Shivram Baburao Bhoje (born 9 April 1942) is a distinguished Indian nuclear scientist who worked in the field offast-breeder nuclear reactor technology for forty years in the design, construction, operation, and research and development. The Indian government has honoured him with thePadma Shri in 2003, the fourth highest civilian award inIndia, for his distinguished service to science and engineering fields.[1]
Bhoje was born on 9 April 1942 inKasaba Sangaon, a small village inKolhapur district which falls under Kagal Taluka jurisdiction. He completed his schooling in Dadasaheb Magadum high school, Kasaba Sangaon. He was famous for his knowledge in mathematics and science in his school. After completing schooling, he moved to Rajaram College Kolhapur to complete his junior college education. He completed his Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1965 from College of Engineering Pune,COEP,University of Pune.
Bhoje completed one year training inNuclear Science and Engineering at theBhabha Atomic Research Centre Training School and joined as a Scientific Officer at BARC,Trombay. He started working in the Fast Reactor Section for design of an experimental reactor. He was on a one-year deputation to the Centre d'Etudes Nucleare Cadarache, France, as a member of the design team of the 13-mW fast-breeder test reactor (FBTR) in 1969–70.
After returning to India in 1971, he worked atIndira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research,Kalpakkam. Initially he was in-charge of design of 40 MW Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) reactor assembly. On completion of the design, he was responsible for the construction ofFBTR. He redesigned the reactor core with new carbide fuel. In 1988 he became the Reactor Superintendent ofFBTR. He removed the initial problems and raised the reactor power in steps, after commissioning of all the systems. The reactor was connected to the grid and electricity was generated in July 1997 at 10 MW power. In September 2002 the indigenously designed and fabricated fuel reached a burn up of 100,000 MWd/t without any failure.
In 1985, he was designated as the Head of Nuclear Systems Division and was responsible for the preliminary design of 500 MWePrototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR). He developed the capability in the centre to carry out sophisticated analysis for design. In 1992, he became the Director, Reactor Group and was responsible for the operation of FBTR and design and engineering R &D of PFBR. He developed PFBR design safety criteria as perAERB norms. He served as the Member and Chairman of several committees ofDepartment of Atomic Energy.
In August 2000, he was promoted as Distinguished Scientist. In November 2000, he became the Director,Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research. He significantly contributed in design, R&D, manufacturing technology development, obtained statutory clearances for construction and pre-project activities ofPFBR.
Financial approval for thePFBR project was obtained in September 2003 and the construction was started in August 2003 itself. A newPSU called Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited was established in October 2003 for the construction and operation of PFBR. Bhoje was one of the founder Directors of this company.
Bhoje has published over 200 papers in journals and conferences. He represented India as a member ofInternational Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) during 1987–1997. He was a member of the IAEA Senior Advisory Group on Nuclear Energy and also a member of a steering committee on Innovative Reactor and Fuel Cycle project. He has coordinated FBTR R&D, funded by IGCAR and carried out in twenty five different educational institutions and research centres like Fluid Control Research Institute,Kirloskar Brothers Ltd, Pune.
He retired from government service at the age of 62, on superannuation, in April 2004. After retirement, he has settled atKolhapur in Maharashtra. He has been working as an Educational Advisor toShivaji University, Kollhapur. He is member of All India Board of Post-Graduate Education and Research Engineering and Technology ofAll India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
He is founder member of Aamhi Sangaonkar, a social organisation meant for the development of rural areas around his native village.