Christie Jayaratnam Eliezer
Encyclopedia
Christie Jayaratnam Eliezer, AM
(12 June 1918-10 March 2001), known as C.J. Eliezer, was a Sri Lanka
-born Australian academic of Sri Lankan Tamil origin who held positions in mathematics
faculties in universities in Colombo
, Kuala Lumpur
, and Melbourne
, Australia
.
After his undergraduate education in Sri Lanka, he studied mathematics (under Paul Dirac
) and law at the University of Cambridge
and was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple
in London in 1949.
Eliezer became a professor of mathematics at the University of Ceylon
the same year, and was appointed dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Ceylon in 1954. He held that post until 1957.
In 1959 he was named dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Malaya
(until 1964) and was a professor of mathematics at the University of Malaya (until 1968).
Eliezer joined La Trobe University
in 1968. as a professor of mathematics. From 1969-71 he was dean of the School of Physical Sciences. He was also deputy chairman of the Academic Board at La Trobe 1969-71. Eliezer was again dean in 1982-83.
Following his retirement in 1984, Eliezer was named Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at La Trobe until his death.
In the 1980s he cohosted a Tamil language
programme on the Special Broadcasting Service
, the Australian multilingual radio and television service. In 1996, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia
.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(12 June 1918-10 March 2001), known as C.J. Eliezer, was a Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
-born Australian academic of Sri Lankan Tamil origin who held positions in mathematics
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
faculties in universities in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, and Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
After his undergraduate education in Sri Lanka, he studied mathematics (under Paul Dirac
Paul Dirac
Paul Adrien Maurice Dirac, OM, FRS was an English theoretical physicist who made fundamental contributions to the early development of both quantum mechanics and quantum electrodynamics...
) and law at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
in London in 1949.
Eliezer became a professor of mathematics at the University of Ceylon
University of Ceylon
The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978. In 1978 it was...
the same year, and was appointed dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Ceylon in 1954. He held that post until 1957.
In 1959 he was named dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Malaya
University of Malaya
The University of Malaya is located on a campus near the centre of Kuala Lumpur, and is the oldest university in Malaysia. It was founded in 1905 as a public-funded tertiary institution...
(until 1964) and was a professor of mathematics at the University of Malaya (until 1968).
Eliezer joined La Trobe University
La Trobe University
La Trobe University is a multi-campus university in Victoria, Australia. It was established in 1964 by an Act of Parliament to become the third oldest university in the state of Victoria. The main campus of La Trobe is located in the Melbourne suburb of Bundoora; two other major campuses are...
in 1968. as a professor of mathematics. From 1969-71 he was dean of the School of Physical Sciences. He was also deputy chairman of the Academic Board at La Trobe 1969-71. Eliezer was again dean in 1982-83.
Following his retirement in 1984, Eliezer was named Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at La Trobe until his death.
In the 1980s he cohosted a Tamil language
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
programme on the Special Broadcasting Service
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
, the Australian multilingual radio and television service. In 1996, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
.