Rajagopala Chidambaram facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rajagopala Chidambaram
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Chidambaram at the 2008 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
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| 2nd Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India | |
| In office 2002–2018 |
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| President | A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Pratibha Patil Pranab Mukherjee Ram Nath Kovind |
| Prime Minister | Atal Bihari Vajpayee Manmohan Singh Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | A. P. J. Abdul Kalam |
| Succeeded by | K. VijayRaghavan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 November 1936 Madras, Madras Province, British India (present-day Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India) |
| Died | 4 January 2025 (aged 88) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Residences | New Delhi, India |
| Alma mater | University of Madras, Indian Institute of Science |
| Known for | Nuclear weapons programme
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| Awards | Padma Shri (1975), Padma Vibhushan (1999) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics |
| Institutions | Atomic Energy Commission (India) Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai Department of Atomic Energy International Atomic Energy Agency Defence Research and Development Organisation Indian Institute of Technology University of Hyderabad |
Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram (born November 11, 1936 – died January 4, 2025) was a famous Indian physicist. He played a very important part in India's nuclear program. He helped prepare for two major nuclear tests, known as Pokhran-I in 1975 and Pokhran-II in 1998.
Dr. Chidambaram also served as the main science advisor to the Indian government. He was the director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). Later, he became the chairman of India's Atomic Energy Commission. He helped make India stronger in national defense and energy security. From 1994 to 1995, he was the chairman of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He was also part of a special group in 2008 that advised the IAEA on its future role.
Throughout his career, Dr. Chidambaram helped develop India's nuclear weapons. He was part of the team for India's first nuclear test, called Smiling Buddha, in 1974. He became well-known internationally when he led the team for the second nuclear tests in May 1998. Dr. Chidambaram passed away on January 4, 2025, at the age of 88.
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Early Life and Education
Dr. Chidambaram was born into a Brahmin Hindu family. He completed his early schooling in Meerut and Chennai. In 1956, he earned his B.Sc. with honors in physics from the University of Madras. He was the top student in his department and the university.
He continued his studies at the same university. In 1958, he received his M.Sc. in physics. His master's thesis was about analog computers. After this, he joined the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) for his doctoral program. He earned his PhD in 1962. His PhD research focused on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.
After getting his PhD, Dr. Chidambaram became interested in crystallography and condensed matter physics. These fields study how atoms are arranged in materials. His work in these areas helped develop modern materials science. He received a D.Sc. in physics from IISc for his experiments. He also received a D.Sc. from MKU in Madurai. Overall, he was awarded doctoral degrees in physics by eight Indian universities.
After the 1974 nuclear test, Dr. Chidambaram began research in high-pressure physics. His team built special tools like diamond anvil cells. They also created gas-guns to launch objects at high speeds. His group's work on high-pressure physics is highly respected. Their paper on 'Omega Phase in Materials' is used as a textbook by other scientists.
Role in India's Nuclear Program
After earning his doctorate, Dr. Chidambaram joined the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). He became the director of the physics group there. He started research on the physics of nuclear weapons.
At BARC, he became a senior nuclear scientist. He was involved in many secret projects. He was a key person in building India's nuclear program. In 1967, he joined other scientists to design nuclear weapons. They worked on the metal and physics parts of these weapons. He and his team calculated how plutonium behaves under extreme conditions. This information is still kept secret by countries with nuclear weapons.
Dr. Chidambaram chose the implosion method for nuclear weapons. He started research at BARC with the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL). This lab is part of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). He also helped the Indian Army build a nuclear test site. This site was at the Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan.
Dr. Chidambaram was part of the team that supervised India's first nuclear test. This test was code-named Smiling Buddha. He was honored by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. In 1990, Dr. Chidambaram became the Director of BARC. His important role in the 1974 test led him to lead the team for Operation Shakti in 1998. As BARC director, he also started developing supercomputers. These computers can now perform calculations at very high speeds. During his time as chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, he sped up the development of nuclear power.
As Principal Scientific Adviser
Dr. R. Chidambaram served as the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. He was also the Chairman of the Scientific Advisory to the Cabinet. He held this position until Dr. Krishnasamy Vijay Raghavan took over in March 2018.
As Principal Scientific Adviser, he started several important projects:
- He set up the Core Advisory Group for R&D in the Automotive Sector (CAR). This group helps universities and industries work together.
- He created RuTAGs (Rural Technology Action Groups). These groups bring useful technology to rural areas.
- He established SETS (Society for Electronic Transactions and Security). This society helps with secure electronic transactions.
In recent years, he also helped create the 'National Knowledge Network'. This network connects about 1,500 schools and research centers in India. He believed in 'Coherent Synergy' in India's science and technology efforts. This means working together effectively to help India grow fast. He also stressed the importance of 'Directed Basic Research'. This type of research aims to solve specific problems.
Awards and Honours
Dr. Chidambaram received many awards and honors. The Indian Government recognized his work on the nuclear tests. He was given the Padma Shri in 1975. This is the fourth highest civilian honor in India. In 1999, he received the Padma Vibhushan, which is the second highest civilian honor.
Some of his other notable awards include:
- Distinguished Alumnus Award of the Indian Institute of Science (1991)
- C.V. Raman Birth Centenary Award (1995)
- Distinguished Materials Scientist of the Year Award (1996)
- R.D. Birla Award of the Indian Physics Association (1996)
- H. K. Forodia Award for Excellence in Science & Technology (1998)
- Hari Om Prerit Senior Scientist Award (2000)
- Meghnad Saha Medal of the Indian National Science Academy (2002)
- INS Homi Bhabha Lifetime Achievement Award of the Indian Nuclear Society (2006)
- Life Time Contribution Award in Engineering (2009)
- C.V. Raman Medal of the Indian National Science Academy
He also received honorary D.Sc. degrees from more than twenty universities. Dr. Chidambaram was a Fellow of all the science Academies in India. He was also a Fellow of The World Academy of Science (TWAS) in Italy.
He served as a member, chairman, and president of many organizations. These include IIT-Madras, IIT-Bombay, the Materials Research Society of India, and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). In 2008, the IAEA asked him to join a group of "Eminent Persons." This group made recommendations to the IAEA's Board of Governors. He was also an Indian Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy. Dr. Chidambaram was the chairman of the Board of Governance of IIT Jodhpur.
