Bhabha, Homi J.

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{{Infobox_Scientist  
 
{{Infobox_Scientist  
 
|name = Homi Jehangir Bhabha
 
|name = Homi Jehangir Bhabha
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|caption = Homi J. Bhabha, considered the father of India's atomic energy program.  
 
|caption = Homi J. Bhabha, considered the father of India's atomic energy program.  
 
|birth_date = 30 October 1909
 
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'''Homi Jehangir Bhabha''' (October 30 1909 – January 24 1966) was an Indian nuclear [[physicist]] of [[Parsi]]-[[Zoroastrian]] heritage who had a major role in the development of the Indian atomic energy program and is considered the father of India's nuclear program.
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'''Homi Jehangir Bhabha''' (October 30, 1909 – January 24, 1966) was an Indian nuclear [[physicist]] of [[Parsi]]-[[Zoroastrian]] heritage. He was a gifted scientist, who contributed to the understanding of [[cosmic ray]]s. In addition, he was a gifted administrator who played a key role in the establishment and development of India's atomic energy program and is considered the father of India's [[nuclear power]] program. At a time when atomic power programs were still in their infancy around the world, he had the foresight and courage to begin such a program in newly independent India, with faith that the scientific talent as well as the material resources would be available. Moreover, he steered the program toward peaceful uses, and in 1955, he served as President of the [[United Nations]] Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, held in [[Geneva]]. After his death, India's Atomic Energy Establishment was renamed the [[Bhabha Atomic Research Centre]] in his honor. He also encouraged research in [[electronics]], [[space science]], [[radio astronomy]], and [[microbiology]]. The famous radio telescope at [[Ooty]], India, was constructed at his initiation, and it became a reality in 1970.
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Bhabha was born in [[Mumbai]] (formerly Bombay). He studied at the [[Elphinstone College]] and the [[Indian Institute of Science|Royal Institute of Science]]. He received his doctorate from the [[University of Cambridge]] in 1934.
 
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[[Paul Dirac]] greatly influenced Bhabha during his study of Mechanical Engineering at [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]], to pursue an education in theoretical physics. A research scientist at the [[Cavendish Laboratory|Cavendish Laboratories]] at Cambridge, he was stranded in India as a result of the [[Second World War]], and set up the Cosmic Ray Research Unit at the [[Indian Institute of Science]], [[Bangalore]] under [[C. V. Raman]] in 1939. He was elected a Fellow of the [[Royal Society]] on March 20, 1941.
 
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With the help of [[J. R. D. Tata]], he established the [[Tata Institute of Fundamental Research]] at [[Mumbai]]. With the end of the War and [[Independence of India|Indian Independence]], he received the blessings of [[Nehru]] for efforts in India, towards peaceful development of atomic energy. He established the [[Atomic Energy Commission of India]] in 1948. He represented India in International Atomic Energy Forums, and as President of the [[United Nations]] Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, in [[Geneva]] in 1955. He was a pioneer of [[nuclear physics]] in his time and is considered the father of [[nuclear science]] in India. The construction of India's first atomic power plant began at [[Tarapur, Maharashtra|Tarapur]] [[Maharashtra]] in 1963. Two years later a [[plutonium]] plant was installed. The climax came on May 18 1974 when [[Indian]] scientists exploded a nuclear device at [[Pokhran]] in [[Rajasthan]]. India became the sixth country to join the nuclear club.
 
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He died in an air crash involving an Air India Boeing 707 near [[Mont Blanc]] in 1966. Conspiracy theories suggest sabotage intended to impede India's nuclear program, but his death remains a mystery.
 
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After his death, the Atomic Energy Establishment was renamed as the [[Bhabha Atomic Research Centre]] in his honor. He was an alumnus of the [[Cathedral and John Connon School]]. Bhabha also encouraged research in [[electronics]], [[space science]], [[radio astronomy]] and [[microbiology]]. The famous radio telescope at [[Ooty]], India was his initiation, and it became a reality in 1970.
 
