Rajagopala Chidambaram
| Rajagopalan Chidambaram | |
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 Rajagopalan Chidambaram at the 2008 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
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| Born | December 11, 1936 Chennai, Tamil Nadu, British India |
| Residence | New Delhi, India |
| Nationality | India |
| Fields | Metallurgy |
| Institutions | Government of India Atomic Energy Commission of India Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Department of Atomic Energy International Atomic Energy Agency Defence Research and Development Organisation Indian Institute of Technology University of Hyderabad |
| Alma mater | University of Madras, Indian Institute of Science |
| Known for | Crystallography Operation Smiling Buddha Pokhran-II |
| Notable awards | Padma Shri (1975), Padma Vibhushan (1999) |
Rajagopala Chidambaram (Tamil:ராஜகோபால சிதம்பரம்) is an Indian 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.
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[edit] Personal life
Dr. Chidambaram completed his early education in Meerut and Chennai, 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.[1]
[edit] Career
In 1962, Dr. Chidambaram joined the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (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,[2][3] 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.[4] [5]
[edit] Awards and honors
To his credit, Dr. Chidambaram is the recipient a number of awards and honors. Indian Government 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.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ "Profile of Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram". http://www.tifac.org.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=226&Itemid=37. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
- ^ "Pokaran-The U.S. Intelligence Failure". http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/india/pokharan-intell.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
- ^ "India blasts take U.S. intelligence by surprise". http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/news/1998/05/980512-wt.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
- ^ "US denies visa to AEC Chairman". http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19980715/19650654.html. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
- ^ "US denies visa to AEC Chairman - Debate in Parliament". http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/lsdeb/ls12/ses2/16170798.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
- ^ "R. Chidambaram in IAEA Panel". http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/02/28/stories/2008022850591200.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
[edit] External links
- Information page at the Technology Information Forecasting & Assessment Council
- Profile at zoominfo
- Home Page of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India
- The May 1998 Pokhran Tests: Scientific Aspects
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