Vasudeva Krishnamurthy (1921–2014), nicknamed Prof. V.K., was an Indian algologist.[1] He established Krishnamurthy Institute of Algology at Chennai to promote the study of algology.
Krishnamurthy, son of Sanskrit professor R. Vasudeva Sharma, was born on 14 August 1921 at Valavanur, Viluppuram district. He died in Tamil Nadu on 9 May 2014.[2][3][4]
Krishnamurthy acquired a B.A. (1940, at St. Joseph's college, affiliated to Madras University) and a B.Sc. (Hons.) degree (1942, Presidency College, Madras University) at the University of Madras. University of Madras awarded him with the Pulny Gold Medal. He also gained an M.A. (1947, University of Madras), an M.Sc. (1952, Presidency College, Madras University) and a Ph.D. (1957, University of Manchester, England). At the age of 21, Krishnamurthy became a research scholar at the botany laboratory of the University of Madras and worked under the father of Indian algology, Prof. M.O.P. Iyengar.[4][2]
Krishnamurthy was the reader in botany from 1943 to 1960. In 1960 he joined Thanjavur Medical College as a professor of biology, and as professor of microbiology and bacteriology in the Department of Public Health Engineering in the college of Engineering. In 1961 he joined Central Salts and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSIR), Bhavnagar, Gujarat as a scientist. After working in CSIR's laboratories for a decade (1961–1971) he returned to Tamil Nadu and served as professor of botany in various colleges. When he retired in 1979, he was principal at Arignar Anna Government Arts College for Men Namakkal.[2][4]
He started the Seaweed Research and Utilization Association to encourage research on seaweed in India. On behalf of this association he published the journal Seaweed Research Utilization. He was the founding president of the association and he served as president until he died. He founded Krishnamurthy Institute of Algology (KIA), Chennai, India. KIA has the largest library in Tamil Nadu on algal studies, and it is fully equipped for algal research. Prof. V. K. worked in this laboratory until his death.[4][3]