Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Biography 
Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar is an Indian scientist who made his research in the field of chemistry. He was born on 21st February 1894 in Shahpur in British India which is a part of Pakistan at present. His father was Parmeshwari Sahai Bhatnagar and he died when he was only eight months old. He had to spend his childhood days in his maternal grandfather’s house. His grandfather was an engineer and he developed his liking for science from him. He used to play with mechanical toys and electronic batteries in his younger days. He is also gifted with poetic talent and his Urdu play Karamati got first prize in a competition.
After completing his Master’s degree in India in Punjab University he received his D. Sc in University College London in the year 1921. When he returned back to India, he was given the post of professor at Benares Hindu University. He was bestowed knighthood by the British Government in 1941 and was elected as the Fellow of the Royal Society on 18th March 1943. He researched on emulsions, colloids and industrial chemistry.
After the independence of India, in 1947 the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) was set up under his chairmanship. He was made as the first director general of the CSIR. He is known as the Father of Research Laboratories. He established a number of chemical laboratories in India namely Central Food Processing Technological Institute in Mysore, National Chemical Laboratory in Pune, National Physical Laboratory in New Delhi, National Metallurgical Laboratory in Jamshedpur and the Central Fuel Institute in Dhanbad, etc.
He refused to receive any monetary benefit for his research and spent all the funds to enhance the research facilities. He received Padma Vibhushan award in the year 1954. Due to his efforts, CSIR was made as an autonomous body. He died on 1st January 1955 at his age of 60.
Published: N/A
Updated: October 12, 2017
