KOTTAYAM: Renowned scientist E.C. George Sudarshan, 86, who passed away in Texas on Monday, was hopeful of getting Nobel Prize in physics even before he left for the USA to do research in 1955. Mr Thomas Alexander, younger brother of Sudarahan, told DC, “he was hopeful that he may get the Nobel when he was about to go to the USA as there existed many research possibilities in that country.”
Mr Thomas, who retired as a deputy secretary from the Intelligence Bureau, said that Sudarshan left his PhD studies in theoretical physics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIRF), Mumbai, after he had some differences of opinion with his guide, and joined the Rochester University in the USA in 1955 for continuing his research. He had received a special scholarship and the journey was in a ship. "He had complained that the atmosphere at TIFR was not conducive for research. He also had some issues with Prof Homi J. Bhabha under whom he was carrying out the research," Mr Thomas said.
After completing his PhD in the US, he joined the University of Texas as professor of theoretical physics. His association with the university continued till 2016. He married Bhamathy of Chennai, who was also working in the same department at the university. Pradeep Alexander and Ashok Sudarshan are their two sons. Another son passed away earlier. Sudarshan was born to E.I. Chandy and Achamma in Kottay-am on September 16, 1931.
He completed his schooling at St. Thomas School, Chingavanam, passed intermediate from CMS College and took BSc honours in physics from the Madras Christian College. He shared a close bond with the CMS College where he studied for intermediate during 1946 - 48. He gifted two computers for the College in 1985. The College established George Sudarshan Centre for Physics and computer applications in 1986. He visited the College in 2011 December for participating in a seminar for the last time.
