Dr. H.N is no more
For those of you who are from Bangalore, HN, as he was called by one & all, needs no introduction. Dr. H. Narasimhaiah had been the beacon of the National Education Society (NES) for over six decades; NES was started in the pre-indedependence era when political unrest was rife, educational institutions were scarce and quality higher education was almost non existent. Himself a staunch Gandhian, HN led an absolutely spartan existence, living in a small room for the last 53 years — first as a poor schoolboy, then as a lecturer, then as the principal and lastly as the president of the National Education Society. The room leaves a lot desired by most standards — a couple of folding metal chairs, a fan and a telephone. He did not even have a cot to sleep on.
He stood staunchly by values - an uncompromising rationalist with a scientifically tempered questioning mind, although not an atheist (just one example of this was the manner in which he led the enquiry into the so-called magical powers of the Satya Sai Baba - the findings of which were never really publicised to the best of my knowledge), a unwavering belief in the importance of primary and higher education, and a strong proponent of the proliferation of science. I was myself a student of one of NES's institutions - National College Jayanagar, during my 11th and 12th grade. My primary interest in science was also, to a large extent, fuelled by the NES Bangalore Science Forum lectures & summer classes for school students that I attended during my school & college days regularly. HN was the primary reason this happened, and I am sure a lot of students will gladly acknowledge the same. HN himself held a PhD in Nuclear Physics from Ohio State University, and undoubtably this played a major role in shaping his contributions to the science community in India.
Here is an excerpt on HN from the Deccan Herald today. The complete article is here.
Bangalore will surely miss HN.
For those of you who are from Bangalore, HN, as he was called by one & all, needs no introduction. Dr. H. Narasimhaiah had been the beacon of the National Education Society (NES) for over six decades; NES was started in the pre-indedependence era when political unrest was rife, educational institutions were scarce and quality higher education was almost non existent. Himself a staunch Gandhian, HN led an absolutely spartan existence, living in a small room for the last 53 years — first as a poor schoolboy, then as a lecturer, then as the principal and lastly as the president of the National Education Society. The room leaves a lot desired by most standards — a couple of folding metal chairs, a fan and a telephone. He did not even have a cot to sleep on.
He stood staunchly by values - an uncompromising rationalist with a scientifically tempered questioning mind, although not an atheist (just one example of this was the manner in which he led the enquiry into the so-called magical powers of the Satya Sai Baba - the findings of which were never really publicised to the best of my knowledge), a unwavering belief in the importance of primary and higher education, and a strong proponent of the proliferation of science. I was myself a student of one of NES's institutions - National College Jayanagar, during my 11th and 12th grade. My primary interest in science was also, to a large extent, fuelled by the NES Bangalore Science Forum lectures & summer classes for school students that I attended during my school & college days regularly. HN was the primary reason this happened, and I am sure a lot of students will gladly acknowledge the same. HN himself held a PhD in Nuclear Physics from Ohio State University, and undoubtably this played a major role in shaping his contributions to the science community in India.
Here is an excerpt on HN from the Deccan Herald today. The complete article is here.
The crumpled, though spotless, khadi dhoti-kurta and the Gandhi cap lent him the demeanour of rustic simplicity, but belied his erudition and indomitable commitment to the cause of education. And he was an uncompromising rationalist, though not an atheist, but a Gandhian. In an age when the term “educationist” stands devalued to mean one who starts schools and colleges which are money-spinners, he headed with distinction, the City’s premier educational institutions run by National Education Society for many years. He served ably as the vice-chancellor of fledgling Bangalore University from 1972 to 1977.It is quite amazing and actually motivating to see such a simple person living upto such high ideals and self-imposed standards.
Perhaps the greatest contribution of Dr H Narasimhaiah or HN, as he was popularly known, is the Bangalore Science Forum, that he started to promote scientific temper in 1962. The forum has been organising periodic lectures, constituting updates in various subjects in an unbroken series till now. So far, nearly 2,000 such lectures and more than 500 film shows have been organised.
His credo was “Do not accept anything without questioning”. Keeping with this, his office is adorned with a quotation of Albert Einstein on the wall “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds” and a question mark-signifying a spirit of inquiry.
Bangalore will surely miss HN.
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