Meghnad Saha: A luminary's legacy in science and Nation-building

Subhash C Arya / Xavier P Mao *

Sixty-nine years ago, on February 16, 1956, India bid farewell to one of its most illustrious scientists, Professor Meghnad Saha. En route to a meeting at the Planning Commission in Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, he succumbed to a cardiac arrest, dedicating his final moments to the nation’s service at the age of 62.

Born on October 6, 1893, in the village of Seoratali, then part of the Bengal Presidency, Saha rose from humble beginnings to become a luminary in astrophysics. His pioneering work led to the formulation of the Saha Ionization Equation, a fundamental tool that revolutionized our understanding of stellar spectra and the chemical composition of stars.

In 1916, under the visionary leadership of Vice-Chancellor Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee, the University of Calcutta appointed Meghnad Saha and his classmate Satyendra Nath Bose as lecturers in the Department of Mathematics. Both had been students of the eminent scientist Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose. The following year, they transitioned to the Department of Physics, where Saha’s academic journey flourished.

In 1918, he was awarded a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) degree. By 1921, Saha was appointed as the Khaira Professor of Physics at the University of Calcutta. In 1923, Saha accepted the role of Professor and Head of the Department of Physics at the University of Allahabad. During his tenure from 1923 to 1938, he cultivated a vibrant research culture, transforming the department into a hub of scientific inquiry.

His lucid and illuminating lectures earned him acclaim as an outstanding teacher among his students. Saha’s scientific excellence was recognized both nationally and internationally. He served as the President of the Physics Section during the 13th Session of the Indian Science Congress in Bombay in 1926. The following year, in 1927, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in London.

From 1931 to 1932, he presided over the United Provinces Academy of Sciences, which was later renamed the National Academy of Sciences, India. Demonstrating his commitment to disseminating scientific knowledge, Saha founded the journal ‘Science and Culture’ and served as its editor until his death.

As the chairman of the Calendar Reform Committee, Professor Meghnad Saha spearheaded the development of a unified national calendar, harmonizing the traditional Shaka Samvat with the Gregorian system.

This initiative aimed to eliminate discrepancies inherent in the multitude of calendars used across India. His journey into calendar reform began in 1939 when he identified inconsistencies between India’s lunar-based calendars and the solar-based Gregorian calendar. He articulated these concerns in his article titled “Need for Calendar Reform,” published in the journal Science and Culture.

The Government of India adopted the committee’s recommendations, and the resulting national calendar is now used to determine dates for various religious and cultural festivals across the nation. In the early 1940s, Professor Meghnad Saha and Kamlesh Ray conducted extensive studies to identify optimal dam sites, notably along the Damodar River. Their research encompassed prospects for power generation, and irrigation facilities; and addressed challenges such as reservoir silting.

During this period, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, serving as the Member-in-Charge of Power and Works in the Viceroy’s Executive Council (1942–1946), collaborated with Saha to deliberate on these critical issues. Their combined efforts culminated in the conceptualization and eventual realization of the Damodar Valley Project, India’s first multipurpose river valley initiative.

The success of this landmark project stands as a testament to the visionary contributions of both Professor Saha and Dr. Ambedkar. After retiring from the University of Calcutta in 1952, Saha was appointed Honorary Director of the Institute of Nuclear Physics and also served as Director of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science. That same year, he was elected as an independent Member of Parliament for the Calcutta North-West constituency.

In Parliament, Saha emphasized the pivotal role of universities in fostering scientific research, stating the following, “While National Laboratories and Research Institutes will play an ever-increasing part in furthering the application of science to industry, it is clear that ultimately we have to depend on the universities for an even and constant flow of scientific workers and leaders imbued with zeal for research... universities have been rightly recognized as the fountainheads of knowledge and it is in their free atmosphere that we should look forward to vigorous pursuit of fundamental research... Fundamental research is the source from which extraordinary applications are likely to emerge.”

His insights remain pertinent today, underscoring the enduring importance of education in building a knowledge-based economy. Throughout his career, Saha maintained healthy personal relationships with renowned contemporary scientists worldwide, enriching the global scientific community. His legacy is a testament to his vast achievements and lifelong dedication to society, the nation, and the people he referred to as the “democratic class.”

Reflecting on Professor Saha’s life offers valuable lessons for contemporary society. His relentless pursuit of knowledge, despite socioeconomic challenges, exemplifies the power of education and determination. His interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving, bridging physics, engineering, and public policy, serves as a model for addressing today’s complex issues.

Moreover, his commitment to national development through scientific innovation underscores the critical role of science and technology in nation-building.

As we commemorate his death anniversary, Professor Meghnad Saha’s legacy inspires us to harness the transformative power of education and scientific inquiry to drive societal progress and address the pressing challenges of our time. Today the whole nation pays tribute to the great son of India.