My first meeting of Prof. Dr. C G Ramachandran Nair was when I went to have a ‘dekho’ of Shaleena, my wife later, who was his niece (His sister’s daughter as well as his wife’s brother’s daughter). The two families lived next to each other. He was then the Director of Kerala State Encyclopaedic Publications, a position that came to him while he was the Dean - Faculty of Science at Kerala University. Later my wife told me that her ammavan was impressed by my intellect, a reason perhaps that made others interested to proceed with our marriage.
Though settled in Thycaud Trivandrum, Prof. CGR, as he was commonly called as, was born and brought up in a hamlet near Aluva, by name Kuttipuzha, nestled beside the Periyar river with its picturesque surrounding of the vast river, many gurgling rivulets, paddy fields, Mango groves, coconut farms, multiple temples and inhabited by very hardworking people. His mother The indomitable Chandrathil Gowri Amma had nicknamed him as ശാസ്ത്രജ്ഞൻ (scientist), he truly was a researcher and scientist; highly learned, inquisitive and always seen among books. Having done his Ph.D in Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, and having been awarded global science fellowship, he could work and teach in Algeria, Germany, England etc. and that made him adept in German & French languages, other than English.
Though a voracious reader, many books came out of his thought too. He wrote both in Malayalam and in English, most of them revolved around science. Sit with him and listen, for which I have had plenty of opportunities, I found him having immense depth in every subject under the Sun. Every moment spent with him was time well spent. A true believer of Krishna, the deity of his family temple, he wrote several poems in praise of the Lord. However, I must state that I had never seen a finest secular person as Prof. CGR.
Unlike these days where even meritorious people indulge in self promotion, Prof. CGR never indulged even in an iota of it. His merit, maturity and knowledge prompted Chief Minister Karunakaran to appoint him at the very responsible position of Vice Chairman of Science, Technology & Environment Council, Kerala as also as the Secretary of the department, where he could contribute immensely to the development of many scientific research institutions in Kerala, some of them of global standard.
A calm and composed person, I had never seen him angry. There was a professorial gaite in his every action. He was both inclusive and equanimous. The attention he gave even to a young child was as focused as he gave to any other person.
I am deeply indebted to him for the company he gave me for several occasions and for the conversations that I had with him, of high intellectual order which I enjoyed thoroughly. When I wrote my first book “Shubhayatra”, he wrote a lovely preface for it, after reading the book thoroughly and even quoting from it for which I am everlastingly grateful to him.
Though he had told to me many times in our conversation that there is no point in living after 75 years of age, life took him to 93 years. He had undergone the deep pain of the departure of his dearest wife and most loving daughter, in the while. During the last days of his life, he had geriatric challenges too. In the late afternoon of 21st August 2025, he left us all for his heavenly abode.
I consider him as one of the persons who was responsible for the positive transformations in my life. My dear wife always felt privileged to have Prof. CGR as her ammavan.
May his noble soul rest in eternal peace 
Goodbye Ammavn
