Legendary Indian nuclear scientist Dr R Chidambaram died this morning in Mumbai at the age of 88. He was a key player in both of India’s atomic explosions at Pokhran in 1974 and 1998. He served as the Chairman of India’s Atomic Energy Commission and later became the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan for his stellar contributions to making India a nuclear weapons state. A nuclear physicist by training, he was known for his brevity, genteel manner, and discretion in safeguarding national secrets.

He headed the nuclear component of the 1998 Operation Shakti at Pokhran, making him one of the rare atomic scientists who contributed to both Smiling Buddha in 1974 and Operation Shakti in 1998.

Reflecting on his passing, Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty stated, “Dr Chidambaram was a doyen of science and technology whose contributions furthered India’s nuclear prowess and strategic self-reliance. His loss is an irreparable one for the scientific community and the nation.”

In 1974, when India secretly transported the plutonium used in the atomic blasts, Dr Chidambaram reportedly sat on the protected chest carrying the ‘plutonium ball’ as it was transported from Mumbai to Pokhran. He is also believed to have coined the term ‘peaceful nuclear explosion’ for the 1974 Pokhran test. For his role in the atomic blasts, he was denied a visa to enter the United States of America, as the Department of Atomic Energy was under sanctions at that time. In 1998, as head of the atomic establishment, he oversaw five atomic explosions that declared India a nuclear weapons state. That year, he was seen at the Pokhran range standing alongside Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

A firm believer in self-reliance-later called Atmanirbharta – Dr Chidambaram strongly opposed reliance on imported technology. He once told NDTV’s Pallava Bagla, “When one imports technology, one only gets obsolete technology, as no country seeks to share cutting-edge, state-of-the-art technical breakthroughs.”

R. Chidambaram, who has just passed away, was one of the titans of science and technology in India for well over five decades.

He had a pivotal role in Pokhran-1 in May 1974 and was central to Pokhran-2 in May 1998. Between 2002 and 2018 he was Principal Scientific Adviser to… pic.twitter.com/Vtv5JOVOQW

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) January 4, 2025

His autobiography, India Rising, highlights his leadership in designing and executing the peaceful nuclear explosion experiment at Pokhran in 1974. It also documents his leadership of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) team that designed the nuclear devices for the 1998 Pokhran tests in cooperation with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

In a statement, the Department of Atomic Energy said: “Dr Rajagopala Chidambaram, an eminent physicist and one of India’s most distinguished scientists, passed away this morning (4 January 2025) at 3:20 am. Dr Chidambaram’s unparalleled contributions to India’s scientific and strategic capabilities and his visionary leadership in science and technology will forever be remembered.”

Dr Chidambaram held numerous prestigious roles throughout his illustrious career, including Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India (2001-2018), Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (1990-1993), Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, and Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Atomic Energy (1993-2000). He was also the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (1994-1995) and a member of the IAEA’s Commission of Eminent Persons, contributing to the organisation’s vision for 2020 and beyond.

Dr Chidambaram played a pivotal role in shaping India’s nuclear capabilities. He was integral to the nation’s first nuclear test in 1974 and led the Department of Atomic Energy team during the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998, firmly establishing India as a nuclear power on the global stage.

As a world-class physicist, Dr. Chidambaram’s research in high-pressure physics, crystallography, and materials science significantly advanced the scientific community’s understanding of these fields. His pioneering work laid the foundation for modern materials science research in India.

Born in 1936, Dr Chidambaram was an alumnus of Presidency College, Chennai, and the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.

Dr Chidambaram was a visionary leader who believed in the power of science and technology to drive national development. He championed initiatives in areas such as energy, healthcare, and strategic self-reliance, and he steered numerous projects that significantly advanced India’s science and technology landscape. He was instrumental in initiating India’s indigenous development of supercomputers and conceptualising the National Knowledge Network, which connected research and educational institutions across the country.

An ardent advocate of applying science and technology to national development, Dr Chidambaram established programmes such as the Rural Technology Action Groups and the Society for Electronic Transactions and Security. He also emphasised ‘Coherent Synergy’ in India’s scientific efforts.

In recognition of his exceptional contributions, Dr Chidambaram was honoured with prestigious accolades, including the Padma Shri in 1975 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1999. He received honorary doctorates from several universities and was a fellow of eminent Indian and international science academies.

Dr. Chidambaram will be remembered as a trailblazer, an inspirational leader, and a dedicated mentor to countless scientists and engineers. His life’s work propelled India to the forefront of global science and technology, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations.

Watch | 50 years ago, India conducted its first ever nuclear test

Fifty years ago, India conducted its first nuclear test in Pokhran, code-named Operation Smiling Buddha. With this India had entered the league of nations with nuclear capabilities.

