Prof. M. Umamaheswara Rao (1937-2012)
It was with a great sense of loss that we received news of the sudden demise of Prof. M. Umamajeswara Rap. an active Associate of Krishnamurthy Institute of Algology, retired Professor of Botany, Andhra University, Visakapatnam, on 4th October, 2012.
Prof. Umamaheswara Rao was born on 8th March, 1937 at Tanuku, West Godhavari District of Andhra Pradesh to Shri Brahmanandachari and Shrimathi Lakshminarasamma. He had his schooling at Eluru and then joined Andhra University from where he obtained the B.Sc. (Hons.) and M.Sc. degrees in Botany. He continued to work as a research scholar under the guidance of Prof. T. Sreeramalu and obtained his Ph.D. degree in 1964 for his thesis, "An ecological study of intertidal algae of Visakapatnam coast". He continued a career in marine algal research at Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Mandapam Camp where he was appointed as Assistant Fisheries Scientist in 1964. He left CMFRI in 1973 to take up a teaching and research career at Andhra University, Visakapatnam, where he was appointed as Lecturer in Botany and rose upto the position of Professor. He guided eight students to obtain the Ph.D. degree of Andhra University.
Prof. Umamaheswara Rao was an eminent phycologist, making contributions to the taxonomy and biology of marine algae including study of their resources, culture and cultivation.
Prof. Umamaheswara Rao was honoured by Krishnamurthy institute of Algology with lifetime Achievement Award in Phycology in 2004 for his outstanding contributions in the field of marine algal studies.
Soft-spoken, kindly and lovable personality he made a favourable impact on all those who came into contact with him.
I've known Umamaheswara Rao even while he was a research scholar at Andhra University and I valued his friendship and interaction for several decades. I was talking to lhim on the phone a few days earlier about lhis possible participation in the National Conference of Marine LPlant Research at Puduchery and later in the National Seminar on Algal Ecology at Chennai. I did not realize at the time that I may not see him again. I wish to record here my great appreciation of the qualities of head and heart of Umamaheswara Rao, scholar, valued friend and an unforgettable personallity.
V.Krishnamurthy
Director
Krishnamurthy Institute of Algology
(Indian Hydrobiology, 15(2), 2012.
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1957: B.Sc. (Honours); 1958 M.Sc. Botany by research; Ph.D. 1964 "Intertidal Ecology of the Visakhapatnam Coast.
Worked as Assistant Fishery Scientist in CMFRI, Cochin and Mandapam.
Returned to Waltair as Lecturer in Botany - 1973; Reader - 1976 and Professor in 1985.
Guided 8 Ph.D. students, 5 M.Phil. students. 75 reserach publications to his credit as on 1997.