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Raman and Chandrasekhar: Lighting Up the Stars
228 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 24, 2025
It was 1921, the school term has ended, and Chandrasekhar was excited for the holidays — he just started attending school this year after being home-schooled till then and based on his brilliance at studies he was directly given admission to Third Form.
The constant attention by his school mates did not excite Chadra, he was looking for options to drop off from school and go back to learning at home. Except his eldest sister Rajakka, who hated the preferential treatment given to him, everyone around him constantly hyped Chandra which annoyed him.
While Chandra and his assortment of siblings were looking for ways to entertain themselves during the school holidays, their uncle Raman Chithappa visited them. As Raman engaged the kids in his experiments around light and sound, Chandra’s Amma was frustrated, their cooks and care takers Panchu Mama and Thyagu Mama were on the verge of quitting and leaving this household, their neighbor Gopalaiyya suspected this family are a bunch of criminals and involved in executing something sinister.
How did these experiments entertain and educate the kids forms the rest of the story.
This is the story of how world-renowned Nobel prize winners C.V. Raman and S. Chandrasekhar spent time together in Chandra’s childhood and how Raman influenced Chandra’s future interests in science especially Physics. The story has equal amounts of humor and science; Chandra’s siblings and their antics, especially by his youngest siblings Sarada and Vidya will leave the reader in splits, so does Raman’s Rasam usage with all exclamations.
The science experiments are done with such ease and simplicity by Raman that young kids can also understand and follow them. These are also bound to create curiosity and interest in kids and inspire them to do their own new experiments.
The ease with which the author laces humor into the story is commendable, while also subtly highlighting societal practices of those times, like how Rajakka and Chinnakka are not allowed to travel along with the boys of the family, their marriages being fixed at a very young age, Gnanam Pati living in utter miserable state due to being a child widow and being considered a bad luck omen.
There are also other interesting facts from those times like transportation meant using cycles and jutkas, travel to a different country via sea on ships took months. A very interesting fact about this book is the author’s afterword where she explains which sequences are facts and which are fictional and how they have been conceived.
Each chapter number is the book is meant to be solved through a mathematics equation which will be good exercise for young readers. The author also added standout quotations of famous personalities of Science and Mathematics in the footer of most pages, which will intrigue young minds. For those who only knew about the science experiments done by Raman, this book introduces his fun and witty side.
Overall, this book is a must read for young kids which will help inculcate interest in Science and Maths.
The constant attention by his school mates did not excite Chadra, he was looking for options to drop off from school and go back to learning at home. Except his eldest sister Rajakka, who hated the preferential treatment given to him, everyone around him constantly hyped Chandra which annoyed him.
While Chandra and his assortment of siblings were looking for ways to entertain themselves during the school holidays, their uncle Raman Chithappa visited them. As Raman engaged the kids in his experiments around light and sound, Chandra’s Amma was frustrated, their cooks and care takers Panchu Mama and Thyagu Mama were on the verge of quitting and leaving this household, their neighbor Gopalaiyya suspected this family are a bunch of criminals and involved in executing something sinister.
How did these experiments entertain and educate the kids forms the rest of the story.
This is the story of how world-renowned Nobel prize winners C.V. Raman and S. Chandrasekhar spent time together in Chandra’s childhood and how Raman influenced Chandra’s future interests in science especially Physics. The story has equal amounts of humor and science; Chandra’s siblings and their antics, especially by his youngest siblings Sarada and Vidya will leave the reader in splits, so does Raman’s Rasam usage with all exclamations.
The science experiments are done with such ease and simplicity by Raman that young kids can also understand and follow them. These are also bound to create curiosity and interest in kids and inspire them to do their own new experiments.
The ease with which the author laces humor into the story is commendable, while also subtly highlighting societal practices of those times, like how Rajakka and Chinnakka are not allowed to travel along with the boys of the family, their marriages being fixed at a very young age, Gnanam Pati living in utter miserable state due to being a child widow and being considered a bad luck omen.
There are also other interesting facts from those times like transportation meant using cycles and jutkas, travel to a different country via sea on ships took months. A very interesting fact about this book is the author’s afterword where she explains which sequences are facts and which are fictional and how they have been conceived.
