Raj Kumar, Prof. PATHRIA

Raj Kumar Pathria, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Physics at the University of Waterloo, celebrated author, and Urdu poet, passed away peacefully in San Diego on January 7, 2026, at the age of 92. Born in Ramdas, a small town north of Amritsar, to Ramji Das Pathria and Mela Devi Pathria, Professor Pathria's journey from a rural Punjabi family to international acclaim in theoretical physics was marked by brilliance, curiosity, and an unwavering passion for teaching. He completed his doctoral studies at the University of Delhi in 1957 and embarked on a distinguished career that would span continents. Professor Pathria was the author of several notable books, including Statistical Mechanics and The Theory of Relativity, and published over 110 papers in international journals. His research contributions had a significant impact on the field of physics. He received the Distinguished Teacher Award for his excellence in teaching.