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== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
 +
=== Early life ===
  
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Homi Bhabha was born in a rich Parsi family in Bombay, in 1909. He was one of two sons. Dr. Hormusji Bhabha, Homi’s grandfather, was once the Inspector General of Education in the feudal state of Mysore around 1900. Homi’s father was a lawyer, and his mother was the granddaughter of Sir Dinshaw Petit (who founded the Dinshaw Petit library in Bombay). Born as a son with such a strong and intricate background, Homi was constantly surrounded by works of aristocracy, such as books, music, and paintings.
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Homi Bhabha was born in a rich Parsi family in Bombay (now Mumbai), in 1909. He was one of two sons. His father was a lawyer, and his mother was the granddaughter of Sir Dinshaw Petit, a well-known philanthropist who founded the Dinshaw Petit library in Bombay. His grandfather, Dr. Hormusji Bhabha, was the Inspector General of Education in the feudal state of Mysore, around 1900. Given this aristocratic background, young Homi was constantly surrounded by works of high culture, including books, music, and paintings.
  
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Homi attended Cathedral School in Bombay, starting in 1916 – at that time in India, this school was attended mostly by European children and by Indian children brought up acclimated to western culture. Across from the school lived Homi’s aunt (from his father’s side), who was married to Sir Dorab Tata. Her house was the ancestral home of the Tata dynasty. Being part of a highly influential and reputed family, she often invited prominent people, including Mohandas Gandhi and other nationalist politicians of the day.
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Starting in 1916, Bhabha attended Cathedral School (later [[Cathedral and John Connon School]]) in Bombay. At that time, this school was attended mainly by children of Europeans and Indians acclimated to western culture. Across from the school lived Homi’s paternal aunt, who was married to Sir Dorab Tata (son of the industrialist [[Jamshedji Nusserwanji Tata]]). Her house was the ancestral home of the Tata dynasty. As part of a highly influential and reputed family, she often invited prominent individuals, including [[Mohandas Gandhi]] and other nationalist politicians of the day.
  
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=== Homi’s developed tastes ===
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In the words of Robert S. Anderson (1975), "Homi’s grandfather had a fine library, to which his father added books on art during his days as a student at Oxford and London. Homi took painting lessons while a boy, and continued to paint all his life—his mature style developed into a dark-colored melancholy around European symbolism." Given his taste for beauty, Bhabha felt it was important to beautify his places of work. Anderson adds, "His father and maternal aunt both had classical record collections (Beethoven, Mozart, Verdi, Wagner), and his lifelong appreciation of symphonic and operatic music was firmly founded by age 16 (1925). He was a frequent attendant at concerts whenever he was in Vienna, Boston, or wherever music was performed."
  
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Robert S. Anderson noted, “Homi’s grandfather had a fine library, to which his father added books on art during his days as a student at Oxford and London. Homi took painting lessons while a boy, and continued to paint all his life – his mature style developed into a dark-colored melancholy around European symbolism. He frequented galleries and exhibits, taking advice on paintings quite freely, and took seriously the task of making beautiful the places he had to work in. His father and maternal aunt both had classical record collections (Beethoven, Mozart, Verdi, Wagner), and his lifelong appreciation of symphonic and operatic music was firmly founded by age 16 (1925). He was a frequent attendant at concerts whenever he was in Vienna, Boston, or wherever music was performed.
+
=== College ===
  
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=== College ===
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At age 15, Bhabha passed the Senior Cambridge examination and enrolled at Elphinstone College in Bombay. Later, he studied at the Royal Institute of Science (located near Elphinstone College), which allowed for a little bit of research effectively mixed in with teaching.
  
