It is sad to know that Prof. P Chandrasekaran is no more (“Forensic guru Chandra Sekharan passes away”, July 11). When Chandrasekaran was doing his final B.Sc (Hons) course in Physics at Annamalai University, I was in first year B.Sc (Hons). We had the fortune of mastering different subjects under the head of the department of physics, Prof. K. Venkateshswaranlu, an expert in the field of spectroscopy. He used to arrange for guest lectures by professors S. Bagavandham, K.S. Krishnan and C.V. Raman between the years 1955 to 1960. I moved to Anna University in 1976 after serving in Karaikudi engineering college. This gave me the opportunity to meet Chandrasekaran on his way to his laboratory. I used to invite him to address post graduate students in medical physics. On his retirement, he joined our university as Professor of Eminence. I once again requested him to guide MSc medical physics students in their projects and help them grasp the basic principles of forensic science. Unfortunately he left for Bangalore after serving just three months at Anna University. His passing is a great loss for the field of forensic science.
S.O. Pillai,
Kozhikode
I knew Padma Bhushan P. Chandrasekharan rather intimately for over three decades, being a regular contributor to the Harrington Post news weekly from April 2002. His presence in my journalistic career was so overwhelming that vivid shades of this scholar-scientist made an appearance in my novel, News Chase. He loved humour the best — in word, deed and action. Here I focus on his humour and recall how he chuckled and enjoyed the way I had portrayed him. I dedicate this as an offbeat obit to honour him in our website — https://hpnews.page4.me/ch1.html
K.M. Thomas,
Chennai