Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar is one of the greatest scientists India has ever produced. His life story is an inspiration for every student who dreams of achieving something big through dedication and knowledge. This PDF book summary on Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar’s biography explains his childhood, education, scientific journey, major discoveries, and his global recognition as a Nobel Prize winner. The summary is written in simple Indian English so students and readers can understand it easily.

Early Life and Family Background

Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar was born on 19 October 1910 in Lahore, which was then a part of British India. He came from a well-educated South Indian family. His father, C. S. Iyer, worked in the Indian Audits and Accounts Department, and his mother, Sita Balakrishnan, was a highly cultured woman who encouraged education and classical music. Chandrasekhar was the nephew of another great Indian physicist, Sir C. V. Raman, who later won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.

Growing up in a family where science and arts were both respected helped shape young Chandrasekhar’s mind. From a very early age, he showed a strong interest in mathematics and physics. His parents gave him full freedom to learn, explore and ask questions. This curiosity later became the foundation of his outstanding scientific career.

Education and Early Interest in Physics

Chandrasekhar completed most of his schooling in Madras (now Chennai). He was an excellent student and always stood out for his intelligence. After school, he joined Presidency College in Madras, where he developed a deep interest in theoretical physics.

During his college years, he started studying advanced scientific papers written by top physicists from Europe. He was inspired by the works of Niels Bohr, Arnold Sommerfeld and of course, his uncle C. V. Raman. At the young age of 19, he even published his first research paper. This showed his exceptional talent and future potential.

In 1930, he went to the University of Cambridge on a scholarship. This was a turning point in his life, because Cambridge was one of the world’s best places for physics research. Here, he started working on a concept that would later make him famous worldwide – the Chandrasekhar Limit.

The Famous Chandrasekhar Limit

One of Chandrasekhar’s biggest contributions to science is the discovery of the Chandrasekhar Limit. This limit explains the maximum mass that a white dwarf star can have before it collapses under its own gravity. According to his calculations, if a star is heavier than this limit, it cannot remain stable as a white dwarf. Instead, it will collapse and form either a neutron star or a black hole.

This idea was revolutionary at that time. Many scientists did not agree with him, including the respected astrophysicist Arthur Eddington. But Chandrasekhar was confident about his calculations. Many years later, his theory was proven correct, and it became one of the foundations of modern astrophysics.

Career in the United States

After completing his studies in England, Chandrasekhar moved to the United States. He joined the University of Chicago in 1937 and worked there for almost 60 years. His commitment to work and research earned him great respect among students and scientists.

At the university, he worked on many fields of astrophysics, such as:

• Stellar evolution

• Black holes

• Radiative transfer

• Hydrodynamics

• Relativity

Chandrasekhar was not only a great researcher but also an excellent teacher. Many of his students later became well-known scientists.

Major Awards and Recognition

Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar received many awards during his lifetime, but the biggest honour was the Nobel Prize in Physics, which he won in 1983. He shared this award with William A. Fowler for their contributions to the understanding of stellar evolution.

Some of his other notable awards include:

• Royal Medal (1962)

• National Medal of Science (1966)

• Padma Vibhushan (1968)

• Copley Medal (1984)

These awards show the global impact of his scientific work.

Personal Life

Chandrasekhar married Lalitha Doraiswamy in 1936. She supported him throughout his long scientific journey. The couple did not have children, but they lived a happy and peaceful life together. Chandrasekhar was known for being humble, disciplined, and extremely dedicated to his work. He enjoyed classical music, literature, and long walks.

Legacy and Contributions

Chandrasekhar’s work changed the way scientists understand stars and the universe. His theories continue to help researchers even today. He wrote several important books and published hundreds of scientific papers. The “Chandrasekhar Limit” remains one of the most important concepts in astrophysics.

His life teaches us that hard work, patience, and belief in one’s own ideas can lead to great success. Students across India read his biography to learn how dedication can turn dreams into achievements.