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By 1925, when Homi turned 16, he started preparation for the Senior Cambridge examination at the Elphinstone College and the Royal Institute of Science, which was also near Elphinstone College. The Royal Institute of Science allowed for a little bit of research effectively mixed in with teaching. It made sense that Homi’s father and Uncle Sir Dorab Tata wanted Homi to go for an engineering degree – they expected him to take over ownership of the Tata Iron and Steel Company at Jamshedpur. Unlike his father’s likings, Homi preferred a more theoretical field of study, instead of his mechanical sciences tripos subjects. Homi took a particular liking toward mathematics, while he was tutored by Paul Dirac. Dirac advised Homi to start a School of Mathematics at the Institute at Bombay, in 1947. For the moment, however, Homi decided to finish his tripos with first rank. This way, his father, he thought, might be pleased enough to allow him to study in a field of his interest later. As he had planned, Homi finished in 1930 with a first class mark.
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Homi’s father and uncle, Sir Dorab Tata, wanted him to study for an engineering degree. They expected that after the proper training, he could take over ownership of the Tata Iron and Steel Company at Jamshedpur. So in 1927, he went to study Mechanical Engineering at the [[University of Cambridge]]. While at Cambridge, Bhabha was influenced by physicist [[Paul Dirac]], and his interests were drawn toward the study of theoretical physics and mathematics. Yet, in deference to his father's wishes, he agreed to complete his engineering course first. In 1930, he passed the Mechanical Engineering Tripos with first class. He then joined the Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge and entered studies in theoretical physics. Two years later, he passed the Mathematics Tripos, again with first class. He received his doctorate from Cambridge in 1934.
  
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=== Physics ===
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The 1930s was a critical period filled with major discoveries in physics. At Cavendish lab, Cockcroft, Walton, Blackett, Occhialini, and Chadwick were doing important work on the structure of the atomic nucleus. In addition, based on scholarships he received, Bhabha was able to visit other groups doing exciting research on the European continent. In particular, he visited [[Wolfgang Pauli]] in Zurich, [[Enrico Fermi]] in Rome, and [[Kramers]] in Utrecht. He also worked briefly with [[Niels Bohr]] in Copenhagen. In this early period, he actively published papers in theoretical physics, particularly the physics of [[cosmic ray]]s, and secured himself a permanent reputation in the field.
  
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In 1930, Homi joined the Cavendish Laboratory and entered studies in theoretical physics. This was a critical period filled with major findings at the lab – Cockcroft, Walton, Blackett, Occhialini, and Chadwick were doing important work on the structure of the nucleus. Soon, Homi published his first paper, in German, called Zeitschrift fur Phyics, in 1933 – he was only 24. In 1934 he was elected to the Isaac Newton studentship, allowing him three more years at Cambridge to finish his Ph.D.
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== Back in India ==
  
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In the 1930s and onwards, physics findings made the news frequently. Numerous groups were studying the substructures of atoms and were nearing the finding of stored energy in these premises. In the latter three years that Homi stayed at Cambridge, he visited various groups setup on exciting scientific realms. Pauli in Zurich, Fermi in Rome, and Kramers in Utrecht set up groups for theorists as well as experimenters, and were often visited by Homi.
+
While Bhabha was on a vacation in India in 1939, [[World War II]] broke out in Europe. This forced him to remain in India, after having spent nearly 12 years among the hottest physics centers abroad.
  
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Homi became better known as Bhabha in his post-college days. Bhabha began work in the active Institute at Copenhagen, which even housed Niels Bohr’s group. In this early period, Bhabha actively published papers and secured himself a permanent reputation in theoretical physics. While on a vacation in India in 1939, World War II broke out in Europe. This forced Bhabha to remain in India after nearly 12 years abroad amongst the hottest physics centers.
+
Bhabha took the post of a Reader in Theoretical Physics at the [[Indian Institute of Science]], [[Bangalore]], under Sir [[C. V. Raman]]. In 1941, he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society. In the following year, he was promoted to Professor of Cosmic Ray Research. In addition, he was offered the Chair of the Physics Department at the University of Allahabad and the Chair of Physics at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), but he declined both offers. In 1943, he was elected President of the Physics section of the Indian Science Congress.
  
