Homi Jehangir Bhabha, the father of the Indian nuclear programme who died in a plane crash has his 57^th death anniversary today. He played a pivotal role in helping India become a nuclear power.

Homi Jehangir Bhabha: Career & Achievements

He has popularly known as Homi J Bhabha an Indian nuclear physicist and professor of physics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).

Moreover, he was the founding director of the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET). Presently, it is known as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in his honour. AEET and TIFR were the cornerstones of Indian nuclear weapon development, which Bhabha also supervised as director. Homi J Bhabha was not only recognized as a scientist, but also a multi-talented person. He was honoured with the Adams Prize in 1942 and the Padma Bhushan in 1954.

Ahead of his remarkable personality and achievements, one of the prominent Indian physicists, CV Raman used to call him India’s Leonardo da Vinci.

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Bhabha Demise

The father of the Indian nuclear programme, Bhabha died during a plane crash on 24 January 1966. He was travelling on an Air India flight, where it was going from Mumbai to New York. However, before reaching America, the plane crashed in Europe’s Alps Mountain Range. 117 people including Homi Jehangir Bhabha lost their lives in this heart-wrenching accident.

Death Controversy

Several experts predicted that the American intelligence agency was behind the death of Homi Jehangir Bhabha. His death was conspired to stop India’s nuclear energy programme. A claim was made in 2008, 42 years after the accident.

Conversations With the Crow, a book by foreign journalist Gregory Douglas, contains excerpts from a conversation between Douglas and CIA officer Robert Crowley. In this, Douglas claimed the CIA’s hand behind the death of Homi Jehangir Bhabha.

Atomic Bomb: Homi J Bhabha

Three months before the saddened plane crash, the physicist made an announcement that shocked the world. Bhabha had announced on All India Radio that if he was given an exemption, he could demonstrate it by making an atom bomb in 18 months.

Bhabha always mentioned the development of nuclear energy in the fields of the country’s security, energy, agriculture and medicine. He considered it necessary for the development of the country. It is said that if his plane had not crashed, India could have achieved many achievements in the field of nuclear science long ago.