Dr. Ranjan Prakas
(28th Nov 1951 - April 25th 2021)
Professor Ranjana Prakash
Prof. Ranjana Prakash, a beloved professor and well-known physicist, passed away in Allahabad, India, due to COVID-19, on April 25, 2021. Blessed with the skill to balance a sharp academic mind with an innate sense of purpose and empathy, Prof. Ranjana Prakash had the unique ability to make lifelong connections with people and work tirelessly for the good of others, while excelling in her career.
Dr. Ranjana Prakash was born on Nov. 28, 1951 in Allahabad, India, to Prof. G.S. Verma and Mrs. Uma Verma. After finishing high school from St Mary’s Convent, Allahabad, she went on to earn her undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in Physics from Banaras Hindu University, and her doctoral degree in nonlinear optics from the University of Allahabad. For more than 35 years, she was a revered academic figure in the Physics Department at the University of Allahabad. During her tenure, she acted in different capacities, including researcher, professor, and Head of the Physics Department. Her primary areas of interests were quantum mechanics, nonlinear optics, and quantum information theory.
Under her leadership as Head, the Physics Department of University of Allahabad was successful in its attempt to get the second phase of UGC Centre of Advanced Studies and Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure in Universities and Higher Educational Institutions (FIST) grants.
Prof. Prakash was the warden of Priyadarshini Hostel at the University, one of the largest women’s hostels in Asia. During that time, she mentored and coached the resident women, and served as a strong role model. She developed UGC modules on women’s empowerment and published many research papers on the topic in leading national and international journals, including e-modules on women in STEM. She was a member of the Women's Advisory Board, served as the director of the Innovation Cell, and was the coordinator of the Biotechnology Cell at the University of Allahabad.
Her deep interest in her subject was reflected in her passion for organizing and participating in high caliber national and international physics conferences. She was the convener and chairperson of the highly celebrated 2015 International Conference on Light Quanta-Modern Perspectives and Applications, held at the University of Allahabad in the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies. The conference was recognised and felicitated by the President of India.
She was the organizing secretary of the 2009 International Conference on Transport and Optical Properties of Nanomaterials, which saw stalwarts from the world of Physics in attendance. She was invited to talk at the first international workshop on entangled coherent states and its application to quantum information science held at the campus of Tamagawa University, Tokyo, Japan. Additionally, she was a member of the Quantum and Nonlinear Optics Group at the University of Allahabad, led by Prof. Hari Prakash.
As the chief of the University Employment Information and Guidance Bureau, she was responsible for campus placements, at a time when it was much needed. She was successful in placing a large number of students in reputable national and multinational corporates. She replicated the same role at VBS Purvanchal University, where she served post-retirement from the University of Allahabad in 2017.
Prof. Prakash was an excellent academician but what set her truly apart was her ability to embrace other people’s expectations, and work for as long as it took to bring those hopes to fruition. Whether it was her students or her family, they all remember her for her strength and her ability to step up to the plate to get things done.
Married to the Late Prof. Hari Prakash for 46 years, their relationship reflected deep love, respect, and unstinting support. Prof. Prakash is survived by two loving and bereft sons, Anant and Apurva; beloved daughters-in-law, Manisha Gangopadhyay and Divya Vishwanath; and three much-adored grandchildren, Arjun (9), Rhea (5), and Advaita (3). She also has three loving and caring siblings—Ragini Saxena, Rati Verma, and Ravindra Verma.
Besides being a teacher and administrator par excellence, her instinctive generosity, ability to go above and beyond for others, her warmth and zest for life, set an example for others to follow. She leaves behind an immense legacy, and will be deeply missed by her family, students, and colleagues. Dr. Prakash will remain forever beloved by those whose lives she touched and made infinitely better.