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== In India ==
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In March 1944, Bhabha sent a proposal to the Sir Dorab J. Tata Trust, outlining the importance of establishing "a vigorous school of research in fundamental physics." The trustees decided in favor of the proposal, and in 1945, they established the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Bombay.<ref name="vigyan">Vigyan Prasar, [http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in/scientists/bhabha/BHABHANEW.HTM Homi Jehangir Bhabha.] Retrieved July 23, 2007.</ref> The institute expanded considerably over the next few years.
  
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Bhabha took the post of a Reader in Theoretical Physics at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, under Sir C.V. Raman. A couple of years later, he was promoted to Professor of Cosmic Ray Research in 1941; he was also elected Fellow of the Royal Society the same year. The following year he was offered the Chair of Physics department at the University of Allahabad as well as the offer of Chair of Physics at the India Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS). He, however, rejected both offers. In 1943, Bhabha was elected President of the Physics section of the Indian Science Congress.
+
In April 1948, a mere eight months after India gained independence from British rule, Bhabha sent a note to then Prime Minister [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], proposing the formation of an Atomic Energy Commission that would direct the development of India's nuclear energy program for peaceful purposes. The proposal received Nehru's blessings, and the commission was established by an act of parliament in August of the same year. Bhabha was made Chairman of the commission. In 1951, he became President of the Indian Science Congress, and in 1954, he became Secretary to the Government of India.
  
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After the war, Bhabha moved to Bombay to set up the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in June 1945. The Institute grew big by 1949. Bhabha wrote his last theoretical physics paper on multiple meson production in 1953. Despite his busy schedule, his youthfulness and love for fun helped him have a good rapport with his younger colleagues.
+
During October 1958, Bhabha visited the United Kingdom to review progress in nuclear power construction. He had to face several conflicts with atomic energy leaders of other nations, especially the United States. In addition, there was a shortage of foreign exchange due to devaluation of the Rupee.
  
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Due to his observation on nuclear energy in 1944, Bhabha was one of the three who proposed the formation of the Atomic Energy Commission in 1948. In 1951, he became President of the Indian Science Congress, and in 1954 he became Secretary to the Government of India.
+
Bhabha represented India in several International Atomic Energy Forums. In 1955, he served as President of the [[United Nations]] Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, held in [[Geneva]].
  
−
During October 1958, Bhabha visited the U.K. to review progress in nuclear power construction. He had to face several conflicts with atomic energy leaders of other nations, especially the United States. In addition, there was a shortage of foreign exchange due to devaluation of the Rupee.
+
The construction of India's first atomic power plant began at [[Tarapur, Maharashtra|Tarapur]], [[Maharashtra]], in 1963. Two years later, a [[plutonium]] plant was installed. The climax came on May 18, 1974, when [[Indian]] scientists exploded a nuclear device at [[Pokhran]] in [[Rajasthan]]. India became the sixth country to join the [[nuclear club]].
  
−
== Bhabha’s Lifeline of Achievements ==
+
Bhabha died in an air crash involving an Air India Boeing 707 near [[Mont Blanc]] in 1966. Conspiracy theories suggest sabotage intended to impede India's nuclear program, but his death remains a mystery.
  
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1909     Born in Bombay
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== Timeline of achievements<ref>Anderson, 1975.</ref> ==
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1916     Began at Cathedral School
 
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1924 Passed Senior Cambridge examination
 
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1925 Student at Elphinstone College
 
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1927     Went to Cambridge – mechanical science trips
 
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1930 B.A. degree granted
 
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1932     First paper, Zeitschrift für Physik, Issac Newton studentship
 
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1934    Met Fermi, Pauli, Kramers, and Bohr while traveling in Europe
 
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1935    Awarded Ph.D. Cambridge
 
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1936    Senior Studentship of 1851 Exhibition
 
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1937    Theory of electron cascade showers, Adams Prize
 
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1939    Caught in India by war outbreak during holiday
 
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1941    Elected Fellow of Royal Society of London (FRS, age 32)
 
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1942    Full professor (age 33)
 
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1944    Proposed center for pure research
 
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1945    Creation of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)
 
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1946    Attempted to purchase G.E. Betatron
 
