India said goodbye to one of the most renowned scientists of the nation, Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram. He was the chief scientist and passed away aged 88 years at Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai. The brilliant scientist is one of the pioneering figures in Indian nuclear advancement as he was closely associated with Pokhran-I (1974) and Pokhran-II (1998) nuclear test successes. Apart from making a strong contribution toward India’s strategic capabilities, Dr. Chidambaram established the country on the world’s elite list of nuclear powers.

A Life of Scientific Excellence
Dr. Chidambaram was awarded many honours, including the Padma Shri in 1975 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1999. He received honorary doctorates from many universities and was a fellow of many prestigious Indian and international science academies. A brilliant physicist, his work combined scientific rigor with strategic vision, making him a towering figure in India’s scientific and defense communities.
The Secret Meeting at His Daughter’s Wedding
A great anecdote from the life of Dr. Chidambaram reflects his commitment to India’s nuclear program. During the wedding of his second daughter in 1998, the venue in Mumbai became an unlikely site for a covert meeting about the Pokhran-II nuclear tests.
The wedding guest list included Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, who was popularly known as India’s “Missile Man” and a key coordinator of the tests along with Dr. Chidambaram. During the wedding celebrations, the two quietly slipped into a room to discuss crucial preparations for the nuclear tests, speaking in whispers to maintain secrecy.
The guests left baffled as the two renowned scientists suddenly vanished into thin air, oblivious to the gravity of their conversation. Successful nuclear tests carried out on May 11 and 13, 1998, proved the significance of such casual planning that would position India firmly on the seat of a nuclear power.
A Legacy of Innovation and Collaboration
Dr. Kalam has been associated with Dr. Chidambaram since the early 1970s when he joined him to work on India’s first nuclear test. In 1970, during the preparation for a peaceful nuclear explosion, Dr. Chidambaram looked for a high-speed detonator, and Dr. Kalam was introduced to him by Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space program. Though the detonators developed for space applications proved not suitable for nuclear tests, it nonetheless marked the start of a long and fruitful partnership between two of India’s most brilliant minds.
During Pokhran-I in 1974, Dr. Chidambaram is said to have sat on the plutonium-carrying protected chest during its journey from Mumbai to Pokhran while it was transported. The Smiling Buddha, as the test is commonly referred to, symbolized India’s entry into the nuclear club, with careful planning and bold initiative by its creators.
A Scientific Luminary
Dr. Chidambaram’s contributions go well beyond nuclear science. As Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, he spearheaded science and technology development across disciplines. His leadership at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and other institutions laid a foundation of self-reliance in critical technologies for India.
Remembering a Visionary
The life of Dr. Chidambaram was an extraordinary one of achievements and commitment to India’s scientific and strategic goals. His passing marks the end of an era, but his legacy will inspire generations of scientists and leaders.
The nation mourns the loss of a visionary and celebrates the indelible mark he left on India’s scientific and defense landscape.
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