Narayan Chandra Rana (12 October 1954 - 22 August 1996) was an Indian professor, writer, and former chairman of the Confederation of Indian Amateur Astronomers (CIAA).

Early life

Rana was born on 12 October 1954 in Sauri, a village in southern

Midnapore Medinipur or Midnapore is a city known for its history in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the headquarters of the West Medinipur district. It is situated on the banks of the Kangsabati River (variously known as ''Kasai'' and ''Cossye''). ...

, West Bengal, to parents Rajendra Prasad and Nakfuri Devi. He was a student at the local school,

Sauri Bholanath Vidyamandir Sauri Bholanath Vidyamandir, established in 1959, is one of the oldest school located in Sauri, Dantan, West Bengal, India. About School The school follows the course curricula of West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) and West Benga ...

. At school, Manindra Narayan Lahiri, a graduate from Calcutta and avid sky watcher, who introduced Rana to astronomy. Manindra Narayan's observation sessions would have Rana as his assistant well past midnight. Rana attended the Presidency College, where he met the

cosmologist Cosmology () is a branch of physics and metaphysics dealing with the nature of the universe, the cosmos. The term ''cosmology'' was first used in English in 1656 in Thomas Blount's ''Glossographia'', with the meaning of "a speaking of the wor ...

Professor

Amal Kumar Raychaudhuri Amal Kumar Raychaudhuri (14 September 1923 – 18 June 2005) was an Indian physicist, known for his research in general relativity and cosmology. His most significant contribution is the eponymous Raychaudhuri equation, which demonstrates that ...

. Rana joined the

TIFR Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) is a leading research Institute under the Department of Atomic Energy of the Government of India. It is a public deemed university located at Navy Nagar, Colaba in Mumbai. It also has a centres in B ...

, Bombay, in 1977, where he began his research in

astrophysics Astrophysics is a science that employs the methods and principles of physics and chemistry in the study of astronomical objects and phenomena. As one of the founders of the discipline, James Keeler, said, astrophysics "seeks to ascertain the ...

with Professor Jayant Vishnu Narlikar. His thesis was entitled "An investigation of the properties of intergalactic dust". Rana was awarded the INSA Young Scientist Award in 1983 and the Year’s Best Thesis award in the School of Physics, TIFR. In spite of non-cooperative health and recurrent problems with his pacemaker, Rana has left his mark in many branches of astrophysics and in amateur astronomy in India. He was the chairman of the CIAA. His project of measuring the diameter of the Sun during the total solar eclipse on 24 October 1995, involving a large team of young students, was a very challenging one. Professor Narayan Chandra Rana died on 22 August 1996 in

Pune Pune ( ; , ISO 15919, ISO: ), previously spelled in English as Poona (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name until 1978), is a city in the state of Maharashtra in the Deccan Plateau, Deccan plateau in Western ...

, at the age of 42.

Education

* Primary, Sauri Primary School * Higher Secondary, Sauri Bholanath Vidyamandir High School * Graduate in Physics,

Presidency College, Calcutta Presidency University, formerly Presidency College, is a public state university located in College Street, Kolkata. Established in 1817 as the ''Hindoo College'', it was later renamed ''Presidency College'' in 1855 and functioned as a leadi ...

* Post Graduation in Physics,

Rajabazar Science College The University College of Science, Technology and Agriculture (formerly known as Rajabazar Science College) are two of five main campuses of the University of Calcutta (CU). The college served as the cradle of Indian sciences, where Raman won t ...

, Calcutta University * PhD from TATA Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) * Post Doctorate, Durham University, U.K.

Achievements

* Secured first position in all subjects throughout his school life. * Passed Higher Secondary in 1970 with Letter Marks. * Became Second in M.Sc. with Physics. * Got Geeta Udgonkar Medal for best research from TIFR, Bombay. * Received International award “Wealth Bursnay Award” & “SERC for Fellowship” for research on “Evolution of Galaxy and Earth” from Durham University. * Best Teacher Award from Pune,1995. * Best Young Scientist Award from Indian National Science Academy (INSA). * Posthumous Award of Rs. One lakh and a certificate from The National Council for Science Academy & Technology Communication.

Brief works

He was a researcher at TIFR, Bombay, till 1991, after which he worked as a research professor at IUCAA, Pune. He worked as a director and member in many fields of astrophysics of national and international reputation.

Notable works

# ''Classical Mechanics'' – Included in M.Sc. syllabus and Oxford University. # ''Our Solar System'' – (Readable for all) # ''Night Fall on a Sunny Morning.'' # ''Myth and Legends Related to Eclipses (1995) # ''Observer’s Planner'' (1997) # ''Challenge of Astronomy'' (1995) In addition, he wrote about 70 research papers, many essays and lectures, and unfinished books and writings.

References

*http://epaper.thestatesman.com/c/14973805 *http://www.sauribholanathvidyamandir.in/n-c-rana/ 1954 births 1996 deaths {{Improve categories, date=September 2024