Eminent scientist Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra (CNR) Rao will be awarded India’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna along with cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar, said a Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) statement on Saturday.
Prof Rao was hailed in the statement as “an eminent scientist and a well recognised international authority on solid state and materials chemistry who has authored over 1,400 research papers and 45 books”.
The statement said Prof Rao`s contributions have been recognised by most major scientific academies around the world through conferment of memberships and fellowships. He has been honoured with several national and international awards.
He became the first Indian in April this year to reach the h-index of 100, reflecting the enormity of the body of his published research work.
Translating the feat into common man's parlance, scientists say Rao's achievement is equivalent to Tendulkar scoring 100 international centuries.
He is currently head of the Scientific Advisory Council to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. In January, Rao received China’s top science award for his contributions in boosting India-China scientific cooperation.
Rao also serves as the National Research Professor, and Linus Pauling Research Professor and Honorary President, of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research in Bangalore.
{{/usCountry}}Rao also serves as the National Research Professor, and Linus Pauling Research Professor and Honorary President, of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research in Bangalore.
{{/usCountry}}Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wished Rao many more years of service to the field of science.