Suri Bhagavantam

Suri Bhagavantam (Telugu: ,

pronunciation ; 14 October 1909 6 February 1989)
was an Indian scientist and administrator. He was
Vice chancellor of Osmania University and Director of
Indian Institute of Science and Defence Research and
Development Organisation.

headed by Krishna Menon.

He joined as Director of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in 1962 after the IndoChinese War when Y B Chavan was the Defence Minister. During the nine-year tenure, Bhagavantam was instrumental in setting up a chain of laboratories throughout India for the development of missiles, aircraft, aeroengines, combat vehicles such as tanks, electronic warfare
systems, high explosives and underwater weapons. He retired from the service in 1969.

Early life

Bhagavantam was born in Agiripalli, a village in Andhra His birth centenary celebrations were held at Osmania
Pradesh. After primary education in Gudivada, he ob- University in 2009.[2]
tained a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from
Nizam College, Hyderabad, under Madras University.
Impressed by the discoveries of C. V. Raman, he re- 2 Positions held
located to Calcutta and joined him in 1928. After the
Nobel Prize-winning discovery, Raman chose Bhagavan Principal of University College, Andhra University.
tam as his collaborator to further his research work. He
earned his masters degree in science from Madras Uni Vice Chancellor, Osmania University in 1952.
versity during this period.
He was Director of Indian Institute of Science beWhen Raman joined the Indian Institute of Science as its
tween 1957-62.[3]
director in 1933, he recommended Bhagavantam to join
He was Director of Defence Research and DevelopAndhra University, Waltair as lecturer in physics. During
ment Organisation in 1962
that period, he became a popular lecturer and rose to become a professor and head of the department in 1938 and
He was president of the Current Science Association
Principal of University College in 1941. The university
between 1970-76.
conferred on him the D.Sc. degree (honoris causa). He
wrote the well known book titled The Theory of Groups
and its Physical Applications along with Venkata Rayudu.
This book was published in three editions and was trans- 3 References
lated into Russian. It is often said that a whole generation
"Chandrasekhara
of spectroscopists are brought up on this book. The other [1] Bhagavantam, S. (1971).
Venkata Raman 1888-1970.
Biographical Membook he wrote here is titled Scattering of Light and Raoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society 17: 564526.
man Eect.
doi:10.1098/rsbm.1971.0022.

After Indian independence, he joined as scientic adviser

to the Indian High Commission in London under V. K.
Krishna Menon between 1948 and 1949. He travelled
to many European countries and delivered scientic lectures.

[2] Centenary fete of Suri Bhagavantam in The Hindu.

[3] About IISc Heritage. Indian Institute of Science. Retrieved 13 September 2013.

He returned to India in 1949 and joined Osmania University as head of the Physics Department. During this
period, there was a spurt in research activity and more
than 12 Ph.D. students got their doctorates. He was chosen as vice chancellor in 1952.

S. Bhagavantam A Tribute, Obituary in Current

Science, 20 March 1989, Vol. 58 (6), pp. 334.

4 External links

In 1957, he became the Director of the Indian Institute

of Science in Bangalore and served in that position for
ve years. He was appointed as the scientic adviser to
the Government of India under the Ministry of Defence
1

5 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

5.1

Text

Suri Bhagavantam Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suri_Bhagavantam?oldid=718290903 Contributors: Bender235, Woohookitty,

SmackBot, Alexsoddy, Colonies Chris, Dl2000, Soetermans, Qwyrxian, Ekabhishek, The Transhumanist, Waacstats, R'n'B, Rajasekhar1961, Kumarrao, Duncan.Hull, Roland zh, Aumnamahashiva, JL-Bot, Sitush, Eeekster, Addbot, Yobot, AnomieBOT, MerlLinkBot, Crusoe8181, RjwilmsiBot, John of Reading, Solomon7968, VIAFbot, Tigercompanion25, KasparBot, AusLondonder and
Anonymous: 7

5.2

Images

File:Loudspeaker.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg License: Public domain Contributors: New version of Image:Loudspeaker.png, by AzaToth and compressed by Hautala Original artist: Nethac DIU, waves corrected by
Zoid
File:Wikidata-logo.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Wikidata-logo.svg License: Public domain Contributors: Own work Original artist: User:Planemad

5.3

Content license

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0