- Dr. Homi Bhabha believed that nuclear energy could be used for developmental purposes
- Dr. Homi Bhabha is called the father of the Indian nuclear programme
- It paved the way for India to become nuclear powered and advance in the field of scientific research
Homi Jahangir Bhabha was in favor of peaceful use of nuclear energy. In the 1960s, developed countries reasoned that developing countries should address some other aspects before becoming nuclear powers. Dr. Bhabha denied this.
India’s nuclear program is considered one of the most advanced and successful nuclear programs in the world. India today stands among the ranks of military and non-military nuclear armed nations. This is the result of that dream. The founder of the Indian nuclear program Dr. Homi Jahangir Bhabha had saved.
Dr. Homi Jahangir Bhabha means the genius of nuclear science whose name makes every Indian’s chest swell with pride. Dr. Homi Jahangir Bhabha was the person who envisioned India’s nuclear energy program and paved the way for India to progress in the field of nuclear power and scientific research.
Dr.Bhabha, with the help of a few scientists, envisioned the potential of nuclear energy and its potential applications in different fields. At that time no one was ready to accept the idea of generating electricity from nuclear energy. This is the reason why he is called the father of Indian nuclear power program.
Homi Jahangir Bhabha was born on 30th October 1909 in a Parsi family in Mumbai. His father Jahangir Bhabha was a well-known lawyer. Homi Bhabha received his early primary education from the Cathedral School in Mumbai. He received his further education at John Cannon School. From early on, Bhabha had a special interest in physics and mathematics. He passed his B.Sc from the Royal Institute of Science, Bangalore after completing his 12th standard from Elphinstone College, Mumbai. For further studies, Homi Bhabha went to England in 1927 and there he passed the mechanical engineering examination from Cambridge University. In 1934, he received his doctorate from Cambridge University.
In Germany, Bhabha studied and experimented with cosmic rays. He submitted his research paper entitled The Observation of Cosmic Radiation before taking up the title of directorate. In this paper, he demonstrated the capabilities of cosmic ray absorption and electron generation. He also received the ‘Isaac Newton Studentship’ in the year 1934 for this research paper
After completing his education in the year 1939, Dr. Bhabha returned to India. After coming to India he joined Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and was appointed as Reader in 1940. He established a separate department for the detection of cosmic rays at the Indian Institute of Science. He gained special fame for his discoveries on cosmic rays and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1941. Considering his achievements, he was made a professor in the year 1944 at the age of 31. The versatile Dr. Homi Jahangir Bhaban had a keen interest in the fields of classical music, sculpture, painting and dance. Scientist and Nobel laureate Sir C.V. Raman also called him ‘Leonardo da Vinci of India’.
In March 1944, he met Sir Dorab J. The Tata Trust proposed to set up an institute for research on fundamental physics. In the year 1948 Dr. Bhabha founded the Atomic Energy Commission of India and represented India at international atomic energy forums. In the year 1955, in the first conference on the topic of ‘Usage of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes’ organized by the United Nations, Dr. Homi Bhabha was made the Speaker.
Homi Jahangir Bhabha was in favor of using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. In the 1960s, developed countries reasoned that developing countries should address some other aspects before becoming nuclear powers. Dr. Bhabha denied this. Bhabha advocated the use of nuclear energy in development works.
India established its first nuclear research center in 1957 at Trombay, near Mumbai. It was renamed Bhabha Atomic Research Center in 1967. Dr. from the country. This tribute has not been given to Homi Bhabha. This institute has established itself as a specialized nuclear research institute. Today, fundamental research is being done in important areas like nuclear physics, spectroscopy, solid state physics, chemistry and biology, reactor engineering, instrumentation, radiation safety and nuclear medicine etc. in this institute.
The then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru also said that we should not misuse nuclear energy. But, the change in scenario after his death influenced India’s nuclear policy. Keeping India’s security situation in mind, the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri released India from the commitment of not making nuclear weapons. When China conducted nuclear tests in 1964, it was natural for India to be worried. This concern increased in 1965 when India and Pakistan went to war. In such a situation, in terms of balance, India felt the need to build a nuclear power
India conducted its first underground nuclear test on 18 May 1974 at Pokhran. This was India’s first public display of nuclear power. India conducted a second nuclear test between 18 May and 13 May 1998 at Pokhran. The Nuclear Weapons Policy issued by India in 2003 was the first to declare non-use of nuclear weapons. However, it was also said that if there is a nuclear attack, India will respond to it.
Homi Jahangir Bhabha’s dream of making India a nuclear power is now progressing on a grand scale. India today has several nuclear missiles in its defense sector, including missiles such as Agni and Prithvi. There are currently seven nuclear power plants in India. Whereas India on the other hand is using nuclear energy in various sectors including agriculture, industry, pharmaceutical production and zoology. India’s leading Indian scientist died in a plane crash on 24th January 1966.