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1948    Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission (AEC, India)
 
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1951    President Indian Science Congress
 
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1952    Meets Nehru regularly
 
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1953    Last physics paper published
 
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1954    AEC extended into Department of Atomic Energy (DAE, Bombay)
 
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1955    Chairman, Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy Conference at Geneva
 
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1956    APSARA critical, Trombay establishment begun
 
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1962    New buildings of TIFR opened
 
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1963    President of National Institute of Science in India (NISI), now Indian National Science Academy
 
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1964    Starts work on electronics report
 
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1966    Died in plane crash on Mont Blanc (age 57)
 
  
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— From Robert S. Anderson’s Building Scientific Institutions in India: Saha and Bhabha
+
*1909 Birth in Bombay
 +
*1916 Enrolled at Cathedral School
 +
*1924 Completed Senior Cambridge examination
 +
*1925 Enrolled at Elphinstone College
 +
*1927 Traveled to Cambridge; studied for mechanical engineering tripos
 +
*1930 B.A. degree earned at Cambridge
 +
*1932 First paper published in ''Zeitschrift für Physik''; received [[Issac Newton]] studentship
 +
*1934  Met Fermi, Pauli, Kramers, and Bohr while traveling in Europe
 +
*1935  Ph.D. earned at Cambridge
 +
*1936  Received Senior Studentship of 1851 Exhibition
 +
*1937  Proposed the theory of electron cascade showers; received the Adams Prize
 +
*1939  Caught in India by outbreak of World War II during holiday
 +
*1941  Elected Fellow of Royal Society of London (FRS, age 32)
 +
*1942  Full professor (age 33)
 +
*1944  Proposed center for pure research
 +
*1945  Creation of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)
 +
*1946  Attempted to purchase G.E. Betatron
 +
*1948  Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission (AEC, India)
 +
*1951  President Indian Science Congress
 +
*1953  Last physics paper published
 +
*1954  AEC extended into Department of Atomic Energy (DAE, Bombay)
 +
*1955  Chairman, Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy Conference at Geneva
 +
*1956  APSARA critical, Trombay establishment begun
 +
*1962  New buildings of TIFR opened
 +
*1963  President of National Institute of Science in India (NISI), now Indian National Science Academy
 +
*1964  Starts work on electronics report
 +
*1966  Died in plane crash on [[Mont Blanc]] (age 57)
  
 
== Quotes by Bhabha ==
 
== Quotes by Bhabha ==
  
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"I know quite clearly what I want out of my life. Life and my emotions are the only things I am conscious of. I love the consciousness of life and I want as much of it as I can get. But the span of one's life is limited. What comes after death no one knows. Nor do I care. Since, therefore, I cannot increase the content of life by increasing its duration, I will increase it by increasing its intensity. Art, music, poetry and everything else that consciousness I do have this one purpose - increasing the intensity of my consciousness of life."
+
"I know quite clearly what I want out of my life. Life and my emotions are the only things I am conscious of. I love the consciousness of life and I want as much of it as I can get. But the span of one's life is limited. What comes after death no one knows. Nor do I care. Since, therefore, I cannot increase the content of life by increasing its duration, I will increase it by increasing its intensity. Art, music, poetry and everything else that consciousness I do have this one purpose - increasing the intensity of my consciousness of life." <ref name="vigyan"/>
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
Line 108: Line 98:
 
* [[J. R. D. Tata]]
 
* [[J. R. D. Tata]]
 
* [[Nuclear power]]
 
* [[Nuclear power]]
 +
 +
== Notes ==
 +
<references/>
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
  
 
* Anderson, Robert S. 1975. ''Building Scientific Institutions in India: Saha and Bhabha''. Montreal: Centre for Developing-Area Studies, McGill University. OCLC 2554273.
 
* Anderson, Robert S. 1975. ''Building Scientific Institutions in India: Saha and Bhabha''. Montreal: Centre for Developing-Area Studies, McGill University. OCLC 2554273.
−
 
 
* Mahanti, Subodh. [http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in/scientists/bhabha/BHABHANEW.HTM Homi Jehangir Bhabha.] ''Vigyan Prasar Science Portal, Government of India''. Retrieved July 19, 2007.
 
