By: Dr. Shah Ayaz Siddiqui ( Editor-In-Chief-ICN Group)
Veteran scientist Prof Yash Pal was in the role of ‘Science Guru’ in the science-fiction series ‘Turning Point’.
LUCKNOW: Prof.Yash Pal (26 November 1926 – 24 July 2017) was an Indian scientist, educator and educationist. He was known for his contributions to the study of cosmic rays, as well as for being an institution-builder. In his later years, he became one of the leading science communicators of the country. He has been honoured with the Padma Bhushan (1976) and the Padma Vibhushan (2013), the third and second highest Indian civilian honours.
They had a simple handwriting in general to explain the difficult things in science. His performance as a scientist and educationist was remarkable. Prof Pal’s involvement in school education dates back to the early 1970s, with the pathbreaking Hoshangabad Science Teaching Programme.
He was the Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi from March 2007 to March 2012.In 2009, he received the Kalinga Prize, awarded by UNESCO for the popularisation of science.
Prof Yash Pal was born in 1926 in Jhang, British India, now in Pakistan. He was raised in Pai, Kaithal, Haryana (India), graduated with a master’s degree in physics from Panjab University in 1949 and gained a PhD degree in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1958.
He presented scientific facts and procedures in simple words. He worked in several prestigious scientific institutions. After taking note of his work in science, the government honored him with the Padma Bhushan in 1976 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2013.
In the international arena, he served as a member of UN Advisory Committee on Science and Technology for Development. He was also a member of Scientific Council, International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste and Executive Committee and United Nations University.
He has worked as a member and advisor to many of the science-related committees established by the Central Government.He also has a column in the Indian English daily The Tribune, in which he answers question asked by readers.
In 2009, MHRD set up a Committee on Higher Education (Yashpal Committee) with Pal as the chairman, for examining reform of higher education in India. In its report, the Committee laid emphasis on the idea of a university, and advocated a number of major structural changes.