P.N.Rangan (Penukonda Narasimha Rangan) (27th July 1946 to 8th November 2011) Born 27th July 1946 at Mélukoţe, Mandya district, Karnataka
Educated in Science (B.Sc.), Engineering (B.E.), Psychology (M.A.), Kannada (M.A.), Ancient History and Archeology (P.G.Dip.), Epigraphy (P.G.Dip.) and Hindi (Ratna). Professionally included ISO 9000 and Crash test quality Auditorships.
Professionally worked through B.E.M.L., K.G.F., (Assistant Development Engineer), Brakes India, Chennai (Process & Methods Engineer), Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI),Pune (From Assistant Director to Senior Deputy Director), Volvo India (Technical Adviser) and now working as Mechanical Testing Consultant to HCL Technologies at Bangalore.
Literature person. Known well among Kannada reading public under the pen-name, "Manu". So far penned twenty novels, scores of short stories, scores of public interest articles, two dramas, two autobiographies, two travalogues - one on Egypt and the other on Cambodia (The Egyptian travelogue was recently published by Ankitha Prakashana as 'Pràchína Egypt') , two translations, two research works. Two of his novels (Chakravyúha and Ayana) have been made into movies (Sáhasa Simha and Ásphoţa). Asphota earned the state award for best story (1988). Out of the novels, 10 were serialised in 'Sudha' weekly, 5 in 'Taranga', 2 in 'Tushara'monthly, one each in Prajavani, Udayavani, Kannada Prabha dailies.
In 2002, released the first research work - 'Mahásamparka' in Kannada. The work is in two volumes - 'Tarka' (The book of reason) and 'Sádhya' (The book of Possible). The work propounds the theory based on Rigveda and Mahábhárata that the Extra-terrestrials (ETs) arrived 5000 years ago at Badarinath in the Himalayas and were responsible for spreading Rishi culture, creating the work Rigveda and the events that took place during the Mahábhárata period. The work amply proves without doubt, based on various incidences quoted in Mahábhárata, the theory propounded by Eric Von Daniken through his work 'Chariot of Gods'. The work has been translated into English and published by Prism Books, Bangalore under ISBN numbers-978-8-172-86537-5/8 and 86537-2.
In 2004, released the second research work 'The Thirty Two Secrets' based on the first chapter in Rishi Bharadhvája's work 'Vaimánika prakaraņa'. The thirty two secrets pertain to the knowledge a pilot should have while piloting an aircraft. It is interesting to note that out of 32 secrets, 22 pertain to aircraft secrets in warfare.
The Author is currently working on a Novel, A coffee-table book on Mélukoţe and a translation.