* Mahanti, Subodh. [http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in/scientists/bhabha/BHABHANEW.HTM Homi Jehangir Bhabha.] ''Vigyan Prasar Science Portal, Government of India''. Retrieved July 19, 2007.
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* Shivappa, K.C. [http://www.freeindia.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=66&page=1 Homi Bhabha.] ''freeindia.org''. Retrieved July 19, 2007.
 
* Shivappa, K.C. [http://www.freeindia.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=66&page=1 Homi Bhabha.] ''freeindia.org''. Retrieved July 19, 2007.
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
 +
All links retrieved January 13, 2018.
 +
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/events/asia_nuclear_crisis/analysis/92783.stm Third World joins the nuclear club.]
 +
*[http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/india/nuke/first-pix.htm First Nuclear Test at Pokhran in 1974.]
 +
*[http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/India/Bhabha.html Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha.]
 +
*[http://www.hindu.com/2005/04/17/stories/2005041701771800.htm  The scientist and the aviator: a positive celebration.]
 +
*[http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/homi-bhabha.html Homi Bhabha Biography.]
  
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*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/events/asia_nuclear_crisis/analysis/92783.stm Third World joins the nuclear club.] Retrieved July 19, 2007.
 
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*[http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/india/nuke/first-pix.htm First Nuclear Test at Pokhran in 1974.] Retrieved July 19, 2007.
 
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*[http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/India/Bhabha.html Bhabha.] Retrieved July 19, 2007.
 
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*[http://www.hindu.com/2005/04/17/stories/2005041701771800.htm  The scientist and the aviator: a positive celebration.] Retrieved July 19, 2007.
 
−
*[http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/homi-bhabha.html Homi Bhabha Biography.] Retrieved July 19, 2007.
 
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*[http://ncra.tifr.res.in/ncra_hpage/ort/ort.html Radio Telescope, Ooty.] Retrieved July 19, 2007.
 
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{{Persondata
 
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|NAME= Bhabha, Homi Jehangir
 
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|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
 
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|SHORT DESCRIPTION= [[India]]n physicist
 
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|DATE OF BIRTH= 30 October1909
 
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|PLACE OF BIRTH= [[Mumbai]]
 
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|DATE OF DEATH= 24 January 1966
 
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|PLACE OF DEATH=
 
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{{DEFAULTSORT: Bhabha, Homi Jehangir}}
 
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{{Indian Space Program}}
 
  
 
[[Category:Physical sciences]]
 
[[Category:Physical sciences]]
 
[[Category:Physics]]
 
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[[Category:Nuclear engineering]]
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Latest revision as of 11:24, 2 February 2024

Homi Jehangir Bhabha

Homi Jehangir Bhabha 1960s.jpg
Homi J. Bhabha, considered the father of India's atomic energy program.
Born

30 October 1909
Mumbai

Died 24 January 1966
Residence India Flag of India.svg.png
Nationality Indian Flag of India.svg.png
Field Physics
Institutions Cavendish Laboratories
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
Atomic Energy Commission of India
Alma mater Cambridge
Academic advisor  Paul Dirac Nobel.svg

Homi Jehangir Bhabha (October 30, 1909 – January 24, 1966) was an Indian nuclear physicist of Parsi-Zoroastrian heritage. He was a gifted scientist, who contributed to the understanding of cosmic rays. In addition, he was a gifted administrator who played a key role in the establishment and development of India's atomic energy program and is considered the father of India's nuclear power program. At a time when atomic power programs were still in their infancy around the world, he had the foresight and courage to begin such a program in newly independent India, with faith that the scientific talent as well as the material resources would be available. Moreover, he steered the program toward peaceful uses, and in 1955, he served as President of the United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, held in Geneva. After his death, India's Atomic Energy Establishment was renamed the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in his honor. He also encouraged research in electronics, space science, radio astronomy, and microbiology. The famous radio telescope at Ooty, India, was constructed at his initiation, and it became a reality in 1970.

