Homi J. Bhabha

                          Homi J. Bhabha

                Full name of Homi J. bhabha was Homi Jehangir Bhabha.

Homi Jehangir Bhabha was an Indian born nuclear physicist who made important contributions to quantum theory and cosmic radiation. He is known as the “father of Indian nuclear program.”

Homi Jehangir Bhabha was born on 30 October, 1909 to a wealthy Parisi family in Mumbai that was very influential in the west of India. His father was Jehangir Hormusji Bhabha, a lawyer.

Initially Bhabha attended Cathedral School and he then enrolled for studies at Elphinstone College at the age of fifteen. This was followed by further studies at the Royal Institute of Science in Bombay.

Bhabha’s father and uncle, Sir Dorab Tata, wanted him to study engineering at university so that Bhabha could take up a senior position at the Tata Iron and Steel Company on completion of his degree.

In 1927, Bhabha began his studies at Cambridge University, studying mechanical engineering according to his family’s wishes. Soon, however, Bhabha became more interested in theoretical physics, being influenced by physicist Paul Dirac.

After passing the Mechanical Engineering Tripos with first class Bhabha remained at Cambridge and with his family’s approval began studying theoretical physics.

Five facts about Homi J. bhabha-

1. Education

At the age of 18, a young Homi joined Cambridge University to study mechanical engineering in accordance with his father's and uncle Dorab Tata's wish.

For him, his father and uncle had planned that he would return to India after studying at England and join the Tata Steel or Tata Steel Mills in Jamshedpur as a metallurgist.

2. Nuclear physics

·         His strong intrest in physics  made him extend his stay at Cambridge to complete another degree in the field

·         He went on to receive a doctorate in nuclear physics after his first scientific paper, 'The Absorption of Cosmic Radiation'

·         'Bhabha scattering', based on another one of his papers that explained electron-positron scattering, was named after him

3. Return to India

In 1939, he came to India for a brief holiday in India and was unable to go back as World War II had started.

On the request of physicist CV Raman, the then-director of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, he joined the institute as a reader in physics.

4. Founding TIFR

Remembering Dr Homi J Bhabha on his birth anniversary today. Father of India's nuclear programme and a stalwart of scientific research in India, he laid the foundation of several iconic institutions.  

 He was the founding director of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in 1945 and Trombay Atomic Energy Establishment (later renamed Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, in his memory).

5. Other interests

Bhabha was also a painter and a classical music and opera enthusiast, besides being an amateur botanist