Homi J Bhabha, The Father of Indian Nuclear Physics

Homi J. Bhabha, an Indian physicist is the father of Indian nuclear power. He is one of the most prominent scientists that India has ever had. He was a nuclear physicist, founding director, and professor of the Tata institute of fundamental research. He was also founding director of Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET). 

Early life and Education

Homi Jehangir Bhabha was born on 30 October 1909. He was born into a prominent wealthy Parsi family. His father, Jehangir Hormusji Bhabha was a well-known lawyer. His mother was Meheren. He is related to businessmen Dinshaw Maneckji Petit and Dorabji Tata.

Bhabha received his early education at Bombay's Cathedral and John Cannon School. Then he entered Elphinstone College at the age of 15 after passing his Senior Cambridge Examination with honours. He then attended the Royal Institute of science in 1927. His father and uncle insisted him to be a mechanical engineer. 

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Research and Career

Bhabha took the Tripos exam in 1930 and obtained first class. He also completed the mathematics tripos exam under Paul Dirac. Meanwhile, he worked at the Cavendish Laboratory while working towards his doctorate in theoretical physics.

Bhabha was awarded the Salomons scholarship in engineering. He was also awarded the Rouse Ball travelling scholarship in mathematics in 1932. Bhabha conducted many experiments on particles that also released an enormous amount of radiation. His research and experiments have had a great impact on Indian nuclear physics history.

Bhabha published his first scientific paper named "The absorption of cosmic radiation" in 1933. After that, he received his doctorate in nuclear physics. This paper helped him to win the Issac Newton Scholarship in 1934. During his theoretical physics scholarship under Ralph H. Fowler, he also worked at Cambridge and with Neils Bohr in Copenhagen. 

In 1937, Bhabha was awarded the senior scholarship of the 1851 exhibition, which helped him to continue his work at Cambridge. 

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Bhabha returned to India in 1939 and decided not to go back to England. He worked as the reader in the physics department of the India Institute of Science. He got a special research grant from the Sir Dorab Tata Trust, which he used to establish the Cosmic Ray Research Unit at the institute.

He was also a fellow of the Royal Society. He played a significant role to establish the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) with the help of Mr J.R.D. Tata.

Bhabha proposed to the government to build a new laboratory dedicated to atomic energy research. For this purpose, the Bombay government acquired 1200 acres of land and invested as required. In this way, the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET) was established in 1954 under Bhabha's direct guidance.

Bhabha represented India in International Atomic Energy Forum. He was also a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Bhabha is credited with formulating a strategy of focussing on extracting power from the country's vast thorium reserves rather than its meagre uranium reserves. This thorium-focused strategy was in marked contrast to all other countries in the world.

The approach proposed by Bhabha to achieve this strategic objective became India's three-stage nuclear power program.  

Bhabha served as the first chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. The Indian government awarded him Padma Bhushan in 1954. He was a member of the Indian Cabinet's Scientific Advisory Committee. 

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Death

Bhabha died in a plane crash near Mont Blanc on 24 January 1966. Then he was flying to Vienna to attend a meeting. 

His sudden demise was a great shock for all science enthusiastic people at that time.

Controversies

Many controversies had raised after the plane crash and his death. Central Intelligence Agency, CIA claimed that it was a plan to kill Bhabha to paralyze India's nuclear programs. 
A famous journalist Gregory Douglas claimed that former CIA operative Robert Crowley implied that the CIA was responsible for assassinating Bhabha. Crowly reportedly said that a bomb in the cargo section of the plane exploded mid-air, bringing down the commercial Boeing 707 aeroplane in ALRS with few traces, describing it as "an unfortunate accident." 
Indeed, it's truly an unfortunate incident for all Indian people! 

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In Remember of Bhabha

Bhabha was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1954 by the Indian government. He was a true legend of modern Indian Science. 

After Bhabha's death, many institutions and organizations were named after this great scientist. 

• The Atomic Energy Establishment at Mumbai was renamed after him. Now it is known as Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.
• Indian deemed university is named after Bhabha. It's Homi Bhabha National Institute.
• Homi Bhabha Center for Science Education, Mumbai

After Bhabha's death, his favourite bungalow "Mehrangir"  at Malabar Hill, was inherited by his brother. The contents of that were auctioned for Rs. 372 crores in 2014.

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Bhabha was a good human being as well. He loved music and dancing. He had considerable knowledge of Indian and Western music. He painted and sketched. He was also an architect of no mean ability. He was a true lover of trees and did everything under his power to protect them.

In fact, he was a perfectionist proud Indian.

Sources: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homi_J._Bhabha 

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Homi-Bhabha