Dr. R Chidambaram, former head of the Atomic Energy Commission and one of the architects of India’s nuclear programmer, died at a hospital in Mumbai on Saturday morning. He was 88 years old and was ill for some time.
Chidambaram played a key role in 1974 and 1998.
Chidambaram was one of the scientists who played a key role in India’s nuclear tests in 1974 and 1998. He was also closely involved in finalising the civil nuclear agreement with the US, which ended India’s isolation in the international nuclear community.
Chidambaram joined the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in 1962
Born in Chennai, Chidambaram joined the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in 1962 after obtaining a PhD from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He played a leading role in the design and execution of the 1974 tests and was awarded the Padma Shri in 1975.
Chidambaram became the director of BARC in 1990 and then chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission in 1993, a position he held until 2000, during which period India conducted its second nuclear test in 1998.
Soon after retiring from the Atomic Energy Commission, Chidambaram replaced Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam as Principal Scientific Adviser, a post created in 1999 after the 1998 tests. He served in the post for over 17 years, primarily engaged in behind-the-scenes management of the aftermath of nuclear tests and negotiations that facilitated special exemptions for India in international nuclear commerce.
Scientists said that despite the difficult and challenging situations India faced internationally after the nuclear tests in Pokhran, Chidambaram’s science diplomacy ensured that India did not suffer losses.
Another such project which was completed during his tenure
PSA was Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) India. The Union Cabinet gave in-principle approval in 2016 and full approval in April 2023.