Subsequently, Babu Joseph’s urge to go to the roots of interesting
intellectual/rational issues extended to areas of fundamental physics other than
particle physics, quantum field theory, etc. and even to complex systems which are
not generally considered part of physics. Along with that came an increased sense
of responsibility to his institution where he served first as the head of his department
and then as the vice chancellor. Everyone knows that the position of the vice
chancellor of a university, starved of essential funding—especially if it is not a
central university—and subject to pressure from various institutions and authorities,
is not a bed of roses. But CUSAT survived and thrived, as seen most clearly in its
collaboration with the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics
(Pune) in the seeding of a culture of top-level research and teaching in various
educational institutions across Kerala. It is a tribute to Babu Joseph’s role in promoting this very fruitful collaboration in the field of astronomy/astrophysics/cosmology, of which, Kerala must remain forever conscious.
After his retirement from CUSAT, what I think of as Babu Joseph’s true
vocation has come fully to the forefront of his life. His search for an intellectual
understanding of the philosophical–historical foundations of modern science and
his love of writing—and of the literary life in its broadest meaning—have come
together in his life as a writer, the author of dozens of articles and several books in
Malayalam. They have had an impact on Kerala’s intellectual life, keeping the
flame alive at a time when many in our nation were engaged in a futile search for
“science” in the mythical productions of certain periods of our past. These
endeavours culminated in his role in the founding and continued health of the
Malayalam magazine Ezhuthu. The life of the mind is not dead.
To become 80 years old is not a handicap. Michelangelo was in his mid-80s
when he designed and supervised the building of the great dome of St. Peter’s
Basilica in Rome. Nilakantha, our own great polymath from somewhat earlier, was
80 or more when he completed his masterpiece, his bhasya of Aryabhatiya.
Onward!
P. P. Divakaran
Formerly Professor of Physics
TIFR, Mumbai
vi
Foreword by P. P. Divakaran
intellectual/rational issues extended to areas of fundamental physics other than
particle physics, quantum field theory, etc. and even to complex systems which are
not generally considered part of physics. Along with that came an increased sense
of responsibility to his institution where he served first as the head of his department
and then as the vice chancellor. Everyone knows that the position of the vice
chancellor of a university, starved of essential funding—especially if it is not a
central university—and subject to pressure from various institutions and authorities,
is not a bed of roses. But CUSAT survived and thrived, as seen most clearly in its
collaboration with the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics
(Pune) in the seeding of a culture of top-level research and teaching in various
educational institutions across Kerala. It is a tribute to Babu Joseph’s role in promoting this very fruitful collaboration in the field of astronomy/astrophysics/cosmology, of which, Kerala must remain forever conscious.
After his retirement from CUSAT, what I think of as Babu Joseph’s true
vocation has come fully to the forefront of his life. His search for an intellectual
understanding of the philosophical–historical foundations of modern science and
his love of writing—and of the literary life in its broadest meaning—have come
together in his life as a writer, the author of dozens of articles and several books in
Malayalam. They have had an impact on Kerala’s intellectual life, keeping the
flame alive at a time when many in our nation were engaged in a futile search for
“science” in the mythical productions of certain periods of our past. These
endeavours culminated in his role in the founding and continued health of the
Malayalam magazine Ezhuthu. The life of the mind is not dead.
To become 80 years old is not a handicap. Michelangelo was in his mid-80s
when he designed and supervised the building of the great dome of St. Peter’s
Basilica in Rome. Nilakantha, our own great polymath from somewhat earlier, was
80 or more when he completed his masterpiece, his bhasya of Aryabhatiya.
Onward!
P. P. Divakaran
Formerly Professor of Physics
TIFR, Mumbai
vi
Foreword by P. P. Divakaran