Prof. J.Gopala Krishna was a mathematical wizard of numbers right from infancy. It is a divine coincidence that Prof. Gopala Krishna was born on Krishna Astami day on 12th August 1933 in the village Pulla in West Godavari Dt. His parents were Dr Subbarao and Smt Lakshmikantham. His earlier education was done in Amalapuram, Rayavellore, Visakhapatnam and Kakinada. Prof Krishna was fortunate to have worked with the likes of Prof Meenakshi Sundaram, Prof T Venkatrayudu and Prof J L Doob.
He worked for his PhD supervised by the legendary professor V.Rama Swamy and did such good work that attracted the eyes of several analysts of great repute. He was invited by several universities, notably from USA, like Univerisity of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, where his talent bloomed. He has taken up more difficult topics like “functions of several complex variables” in his stride and guided a brilliant student or many in these areas. The academic affection, Prof.J.Gopala Krishna showers on his students, is evidenced by the reverence and devotion shown by his student to him even decades after the tutelage ended.
Prof.Gopala Krishna`s research has been incisive and innovative; for example, he is amongst the foremost to use probabilistic techniques in complex analysis, and he did it with a great distinction. In spite of his great scholarship, he was never hesitant to learn new things from older teachers or younger students. Thus his room in the mathematics department was a buzz of activity right up to 8 or 9 p.m, with one seminar following another.
Prof. J.Gopala Krishna was the principal of college of science and technology of Andhra University between 1992 & 1993. He toured may countries, presented many papers, addressed many students abroad on mathematics. If mathematics is a night mare for many, it is play way toy for Prof. Jonnalagedda. He was second to none in his academic careers at every stage with top distinctions.
His popularity in India is phenomenal. He has travelled the length and breadth of the country attending conferences, lecturing at various platforms and honored at several others. He was a fellow of National Academy of Sciences.
The honors he received cannot be easily counted. His biodata can be a biography to be published and read by every mathematics student as they may find many inventive points for their own PhD’s.
He won innumerable awards and citations consistently. He was bestowed with Meritorious Teacher Award by the Govt of Andhra Pradesh in 1989 for his excellent service to the university student community.
Ugadi Purashkar – 2002 was a small token in recognition of his significant contribution to Indian Art and culture as a “Mathematician”.
He loved and lived mathematics. But he was also known for his love of inter disciplinary activities across various departments like Physics, Statistics, Computer Science etc. He was completely worked by an inswinging psychological factor that became the better half of him. Mrs Jayasri enabled Prof. Gopala Krishna to open a new field of research, the psychology of learner, teacher and user of mathematic. Prof.J.Gopala Krishna was so engrossed in this endeavor that he has started an institute exclusively for this purpose and put in every ounce of his Octogenarian energy into this. He was ably assisted by Mrs Jayasri and his students. He was the greatest example of person happy working, never disappointed with lack of success.