A glimpse into the life of ECG Sudharshan, by Sandra Cyriac

 

Ennackal Chandy George Sudarshan (1931–2018) was an eminent scientist and theoretical physicist from Kerala. His contributions in physics range from formulating fundamental ideas in particle physics to understanding the quantum nature of light. Born in Pallam, Kottayam, he had his basic education in Kerala. Right from the school days, he showed exceptional skills in mathematics and physics. He pursued his college education at CMS and Madras Christian College which gifted him some really good science teachers. Physics gradually became his way to make sense of the world around. Later he joined Tata Institute of Fundamental Research as a fresh PhD student.At TIFR, he worked for a brief period with Homi Bhabha, who is known as ‘the father of Indian nuclear programme’. When he was at TIFR, he was scouted out by Robert Eugene Marshak, a distinguished nuclear physicist, who invited him to join Rochester for pursuing a PhD. Upon completion of your PhD, he was given a fellowship to join Harvard University by the grand wizard of quantum field theory, Julian Schwinger. He was a professor of physics at the University of Texas for a long time. He was the first scientist to propose the existence of ‘tachyons’, particles that travel faster than light. Sudarshan was passed over for the Physics Nobel Prize on more than one occasion.He also received the Padma Bhushan from India. You founded the Centre for Theoretical Studies at IISc Bangalore and later became Director of the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc), Chennai, giving it its modern form.