2016-10-06 Thu

Born on 6 October 1893 Meghnad Saha was an Astrophysicist of India. He is best known for his development of the Saha equation. Mintage world pays tribute to this outstanding Astrophysicist on his 123rd Birth anniversary.

The name of Professor Meghnad Saha would always remain associated with the theory of thermal ionization. Meghnad Saha was born in a small village near Dhaka. Meghnad Saha belonged to a poor family and struggled to rise in life.

He put forward an "ionization formula" which explained the presence of the spectral lines. The formula proved to be a breakthrough in astrophysics and was one of the top ten achievements of 20th century Indian science. He was nominated for Nobel Prize more than twice. However, under the reason of “a useful application, but not a "discovery", he was rejected.

In 1947, he established Institute of Nuclear Physics which later was named after him as Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics. India post released a stamp as well as special cover in his honour on his hundredth Birth Anniversary. This Re 1.00 stamp features his portrait and his work.