grievances, Raman remarked to an accompanying visitor: "See the kind of research going on here? Gastronomics is the only science here." He then addressed the loitering students directly: "Gentlemen, what are you here for? For gourmandizing or for pursuing some problem in your subject? Does it matter so much to you whether salt is a pinch more or sugar a pinch less? None of you has told me of any difficulty in your study, but so many of you are so ready to pull a long face over tamarind or chillies. No. I can have no patience with this kind of thing."

This strict oversight contrasted sharply with the relaxed administration of his predecessor, Dr. Forster, an eminent chemist who favored an easygoing approach, patronized the IISc Gymkhana Club, and operated on the theory that graduate and post-graduate students were gentlemen who should be left free without strict inspection or criticism. While Dr. Forster gained widespread popularity among students, Raman prioritized rigorous academic discipline.

Raman maintained strict morning routines, conducting early inspection rounds across the student hostels:

Upon finding students still in bed past 6 o'clock on verandah cots, Raman raised a corner of a curtain with his walking stick and admonished them: "What! Have you come here to sleep your life away? Is this how you do research work? Morning is a precious time for the student. This is the time when you should apply your mind to your problem. You are a lot of lazy lubbers here. This won't do when I am here."
Finding what appeared to be a beer or brandy bottle in a student's room, Raman rejected the defense that it belonged to the Gymkhana, declaring: "I don't care whose it is. If I see such a thing with any student or in the Gymkhana, I'll drive you all out and close your Gymkhana. Do you see?"

Raman openly challenged pretension and intellectual foolishness. When a professor pointed to a roadside lantana shrub claiming it represented instant fuel and ready-made riches for the country, Raman immediately retorted: "Will someone bring a match? Let us test and prove the professor's words."

Political Realism, Academic Associations, and Public Debates

Raman maintained strong relationships with prominent administrators and scholars, including Sir Mirza Ismail (Dewan of Mysore), Sir M. Visvesvarya, and the British Resident, all of whom initially supported his leadership at IISc. Both Sir Mirza Ismail and Sir M. Visvesvarya expressed deep unhappiness when Raman eventually severed his connection with the Institute.

At a Bangalore Science Association language symposium chaired by Raman, a debate arose over regional languages. When a speaker was introduced, Raman called out "Kannada, Kannada." However, audience members requested English to ensure comprehension among Tamil, Telugu, and Bengali attendees. In his closing remarks, Raman cautioned against excessive linguistic regionalism: (1) overemphasizing local languages beyond a point would weaken all-Indian unity; and (2) citizens might eventually need to learn Russian, reflecting his broader observation that affairs in India seemed to tend in the direction of Russia.

The initial plans for the National Academy of Sciences were formulated over delicacies and coffee at the home of Dr. B. K. Narayana Rao, an ophthalmologist in Bangalore, with key participants including Prof. B. Venkateshchar, Prof. C. R. Narayana Rao, and Dr. S. Subba Rao.

During a conference in Trivandrum coinciding with public news regarding the relics of Buddhist saints Sariputta and Muggalayana, Raman engaged in a tea-party dialogue with Dr. Homi J. Bhabha and Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru:

C.V.R.: "I say, Bhabha, do you know anything about those old bones?"
Bhabha: "Which bones?"
C.V.R.: "The bones which the Prime Minister carried on his head and went in procession."
J.N.: "They are powerful bones, you know."
C.V.R.: "Powerful in politics, I suppose … So, religion has some uses for politicians."

When requested to make public comments, Raman often deflected by feigning fear of government authority, stating: "Don't you remember I am a Government servant, as the recipient of a Fellowship?"

The Rt. Hon. V. S. Srinivasa Sastri evaluated Raman's complex temperament following a joint speaking engagement at Arcot Narayanaswami's School, placing him alongside Gopal Krishna Gokhale while noting: "No Sir, Raman is an independent-minded, thoughtful man. I put him alongside of Gokhale for some of his qualities. But Raman's anxiety to see things go well sometimes carries him too far. We must be patient with him."

Personal Humor, Simple Joys, and Human Warmth

Raman embraced personal honors with genuine, child-like delight. Upon receiving the title of Raja-sabha-bhushana from the Maharaja of Mysore, he appeared at the Institute of Science wearing a Mysore-style lace turban and uttariya, openly sharing his happiness without exaggerating or undervaluing the award's significance.

A recurring lighthearted exchange occurred after Mahatma Gandhi's journal, Harijan, reprinted an extract from a letter by Dr. Ananda Coomaraswamy recommending a select group of Indian scholars. Whenever the topic arose between friends, Raman would offer a solemn namaste followed by shared laughter.

At a meeting held in the National College auditorium to celebrate the eightieth birthday of Dr. B. K. Narayana Rao, Chairman of the College Committee, Raman arrived early and greeted an acquaintance while remaining seated, remarking with a pained expression and a smile: "You must come here and shake hands with me, — great man, — I can't get up because of a severe stiffness in the back." When met with the witty reply, "Greatness lies where stiffness is in the back; my back is not stiff," Raman laughed heartily, declaring that his stiffness and pain had vanished in the laughter.

Approximately ten months prior to the writing of the memoir, Lady Raman visited a friend's house carrying a gift of fruit and honey, conveying Raman's personal message in Tamil: "The yajaman has asked me to tell you that you must use honey (one or two spoons) as part of your food every day. He has heard that you are in poor health; we want you to get better."

This two-part tribute was authored by Devanahalli Venkataramanayya Gundappa (1887–1975)—a visionary, polymath, journalist, poet, art connoisseur, philosopher, political analyst, institution builder, social commentator, social worker, and activist—and was originally published in December 1970 and January 1971 in Public Affairs, a monthly journal published by the Gokhale Institute of Public Affairs.