Yash Pal

Yash Pal was born on 26 November 1926 in Jhang, a town in Punjab Province of British India, which is now part of Pakistan. He was the second of four children of Chuni Lal Pal, a school teacher, and Shanti Devi Pal, a homemaker. He had a keen interest in science and mathematics from an early age and was inspired by his father who taught him astronomy and geography. He also witnessed the devastating 1935 Quetta earthquake that killed over 60,000 people and left a deep impression on his mind. He completed his schooling from Hindu High School in Madras (now Chennai) and joined the Presidency College for his intermediate course. He then enrolled at the Lahore campus of the University of the Punjab for his BSc Honours in Physics. He was also involved in the student movement against the British colonial rule and wore khadi clothes as a mark of protest. He had to leave Lahore in 1947 due to the partition of India and Pakistan and migrated to Delhi with his family. He continued his studies at the Delhi campus of the newly formed Panjab University and obtained his MSc degree in Physics in 1949. He then went to Boston, United States to pursue his PhD in Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He worked under the supervision of Dr. Bruno Rossi, a pioneer of cosmic rays research. He completed his PhD in 1958 and returned to India to join the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai as a faculty member. He made significant contributions to the study of cosmic rays and high-energy physics at TIFR and also participated in several international collaborations and experiments. He was appointed as the first director of the newly established Space Applications Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad in 1973. He played a key role in developing India's space programme and satellite technology. He also initiated several educational and outreach programmes to promote science awareness among students and teachers. He later served as the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) from 1984 to 1986. He was instrumental in formulating several policies and programmes to foster scientific research and innovation in India. He retired from DST in 1986 and became the Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) from 1986 to 1991. He introduced several reforms and initiatives to improve the quality and accessibility of higher education in India. He also established inter-university centres for various disciplines such as astronomy, astrophysics, accelerator physics, biotechnology and informatics. He advocated for interdisciplinary and holistic education that integrated science, humanities and arts. He was also a prolific writer and communicator who wrote several books on science, education and society. He hosted a popular TV show called 'Turning Point' that explained scientific concepts and phenomena in simple language. He also answered queries from curious children through a column called 'Professor Yash Pal Replies' that appeared in various newspapers and magazines. He received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to science and education, including the Padma Shri (1976), Padma Bhushan (1985), Padma Vibhushan (2013), Marconi Prize (1980), Kalinga Prize (2009) and Indira Gandhi Prize (2011). He died on 24 July 2017 at his residence in Noida, Uttar Pradesh at the age of 90. He was survived by his son Rahul Pal, a biologist, and his daughter Shubhra Pal, a filmmaker. His wife Nirmal Pal, a social worker and educationist, had died in 2014. He was cremated with full state honors at the Lodhi Road crematorium in Delhi. His death was mourned by many eminent personalities and institutions who paid tribute to his legacy and achievements. He is remembered as one of the most influential and respected scientists and educators of India who inspired generations of students and researchers.