Chandra-A biography of S Chandrashekhar.
CHANDRA It was a great experience to read 'Chandra-A biography of S Chandrashekhar'. This book was for long on my list of "to read". I did not have any great expectations from a biography as compared to a work of fiction which is likely to be more engaging. But then, what an experience it was! I do not claim to have read many biographies, but I found this to be a class in itself. Well, I am not going to review it but instead, narrate how it was a revelation to me about many things such as :- 1. The social fabric of the society in the pre independence era in Madras, especially in the traditional Brahmin families. 2.Although bound by such rigid customs, how Chandra's family rose above them.....Even Lalita's (Chandra's wife) grandparents broke all social taboo associated with a child widow in their family.Just remarkable. 3. Psychological influence of Mathematician Ramanujam on the educated youth of that time. 4. How Chandra, in