Convinced of his son's potential, Bhabha's father gave him permission to pursue his dreams at Cambridge. But there was a condition - Bhabha had to come first in his final engineering exam. Determined, he poured his heart and soul into his studies, emerging victorious by securing the top position. This accomplishment served as a stepping stone for Bhabha's remarkable journey.

Bhabha's plans to continue his research in England were abruptly disrupted by the outbreak of World War II. Desperate to return to England, he tried fervently to convince the Indian government to grant him permission.

At the heart of this story is Dr. Homi Bhabha, a visionary scientist whose passion for physics sparked during his time at Cambridge University. The young Bhabha was enamored by the physics revolution happening at Cambridge, where renowned scientists like Paul Dirac were pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge.

Recognizing that he needed to be where great scientific discoveries were unfolding, Bhabha wrote a heartfelt letter to his father expressing his burning desire to study physics abroad.

At Cambridge, Bhabha delved into extensive research, securing fellowships and collaborating with notable scientists. In 1935, his dedication and hard work culminated in the award of a Ph.D. degree, recognizing his groundbreaking research on cosmic radiation.

However, the war imposed strict restrictions on movements in Europe, making it impossible for him to leave. Undeterred, Bhabha started reaching out to physicists in India and was eventually invited to the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore.

It was in Bangalore that Bhabha's path intersected with another brilliant mind, Vikram Sarabhai, who was pursuing a Ph.D. under the guidance of the eminent physicist C.V. Raman. Bhabha and Sarabhai quickly formed a deep friendship, sharing a common passion for scientific progress.

While circumstances may have prevented Bhabha from continuing his research abroad, he never lost sight of his ultimate goal - to build a research school for fundamental physics in India. He took pen to paper, writing a powerful letter to the chairman of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, emphasizing the importance of nurturing intellectual growth and establishing educational institutions similar to those in other countries.

Furthermore, Bhabha requested the Bombay government to lend their support in constructing the much-needed research school.Showing his unwavering commitment to the field of nuclear physics, Bhabha played a pivotal role in India's atomic energy program. In 1945, Indian scientists formed an Atomic Energy Committee, which later evolved into a Board of Research, chaired by Bhabha himself.

This committee gained formal powers through legislation introduced to the Constituent Assembly by Prime Minister Nehru, acting on a draft prepared by Bhabha.

With the establishment of the Atomic Energy Commission, Bhabha set in motion a three-stage nuclear program aimed at utilizing thorium in nuclear reactors. It took fifteen years for India to mine the necessary uranium to fuel this ambitious program.

India's pursuit of nuclear technology faced challenges when it came to its position on the global stage. The country found itself at odds with the Non-Proliferation Treaty and its stance on nuclear weapons. While some scientists, like Vikram Sarabhai, opposed the development of atomic bombs, others, such as Homi Sethna, played a crucial role in India's first nuclear test.

The story of India's peaceful nuclear explosion in 1974 is one of determination, scientific pursuit, and a nation's desire to carve its place in the annals of history. Dr. Homi Bhabha's unwavering dedication to physics and his role in driving India's nuclear program continues to inspire generations of scientists to this day.

Excited to make further strides in his academic career, Bhabha applied for a position at a university in Liverpool. However, even his extraordinary abilities couldn't make him immune to rejection, as the renowned physicist James Chadwick turned him down.

In May 1974, tension hung thick in the air as Indian government officials gathered in Delhi to discuss an issue of great importance. Little did they know that this meeting would set in motion a historic event that would shape India's nuclear destiny.

The Scientist Who Changed India | Story of India's First Nuclear Test

The first tangible step in India's nuclear journey came in 1956 with the construction of the nation's first nuclear reactor, Apsara. This milestone marked the beginning of a significant chapter in India's scientific progress.

Finally, in 1974, India conducted its first nuclear explosion, code-named Operation Smiling Buddha or Pokhran-1. This test sent shockwaves through the international community and reshaped India's nuclear policy. It propelled India onto the world stage as one of the few nuclear-capable countries.

This story gives insights into how our country has become a nuclear power despite so much pressure from the world. It shows the history of India's nuclear power

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📃Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mtlOl3eRv6MdI9-_naew19NsWkGnXtMzBlAD5vN7m2w/edit?usp=sharing

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On May 18th, 1974, India did something that sent ripples all over the world- we conducted our first nuclear test. This decision was not an easy one- there was a lot of build-up, debates and discussions leading up to this moment. After the test was conducted, India displayed to the world that it too was capable of using nuclear energy. There was one man who needs to be credited greatly for this achievement: Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha. A young boy who had set out to study engineering at the University of Cambridge went on to develop India's nuclear program! How did that happen? In this video, we retrace the story that led India to become a nuclear power in the world today. 

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Markers
0:00 Intro
02:07 History
06:16 Bhabha returns to India
12:00 Atomic Energy in Independent India
15:26 India’s First Nuclear Test

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Soch's aim is to empower Indians with fact-led information on issues that matter to our society but are either ignored or accepted with little questioning. Through this channel, we tackle sensitive issues using extensive research.