Remembering Sir - Prof. O.N.Srivastava
Santa (Acharya) Chawla
My first interaction with Prof. O.N.Srivstava was as a M.Sc. student in the solid state specialization group of Physics department, B.H.U in the year 1976. Very soon we, the students, realized that he was the life force of the laboratory, looking after all the instruments and his help was indispensable for the students of the Solid State Physics Laboratory, as it was called then. He taught us band theory of solids in detail with utmost concentration. After joining Ph.D under his supervision, the interaction was more. His professional network with local people dealing with scientific instrumentation, helped me a lot in getting the special furnace made for growth of single crystals of layered dichalcogenides and their various polytypes. His guidance and discussions lead us through the years of Ph.D work.
Our group trips to attend National Conferences on Crystallography were memorable, starting from boarding the train with holdalls, all students and teachers like Prof. P.Krishna, Prof. G. Singh and Prof. O.N.Srivastava travelling with the group of research students in the same compartment. Sir was a strict guardian, always giving safety of students the first priority.
For our research requirements, our contingencies and research funds were always made available by Sir so that work may continue unhindered; sometimes providing fellowships to students from his project funds so as to complete their thesis. Sir was sincerely concerned about the research work of students and always offered help. In times of distress, he was very understanding and genuinely provided all support. Sir’s dedication to work was unparalleled. Every morning, he cycled from his home to BHU and he was always there when, we girls, left in the evening, mostly working in the Electron Microscopy laboratory.
I left BHU after completing my thesis. When I came to know about his Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar award, I congratulated him. Those were the days of writing letters. Sir wrote back, saying that all his students contribution had helped him in achieving the accolade. That was his humility and recognition of students.
With his exceptional memory, Sir remembered his students, their work and credentials and always spoke highly about his students to others. When I was working in National Physical Laboratory, Sir invited me to give talks to conferences in the Physics dept., BHU. Attending them was genuine pleasure for me to get the opportunity to visit BHU and people in the department. Sir made all arrangements ensuring meticulous hospitality in all aspects.
Prof. O.N.Srivastava was very kind to attend the seminar organized for my superannuation at NPL and give a splendid talk. He genuinely advised and insisted that I must not stop doing research. Sir was very humble after receiving Padmashree when I met him in the celebration party.
His continuous and endless endeavor since 1980s in Hydrogen Energy research has brought immense help and promise to Indian society.
The cruel pandemic has deprived the University and the country from his immense knowledge and further contribution to Science and Society. May his legacy continue! May his soul be in eternal peace!