VIJAYALAKSHMI RAMAKRISHNAN
Born: August 17, 1934 Died: December 4,2016
Born in Bilaspur, Madhya Pradesh, raised in Masulipattinam, Andhra Pradesh, educated in Banaras, Uttar Pradesh, worked and married in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, received recognition, awards and honors for contributions to Scientific Education in Rapid City, USA and demised in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
SCIENTIST
After postgraduate education at the Banaras Hindu University (B.H.U), she worked as a Research Scientist at the Sugarcane Breeding Institute in Coimbatore for 12 years and made a commendable contribution to the sugarcane industry. During this period, she published 21 scientific papers in prestigious national and international journals and three books on various aspects of sugarcane botany including Taxonomy, Agronomy and Pathology.
WRITER
She was a writer of far excellence. More than 100 of her short stories and sketches were published in leading Telugu Journals. She also wrote a novel which was published as a serial in the journal “Andhra Jothi”. One of her stories was included in Dr. Bhangaru Rao’s anthology of the best one hundred Telugu short stories. In 1998 thirty of her short stories were translated in Tamil and published as a book by her writer friend Mrs. Ramalakshmi. Most of the leading writers in Telugu admired her style of writing and two of them dedicated one of their books to her. Best known Telugu writer and her friend Dr. Vasireddy Sitadevi transalated Vijaya’s biography written in Tamil by Mr. Ranimaindhan into Telugu and published it.
TEACHER
When her husband went to U.S.A accepting an invitation from a well known university, she had graciously followed him leaving her favorite scientific career and almost completed PhD. thesis.
In Rapid City, there is no opportunity to utilize her specialty in Sugarcane Research. When a professor in a local university went on a sabbatical leave, the president invited her to teach. She accepted and taught Human Autonomy and Microbiology to the medical students. She liked the teaching experience and the students appreciated her teaching method and gave excellent evaluations. Therefore she decided to become a teacher and took a Teaching Certificate after one year study at the local university. In US one needs a certificate to teach in high school, whereas no certificate is needed to teach in a university.
The principal of the local high school invited her and appointed her as a teacher to teach the senior class students. She taught Chemistry, Physics and Biology. She initiated revolutionary changes in her teaching methods. The students admired her teaching immensely and gave excellent evaluations. In US, the students are required to evaluate the teacher and their teaching methods at the end of the course. Her students topped in the local, state and national science fairs, competitions and examinations. Most of the students, particularly the senior students had great love, affection and admiration for her.
For the first time in more than one hundred years history of the school, the senior students arranged a grand retirement party for a teacher, decorated her classroom and invited all faculty. The Principal was very happy & surprised that this is happening. So far no other teacher got this honor. Even after a long time since her retirement, whenever she visits a local shop or departmental store, doctor’s office or a pharmacy, someone invariably welcomes her with an affectionate greeting: “Hi, Mrs. Rama”. It would either be one of her former student or one who knew her reputation. Her dedication to teaching and helping the students led to her success, recognition and awards at the local, state and national levels.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Though she did not apply, she received a number of awards all nominated by her students, colleagues and the school Principal. She always felt that she did not deserve them.
- American Presidential Award for Best Mathematicis and Science Teacher in South Dakota by the US President Ronald Regan, reception by Vice-President George Bush and recognition by US Secretary of Education, Bill Bennet.
- Christa McAliffe Fellowship Award by US Department of Energy initiated in honor of the “Teacher in Space” who died in NASA Spacecraft “The Challenger”.
- Catalyst Award from the Chemical Manufacturers Association, Washington D.C which is given to the Best Chemistry Teacher either in schools or colleges. She was the first one from the State of South Dakota to receive this award.
- Tandy Technology Award: One hundred best science and computer teachers in the country are given this award every year and their photos are published in the prestigious Time and Fortune Magazines. She was the first one to get this award from South Dakota.
- State Honor & Awards: The highest honor the State can give to anyone is the Governor proclaiming one day in their honor, signed by the Governor and Secretary of state. This proclamation is permanently recorded in the proceedings of the legislature. April 18, 1986 was proclaimed as Vijayalakshmi Ramakrishnan Day.
- She received an award for the Best Teacher in Physical Science in South Dakota in 1985.
- The Mayor of Rapid City proclaimed September 23, 1986 as Vijayalakshmi Day and arranged a congratulatory function.
- She received the Annie Talent Award initiated in memory of the First White Women Teacher to come to South Dakota in 1874. Vijaya was the first non-white teacher to receive this award.
- The Tamil and Telugu Associations in U.S.A felicitated her in their annual meetings.
Along with the awards, she received cash, computer and books valued more than $50,000. She donated the entire amounts for the benefit of students and faculty of the school.
VOLUNTARY SERVICE
She was always involved in voluntary services even when she was doing long hours of academic works. Her services include Honorary Editor of Journals, Member of Selection Committees, Judge for Science Fairs and Competitions.
She helped a number of charity organizations like Cancer Society, Heart Association, Leukemia Foundation, the Journey Science Museum and Rapid City Library Center. She also worked for social service organization like MAAD and Habitat for Humanity. After retirement, she spent most of her time for voluntary services.
PERSONALITY
She was always kind, considerate, affectionate and compassionate for everyone she knew. She never felt enmity towards anyone and she had kind words and sympathy even for worst offenders. She helped and nominated one of her colleagues for awards even when she knew that the person was jealous of her and worked against her. She had a large number of personal friends among her fellow writers, colleagues and relatives and always greeted them with a graceful smile.
Some quotes from the condolence messages:
- “She was the embodiment of genuine love and concern”
- “She was as beautiful as her mind & soul and was full of love and kindness”
- “She led a good life and career with graceful simplicity”
- “I will miss her smile, graciousness and affection”
- “Aunty is a true embodiment of love, sacrifice, intelligence and affection”
- “Aunty is such an angel who has never hurt anyone, in fact, has always helped every one with the kindest of the words”
During her student days in Banaras Hindu University she was known as “Queen of B.H.U.”