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Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Biography

Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar was an Indian scientist, famously

dubbed as the Father of research laboratories. This biography

of Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar provides detailed information

about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Quick Facts

Also Known

AsSir Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar

Famous as Father of research laboratories

Nationali ty Indian

Religion Hinduism

Born on 21 February 1894 AD

Zodiac Sign Pisces

Born in Bhera

Died on 01 January 1955 AD

Place of

deathNew Delhi

Father Parmeshwari Sahai Bhatnagar

Spouse: Lajwanti

Education

University of London, University of the Punjab,

University College London, Banaras HinduUniversity


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Founder/Co-

FounderCouncil of Scientific and Industrial Research

Awards

Padma Bhushan (1954)

Knighthood (1941)

OBE (1936)

Fellow of the Royal Society (1943)

Quick Facts

Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar was an Indian scientist, famously

dubbed as the Father of research laboratories. He was the first

director-general of the Council of Scientific and Industrial

Research (CSIR) and a professor of chemistry for over 19

years. If chemical industry is an important part of Indian

economy, a lot of its credit goes to this pioneer for his sincere

efforts and conviction. Though his areas of interest included

emulsions, colloids, and industrial chemistry, but his primary

contributions were in the spheres of magnetochemistry. He also

made a melodious kulgeet i.e. University song for Banaras

Hindu University, which is still sung with great pride before any

function in the University. During his college years, he also

wrote an Urdu play for which he was awarded a prize and a

medal. He was, in a way, a bridge between two cultures and two

eras. He greeted science with a mission and also valued

literature as much as he loved science and engineering. Under

his directorship, twelve laboratories were established all over

the country for scientific research in multiple areas, including


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the ones for food processing, metallurgy and chemical research.

He could be perfectly described as a unique persona, an

exceptional amalgamation of science, engineering and

literature.

Childhood & Early Life

He was born on February 21, 1894 in Bhera, Shahpur

District, British India to Parmeshwari Sahai Bhatnagar, a

school master, and his wife.

When his father died, his mother returned to her fathers

house in Sikandarabad, U.P where he spent most of his

childhood.

His maternal grandfather was an engineer and graduallyhe also developed an interest in science and engineering.

He was also drawn towards poetry through various literary

works he encountered in his grandfathers house.

He received his early education from the DAV High

School, Sikandarabad. Then, he attended the Dayal Singh

College, Lahore and became an active member of

Saraswati Stage Society.

In 1913, he cleared the Intermediate Examination of the

Punjab University in first class. Then he got enrolled in

the Forman Christian College and completed graduation

with major in physics in 1916, and MSc in chemistry in

1919.

After completing his masters, he was awarded a

scholarship by the Dayal Singh College Trust to study

abroad and he left for England. In 1921, he earned his

D.Sc. degree from the London University under the

guidance of chemistry professor Frederick G. Donnan.

Career

In 1921, after his return to India, he joined Banaras Hindu

University (BHU) as a professor of chemistry. He served

at BHU for the next three years and also wrote the

University song Kulgeet for BHU.

Later, he moved to the University of the Punjab, Lahore


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where he was appointed the Professor of Physical

Chemistry and Director of University Chemical

Laboratories. It was the most active period of his scientific

career.

He became involved in solving industrial problems of

different organizations such as Delhi Cloth Mills, J.K. MillsLtd. of Kanpur, Ganesh Flour Mills Ltd. of Layallapur, Tata

Oil Mills Ltd. of Bombay, and Steel Brothers & Co. Ltd. of

London.

In 1940, the Board of Scientific and Industrial Research

(BSIR) was formed for a period of two years and he was

appointed as its Director. In 1941, he persuaded the

government to set up an Industrial Research UtilisationCommittee (IRUC) for further investment into industrial

research.

In 1942, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research

(CSIR) was formed and the BSIR and IRUC became its

advisory bodies. In 1943, CSIR approved his proposal to

establish five national laboratories.

Post-independence, he was made the chairman of the

CSIR and he became the first director general of the

council. He established many laboratories and mentored

many great minds during his tenure as the head of the

CSIR.

He was appointed as the Secretary of the Ministry of

Education and Educational Adviser to government. Heplayed a significant role both in the constitution and

deliberations of the Scientific Manpower Committee

Report of 1948.

He was also instrumental in the establishment of the

National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) of

India and for the initiation of the Industrial Research

Association movement in the country.

Major Works

His major innovation was improving the procedure for


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drilling crude oil.

His research contributions in the areas of

magnetochemistry and physical chemistry of emulsion

were widely recognized. He also did considerable work in

applied chemistry.

He is largely celebrated for establishing various chemicallaboratories in India such as Central Food Processing

Technological Institute, Mysore; National Chemical

Laboratory, Pune; the National Physical Laboratory, New

Delhi; the National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur

and the Central Fuel Institute, Dhanbad.

Awards & Achiev em ents

In 1936 New Year Honors List, he was appointed an

Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his excellent

contributions to pure and applied chemistry.

In 1941, he was knighted by the British government for his

contributions to science.

In 1943, he was elected a member of Royal Society of the

United Kingdom.In 1954, he was honored with the Padma Bhushan, the

third highest civilian award in the Republic of India.

The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and

Technology, named in his honor, is awarded to

outstanding scientists who made significant contributions

in various branches of science since 1958.

Personal Life & Legacy

He was married to Lajwanti who died in 1946.

He died of a heart attack on January 1, 1955 in New

Delhi, India.

Trivia

He was the first Chairman of the University GrantsCommission.


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shanti swaroop bhatnagar 5488

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