Ranjan Roy Daniel | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1923-08-11)11 August 1923 |
| Died | 27 March 2005(2005-03-27) (aged 81)Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Alma mater | Scott Christian College University of Bristol |
| Occupations | Dean, Department of Physics,Tata Institute of Fundamental Research |
| Spouse | Serena Padmini |
| Children | 4 |
Ranjan Roy Daniel (also referred to asR. R. Daniel orRajan Roy) (11 August 1923 – 27 March 2005) was an Indian physicist who worked in the fields ofcosmic rays andspace physics,[1] and remained Director Chairman ofTata Institute of Fundamental Research.[2] He also served as an advisor to the prime minister ofIndia,Indira Gandhi in 1976. He worked in the field of cosmic rays[3] withHomi Jehangir Bhabha for 23 years.
He was awarded thePadma Bhushan in 1992 by theGovernment of India, for his contributions to science and engineering.[4]
Daniel was born on 11 August 1923 inNagercoil to M.A. Daniel Nadar and Theresa Chellammal Daniel. He was the third of five siblings. He received his early and secondary education atScott Christian Higher Secondary School in his hometown,Nagercoil. After completing secondary school in 1939 fromScott Christian College, he went on to pursue a BSc in physics fromLoyola College, Chennai, theUniversity of Madras.[2] Under the influence of the Indian Nobel laureateChandrasekhara Venkata Raman he was advised to pursue the next phase of his education atBanaras Hindu University, from which he received MSc (Physics) degree in 1946.[2][5]
He joinedTata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in 1947 as a scientist.[6] From there he was sponsored by the Indian government to carry out research studies in the UK at theUniversity of Bristol in 1951. He carried out research in the H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory, headed by the Nobel laureateC. F. Powell, using nuclear emulsions exposed to cosmic rays at high altitudes. He completed his PhD research underDonald Hill Perkins in April 1953.[2][5] He went on to TIFR throughout till his retirement in 1988.
He was made a Fellow of theIndian National Science Academy (INSA) in 1975, and was awarded the Vainu Bappu Award in 1992.[1]
He married Serena Padmini, second daughter of G.M. Samuel and Annammal Samuel, in 1948, and the couple had four children. After his retirement he returned to Nagercoil and lived in his daughter Lalitha's house. He was affectionately known as a simple man, and very few knew of his remarkable accomplishments.[6] He died on 27 March 2005 after a prolonged illness.He is survived by 4 children (Lalitha, Ravindran, Amudha and Renjitha) and several grandchildren, all of whom live in the USA and India.[2]
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