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The Hindu
22-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Nuclear scientist M.R. Srinivasan laid to rest in Coonoor with state honours
The mortal remains of eminent nuclear scientist and former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission M.R. Srinivasan were laid to rest with full state honours at the Wellington crematorium in Coonoor on Tuesday. District Revenue Officer M. Narayanan laid a wreath, followed by a gun salute by police personnel, in the presence of Mr. Srinivasan's family and friends. Mr. Srinivasan, who had been living in the Nilgiris, passed away at the age of 95 on May 20. He was also a former Secretary to the Department of Atomic Energy. He worked alongside Dr. Homi Bhabha on the construction of the country's first nuclear reactor, Apsara, which achieved criticality in August 1956. He was appointed Principal Project Engineer for the construction of India's first atomic power station in 1959. He then took charge as Chief Project Engineer of the Madras Atomic Power Station; became Director of the Power Projects Engineering Division, DAE; and was appointed Chairman of the Nuclear Power Board in 1984. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in recognition of his contributions to India's nuclear energy programme. On May 20, following his death, top officials from the Nilgiris district administration, including Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru and Superintendent of Police N.S. Nisha paid their respects to him.
New Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
Former Atomic Energy Commission Chairman MR Srinivasan passes away
CHENNAI: Dr M.R. Srinivasan, one of the principal architects of India's civilian nuclear programme, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 95. A technocrat known for his engineering acumen and institution-building foresight, Dr Srinivasan played a pivotal role in shaping the country's atomic energy trajectory for over four decades. A mechanical engineer by training, he joined the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in 1955, a year after its inception. He quickly became part of the core team working under Dr Homi Bhabha, widely regarded as the father of India's nuclear programme. Together, they were instrumental in the development of Apsara, India's first nuclear research reactor, which attained criticality in 1956. Dr Srinivasan steadily rose through the ranks of the country's nuclear establishment. In 1959, he was appointed Principal Project Engineer and was tasked with overseeing India's earliest efforts to harness atomic energy for power generation. His most significant engineering assignment came in 1967 when he took charge of the Madras Atomic Power Station—then the most ambitious indigenous nuclear project in the country. His contributions went well beyond reactor construction. As Director of the Power Projects Engineering Division from 1974, and later as Chairman of the Nuclear Power Board, he played a central role in shaping national policy during a period of geopolitical isolation following India's first nuclear test in 1974. In 1987, Dr Srinivasan was appointed Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy, the apex bodies responsible for formulating the country's nuclear policy. That same year, he became the founding Chairman of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), the public sector enterprise that continues to anchor India's civilian nuclear power infrastructure. By the time he stepped down, 18 nuclear units were in the pipeline—seven operational, seven under construction, and four in the planning phase—a reflection of his methodical and visionary leadership. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to India's nuclear energy sector, Dr Srinivasan was conferred the Padma Vibhushan, the country's second-highest civilian honour. His legacy is marked not only by engineering excellence but also by a lifelong commitment to scientific self-reliance and national development.
