N. Venkatasubramanian, a former principal of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College, would have gone unnoticed but for his former colleagues and students.
Dr. NVS or Prof. NVS was appointed head of chemistry department in 1961 at the age of 29 on the recommendation of his professor S.V. Anantharamakrishnan under whom he did his PhD, said R. Gopalan, retired head of Chemistry Department, Madras Christian College (MCC). After an MA in chemistry in Presidency College, NVS joined MCC as a lecturer.
At Vivekananda College, he guided 27 Ph.D students, who later produced 35 more Ph.D students, a statement from his family added. He became the principal in 1973 at the age of 41 and inspired other departments also to engage in research besides starting the evening college programme. He has served as a Syndicate member of the University of Madras. He started the Centre for Postgraduate Studies in Pondicherry University and was its first director. He retired in 1992 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1997.
