Wikipedia:VideoWiki/Homi J. Bhabha

Introduction
Dr Homi Jehangir Bhabha was an Indian nuclear physicist, founding director, and professor of physics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.



Early life
He was born on 30 October 1909. His father was Jehangir Hormusji Bhabha, a well known Parsi lawyer and his mother was Meheren. Homi Jehangir Bhabha was born into a wealthy and prominent industrial family.

Early education
He received his early studies at Bombay's Cathedral and John Connon School and entered Elphinstone College at age 15 after passing his Senior Cambridge Examination with Honours.

Later education
He then attended the Royal Institute of Science in 1927 before joining Caius College of Cambridge University.



Studies and research at Cambridge University
Bhaba excelled in his mathematical studies under Paul Dirac to complete the Mathematics Tripos. Meanwhile, he worked at the Cavendish Laboratory while working towards his doctorate in theoretical physics.

Salomons Studentship
During the 1931–1932 academic year, Bhabha was awarded the Salomons Studentship in Engineering. In 1932, he obtained first class on his Mathematical Tripos and was awarded the Rouse Ball travelling studentship in mathematics.

Work in Nuclear Physics
In January 1933, Bhabha received his doctorate in nuclear physics after publishing his first scientific paper, "The Absorption of Cosmic radiation". In the publication, Bhabha offered an explanation of the absorption features and electron shower production in cosmic rays.



Isaac Newton Studentship
The paper helped him win the Isaac Newton Studentship in 1934, which he held for the next three years.



Fowler and Bohr
The following year, he completed his doctoral studies in theoretical physics under Ralph H. Fowler. During his studentship, he split his time working at Cambridge and with Niels Bohr in Copenhagen.



Bhabha scattering
In 1935, Bhabha published a paper to calculate the cross section of electron-positron scattering. Electron-positron scattering was later named Bhabha scattering, in honour of his contributions in the field.



WWII
In 1937, Bhabha was awarded the Senior Studentship of the 1851 exhibition, which helped him continue his work at Cambridge until the outbreak of World War II in 1939.



Return to India
In September 1939, Bhabha was in India for a brief holiday when World War II started, and he decided not to return to England for the time being.

IISc
He accepted an offer to serve as the Reader in the Physics Department of the Indian Institute of Science, then headed by renowned physicist C V Raman.

FRS
Later, on 20 March 1941, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.

TIFR
With the help of J R D Tata, he played an instrumental role in the establishment of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai.



Career
In 1948, Nehru led the appointment of Bhabha as the director of the nuclear program and tasked Bhabha to develop the nuclear weapons soon after.

International front
In the 1950s, Bhabha represented India in IAEA conferences, and served as President of the United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy in Geneva, Switzerland in 1955.



AEET and DAE
The Atomic Energy Establishment Trombay (AEET) started functioning in 1954, the same year the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) was also established, under his leadership.

Padma Bhushan
He was awarded Padma Bhushan by Government of India in 1954.



Advisory and INCSR
He later served as the member of the Indian Cabinet's Scientific Advisory Committee and provided the pivotal role to Vikram Sarabhai to set up the Indian National Committee for Space Research.

Three Stage Nuclear Power Programme
Bhabha is generally acknowledged as the father of Indian nuclear power. Moreover, he is credited with formulating a strategy of focussing on extracting power from the country's vast thorium reserves rather than its meagre uranium reserves.





Death
Bhabha died when Air India Flight 101 crashed near Mont Blanc on 24 January 1966.Misunderstanding between Geneva Airport and the pilot about the aircraft position near the mountain is the official reason of the crash.

Assassination theories
Many possible theories have been advanced for the air crash, including a claim the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was involved in order to paralyse India's nuclear program.