The world changed irrevocably in 1945 with the detonation of atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The sheer devastation, combined with long-lasting radioactive fallout, led to Japan’s surrender and the end of World War II. However, the scientific community was fixated on another aspect: the immense energy unleashed from just a fraction of uranium. Could this energy be harnessed for peaceful purposes?
Scientists around the globe pondered this question, envisioning nuclear reactors that could safely and gradually release the energy trapped within uranium atoms. Amidst this global fervor, significant developments were brewing in India.
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Homi Bhabha, a distinguished physicist specializing in cosmic rays, found himself stranded in India during World War II. This unexpected turn of events became a blessing in disguise for India’s scientific future. Post-independence in 1947, Bhabha, with the support of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, embarked on a mission to harness nuclear energy for India’s development.
In 1948, Nehru established the Atomic Energy Commission of India, appointing Bhabha as its chairman. Bhabha’s leadership saw the creation of the Atomic Energy Establishment in Trombay (later named Bhabha Atomic Research Centre). By 1955, Bhabha had garnered international support from the UK, Canada, and France, leading to the construction of India’s first research reactors: Apsara, virus, and Zerlina. But commercial nuclear energy production was still a dream.