Biography

Early life

Homi Bhabha was born in a rich Parsi family in Bombay (now Mumbai), in 1909. He was one of two sons. His father was a lawyer, and his mother was the granddaughter of Sir Dinshaw Petit, a well-known philanthropist who founded the Dinshaw Petit library in Bombay. His grandfather, Dr. Hormusji Bhabha, was the Inspector General of Education in the feudal state of Mysore, around 1900. Given this aristocratic background, young Homi was constantly surrounded by works of high culture, including books, music, and paintings.

Starting in 1916, Bhabha attended Cathedral School (later Cathedral and John Connon School) in Bombay. At that time, this school was attended mainly by children of Europeans and Indians acclimated to western culture. Across from the school lived Homi’s paternal aunt, who was married to Sir Dorab Tata (son of the industrialist Jamshedji Nusserwanji Tata). Her house was the ancestral home of the Tata dynasty. As part of a highly influential and reputed family, she often invited prominent individuals, including Mohandas Gandhi and other nationalist politicians of the day.

In the words of Robert S. Anderson (1975), "Homi’s grandfather had a fine library, to which his father added books on art during his days as a student at Oxford and London. Homi took painting lessons while a boy, and continued to paint all his life—his mature style developed into a dark-colored melancholy around European symbolism." Given his taste for beauty, Bhabha felt it was important to beautify his places of work. Anderson adds, "His father and maternal aunt both had classical record collections (Beethoven, Mozart, Verdi, Wagner), and his lifelong appreciation of symphonic and operatic music was firmly founded by age 16 (1925). He was a frequent attendant at concerts whenever he was in Vienna, Boston, or wherever music was performed."

College

At age 15, Bhabha passed the Senior Cambridge examination and enrolled at Elphinstone College in Bombay. Later, he studied at the Royal Institute of Science (located near Elphinstone College), which allowed for a little bit of research effectively mixed in with teaching.

Homi’s father and uncle, Sir Dorab Tata, wanted him to study for an engineering degree. They expected that after the proper training, he could take over ownership of the Tata Iron and Steel Company at Jamshedpur. So in 1927, he went to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cambridge. While at Cambridge, Bhabha was influenced by physicist Paul Dirac, and his interests were drawn toward the study of theoretical physics and mathematics. Yet, in deference to his father's wishes, he agreed to complete his engineering course first. In 1930, he passed the Mechanical Engineering Tripos with first class. He then joined the Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge and entered studies in theoretical physics. Two years later, he passed the Mathematics Tripos, again with first class. He received his doctorate from Cambridge in 1934.

The 1930s was a critical period filled with major discoveries in physics. At Cavendish lab, Cockcroft, Walton, Blackett, Occhialini, and Chadwick were doing important work on the structure of the atomic nucleus. In addition, based on scholarships he received, Bhabha was able to visit other groups doing exciting research on the European continent. In particular, he visited Wolfgang Pauli in Zurich, Enrico Fermi in Rome, and Kramers in Utrecht. He also worked briefly with Niels Bohr in Copenhagen. In this early period, he actively published papers in theoretical physics, particularly the physics of cosmic rays, and secured himself a permanent reputation in the field.

Back in India

While Bhabha was on a vacation in India in 1939, World War II broke out in Europe. This forced him to remain in India, after having spent nearly 12 years among the hottest physics centers abroad.

Bhabha took the post of a Reader in Theoretical Physics at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, under Sir C. V. Raman. In 1941, he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society. In the following year, he was promoted to Professor of Cosmic Ray Research. In addition, he was offered the Chair of the Physics Department at the University of Allahabad and the Chair of Physics at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), but he declined both offers. In 1943, he was elected President of the Physics section of the Indian Science Congress.

In March 1944, Bhabha sent a proposal to the Sir Dorab J. Tata Trust, outlining the importance of establishing "a vigorous school of research in fundamental physics." The trustees decided in favor of the proposal, and in 1945, they established the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Bombay.[1] The institute expanded considerably over the next few years.

