The Asia-Pacific Leadership Network mourns the loss of our senior network member and renowned theoretical physicist Professor Ramamurti Rajaraman (11 March 1939 – 12 July 2025).

Professor R Rajaraman held a distinguished career as Emeritus Professor of Physics at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Founding Member and co-Chairman of the International Panel on Fissile Materials (2008-2014), and former Vice President of the Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi (2010-2012). He was a founding member of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network, a member of the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, of the Council of the Pugwash Conference on Science & World Affairs, and of the World Federation of Scientists’ Permanent Monitoring Panel on Mitigation of Terrorist Acts,

In addition to more than a hundred publications from over 50 years of scientific research in theoretical physics, Professor R Rajaraman is known for his enormous contributions to several areas of scientific and public policy, including nuclear energy, disarmament and arms control and higher education. He was a tireless advocate of global nuclear disarmament and a recipient of the prestigious ‘Leo Szilard Award’ in 2014 from the American Physical Society for his efforts to promote peace and nuclear security in South Asia.

Besides his prolific career in theoretical physics and nuclear disarmament, Professor R Rajaram is remembered as a great teacher, having inspired generations of students through his scholarship. His tremendous legacy will live on through his contributions.

APLN is grateful for his contributions to the causes of nuclear physics and disarmament, and we pass our sincere condolences to his family and friends at this time.