Famous Indian Chemist Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao, also known as CNR Rao, has been conferred with Japan’s highest civilian award for his huge contributions to science and Indo-Japanese science co-operation. Japan’s emperor awarded the country’s highest award, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, on CNR Rao.

Rao is also the only Indian to be elected as a foreign member of the Japan Academy in Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research.

Tidbits

1. CNR Rao has worked mainly in solid-state and structural chemistry.
2. Rao has honorary doctorates from 60 universities from around the world.
3. Rao has authored around 1,500 research papers and 45 scientific books.
4. He was the third scientist who received India’s highest civilian Award, The Bharat Ratna, after CV Raman and APJ Abdul Kalam.
5. Rao serves on the board of the Science Initiative Group.
6. Rao is currently the National Research Professor, Linus Pauling Research Professor and Honorary President of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore which he founded in 1989.
7. The Order of the Rising Sun is the third highest order bestowed by the Japanese government.
8. The highest Japanese order, the Order of the Chrysanthemum, is reserved for heads of state or royalty, while the second highest order, Order of the Paulownia Flowers is mostly reserved for politicians.