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Meghnad Saha

The impetus given to astrophysics by Sahas work canscarcely be overestimated, as nearly all later progress in this

field have been influenced by it and much of subsequent work

has the character of refinement of Sahas ideas.

S. Roseland in Theoretical Astrophysics

Magnadh Saha will always be remembered for this Theory of

Thermal ionization and its application in the interpretation of

stellar spectra. It has become the basic for the physical andchemical analysis of stellar atmosphere. Sir Arthur Eddington

in his article entitle Stars writtened for EncyclopediaBritannica described Sahas Theory of Thermal Ianiation as

the twelfth most important milestone in the progress of astronomy since the first variablestar (Mitra Ceti) was discovered by Fabricus in 1596. Sahas researches in astrophysics

and physics covered a wide range of subjects stellar spectra, thermal ionization,

selective radiation pressure, spectroscopy, molecular dissociation, propagation of radiowaves in the ionosphere, solar corona, radio emission from a sun, beta radioactivity and

the age of the rocks. He was very much interested in history and avahaeology.

With S.N. Bose, Saha translated Erustains basic relativity papers into English.

Sahas Treatise on Heat (written with B.N. Srivastava, speaks of the depth, breadth andclarity of his physics. It become a standard work for generation of series students.

Saha was a dedicated and inspiring teacher. He developed active school of research at

Allahabad and Calcutta. He established the Institute of Nuclear physics at Calcutta(which is now know or Saha Institute of Nuclear physics). He reorganized the Indian

Association for the cultivation of science Saha played a major role in establishing the

accodemin of sciences in India. Saha led a very simple life. He obtained his basic

education in the face of great difficulties, winning scholarship throughout. He extensivelywrote on social and national issues.

Saha was born on 6 October 1893 in the village of Seovatali in the district of Dacco

(now in Bangladesh). He was the fifth child of his parents, Jagannath Saha andBhubaneswari Devi, Saha had four brothers and three sisters. Sahas father was a petty

grocer. His father had neither of intention or intention or the means to continue educationof his children Meghnads eldest brother Jainath often failing in matriculation left hometo work in a jute company for a salary of Rs. 20 per month. The second brother had to

leave school to help his father in his shop. Under these circumstances Meghnad joined

the village primary school at the age of seven. His teachers at the primary school were

struck by his sharp memory and a burning desire to learn. His family was not veryenthused by his kerning aptitude. So if it was not for the generosity of a local medical

practitioner named Ananta Kumar Das Sahas education would have come to end after he

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finished his primary school. In the village at that time there was no high school. What is

more ever there was no Middle school close to the village, at least, not close enough forthe boy to attend as well as help the family. The nearest middle school teach English was

at Similar, another village 10 km away from Sahas village. However, Jainath, Sahas

eldest brother was very much interested in providing a proper education to his younger

brother. He found a sponsor in Ananta Kumar Das, who agreed to provide Saha with freeboard and lodging in his have provided Saha his own dishes. In those days people

attached lot of importance to ones caste. Unfortunately Saha had to realise that he

belongs to a lower caste a on a few occasion in his school and collage days and thisrealization had left deep impression on his psyche. In as case Saha joined the middle

school at Simalic. Besides washing his own dishes Saha had to attend minor household

chores and tend the cow. Apparently Saha had no difficulty in pursuing his studies . Hefinished middle school securing a scholarship of Rs. 4 per month for gapping the list of

successful candidates in the Dacco district.

In 1905 Saha joined the Government Collegiate School in Dacco. The year in whichSaha come to Dacca with the great political unrest in Bengal caused by the partition of

the province against popular opinion. It was Lord Curzon, the then viceroy of BritishIndia, who decided to partition Bengal. The inmates of the school decided to boycott of

the visit of the Bangal Governor. Sir Bamfylde Fuller. Willingly or unwillingly youngSaha found himself the scholarship. He was rusticated from the school. He joined a

private school names the Kishori Lal Jubilee School and passed the Entrance

Examination of the Calcutta University in 1909, He stood first among the students of EastBengal (now Bangladesh).

We are told that he lowed to read heroic tales. Among his favorite books in schooldays were Todds Rajasthan, Tagors Katha O Kahini and Madhusadan Dutts epic poem

Meghnad Badh. He attended the Bible classic held by the Dacco Baptis Mission whatever

he did he did it seriously. So there was no wonder that Saha stood first in the all- Bangalcompetion examination in the Bible, open to school and college students conducted by

the Beptist Mission. Saha passed his Intermediate Science (Isc) Examination from theDacco College, Dacco. He was first in Mathematics and chemistry, but third in order of

merit in the whole examination one of his subjects at the examination was the German

Language, which learned privately. In those days the knowledge of German was very

essential for those who was aspiring to enter the world of science. After passing in IscExamination Saha entered the presidency college, Calcutta. Amongst his teachers were

Acharya P.C. Ray in mathematics, Jagdish Chanda Bose in physics and D.N. Mallik and

C.E. Cullis in mathematics. Amongst his classmates was S.N. Bose. At Calcutta hecompleted his BSc (Honors) in mathematics (1913) and MSc in Applied Mathematics

(1915). In both the examination he ranked second, the first position going to S.N. Bose.At one point of time Saha intender to take the competitive examination for the IndianFinance Service. However, he was not granted permission by the Government because of

his revolutionary connections.

Saha decided to engage himself in research in applied mathematics and physics. Tosupport himself he took private tuitions in different parts of Calcutta. He used to cover

lag distance an a bicycle. However, both Saha and Bose found it difficult to work under

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the professor and Head of the Department, Prof. Ganesh Prasad. So Austosh Mookerjee

shifted them to the Department of physics. It may be noted here after a year C.V. Ramanjoined the Department as Palit Professor of Physics.