Life of Meghnad Saha
Meghnad Saha was one of the finest Indian physicists who made a remarkable impression in the world of astrophysics. Born on 6th October, 1893 into an impoverished family of now Bangladesh, poor Saha had to fight the crippling social constraints of castism. His elder brothers had not done well in school, so it became a luxury for the poor parents to waste money on Meghnad’s schooling. But Meghnad was exceptionally brilliant and showed talents from an early age. During his time in the middle school, he had to live with a sponsor near the school. Little Meghnad, being born in a ‘lower’ caste family, had to face widespread social prejudices. However, the prevalent practice of untouchability could not deter Meghnad to rank first in the examination of the Middle School in Dacca division in 1905. He completed Intermediate Science in 1911 and joined Presidency College, where he was in the company of some of the brilliant minds, which included Satyendra Nath Bose, Subhash Bose and P.C Mahalanobis etc. Saha had the fortune to find teachers like Sir J.C. Bose and P.C. Ray. He completed BSc in 1913 and MSc in 1915. He joined the Physics Department at Calcutta University as a professor.
Scientific Achievements
In 1917, Saha published his first scientific paper titled “On Maxwell’s stresses, concerning the electro-magnetic theory of radiation.” Saha earned his reputation as he developed the theory of high thermal ionization. This equation is one of the basic tools for the interpretation of the spectra of stars in astrophysics. By studying the spectra of various stars, one could now find their temperature and determine the ionization state of the various elements making up the star. For his contribution in Astrophysics, at a very young age of only 34, Saha was elected as a Fellow of the prestigious Royal Society in 1927. Meghnad Saha also developed a deep interest in the study of nuclear physics. By 1940s, the effort to make atom bomb became evident in many of the developed countries (thanks to the Second World War). Unlike many of his European counterparts, Saha believed in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. In 1940, a Rs. 60,000 grant from Tata helped Saha to set up the foundation of nuclear research in India. Jawaharlal Nehru played an important role which enabled Saha to launch Institute of Nuclear Physics. This was later renamed as Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics. Saha was also the chief architect of river planning and development in India. He made the original plan for the Damodar Valley Project. Meghnad Saha’s achievement included a reform of Indian calendar system. Saha was the chairman of the Calendar Reform Committee which was appointed by the Union government in 1952. By the end of 1955, after studying more than 30 local variations, the Committee had submitted a report to the government, outlining a revised, accurate, uniform Indian National Calendar. In 1931 Saha founded India’s National Academy of Sciences. As a commitment to popularize science, Saha founded the journal Science and Culture, modeled on the renowned science journal Nature. Apart from dissemination of scientific knowledge to the wider public, the purpose of the journal was to highlight the social function of science.
A Nationalist with a Scientific and Modern Worldview
Meghnad Saha was an earnest believer in the application of science in the economic planning for social development. He was greatly inspired by the Russian experiment of planned economy, where they went on to find an organic relation between science and power. Saha carried the dreams of physics into society and always dreamt of a society based on scientific method. Saha was opposed to the idea of Gandhian development, where industrialization was seen as a curse. He believed that a society could not develop by wearing “loin cloth” and by riding “bullock cart.” Saha was also contemptuous of some of the contemporary Congressmen who he felt had no conception of industrialization. In a letter written to Nehru on 12th August 1945, Saha criticized the clichéd worldview of Congress in the following words:
“I believe the time has come when the Congress should formally announce their programme of work in case they get power. Its present programme is too much tied up with old world ideologies—like spinning wheel and homespun, division of power on medieval basis etc. etc. We should give to the country new slogans based on the idea of working up ‘a decent living for India’s masses’ based on the fullest use of science, development of power resources, chemical, mineral and agricultural industries, collective and multipurpose use of land and water, rebuilding of society on the new basis of work.”
Science for the National liberation and Nation building were major motivations for Saha throughout his life. It is no surprise then that Saha, as a scientist, realized the societal obligation to become involved with politics:
“Scientists are often accused of living in the “Ivory Tower” and not troubling their mind with realities and apart from my association with political movements in my juvenile years, I had lived in ivory tower up to 1930. But science and technology are as important for administration now-a-days as law and order. I have gradually glided into politics because I wanted to be of some use to the country in my own humble way.”
In order to use scientific knowledge in the planning of independent India, Saha directly involved himself with politics. He was elected a Member of Parliament from the Calcutta North-West Constituency in 1952. He was selected as a member of the Planning Commission, where he contributed immensely towards projects, particularly aimed at improving the conditions of the poor masses.
His scientific work and social obligations are acclaimed throughout the world. Meghnad Saha died due to a massive heart attack on 16th February 1956. His undaunted optimism and towering achievements seem to suggest that social and economic constraints are not impossible barriers. We pay tribute to Meghnad Saha on his birthday.
