2018-02-21 Wed

Credited with establishing 12 national research laboratories in India, internationally acclaimed chemist and scientist Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar is more famously known as the 'father of science and technology'.

Dr Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar was born on 21 February 1894 in Bhera, Punjab region of British India. The young Bhatnagar was sent to Lahore for schooling and his literary attainments, particularly in Urdu. He was also inquisitive student of science and secured a high school scholarship in an open competition.

After completing his M.Sc. he went to England on a fellowship. On his return, he served as a Professor in Benaras Hindu University and thus began a period of 16 active years of original scientific work. He also did considerable work in applied and industrial chemistry for which he had a natural interest from his early student days.

Bhatnagar became the first director general of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in 1940. In order to honour Dr Bhatnagar’s name and achievements, CSIR instituted an award Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology.

He received a number of honorary degrees from universities in India and abroad and was also honoured with Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India.

He did pioneering work in organizing and setting up a number of research establishments in the country. The department of post issued a commemorative postage stamp to mark the birth centenary of this great son of India whose contribution enhanced the stature of this country in the world of science.