The stars shine bright in this achiever's galaxy

‘I told my dad, finally I’ve got a gold medal too. For, till then, only my three older sisters were medal winners.’
“My friends used to compare us thus: Sudha + moustache = Srinivas, and Srinivas - moustache = Sudha,� recalls Sudha Murty of her growing up years with her award winning brother Srinivas Kulkarni. We met up with the world-renowned astrophysicist at the residence of his famous sister Sudha Murty and brother-in-law N R Narayana Murthy of Infosys.
Not many people know that this unassuming astronomer has been repeatedly recognised in the US for his outstanding contribution to the advancement of astronomy.Currently, Srinivas is working as a professor of astronomy and planetary science at the California Institute of Technology. In 1992 he was awarded the Alan T Waterman Award by the National Science Foundation in the US for the most accomplished scientist under 35 years. “I told my dad ‘Finally, I have got a gold medal too’. For till then only my three older sisters were medal winners in the family.�
Having grown up as the only boy in a family of three sisters, Srinivas says that his views about women and what they can achieve in life are very different from that of others. “I grew up watching my sisters who were professionals (doctors and engineers) and achievers. So, when I went to the US I was shocked to see people consider women suitable mostly for positions like receptionists and telephone operators. Even now India has more women doctors than in the US.�
He also reveals that his work has only reinforced his belief about the non-existence of god. “If someone feels happy thinking that there is a god so be it. But I don’t believe in god. The problem I have with religion is that it stops further inquiries. You don’t have to think beyond a certain point (you leave that to god!).�
Interesting debate! But we move on to the next question: What are your principles of success? “You have to work hard to succeed. You also need to have a sensible vision. You have to be brutally honest about your strengths and weaknesses.�
What are his weakness? “I am not good at theory or analytical equations that one usually associates with astronomers,� he says candidly. He is also not good at speaking Japanese.
“Twenty years back I did learn how to speak Japanese in two weeks because I was courting a Japanese girl,� he recollects. Today, Hiromi and Srinivas have two daughters aged 14 and 10. “Once I got married I thought, ‘Mission accomplished, forget Japanese’,� laughs Srinivas.
“My wife used to keep correcting my Japanese and I gave up speaking the language altogether. But my wife is more accommodating than me in imbibing each other’s culture.� Did we say that he’s one fortunate man who has always been pampered by the women in his life — first his sisters and now his wife? Well, some people have all the luck in the world!
sudhapillai@indiatimes.com