Date: 16.02.2025 Place: NEHU Shillong
Meghnad Saha: A Luminary's Legacy in Science and Nation-Building
Meghnad Saha: A
Luminary's Legacy in Science and Nation-Building
Subhash C. Arya and
Xavier P. Mao
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
revolutionized 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 recognized
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, harmonizing 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 conceptualization and eventual
realization 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 emphasized 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
recognized 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 socioeconomic 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 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
We pay tribute to Prof. Meghnad Saha on his 69th Death Anniversary on 16 February 2025
Article published in the Eastern Mirror
Following an article published in the Nagaland Post on Meghnad Saha
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