Homi Jehangir Bhabha

Homi Jahangir Bhaba was one of the key persons who played a significant role in developing TIFR from an institute in a small office at the University of Mumbai to an internationally recognized research institute with its campus. Homi Jahangir Bhaba son of Jehangir Hormusji Bhabha is considered one of the most outstanding scientists India has ever produced. Homi J Bhaba was born on 30th  October 1909 in Bombay (now Mumbai) and died on 24 January 1966 in a plane crash. In this article, you will learn about Homi J Bhaba, his father, Jehangir Hormusji Bhabha, and Homi j Bhaba’s theoretical physics contributions.

Homi Jahangir Bhaba’s Life

Homi j Bahaba was Born in Bombay (now Mumbai) to a Parsi family. His father was Jehangir Hormusji Bhabha and his Mother Mehran. Homi J Bhaba’s father, Jehangir Hormusji Bhabha, was a well-known, reputed Layer. Bhabha studied at Cambridge University in England. Homi J Bhaba became interested in nuclear science at an early age and won several awards for his excellence in his studies. He joined Cathedral and J.C School and then Elphinstone College, Bombay, where he graduated with a B.Sc degree in mathematics and physics. 

After he joined Caius College, Cambridge, where he obtained his M.Sc degree and a PhD degree, he worked with Ernest Rutherford, under whose guidance he wrote his first paper on scattering alpha particles by nuclei. Homi J Bhaba continued his research on cosmic rays and radioactivity at Oxford University under Sir Ronald Norrish, a pioneer in X-ray spectroscopy and atomic physics. During this period, he worked closely with Niels Bohr, who introduced him to quantum theory and helped him understand nuclear physics, which formed the basis for his later work on fission reactions and heavy nuclei.

After returning to India, Bhabha joined the Indian Institute of Science as a lecturer in physics and later became its director. He joined Thomson Electrical Company as its chief physicist based at Rugby, Warwickshire, where he worked on radar technology. Bhabha became a professor of physics at Presidency College (now Presidency University), Calcutta, which was then affiliated with Calcutta University.

Homi Jahangir Bhaba’s Research

Bhabha’s research was focused on cosmic rays and nuclear theoretical physics. He was the first to postulate that the primary cosmic rays that bombard Earth’s atmosphere could be disintegrating nuclei of atoms rather than free electrons or protons. This hypothesis led him to develop the concept of “nuclear fission,” which became one of the cornerstones for all nuclear power production today.

Homi J Bhaba was an Indian physicist who played an essential role in developing nuclear science and technology in India after World War II with his vision and efforts to establish scientific institutions and research centres. He was also responsible for planning the first primary nuclear power plant near Mumbai (Bombay).

Father of Nuclear Science

Homi J Bhaba is known as the father of nuclear science in India, and he is also known as the father of the Indian atomic energy program. Homi Jehangir Bhabha was an Indian nuclear physicist and an educationist who played a significant role in establishing TIFR. He helped establish TIFR as a centre for theoretical physics research and training. Bhaba was also instrumental in setting up the Atomic Energy Establishment at Trombay, now known as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR). 

Homi J Bhaba helped Bikram Sarabhai in his space research, they are close friends with different mindsets. Both gave huge contributions to India’s scientific achievements. He was also known for his work on cosmic rays and theoretical physics and his studies on the interactions between charged particles and matter. His work laid down the future course of research in this area both in India and abroad.

Conclusion

Homi Jahangir Bhabha was appointed Secretary of Atomic Energy Commission by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He was also made Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. His vision for atomic energy was different from other scientists who wanted to use it for military purposes only; Homi Bhabha wanted it to be used for peaceful purposes. He believed that atomic energy could be harnessed for power generation and other valuable purposes if research in nuclear engineering continued uninterruptedly. In this article, you learned about Homi J Bhaba’s father, Jehangir Hormusji Bhabha, the contribution of Tata Steel Mills to Homi J Bhaba’s life, and Homi j Bhaba’s theoretical physics.