Veteran nuclear scientist and Padma awardee Rajagopala Chidambaram has passed away.
Obituary
On January 04, 2025, Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram, a renowned nuclear scientist who played a pivotal role in advancing India's nuclear capabilities, passed away at the age of 88 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He was born on November 11, 1936, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN).
- He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1975 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1999 for his outstanding contributions to Science & Technology.
- He was a key contributor to India's first nuclear test in 1974 and the Pokhran-II tests in 1998, which established India as a nuclear power.
- He held several prestigious positions, including Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India (GoI) from 2001 to 2018, Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) from 1990 to 1993, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, and Secretary to the GoI, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) from 1993 to 2000.
Main Point :- (i) Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram played a crucial role in India's nuclear programs, including the first nuclear test in 1974 and the Pokhran-II tests in 1998, making India a nuclear power.
(ii) He served as the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India (2001-2018) and held several key positions, including Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
(iii) Dr. Chidambaram made significant contributions in high-pressure physics, crystallography, and materials science, and played a pivotal role in advancing India's supercomputing capabilities and the National Knowledge Network.
____________________________
