Author: Dr Navneet Kumar Gupta
Image Courtesy: Internet SPOTLIGHT: Dr DEBALA MITRA (14 DECEMBER 1925 – 2 DECEMBER 2003) Too often, the dedicated scholars who painstakingly reclaimed India’s past fade into the background. Among such unsung heroes, the remarkable life of archaeologist Debala Mitra warrants a closer examination. Born in pre-independence Bengal, she defied the constraints of a patriarchal society and entrenched feudal traditions to become a luminous figure in Indian archaeology. Mitra was a woman who made the crumbling stone speak. She rose to become the first woman Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), shattering glass ceilings in a male-dominated field.…
Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons OBITUARY/ Dr RAJAGOPALA CHIDAMBARAM (1936-2025) Dr Rajagopala Chidambaram, a luminary in the field of Indian nuclear science, passed away on 4 January 2025, at the age of 88. He was a key architect of India’s nuclear programme, instrumental in advancing the nation’s scientific and strategic capabilities. His unparalleled contributions to the development of nuclear energy and his visionary leadership in science and technology have left an indelible mark on the country. Born on 11 November 1936, in Chennai, Dr Chidambaram’s academic foundation was rooted in physics. He obtained his BSc (Hons) and MSc in Physics from…