SAHA, DR. MEGHNAD, D.Sc, Union of Socialists and Progressives (West Bengal—Calcutta North-West—1952): S. of late Shri Jagannath Saha: B. Village Seoratoli, P.O. Baliadi, Dacca Distt, East Bengal, October 10, 1893; ed. at Dacca K.L. Jubilee School, Dacca College and Presidency College, Calcutta; m. Shrimati Radha Rani Saha, June 30, 1918; 3 S. and 4 D.; Professor; Lecturer, Calcutta University, 1919—22; Khaira Professor of Physics, Calcutta University, 1922-23; Professor and Head of the Department of Physics (Allahabad University), 1923—38; Palit Professor of Physics, Calcutta University since 1938; Dean of the Faculty of Science, Allahabad; Dean of Faculty of Science and President of Post-Graduate Council in Science, Calcutta University, 1951; Fellow of the Royal Society of London, 1927; Founder-President of the National Academy of Science, Allahabad, 1931; General President, Indian Science Congress, 1934; One of the Promoters and President, National Institute of Science, India, 1937—39; President of the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1945-46; Honorary Fellow of the Boston Academy of Science of the French Astronomical Society; Member, International Astronomical Union; Founder, Indian Science News Association which publishes ‘Science and Culture’; Director, Indian Association for Cultivation of Science, 1945—50; Volunteer, Damodar Committee, 1913; Propaganda Officer, North Bengal Relief Committee, 1923 and East Bengal Relief Committee, 1951; Founder, School of Ionospheric Research, Allahabad University; Established the Institute of Nuclear Physics; Member, National Planning Committee; Member, Governing Body of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research; Chief Editor, ”Science and Culture”; Father of the Theory of Ionisation of gases in the Sun and Stars in terms of both temperature and pressure; Apart from Astrophysics, Saha’s theory of Ionisation is now applied to the Conductivity of Flame, Formation of Arcs and the study of explosives.

Special interest: History, Politics and Sociology.

Recreation: Walking.

Publications: ‘Heat’ (Junior and Senior), ‘Modern Physics’ (Junior and Senior); Founder, ‘Science and Culture’; ‘Treatise on Science and Culture’, 1953 which embodies “Saha’s Equation” regarding ionisation of elements in terms of temperature and pressure; ‘River Training and ‘River Projects’.

Permanent address: 12/1, Keyatolah Lane, Calcutta.