Who was nuclear scientist Dr MR Srinivasan, architect of India's atomic power?

Dr Malur Ramasamy Srinivasan, a pioneering figure in India’s nuclear energy programme and former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission , passed away in Tamil Nadu's Udhagamandalam on Tuesday at the age of 95. The veteran scientist leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of leadership and technical brilliance that shaped the country's self-reliant nuclear capabilities.

“His legacy of visionary leadership, technical brilliance, and tireless service to the nation will continue to inspire future generations,” his daughter, Sharada Srinivasan, said in a statement issued by the family.

Born on January 5, 1930, in Bengaluru, Dr Srinivasan was the third of eight siblings. He completed his early education in Mysore, studying Sanskrit and English. Despite a strong inclination towards physics, he enrolled in mechanical engineering at the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE), graduating in 1950. He went on to earn a master’s degree (1952) and a PhD (1954) in gas turbine technology from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

Dr Srinivasan joined the Department of Atomic Energy in September 1955, where he began working alongside Dr Homi Bhabha on India’s first nuclear research reactor, Apsara. He later served as Principal Project Engineer for the country’s first atomic power station and played a crucial role in building the Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR), which became the backbone of India’s indigenous nuclear power fleet.

Following the untimely death of Dr Bhabha in a plane crash in 1966, Dr Srinivasan continued to lead key developments in India’s nuclear programme. His leadership was crucial in the construction of the Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS) and the expansion of nuclear power projects across the country.

In 1974, he was appointed Director of the Power Projects Engineering Division at the DAE, and in 1984, he became Chairman of the Nuclear Power Board. Under his supervision, India saw a significant expansion in its nuclear power capacity. He served as Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary, DAE, from 1987, and was the founding Chairman of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). Under his leadership, 18 nuclear reactors were developed, seven operational, seven under construction, and four in the planning stages.

• He also represented India on the global stage as a senior advisor at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna from 1990 to 1992, and as a Member of the Planning Commission from 1996 to 1998, where he oversaw Energy and Science & Technology portfolios.
• His contributions extended beyond science and engineering into national policymaking, serving on India’s National Security Advisory Board and leading the Task Force on Higher Education in Karnataka.
• In recognition of his distinguished contributions to India’s nuclear energy program, Dr Srinivasan was awarded the Padma Shri in 1984, Padma Bhushan in 1990 and Padma Vibhushan in 2015.
• He was also the recipient of Homi Bhabha Gold Medal from Indian Science Congress, Homi Bhabha Lifetime Achievement Award, Part of Asian Scientist 100 list in 2016
• He was a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering, Institution of Engineers (India), and an Emeritus Fellow of the Indian Nuclear Society. Additionally, he was a founding member of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO).
• Dr Srinivasan authored the book From Fission to Fusion: The Story of India’s Atomic Energy Programme, a seminal work chronicling the evolution of India's nuclear journey.

Several dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, and defence minister Rajnath Singh, expressed deep condolences and mourned his death.

As India bids farewell to one of its foremost scientific minds, Dr Srinivasan’s life stands as a testament to the power of vision, perseverance, and service to nation progress.