The life and work of E C George Sudarshan

Abstract

E. C. G. Sudarshan is widely regarded as the most gifted theoreticalphysicist of Indian origin in the latter half of the 20thcentury. This article describes his early student years in India,and at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research inBombay, before he left for USA in 1955 to work with R. E.Marshak at the University of Rochester. It then recounts hiscareer as it evolved thereafter, and his decision to settle there.His contributions in many areas of physics, in each of whichhe made a distinct mark, are recalled. In particular, his workon the V – A theory of the weak interactions, and on the DiagonalRepresentation in quantum optics, are described insome depth and detail. Sudarshan maintained strong linkswith the Indian physics and scientific communities all his life.Fromthe 1970s onwards, he was at the Indian Institute of Sciencein Bangalore, and then at the Institute of MathematicalSciences in Madras, till 1990. The events of this period arerecounted. Some remarks on his personality, and his viewson life and philosophy, conclude the article.