Science News Desk!!! Dr. Brahm Prakash (English: Dr. Brahm Prakash, born 21 August 1912; died 3 January 1984) was an Indian scientist. He was awarded Padma Shri in 1961 and Padma Bhushan in 1968 by the Government of India for his contribution in the field of science and engineering. Satish Dhawan and Brahm Prakash knew each other closely from the time they were sponsored students abroad during 1944–1945. This Prof. It was Satish Dhawan who Prof. Brahm Prakash was persuaded to become the director of VSSC.
Introduction
Dr. Brahma Prakash is widely remembered in the country and abroad for his contributions to metallurgy. For ISRO, he was the first Director of the ‘Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre’, inculcating a vibrant culture at the centre.
Education
Professor Brahm Prakash was born on August 21, 1912 in Lahore (pre-independence). He received his college education in chemistry and pursued doctoral studies at Panjab University. After his doctorate, he was associated with Indian scientist Shantiswarup Bhatnagar for his work. His brilliant academic record gave him the opportunity for advanced academic training from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. At MIT, Professor Brahma Prakash earned a second doctoral degree in the subjects of Mineral Engineering and Metallurgical Thermodynamics.
Scientific Secretary at the United Nations Conference
On his return to India in 1949, Dr. Brahm Prakash was selected by Homi Bhabha to join the Atomic Energy Establishment (AEE) as a metallurgist. In 1951 he was deputed to IISc, Bangalore, becoming the first Indian to head the Department of Metallurgy. His tenure at IISc (1951–1957) paved the way for the expansion of metallurgical education and research in India and probably sealed his fate. During this tenure Professor Brahma Prakash was selected as one of the Scientific Secretaries for the first United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy.
various contributions
From 1957 to 1972, Prof. Brahma Prakash was closely associated with the country’s nuclear energy programmes. Professor Brahm Prakash and his team started the fuel manufacturing facility for the Canada-India reactor, Cirrus, in 1959. He made large and varied contributions to nuclear energy programs as Project Director, NFC, Hyderabad and Chairman of Uranium Corporation. Chairman of Defense Production, Mishradhatu Nigam Limited or MIDHANI also known as MIDHANI of India for the period 1980 to 1984. Brahma Prakash was closely associated with the country’s nuclear energy programmes.[1]
First Director of VSSC
Satish Dhawan and Brahm Prakash knew each other closely from the time they were sponsored students abroad during 1944–1945. This Prof. It was Satish Dhawan who Prof. Brahm Prakash to become the Director of VSSC when he finished his stay at BARC in 1972, perhaps at a time when the untimely death of the great legend Dr. Sarabhai had left a huge void in ISRO. Pro. Brahma Prakash took over the reins of the Center in May 1972 and continued as its revered Director till November 1979. When he assumed the post of Director, the ‘Indian Space Programme’ was in the early stages of development.
Brahma Prakash ji was working in many smaller units of ISRO, such as TERLS, RPP, RFF, PFC and the erstwhile SSTC (Space Science and Technology Centre), Thiruvananthapuram. His scientific acumen, brilliant administrative and organizational abilities and above all his human qualities of unfailingly steadfast nature and complete restraint helped bind together all these amorphous entities to make VSSC a dynamic structure as it is today. He remained a member of the Space Commission till the day of his demise.
Respect
The nation honored Brahm Prakash ji with Padma Shri in 1961 and Padma Bhushan in 1968.
death
Brahma Prakash died on January 3, 1984 at the age of 72. His scientific acumen, brilliant administrative and organizational abilities and above all his human qualities of unfailingly steadfast nature and complete restraint helped bind together all these amorphous entities to make VSSC a dynamic structure as it is today. He remained a member of the Space Commission till the day of his demise.[1] == He died on 3 January 1984 at the age of 72.
