Venki Ramakrishnan: The Legacy of a Nobel Laureate

The phrase, 'The fruit doesn't fall far from the tree,' led to be an exceptional example for Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, an Indian-born British and American structural biologist who achieved one of the most prestigious awards, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. His journey to the Nobel Prize is a mix of hurdles, challenges, breakthroughs, and, of course, recognition.

Venki Ramakrishnan, Source: Telegraph India

The morning of 7 October started off quite tiresomely for Mr. Venkataraman (Venki). He was on his way to work, pedalling his bicycle, when he encountered a flat tire. Feeling rather exasperated, he arrived at his cabin, almost forgetting about something truly important. As he immersed himself in his work, the phone suddenly rang, interrupting his thoughts. A mysterious caller introduced himself as Gunnar Öquist, representing the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Initially sceptical, Mr. Venki suspected it might be a prank from his friends, who often played such tricks. He decided to let Mr. Gunnar speak, and upon hearing him out, he complimented him on his convincing Swedish accent. Mr. Venki challenged the authenticity of the call, insisting on speaking with a committee member he knew personally. Måns Ehrenberg then took the line, and this time, Mr. Venki's scepticism waned. ‘You have won the Nobel!’ When the committee congratulated him on receiving one of the most prestigious awards in science, Sir Venki found it difficult to absorb the news. His desk mates, upon overhearing the conversation, couldn't contain their excitement and promptly uncorked a bottle of champagne they had saved for a special occasion.

But who was Mr. Venki? Why did he receive the Nobel Prize, and what were his contributions to science? Let's step back into the past. Born on 1 April 1952, in the small town of Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, Sir Venki was the son of none other than Sir C.V. Ramakrishnan and Prof. Rajalakshmi Ramakrishnan. Despite his birthplace, he spent most of his formative years in Baroda, where his parents moved when he was three. Not knowing Gujarati or Hindi, this Tamil-speaking boy was enrolled in an English-medium convent college. After graduating in Physics, he journeyed to the United States for higher education.

His fascination deepened when he realised that biology was making more discoveries than physics, which had become a more mature field. Venturing into biology despite lacking technical jargon proficiency, he started from the basics with undergraduate biology courses. That's when he encountered the world of ribosomes. While he applied for faculty positions at over fifty universities, he faced rejection at each one. Nonetheless, he remained undeterred, focusing on theories and studies that captivated him. His journey exposed him to colleagues who pursued science for discovery's sake, not just for recognition or publications. He imbibed several valuable lessons, including the inevitability of change and the importance of adaptation. He was unafraid to seek assistance from his seniors or lab assistants, believing that knowledge can be acquired from anyone.

Sir Venki Ramakrishnan receiving the Nobel Prize, Source: First post

He realised that breakthroughs don't necessarily require large teams; sometimes, a team of two or three is more than sufficient. When he embarked on studying the structure of ribosomes, he recognised the importance of remaining focused on this area rather than being distracted by other projects. Alongside Ada Yonath, who had a dominant presence in this field, and Thomas A. Steitz, a prominent Yale University professor, Sir Venki shared the Nobel Prize for their groundbreaking contributions to the structure and function of ribosomes. Their work revolutionised antibiotic production.

Sir Venki Ramakrishnan's accomplishments also earned him recognition from the Government of India, receiving the Padma Vibhushan, the nation's second-highest civilian award. He has demonstrated that groundbreaking achievements don't necessitate attending elite institutions; all it takes is unwavering determination towards one's passions and goals.