M. S. Krishnan (geologist)
Encyclopedia
Maharajapuram Seetharaman Krishnan (24 August 1898-24 August 1970, Tanjore) was an India
n geologist
.
Krishnan excelled in early student years and was given a fellowship to study in England. He completed his Ph. D. at the age of 26 and joined the Geological Survey of India
and worked alongside Lewis Fermor, C. S. Fox, J. A. Dunn, A. M. Heron, H. C. Jones, and J. B. Auden in pre-Independence times.
He worked on stratigraphic mapping in Gangpur, Bonai, Bamra and Keonjar (parts of present Orissa State) and identified the 'Gangpur Series' published in GSI Memoir 71 (1937). He also worked on minerals of economic importance including iron, manganese ores, gypsum, mica, limestone and published his studies in the GSI Memoir 80 (1952). He also worked on the of the rocks of Girnar and Osham hills of Saurashtra (now in Gujarat), lateritization of the peculiar meta-sedimentary rocks called the khondalites, the mineral resources of former Central Provinces and Berar (now forming parts of Madhya Pradesh), the geology of the Vindhyan formations of northern India, the Deccan traps, the Tertiaries of Tanjore (Tamil Nadu), and made observations on mythical rivers such as the Indobrahm and Saraswathi.
He taught geology at the Presidency College, Madras (1920–21), Forest College, Dehra Dun (1928–30) and the Presidency College, Calcutta (1933–35). At the suggestion of Cyril S. Fox of the Geological Survey of India
he decided to work on a book on Indian stratigraphy. This resulted in the publication of Geology of India and Burma in 1943 and the Introduction to Geology of India in 1944. The first book has gone through 6 editions and has also been translated into Russian. He was the Director of Indian Bureau of Mines (New Delhi) from 1948 to 1951, Director of Indian School of Mines
, Dhanbad, during 1957–58, Head of the Geology and Geophysics Department, Andhra University
, Waltair
from 1958 to 1960, and helped found the National Geophysical Research Institute
, Hyderabad, of which he was the Director between 1961 and 1963.
He received the Padma Bhushan
in January 1970 from the President of India, S. Radhakrishnan.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
.
Krishnan excelled in early student years and was given a fellowship to study in England. He completed his Ph. D. at the age of 26 and joined the Geological Survey of India
Geological Survey of India
Geological Survey of India , established in 1851 is a government organization in India which is an attached office to the Ministry of Mines of Union Government of India for conducting geological surveys and studies. It is one of the oldest of such organizations in the world and the second oldest...
and worked alongside Lewis Fermor, C. S. Fox, J. A. Dunn, A. M. Heron, H. C. Jones, and J. B. Auden in pre-Independence times.
He worked on stratigraphic mapping in Gangpur, Bonai, Bamra and Keonjar (parts of present Orissa State) and identified the 'Gangpur Series' published in GSI Memoir 71 (1937). He also worked on minerals of economic importance including iron, manganese ores, gypsum, mica, limestone and published his studies in the GSI Memoir 80 (1952). He also worked on the of the rocks of Girnar and Osham hills of Saurashtra (now in Gujarat), lateritization of the peculiar meta-sedimentary rocks called the khondalites, the mineral resources of former Central Provinces and Berar (now forming parts of Madhya Pradesh), the geology of the Vindhyan formations of northern India, the Deccan traps, the Tertiaries of Tanjore (Tamil Nadu), and made observations on mythical rivers such as the Indobrahm and Saraswathi.
He taught geology at the Presidency College, Madras (1920–21), Forest College, Dehra Dun (1928–30) and the Presidency College, Calcutta (1933–35). At the suggestion of Cyril S. Fox of the Geological Survey of India
Geological Survey of India
Geological Survey of India , established in 1851 is a government organization in India which is an attached office to the Ministry of Mines of Union Government of India for conducting geological surveys and studies. It is one of the oldest of such organizations in the world and the second oldest...
he decided to work on a book on Indian stratigraphy. This resulted in the publication of Geology of India and Burma in 1943 and the Introduction to Geology of India in 1944. The first book has gone through 6 editions and has also been translated into Russian. He was the Director of Indian Bureau of Mines (New Delhi) from 1948 to 1951, Director of Indian School of Mines
Indian School of Mines
The Indian School of Mines is a fully residential and co-educational university located in the mineral-rich belt of India in the city of Dhanbad, Jharkhand. It was established in 1926 on the lines of the Royal School of Mines, London...
, Dhanbad, during 1957–58, Head of the Geology and Geophysics Department, Andhra University
Andhra University
Andhra University or Andhra Viswa Kala Parishad , located in Visakhapatnam, north east coastal Andhra Pradesh, is one of the older premier universities in India with a broad focus...
, Waltair
WaltAir
WaltAir is a Swedish taxi airline. Waltair was established in 1997 and has bases in Stockholm, Norrköping and Växjö.-Fleet:*Cessna 550 Citation II*Beechcraft King Air 300...
from 1958 to 1960, and helped found the National Geophysical Research Institute
National Geophysical Research Institute
The National Geophysical Research Institute is a premier geoscientific research organization established under CSIR India in Uppal road, Hyderabad,Andhra Pradesh, India in 1961...
, Hyderabad, of which he was the Director between 1961 and 1963.
He received the Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
in January 1970 from the President of India, S. Radhakrishnan.