Homi Jehngir Bhabha, a name considered synonymous with India’s atomic energy programme, was a great son of India. His contributions in the field of nuclear science gave India a giant leap in the field of science and technology. Consequently this led to the growth and progress in other fields. Indian atomic research has attained great heights today only due to the efforts of Homi Bhabe. He is considered as the father of Inidan Nuclear Science. Through this article I want to explain the contributions and achievements of Dr Bhabha.
Dr Bhabha was born on October 30, 1909 in Mumbai in a wealthy Parsi family. He had his early education in Mumbai. After graduating from the Elphinstone College and the Royal Institute of Science in Bombay, he went to Cambridge University for further studies. From there he got his engineering degree in 1930 and a Ph.D. degree in 1934.
During his stay at Cambridge University, he worked with Niels Bohr on Quantum Theory. Later Bhabha worked with Walter Heitler in the field of cosmic rays. He became well-known for his theoretical explanation of the phenomenon of Cascade showers in cosmic rays. He did significant work in identifying the elementary particles called mesons.
Bhabha returned to India in 1940 and was first appointed as a reader and then a Professor of Physics at the Indian Institute of Science, Banglore. There he started research on Cosmic Rays. In 1945, he founded the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and became its Director, which he held throughout his life. He was a very efficient administrator also. Bhabha became the first chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India in 1948.
Under his efficient leadership, Indian scientists could develop the first atomic reactor in Asia, ‘Apsara’ for the production of atomic energy, in Trombay near Mumbai in 1956 Bhabha was chiraman of the first United Nations conference on the peaceful uses of Atomic energy (Geneva, 1955). He became the scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister during both Nehru and Sastri.
Bhabha was awarded many honorary PhD. and D.Sc. degrees for works in atomic power. Dr. Bhabha died in an air accident on January 4, 1966 in his honor Indian National Science Academy instituted Homi Hehangir Bhabha award.
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Homi Jehangir Bhabha