Venkatraman Radhakrishnan, Indian radio astronomer (Tondaripet, Madras 18 May 1929 – Bangalore 03 March 2011)

Son of Nobel Prize physicist C.V. Raman

Authored over 80 papers

Detected radio waves from Van-Allen like belts surrounding Jupiter

First to determine the true rotation of the core of Jupiter (1958) 

Performed the first systematic application of interferometry to polarized hightness distributions

Established the picture of a magnetized rotating neutron star

Proposed the paradigm of curvature radiation from polar caps of neutron stars

Proposed recycled pulsars

Authored an important observational and theoretical work on different aspects of pulsars

Designed and built hang-gliders, micro-light aircrafts and sailboats with original contributions

HONORS

Doctor Honoris Causa, Amsterdam University (1996)