Meghnad Saha: His Life In Science And Politics (springer Biographies)

This biography is a short yet comprehensive overview of the life of Meghnad Saha, the mastermind behind the frequently used Saha equations and a strong contributor to the foundation of science in India. The author explores the lesser known details behind the man who played a major role in building scientific institutions in India, developed the breakthrough theory of thermal ionization, and whose fervor about India’s rapid progress in science and technology, along with concern for uplifting his countrymen and optimizing resources, led him to eventually enter politics and identify the mismanagement of many programs of national importance to Parliament. This book is free of most academic technicalities, so that the reader with general scientific knowledge can read and understand it easily. One interested only in Saha’s contribution to physics can pick up just that part and read it. Conversely, the average reader may skip the technical chapters, and read the book without loss of continuity or generality to still get a coherent picture. This work touches on all aspects of Saha’s multidimensional personality, which overflows in the pages of his periodical, __Science and Culture,__as well as his many speeches, debates and discussions in Parliament, all of which is appropriately conveyed in this book. Dedication 6 Preface 7 Contents 9 Abbreviations 12 About the Author 13 Chapter 1: Introduction 14 References 17 Chapter 2: Science in India: Ancient and Modern 18 Indian Civilization 18 Ancient Science 22 Astronomy 22 Mathematics 24 Medicine 26 Decline and Fall 27 Modern Science in British India 28 References 31 Chapter 3: The Nineteenth Century 33 Heat and Thermodynamics 34 Atoms and Nuclei 36 Towards Quantum Theory 38 References 40 Chapter 4: Early Years 41 College Life 45 Reference 47 Chapter 5: Understanding the Atom 48 References 52 Chapter 6: Saha the Physicist 53 Visit to Europe 57 References 63 Chapter 7: Saha’s Ionization Formula 64 References 73 Chapter 8: Saha at Allahabad 74 Visit to Europe 91 References 100 Chapter 9: Again in Calcutta 101 Visit to USSR 112 Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) 114 References 116 Chapter 10: Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP) 117 Reference 128 Chapter 11: National Problems and Social Concerns 129 Science and Culture 129 River Management 133 Planning for the Damodar Valley 135 Freedom Movement 137 Saha’s Question and Netaji’s Reply 138 Calendar Reform 140 Time Measurement 141 The Day 142 The Month 142 The Year 142 The Gregorian Calendar 143 The Week 145 References 146 Chapter 12: River Physics and Flood Control 147 References 153 Chapter 13: Saha and Bhabha 154 Atomic Energy 155 References 157 Chapter 14: Saha in Parliament 158 References 185 Chapter 15: Sudden End 186 Reference 188 Chapter 16: Saha and a Symbol of Excellence 189 References 194 Chapter 17: Epilogue 195 References 198 Appendix I 199 Meghnad Saha: A Chronology 199 Appendix II 200 Some Indian Personalities 200 Appendix III 203 Research Papers by Meghnad Saha 203 Books by Meghnad Saha 206 Bibliography 207 About Names of Places 210 Index 211 This biography is a short yet comprehensive overview of the life of Meghnad Saha, the mastermind behind the frequently used Saha equations and a strong contributor to the foundation of science in India. The author explores the lesser known details behind the man who played a major role in building scientific institutions in India, developed the breakthrough theory of thermal ionization, and whose fervor about India’s rapid progress in science and technology, along with concern for uplifting his countrymen and optimizing resources, led him to eventually enter politics and identify the mismanagement of many programs of national importance to Parliament. This book is free of most academic technicalities, so that the reader with general scientific knowledge can read and understand it easily. One interested only in Saha’s contribution to physics can pick up just that part and read it. Conversely, the average reader may skip the technical chapters, and read the book without loss of continuity or generality to still get a coherent picture. This work touches on all aspects of Saha’s multidimensional personality, which overflows in the pages of his periodical, Science and Culture, as well as his many speeches, debates and discussions in Parliament, all of which is appropriately conveyed in this book. Front Matter ....Pages i-xv Introduction (Pramod V. Naik)....Pages 1-4 Science in India: Ancient and Modern (Pramod V. Naik)....Pages 5-19 The Nineteenth Century (Pramod V. Naik)....Pages 21-28 Early Years (Pramod V. Naik)....Pages 29-35 Understanding the Atom (Pramod V. Naik)....Pages 37-41 Saha the Physicist (Pramod V. Naik)....Pages 43-53 Saha’s Ionization Formula (Pramod V. Naik)....Pages 55-64 Saha at Allahabad (Pramod V. Naik)....Pages 65-91 Again in Calcutta (Pramod V. Naik)....Pages 93-108 Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP) (Pramod V. Naik)....Pages 109-120 National Problems and Social Concerns (Pramod V. Naik)....Pages 121-138 River Physics and Flood Control (Pramod V. Naik)....Pages 139-145 Saha and Bhabha (Pramod V. Naik)....Pages 147-150 Saha in Parliament (Pramod V. Naik)....Pages 151-178 Sudden End (Pramod V. Naik)....Pages 179-181 Saha and a Symbol of Excellence (Pramod V. Naik)....Pages 183-188 Epilogue (Pramod V. Naik)....Pages 189-192 Back Matter ....Pages 193-211