Birth of Homi Bhabha - Father of the Indian Nuclear Programme | Testbook.com

30th October 1909

The Birthday of Homi Bhabha

What Transpired?

Homi Bhabha

On this day, 30th October 1909, Homi Jehangir Bhabha, acclaimed as the ‘ Pioneer of the Indian Nuclear Programme ’ was born in Bombay.

About Homi Bhabha

Born into a prosperous Parsi family to Jehangir and Meheren Bhabha, Homi Bhabha received his education from Elphinstone College, Bombay and Cambridge University, UK.
Despite his family's inclination towards engineering, he pursued a degree in mathematics as well. His brilliance as a student earned him numerous scholarships and he studied under the famous mathematician Paul Dirac.
In 1933, he achieved a doctorate in nuclear physics. His doctoral thesis paper titled ‘The Absorption of Cosmic radiation’ won him the Newton Studentship for three years. He completed his thesis under Ralph Fowler. He also spent time working with Nobel laureate Niels Bohr in Copenhagen.
His paper on electron-positron scattering, published in 1935, earned him great recognition in the scientific community. This phenomenon was later renamed as Bhabha scattering.
He returned to India in 1939 and assumed the position of a Reader in the Physics Department at the Indian Institute of Science, which was then led by the notable scientist and Nobel laureate C V Raman.
At the IISC, he set up the Cosmic Ray Research Unit. He played a significant role in the establishment of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai.
Bhabha persuaded Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to initiate a nuclear programme.
He began research on nuclear weapons in 1944. He established the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in 1945 and the Atomic Energy Commission in 1948, where he served as the first chairman.
Bhabha represented India in IAEA and in 1955, he also served as the President of the United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy in Geneva.
He was a staunch advocate for the country's nuclear weapons for defence.
Bhabha played a key role in strategizing the country’s nuclear programme. He innovated the usage of thorium to extract uranium, reducing reliance on India’s limited uranium reserves. He designed India’s three-stage nuclear power programme.
Unfortunately, Homi Bhabha met with a tragic plane crash near Mont Blanc in the Swiss Alps while on his way to a meeting in Vienna on 24th January 1966. He was 56 years old at the time.
Several institutes are named in honour of this distinguished physicist including the Homi Bhabha National Institute, the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). BARC, previously known as the Atomic Energy Establishment, is India’s premier nuclear research facility located in Bombay.

Awards

Adams Prize (1942) – University of Cambridge
Padma Bhushan (1954) – Government of India
Fellow of the Royal Society – Royal Society, London

Also on this day

1883: Demise of Dayanand Saraswati, founder of the Arya Samaj. 1887: Birth anniversary of Sukumar Roy, renowned Bengali poet and playwright known for his works for children. 1908: Birth of Muthuramalinga Thevar, a freedom fighter and social worker. 1960: Birth of Diego Maradona, the legendary football player from Argentina. 1963: Death of Muthuramalinga Thevar. 2014: Sweden became the first European Union member to officially recognise the state of Palestine.

Visit previous ‘This Day in History’ here .

Also, read about:

Satish Dhawan	Vikram Sarabhai
APJ Abdul Kalam	CV Raman

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where was Homi Bhabha born?

Homi Bhabha was born on 30th October 1909 in Bombay.

What is Homi Bhabha known for?

Homi Bhabha is known as the 'Father of the Indian Nuclear Programme'. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and the Atomic Energy Commission. He also pioneered the use of thorium to extract uranium for India's nuclear power programme.

What happened to Homi Bhabha?

Homi Bhabha died in a plane crash near Mont Blanc in the Swiss Alps while on his way to Vienna for a meeting on 24 January 1966.

What awards did Homi Bhabha receive?

Homi Bhabha received several awards including the Adams Prize from the University of Cambridge, the Padma Bhushan from the Government of India, and he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in London.

Crack SSC CGL (Guaranteed Selection Program) 2025 with India’s Best Teachers & Coachings

Get Tier 1+ Tier 2 SuperCoaching @ just

₹10999₹1668