Sixty-nine years ago, on February 16, 1956, India bid
farewell to one of its most illustrious scientists, Professor Meghnad Saha. En
route to a meeting at the Planning Commission in Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi,
he succumbed to a cardiac arrest, dedicating his final moments to the nation's
service at the age of 62.
Born on October 6, 1893, in the village of Seoratali, then
part of the Bengal Presidency, Saha rose from humble beginnings to become a
luminary in astrophysics. His pioneering work led to the formulation of the
Saha Ionization Equation, a fundamental tool that revolutionised our
understanding of stellar spectra and the chemical composition of stars. In
1916, under the visionary leadership of Vice-Chancellor Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee,
the University of Calcutta appointed Meghnad Saha and his classmate Satyendra
Nath Bose as lecturers in the Department of Mathematics. Both had been students
of the eminent scientist Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose. The following year, they
transitioned to the Department of Physics, where Saha's academic journey
flourished.
In 1918, he was awarded a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) degree.
By 1921, Saha was appointed as the Khaira Professor of Physics at the
University of Calcutta. In 1923, Saha accepted the role of Professor and Head
of the Department of Physics at the University of Allahabad. During his tenure
from 1923 to 1938, he cultivated a vibrant research culture, transforming the
department into a hub of scientific inquiry. His lucid and illuminating
lectures earned him acclaim as an outstanding teacher among his students.
Saha's scientific excellence was recognised both nationally
and internationally. He served as the President of the Physics Section during
the 13th Session of the Indian Science Congress in Bombay in 1926. The
following year, in 1927, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in
London. From 1931 to 1932, he presided over the United Provinces Academy of
Sciences, which was later renamed the National Academy of Sciences, India.
Demonstrating his commitment to disseminating scientific
knowledge, Saha founded the journal 'Science and Culture' and served as its
editor until his death. As the chairman of the Calendar Reform Committee,
Professor Meghnad Saha spearheaded the development of a unified national
calendar, harmonising the traditional Shaka Samvat with the Gregorian system.
This initiative aimed to eliminate discrepancies inherent in the multitude of
calendars used across India.
His journey into calendar reform began in 1939 when he
identified inconsistencies between India's lunar-based calendars and the
solar-based Gregorian calendar. He articulated these concerns in his article
titled "Need for Calendar Reform," published in the journal Science
and Culture. The Government of India adopted the committee's recommendations,
and the resulting national calendar is now used to determine dates for various
religious and cultural festivals across the nation.
In the early 1940s, Professor Meghnad Saha and Kamlesh Ray
conducted extensive studies to identify optimal dam sites, notably along the
Damodar River. Their research encompassed prospects for power generation, and
irrigation facilities; and addressed challenges such as reservoir silting.
During this period, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, serving as the Member-in-Charge of Power
and Works in the Viceroy's Executive Council (1942–1946), collaborated with
Saha to deliberate on these critical issues. Their combined efforts culminated
in the conceptualisation and eventual realisation of the Damodar Valley
Project, India's first multipurpose river valley initiative. The success of
this landmark project stands as a testament to the visionary contributions of
both Professor Saha and Dr. Ambedkar.
After retiring from the University of Calcutta in 1952, Saha
was appointed Honorary Director of the Institute of Nuclear Physics and also
served as Director of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science.
That same year, he was elected as an independent Member of Parliament for the
Calcutta North-West constituency.
In Parliament, Saha emphasised the pivotal role of
universities in fostering scientific research, stating the following,
"While National Laboratories and Research Institutes will play an
ever-increasing part in furthering the application of science to industry, it
is clear that ultimately we have to depend on the universities for an even and
constant flow of scientific workers and leaders imbued with zeal for
research...universities have been rightly recognised as the fountainheads of
knowledge and it is in their free atmosphere that we should look forward to
vigorous pursuit of fundamental research...fundamental research is the source
from which extraordinary applications are likely to emerge."
His insights remain pertinent today, underscoring the
enduring importance of education in building a knowledge-based economy.
Throughout his career, Saha maintained healthy personal relationships with
renowned contemporary scientists worldwide, enriching the global scientific
community. His legacy is a testament to his vast achievements and lifelong
dedication to society, the nation, and the people he referred to as the
"democratic class."
Reflecting on Professor Saha's life offers valuable lessons
for contemporary society. His relentless pursuit of knowledge, despite
socio-economic challenges, exemplifies the power of education and
determination. His interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving, bridging
physics, engineering, and public policy, serves as a model for addressing
today's complex issues. Moreover, his commitment to national development
through scientific innovation underscores the critical role of science and
technology in nation-building.
As we commemorate his death anniversary, Professor Meghnad
Saha's legacy inspires us to harness the transformative power of education and
scientific inquiry to drive societal progress and address the pressing
challenges of our time. Today, the whole nation pays tribute to the great son
of India.
Subhash C. Arya and Xavier P. Mao
(Subhash C. Arya is a Professor and Head of the Department
of Electronics and Communication Engineering, at NEHU Shillong. He can be
accessed at aryasubh@gmail.com
Xavier P. Mao is a Professor and Head of the Department of
Philosophy, at NEHU Shillong. He can be accessed at xavmao@gmail.com)