Each chapter number is the book is meant to be solved through a mathematics equation which will be good exercise for young readers. The author also added standout quotations of famous personalities of Science and Mathematics in the footer of most pages, which will intrigue young minds. For those who only knew about the science experiments done by Raman, this book introduces his fun and witty side.
Overall, this book is a must read for young kids which will help inculcate interest in Science and Maths.
February 12, 2025
you ever thought family holidays were full of predictable fun and games, think again. Raman and Chandrasekhar takes a routine Madras holiday and converts it into a hilarious, chafing, scientific adventure that was led by the one and only C.V. Raman.
.
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, or Chandra as he is affectionately called, begins his holiday like any other kid-by dreaming of doing absolutely nothing. But then comes *bam* in walks his uncle, the irrepressible C.V. Raman, whose mind is almost as wild as his experiments. Instead of lazing around, Chandra and his seven cousins are dragged into a whirlwind of physics experiments that would make any adult run for cover-and that's just the beginning.
.
Delightful mix of humor, history, and heart. Children's groans as they are roped into the wild ideas of Raman Chithappa are every bit as funny as the scientific experiments that inevitably wreak havoc on the family and its neighborhood. And honestly, it's a treat to watch Chandra, initially reluctant and baffled by his uncle's obsession with light and sound, slowly warm up to the notion that, hey, physics mightn't be so bad after all.
.
What made this book so special is how it blends the joy of childhood with the wonder of scientific discovery. Through the chaos, we get glimpses of the deep curiosity that sparks future greatness. The book captures the sheer unpredictability of science and the excitement that comes with unraveling the mysteries of the universe-even if you don't understand every equation.
.
With illustrations by Priya Kuriyan that perfectly capture the zaniness of the story, this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to laugh, learn, and remember that sometimes, the best way to find your passion is by accident.
.
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, or Chandra as he is affectionately called, begins his holiday like any other kid-by dreaming of doing absolutely nothing. But then comes *bam* in walks his uncle, the irrepressible C.V. Raman, whose mind is almost as wild as his experiments. Instead of lazing around, Chandra and his seven cousins are dragged into a whirlwind of physics experiments that would make any adult run for cover-and that's just the beginning.
.
Delightful mix of humor, history, and heart. Children's groans as they are roped into the wild ideas of Raman Chithappa are every bit as funny as the scientific experiments that inevitably wreak havoc on the family and its neighborhood. And honestly, it's a treat to watch Chandra, initially reluctant and baffled by his uncle's obsession with light and sound, slowly warm up to the notion that, hey, physics mightn't be so bad after all.
.
What made this book so special is how it blends the joy of childhood with the wonder of scientific discovery. Through the chaos, we get glimpses of the deep curiosity that sparks future greatness. The book captures the sheer unpredictability of science and the excitement that comes with unraveling the mysteries of the universe-even if you don't understand every equation.
.
With illustrations by Priya Kuriyan that perfectly capture the zaniness of the story, this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to laugh, learn, and remember that sometimes, the best way to find your passion is by accident.
February 2, 2025
Arundhati Venkatesh’s novel is a delightful blend of humour, science, and family dynamics, making it an engaging read for young audiences. The story follows young Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, who dreads his school holidays even more when his famous uncle, C.V. Raman, arrives and turns the household into a whirlwind of scientific experiments and misadventures. The narrative balances rollicking humour with insightful explorations of physics, making complex scientific concepts feel fun and approachable. The setting—a lively, chaotic home filled with curious children and exasperated adults—adds charm and relatability to the story, ensuring that both young readers and adults will find moments of laughter and nostalgia.
The language is crisp and engaging, making it highly accessible to children while still offering depth for older readers. The illustrations by Priya Kuriyan further enhance the reading experience, vividly capturing the riotous energy of the household. The book is an excellent choice for introducing kids to the wonders of science through storytelling, showing how curiosity and experimentation can lead to great discoveries. It is not just a fun holiday read but also an inspiring tale about the joy of learning, making it a valuable addition to any young reader’s bookshelf.
The language is crisp and engaging, making it highly accessible to children while still offering depth for older readers. The illustrations by Priya Kuriyan further enhance the reading experience, vividly capturing the riotous energy of the household. The book is an excellent choice for introducing kids to the wonders of science through storytelling, showing how curiosity and experimentation can lead to great discoveries. It is not just a fun holiday read but also an inspiring tale about the joy of learning, making it a valuable addition to any young reader’s bookshelf.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews