Rajagopala Chidambaram
Encyclopedia
Rajagopala Chidambaram is an India
n nuclear scientist and metallurgist. He is the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India
and former Director of India's primary nuclear research facility, BARC
. Dr. Chidambaram played a key role in the 1974 nuclear explosion experiment at Pokaran and led the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
team in the Pokhran-II
tests in May 1998.
Dr. Chidambaram was also one of the members of IAEA's 'Commission of Eminent Persons'. He also played an important role in getting the Safeguards Agreement passed by the Board of IAEA that followed the signing of the Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreement between India and the United States of America.
, completed his B.Sc. (Hons) in Physics
scoring first rank in the University level at the University of Madras
, Chennai in 1956, and then his M.Sc. in Physics with the specialization in analogue computers
) at the same university in 1958. He completed his Ph.D. in nuclear physics
, at the Indian Institute of Science
, Bangalore
in 1962. His Ph.D., research thesis on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
was awarded the Martin Forster Medal for the best Ph.D thesis submitted to the IISc during 1961-62. He was also awarded the D.Sc.
in Metallurgy
and in material science, degree by eight Universities.
(BARC), later becoming its Director in 1990. During his years with BARC
, he took part in the strategic nuclear programs of the country including a lead role in the 1974 Pokaran Nuclear Test.
He became a member of the Atomic Energy Commission
,later becoming its Chairman in 1993.He chaired the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) during 1994-95.Currently with the Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), he is the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India.
His key participation in the design and successful execution of Operation Smiling Buddha saw him leading the DAE
team of Operation Shakti
in 1998.
Upset by the secret manner in which the test was conducted, and given his instrumental role in the test, Dr. Chidambaram was not positively reciprocated when he approached the US for a visa to attend the 1998 annual conference of the International Union of Crystallographers, of which he is a member, which was followed by his withdrawal of visa application.
acknowledged his contribution to the successful nuclear tests by awarding the Padma Shri
, the fourth highest Civilian honor of the nation, in 1975 and the Padma Vibushan, the Second highest civilian honor, in 1999. He is also the recipient of numerous awards from various universities and organizations.
He has also served as a member, chairman and president of a number of organizations which, among others, include IIT-Madras
, IIT-Bombay
, the Materials Research Society of India, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the International Union of Crystallography
.
Early 2008, IAEA invited Dr. Chidambaram to be a member of the "Commission of Eminent Persons", for making recommendations to the Board of Governors, regarding long-term priorities and funding.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n nuclear scientist and metallurgist. He is the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
and former Director of India's primary nuclear research facility, BARC
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre is India's primary nuclear research facility based in Mumbai. It has a number of nuclear reactors, all of which are used for India's nuclear power and research programme.- History :...
. Dr. Chidambaram played a key role in the 1974 nuclear explosion experiment at Pokaran and led the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
Department of Atomic Energy (India)
The Department of Atomic Energy is a department directly under the Prime Minister of India with headquartered in Mumbai. The department is responsible for nuclear technology, including nuclear power and research....
team in the Pokhran-II
Pokhran-II
Pokharan-II refers to test explosions of five nuclear devices, three on 11 May and two on 13 May 1998, conducted by India at the Pokhran test range. These nuclear tests resulted in a variety of sanctions against India by a number of major states....
tests in May 1998.
Dr. Chidambaram was also one of the members of IAEA's 'Commission of Eminent Persons'. He also played an important role in getting the Safeguards Agreement passed by the Board of IAEA that followed the signing of the Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreement between India and the United States of America.
Personal life
Dr. Chidambaram completed his early education in Meerut and ChennaiChennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, completed his B.Sc. (Hons) in Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
scoring first rank in the University level at the University of Madras
University of Madras
The University of Madras is a public research university in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the three oldest universities in India...
, Chennai in 1956, and then his M.Sc. in Physics with the specialization in analogue computers
Analog computer
An analog computer is a form of computer that uses the continuously-changeable aspects of physical phenomena such as electrical, mechanical, or hydraulic quantities to model the problem being solved...
) at the same university in 1958. He completed his Ph.D. in nuclear physics
Nuclear physics
Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of atomic nuclei. The most commonly known applications of nuclear physics are nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons technology, but the research has provided application in many fields, including those...
, at the Indian Institute of Science
Indian Institute of Science
Indian Institute of Science is a research institution of higher learning located in Bangalore, India. It was established in 1909.-History:After a chance meeting between Jamsetji N...
, Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
in 1962. His Ph.D., research thesis on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Nuclear magnetic resonance
Nuclear magnetic resonance is a physical phenomenon in which magnetic nuclei in a magnetic field absorb and re-emit electromagnetic radiation...
was awarded the Martin Forster Medal for the best Ph.D thesis submitted to the IISc during 1961-62. He was also awarded the D.Sc.
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
in Metallurgy
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
and in material science, degree by eight Universities.
Career
In 1962, Dr. Chidambaram joined the Bhabha Atomic Research CentreBhabha Atomic Research Centre
The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre is India's primary nuclear research facility based in Mumbai. It has a number of nuclear reactors, all of which are used for India's nuclear power and research programme.- History :...
(BARC), later becoming its Director in 1990. During his years with BARC
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre is India's primary nuclear research facility based in Mumbai. It has a number of nuclear reactors, all of which are used for India's nuclear power and research programme.- History :...
, he took part in the strategic nuclear programs of the country including a lead role in the 1974 Pokaran Nuclear Test.
He became a member of the Atomic Energy Commission
Atomic Energy Commission of India
The Atomic Energy Commission is a governing body functioning under the Department of Atomic Energy , Government of India. The DAE is under the direct charge of the Prime Minister.- History :...
,later becoming its Chairman in 1993.He chaired the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) during 1994-95.Currently with the Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), he is the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India.
His key participation in the design and successful execution of Operation Smiling Buddha saw him leading the DAE
Department of Atomic Energy (India)
The Department of Atomic Energy is a department directly under the Prime Minister of India with headquartered in Mumbai. The department is responsible for nuclear technology, including nuclear power and research....
team of Operation Shakti
Pokhran-II
Pokharan-II refers to test explosions of five nuclear devices, three on 11 May and two on 13 May 1998, conducted by India at the Pokhran test range. These nuclear tests resulted in a variety of sanctions against India by a number of major states....
in 1998.
Upset by the secret manner in which the test was conducted, and given his instrumental role in the test, Dr. Chidambaram was not positively reciprocated when he approached the US for a visa to attend the 1998 annual conference of the International Union of Crystallographers, of which he is a member, which was followed by his withdrawal of visa application.
Awards and honors
To his credit, Dr. Chidambaram is the recipient a number of awards and honors. Indian GovernmentGovernment of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
acknowledged his contribution to the successful nuclear tests by awarding the Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
, the fourth highest Civilian honor of the nation, in 1975 and the Padma Vibushan, the Second highest civilian honor, in 1999. He is also the recipient of numerous awards from various universities and organizations.
He has also served as a member, chairman and president of a number of organizations which, among others, include IIT-Madras
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras is an engineering and technology school in Chennai in southern India. It is recognized as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India...
, IIT-Bombay
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay , popularly known as IIT Bombay or IITB, is a public research university located in Powai, Mumbai...
, the Materials Research Society of India, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the International Union of Crystallography
Crystallography
Crystallography is the experimental science of the arrangement of atoms in solids. The word "crystallography" derives from the Greek words crystallon = cold drop / frozen drop, with its meaning extending to all solids with some degree of transparency, and grapho = write.Before the development of...
.
Early 2008, IAEA invited Dr. Chidambaram to be a member of the "Commission of Eminent Persons", for making recommendations to the Board of Governors, regarding long-term priorities and funding.