Draft:Prof. Radhanath Rath

Professor Radhanath Rath
Professor Radhanath Rath was a renowned and distinguished person of modern India, who secured acclaim and recognition for his achievements and whose legacy and influences were felt within Odisha, across India, and internationally. He is noted as a pioneering researcher and professor of psychology, who made important contributions to children’s education in Odisha, and As an educationist, researcher and litterateur unmatched by many of his contemporaries, he earned laurels for his state and the country from international circles of excellence in education. His tall erect frame, bald pate, gold-rimmed glasses and intellectual exuberance very well fitted into the image of a distinguished professor. A nationally and internationally renowned professor of psychology, Prof. Radhanath Rath left for his heavenly abode on 29th September, 2014 at the age of 96 at his residence in Cuttack, Odisha leaving behind a fully blossomed family and a host of students and ardent followers of his philosophy towards life.

Born
Prof. Radhanath Rath was born in the small remote village of Talarampalli, in Ganjam district of Odisha, near the shores of Chilika Lake, on 8th February 1920. He passed away on 29th September, 2014. He left behind his wife Shanti Devi, and his four children, Dr. Amitav Rath, Mrs. Sanjukta Dash, Dr. Biswajit Rath, and his youngest, daughter Dr. Sangeeta Mishra, who has continued in his footsteps with her research and teaching  in Psychology.

Career
At a very young age, his parents passed away, leaving him an orphan. He moved from the small village to Cuttack, helped by his brother, Udaynath Rath, to  attend high school and then for further studies at the Ravenshaw College. He then studied at Patna University for his Master's Degree in Philosophy in 1943 and took up the position of a Lecturer in Philosophy in Ravenshaw College in 1944. At that time Psychology was not taught as a separate subject in India, except  in a handful of universities, located in a few metropolitan universities such as Calcutta University.

He availed leave for four months and joined as an external student in the Psychology Department of Calcutta University, where he attended all classes in psychology under the guidance of renowned professors of India, such as Dr. Girindra Sekhar Bose, the then, Head of the Department of Psychology, at Calcutta.

At the end of the Second World War in mid -1945, he had decided that he needed to increase his knowledge in the UK. He contacted the Head of the Department of Psychology, University of London, explaining his background and his keen wish to pursue further studies and research at the University of London. He was successful in gaining admission and a scholarship to go to London. At that time, even an MA degree from the Indian universities was not considered equivalent to a BA degree from the London University. Driven by his intellect and passion for psychology, he qualified in an examination at  the University of London meant for moving to the Doctoral programme, and completed his Ph. D in Psychology in 1949 under the supervision of Sir Cyril Burt, a well known theorist in psychology.

About Family
I have two sons and two daughters. All of them have married and started a family. My six grandchildren, two daughters, two sons-in-law, two daughters-in-law, and are also well-established in life. Now my family includes five grandsons and one granddaughter along with my management. Eldest son Dr. Amitabh Rath After graduating in mechanical engineering from IIT Khadagpur, he completed his doctorate in operations research from Berkeley University in San Francisco, USA, and spent eight years there. After that, he was a lecturer at Management Development Institute in Delhi for seven years. After a stint as an Associate Director at Canada's prestigious International Development and Research Center (I.D.R.C.), he headed a consulting organization conducting extensive international research. He is in charge of research in India and Asia. His two sons. He is married to an American girl. My sister-in-law loves to stay in India. He comes and spends a month and fifteen days in our house. Wears a saree, puts on vermilion, eats our food, does housework, joins everyone in the feast and works with enthusiasm. She is a very good-natured girl like an Indian daughter-in-law at home. We all love it.

The second son, Dr. Biswajit Rath, completed his M.D. from Cuttack Medical College. In England, He did M.R.C.P. has gained more experience in the field of cardiology after spending seventeen years in England and has now set up a private clinic in Bangalore and works in various hospitals. He has one son. His wife is also a doctor. She is the eldest daughter of FRCS Prominent Dr. Sadanand Nayak. His only son Shri Shwajit Rath is also a good student.

Elder daughter Mrs. Sanjukta Dash M.A. in Psychology and now married life. Her two sons. Her husband Dr. Pradipta Kishore Dash is a lecturer in Electrical Engineering and Computer Researcher at Rourkela Engineering College. His work is very famous abroad and almost every year he travels to many countries for this work. The Government of India is providing him with a lot of grants for his research. His two sons. Siddharth and Sanjeev. Siddharth graduated in Engineering Management and has held a senior position in an international industrial organization in Bombay, Sanjeev has completed his degree in Computer Science and Mathematics from IIT Delhi and is pursuing his PhD in USA. Sanjukta willingly got a job as a lecturer but chose to work without his acceptance to take care of her two sons.

Younger daughter Mrs. Sangeeta Mishra. He has a doctorate in Psychology. Now a lecturer in Bhadrak College. . Her husband Mr. Manasram Mishra. He completed his M.Tech from Kharagpur IIT and is currently working as Deputy General Manager in Fakar Company.