An article dated May 19th, 1974, says India successfully conducted an underground test with plutonium device in 10-15 kiloton range. It also adds that the then Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission Dr H.N Sethna and Director of The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre DR R Ramanna, who supervised the test, flew to Delhi even without a wash or change to give a full account to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

India said that it undertook this programme to develop its own technology for peaceful use of nuclear energy and it had no intention of going in for nuclear weapons. The groundwork for testing nuclear energy was laid even earlier by renowned Indian scientists Homi J Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai. In 1954, the Department of Atomic Energy was founded, with Bhabha as director.

With Smiling Buddha, India became the first nation to conduct a nuclear test apart from the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. After the nuclear test, there were criticisms that it was an attempt to divert people’s attention from the economic crisis the country was facing in the 1970s.

However, the Atomic Energy Commission chairman said that it was his decision and that there was no political motive,
Even a New York Times article said that “such great talent of resources has been squandered on the vanity of power, while 600 million Indians slip deeper into poverty”.

India also faced significant criticism from many countries including Pakistan, USA, and Canada. Pakistan said that it would never succumb to “nuclear blackmail” or accept “Indian hegemony or domination over the subcontinent”.

India did not carry out further nuclear tests until 1998. In 1998, under the leadership of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, India conducted a series of nuclear tests in Pokhran once again, code-named Operation Shakti.

With this, India declared itself a full-fledged nuclear state.

Script and production: Gayatri Menon

Research: Gayatri Menon and Murali Krishnaswamy

Archive photo courtesy: M. Srinath

Voiceover: Jude Francis Weston

New Delhi:

Stage is set in the arid terrain of Rajasthan’s Pokhran for the mega exercise ‘Bharat Shakti’ on Tuesday, which will demonstrate the prowess of indigenously manufactured defence equipment of the three services.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will witness the integrated tri-service firepower and manoeuvre exercise that will be held for about 50 minutes. The country’s top military brass will also be present on the occasion.

LCA Tejas, ALH Mk-IV, LCH Prachand, mobile anti-drone system, BMP-II and its variants, NAMICA (Nag Missile Carrier), T90 tanks, Dhanush, K9 Vajra and Pinaka rockets are among the platforms that will be demonstrated.

‘Bharat Shakti’ will demonstrate the prowess of indigenously manufactured defence equipment of the three services, Additional Director General, Army Design Bureau, Major General C S Mann had told reporters here on Saturday.

It will showcase the “shock and awe” impact that the armed forces seek to achieve in an operational situation with manoeuvre and fighting capabilities, he had said.

“Synergised joint operations will be decisive in the Indian context. Through live firepower and manoeuvre demonstration, it is endeavoured to showcase the tri-services’ operational capabilities to counter any threat leveraging indigenous capability and the ability to undertake conflicts in the face of global upheavals,” Major General Mann had earlier said while announcing the details of the exercise.

The first-of-its-kind exercise on such a scale is “not tailored towards any direction (northern or western border) or any adversaries”, sources in the defence establishment said.

The exercise at Pokhran in the Jaisalmer district will also showcase systems and platforms integrated with the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

“It will showcase live integrated multi-domain operations of the three services in offensive operations using indigenous equipment,” as also “high synergy, multi-service, multi-domain capability, thereby demonstrating inter-Service synergy,” an official said.

The event, being conducted at Pokhran, imposes terrain restrictions on depicting naval manoeuvres. However, such equipment will be showcased as part of the static display that will follow the live demonstration.

In this demonstration, “the latest indigenous equipment of all three services…what impact they will have on adversaries, on their physical capabilities and their mental state, the ‘shock and awe’ will be showcased,” he added.

The proceedings will commence with the Army’s Special Forces, MARCOS of the Indian Navy and GARUDS of the Indian Air Force “infiltrating by all-terrain vehicles and slithering operations, while surveillance of the battlefield will be carried out by remotely piloted aircraft and drones. This will be followed by the degradation of targets by long-range vectors and artillery guns,” he said.

The IAF will achieve a “favourable air situation by engaging strategic targets in depth, whereas the Navy will undertake maritime operations for strategic effects,” the senior officer said, some part of the naval segment (happening at sea) of the exercise will be displayed digitally on screen.

Besides firepower and ammunition, logistic capabilities for transporting equipment and evacuation of injured and casualties using the latest technologies will also be demonstrated.

Various types of Radar, UAV-launched precision-guided munition, Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicles, and drones of various types, including logistic drones and swarms of drones, and 3D-printed bunkers will be part of the exercise.

The aspects of India’s cyber and multi-domain operations capabilities are also being dovetailed along with the operations of the three services.

The exercise will also underline India’s growing emphasis on ‘Atmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in defence.

How individual communication systems of the tri-services are integrated, ‘e-Tarang’ software tool, GIS-related systems, topographical maps, hydrographic charts and air navigation charts with analysis and operational planning capabilities will also be showcased. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)