Homi Bhabha - A Visionary and Science Administrator Extraordinaire

Narendra Dutt Sharma superannuated as an 'Outstanding Scientist from the post of Controller, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Mumbai, India on March 31, 2012 after serving the organization for more than 4 decades. Born on 9 March 1950, he graduated from Z.H.College of Engineering & Technology, Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh in 1970 in Electrical Engineering and then joined of BARC Training School, the post-graduation program in Nuclear Science & Technology during 1970-71. During his early career, he was involved in various research and development activities related to multi-disciplinary technologies and project management. Specific scientific and technological interests include the development of special purpose electrical machines. He authored a book on 'Hysteresis Machines' (co-author, Prof. R. E. Bedford, Emeritus Professor & former Director of IIT Bombay, Mumbai), the first ever written on this specialized subject, published in 2003. He occupied various positions such as Project Manager of a multi disciplinary project, Head, Technical Planning and Co ordination Division of BARC, Director Purchase & Stores of DAE and finally Controller, BARC.

Dr. Baldev Raj was an eminent scientist, technologist, science administrator, science policy maker, a multifaceted personality and a very humane person who left an indelible mark not only on the development of 'Fast Breeder Reactor Technology' in India but also in the areas of nuclear materials and mechanics, non destructive testing of materials, nanoscience and technology, robotics, automation, in the field of education, science and policy research and many other multi dimensional pursuits. He superannuated in April 2011 from the position of Director, Indira Gandhi centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) at Kalpakkam near Chennai after working for 41 years with Department of Atomic Energy. He was President of Research during 2011-14 at PSG group of institutions at Coimbatore.

It was a fateful day of Monday, 24 January 1966. There was a phone call from AIR INDIA to TIFR informing that the aircraft named 'Kanchanjunga' supposed to land in Geneva had not landed. Homi Bhabha was on board on this flight on his way to Vienna to attend an advisory committee meeting of IAEA. Professor M.G.K. Menon rushed to Old Yacht Club to find details.(33) Kanchanjunga had crashed into Mont Blanc with 117 passengers and crew on board, with no sign of survivor of any. Colonel Rajgopal Menon of Indian Rare Earths was even keen to go to Geneva immediately to make necessary searches but was dissuaded to do so. Professor M.G.K. Menon and Dr. Vikram Sarabhai went to 'Mehrangir', the residence of Bhabha at Little Gibbs Road, but found it locked and nobody was to be admitted there. The news was confirmed. Homi had gone. Homi was extremely busy the previous day, Sunday, at TIFR. Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri had died in Tashkant on 11 January 1966. Indira Gandhi was to take over as PM of India on 24 January 1966. She had already talked to Homi a few days ago to come to Delhi to help her in all the matters related to science and technology in the country. Homi had shared this information with Professor Menon on 23 January and desired him to take over the responsibilities of TIFR. Homi knew that the nature of his duties in Delhi will be related to growing science and using it effectively for national development, particularly through frontier areas of technology related to electronics, materials, computers, biology, energy, transportation etc. Homi had made up his mind to accept the offer of Indira Gandhi.33 But, destiny had something else in store for the nation.

Homi Jehangir Bhabha, a visionary and science administrator extraordinaire, whose lifetime achievements are expounded in this book, known to the general public in India and abroad as the father of the Atomic Energy Programme of India, was known to the scientific community of the world in the 20th century as a brilliant scientist who had done outstanding research in the field of theoretical physics at the Cambridge University and had earned the prestigious Fellowship of The Royal Society at the young age of 31 years. He came back to India in 1939 for a brief holiday with his mother and relatives before taking up the position of a Professor in a European or US University. At this juncture it so happened that his destiny got linked up with that of his motherland India in a strange way. He could not go back to Europe or USA because of the Second World War.

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