In April 1948, a mere eight months after India gained independence from British rule, Bhabha sent a note to then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, proposing the formation of an Atomic Energy Commission that would direct the development of India's nuclear energy program for peaceful purposes. The proposal received Nehru's blessings, and the commission was established by an act of parliament in August of the same year. Bhabha was made Chairman of the commission. In 1951, he became President of the Indian Science Congress, and in 1954, he became Secretary to the Government of India.

During October 1958, Bhabha visited the United Kingdom to review progress in nuclear power construction. He had to face several conflicts with atomic energy leaders of other nations, especially the United States. In addition, there was a shortage of foreign exchange due to devaluation of the Rupee.

Bhabha represented India in several International Atomic Energy Forums. In 1955, he served as President of the United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, held in Geneva.

The construction of India's first atomic power plant began at Tarapur, Maharashtra, in 1963. Two years later, a plutonium plant was installed. The climax came on May 18, 1974, when Indian scientists exploded a nuclear device at Pokhran in Rajasthan. India became the sixth country to join the nuclear club.

Bhabha died in an air crash involving an Air India Boeing 707 near Mont Blanc in 1966. Conspiracy theories suggest sabotage intended to impede India's nuclear program, but his death remains a mystery.

Timeline of achievements[2]

  • 1909 Birth in Bombay
  • 1916 Enrolled at Cathedral School
  • 1924 Completed Senior Cambridge examination
  • 1925 Enrolled at Elphinstone College
  • 1927 Traveled to Cambridge; studied for mechanical engineering tripos
  • 1930 B.A. degree earned at Cambridge
  • 1932 First paper published in Zeitschrift für Physik; received Issac Newton studentship
  • 1934 Met Fermi, Pauli, Kramers, and Bohr while traveling in Europe
  • 1935 Ph.D. earned at Cambridge
  • 1936 Received Senior Studentship of 1851 Exhibition
  • 1937 Proposed the theory of electron cascade showers; received the Adams Prize
  • 1939 Caught in India by outbreak of World War II during holiday
  • 1941 Elected Fellow of Royal Society of London (FRS, age 32)
  • 1942 Full professor (age 33)
  • 1944 Proposed center for pure research
  • 1945 Creation of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)
  • 1946 Attempted to purchase G.E. Betatron
  • 1948 Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission (AEC, India)
  • 1951 President Indian Science Congress
  • 1953 Last physics paper published
  • 1954 AEC extended into Department of Atomic Energy (DAE, Bombay)
  • 1955 Chairman, Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy Conference at Geneva
  • 1956 APSARA critical, Trombay establishment begun
  • 1962 New buildings of TIFR opened
  • 1963 President of National Institute of Science in India (NISI), now Indian National Science Academy
  • 1964 Starts work on electronics report
  • 1966 Died in plane crash on Mont Blanc (age 57)

Quotes by Bhabha

"I know quite clearly what I want out of my life. Life and my emotions are the only things I am conscious of. I love the consciousness of life and I want as much of it as I can get. But the span of one's life is limited. What comes after death no one knows. Nor do I care. Since, therefore, I cannot increase the content of life by increasing its duration, I will increase it by increasing its intensity. Art, music, poetry and everything else that consciousness I do have this one purpose - increasing the intensity of my consciousness of life." [1]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Vigyan Prasar, Homi Jehangir Bhabha. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
  2. ↑ Anderson, 1975.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Anderson, Robert S. 1975. Building Scientific Institutions in India: Saha and Bhabha. Montreal: Centre for Developing-Area Studies, McGill University. OCLC 2554273.
  • Mahanti, Subodh. Homi Jehangir Bhabha. Vigyan Prasar Science Portal, Government of India. Retrieved July 19, 2007.
  • Shivappa, K.C. Homi Bhabha. freeindia.org. Retrieved July 19, 2007.

External links

All links retrieved January 13, 2018.


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