Veteran Scientist Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram passed away on 04 January 2025 in Mumbai. He was 88.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed deep grief over the demise of veteran nuclear scientist, Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram.
About Veteran Scientist Rajagopala Chidambaram:
» Born in 1936, Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram was an alumnus of Presidency College in Chennai and Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.
- Chidambaram held numerous prestigious positions throughout his career, including Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India (2001–2018), Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (1990-1993), Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, and Secretary to the Government of India, DAE (1993-2000).
- He also served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) (1994–1995).
- He played an integral role in the nation’s first nuclear test (Pokhran-I) in 1974, and led the Department of Atomic Energy team during the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998.
Important Awards:
- The Government of India honored Dr Chidambaram the Padma Shri in 1975 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1999 for his contribution to successful nuclear tests.
- He was also honoured with prestigious accolades like INS Homi Bhabha Lifetime Achievement Award of the Indian Nuclear Society (2006), the Life Time Contribution Award in Engineering (2009) from Indian National Academy of Engineering, the C V Raman Medal of the Indian National Science Academy.
» Dr. Chidambaram played a pivotal role in shaping India’s nuclear capabilities.