PROFILE OF THE MONTH: DR NANABHOY ARDESHIR FRAMJI MOOS
Human civilization can breach novel frontiers because there are hundreds of foot-soldiers who work tirelessly to gear up, oil and run the scientific machinery day after day, year after year. The lives of such workers are often tedious, monotonous and far from the glamour of shiny front offices. Nanabhoy Ardeshir Framji Moos was one such karmayogi whose life is a lived example of karmanya vaadhikarastu ma phaleshu kadachna, which translated,
means, ‘my right is only on the performance of duty, not on the fruits’.
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Born on 29 October 1859 in Bombay, Nanabhoy Moos belonged to the illustrious Parsi community, which played a prominent role in shaping modern Indian society. His family was a distinguished one and could trace its ancestors
twelve generations back to the year 1500, with education and eminence reflecting in each generation. Nanabhoy’s
father, Ardeshir was professor of Philosophy in Elphinstone College, Bombay. Nanabhoy Moos passed his matriculation from Elphinstone School and got his engineering degree from College of Engineering, Poona. He had a thirst for knowledge, a restless spirit of enquiry and a positive approach. After graduation, he served the Bombay Municipal Engineering Services and later Engineering College, Poona, as a faculty. With his privileged background it was an easy journey for him.
All Images Courtesy: Colaba-Alibag Observatory
However, instead of leading a comfortable life, Moos went to Europe to further his education and obtained the degree of Bachelor of Science with distinction from Edinburgh University, Scotland, in 1886. His merit was manifested in multiple ways during these years. In 1886, he wrote a book, Strength of Materials and Strains in Structure, published by the well-known publishers Griffith and Farren of London. Moos won several medals, stood first in the coveted Van-Dunlop competitive scholarship of science, and became the bursar of the Highland Society of Scotland. After earning his PhD from the university in 1892, despite a generous offer of the post of Inspector of Factories promising very high emoluments, Nanabhoy Moos preferred to return to his roots. He rejoined as Professor in Engineering College, Poona, from where he was later transferred to Elphinstone College in Bombay.
HIS WORKS
Earth’s magnetic field, or the geomagnetic field is generated by electric currents produced due to the motion of convection of molten iron and nickel present in the earth’s outer core: The geomagnetic field extends from the earth’s interior into the space, where it interacts with the solar wind, a stream of charged particles emanating from the Sun. Geomagnetic observatories have been established all over the world to continuously measure and record the earth’s magnetic field at a number of locations. These observatories provide valuable data that are used for creating world magnetic maps, for navigation and surveying. They also help validate data obtained from surveys conducted on air, land, and sea for mineral and oil exploration. The data is vital for scientific studies of the interaction between the sun and the earth, such as understanding the effects of solar wind and geomagnetic storms.
The first permanent magnetic observatories in colonial India were established by the East India Company under the Göttingen Magnetic Union. One of the observatories was set up at the northwestern tip of Maharashtra, on the Arabian Sea at Colaba near Bombay in 1841. In 1896 after the demise of the British incharge of the observatory, Charles Chambers, Dr Nanabhoy Moos was appointed its first Indian director due to his technical background. It is one duty, that he will perform with utmost precision and consistency for a quarter of a century till retirement in 1919. His work was pioneering in many ways. The field of geomagnetism witnessed stupendous development due to his significant contribution.
In 1900, a proposal for electric traction to move trains, trams, trolleys and industrial machines was introduced in Bombay. Dr Moos quickly gauged the gravity of the impact it will have on the study of geomagnetism at the Colaba observatory. He was convinced that ‘Electric traction will soon reduce all our observations to farce,’ and started his search for an alternative site in the region having similar magnetic conditions as Colaba so that the streak of observations of fifty years did not get interrupted. He found that site at Alibag, about 20 kilometer South-SouthEast of Bombay. In 1902, the site was secured, building constructed and the equipment shifted to the new site. All this was done under his expert stewardship, who took care of every single detail and got the building made entirely using ‘Porbander stone’ for minimising temperature variations. Dr Moos’s engineering acumen came handy in this shifting in 1904.
To uphold the quality of the observations, he continued to document observations both at Colaba and Alibag and compared them for two years. To make the records accurate, he established a radio relay station in the harbour, halfway between Colaba and Alibag, to synchronize the clocks at both the centres. It is due to his painstakingly documented observations that magnetic records are now available over a period of several decades. This pursuit of perfection is a trait which distinguishes Dr Moos from other government officials. Later, with his expertise, Dr Moos was invited to set up another magnetic observatory at Manora, Karachi.
Dr Moos’s deep studies of the observatory recordings enabled him to predict the phenomenon of ‘ionosphere-dynamo’ in which he theorised that a small fraction of the earth’s magnetic field owes its origin to sources outside the earth, probably by electric currents in the ionosphere of the earth’s atmosphere. Evidence for his hypothesis could be found much later. He also researched and left emphatic footprints in the area of ‘magnetic storms’ and ‘lunar diurnal variations in the magnetic components related to atmospheric tides caused by Moon’s attraction’. His well documented episodes of irregular disturbances associated with demagnetising effects led to the understanding of ‘ring current’. These examples highlight the remarkable analytic ability and sharpness of his mind. That his predictions were proven right, decades after he pronounced them, is evidence of his confidence in his data, his observations and in the meticulous method of science.
(From Left) An official observing the transit of stars to provide accurate time at Alibag; A similar dip circle, manufactured by Barrow (Multhauf and Good, 1987), was in use at Colaba from 1846 to 1867
He introduced the maintenance of seismological records also in the Colaba observatory. Due to his creative and innovative approach, he went on to design seismometers on the basis of his newly found patterns. Colaba Tilt Seismograph is one such method discovered by him, which could immediately visually record seismic disturbances, in real time within 4 seconds and was much superior in functioning than Milne’s seismograph or Omori-Ewing seismograph, which were pendulum seismographs and took 20-30 seconds to register.
Dr Nanabhoy published his research work in the form of a two-volume treatise on terrestrial magnetism titled, Colaba Magnetic Data 1846-1905. This work, which included Dr Moos’s meticulous documentation and his deep insights, is considered to be a magnum opus in the domain. The first part contains an unbroken series of sixty years of magnetic observations while the second part presents detailed analysis of the series. These two volumes form an outstanding contribution to the science of terrestrial magnetism and remain a treasured storehouse of information for researchers and students.
Dr Moos opined that Seismology and other geophysical branches of science should be included in the university curriculum. He served as a member of the Academic Council, Board of Studies in Science Faculty and the governing body, Senate of Bombay University. Thus, along with his professional work, he thought about contributing to the community in various forms.
A PROLIFIC SCIENCE WRITER
Dr Moos was a prolific popular science writer and had a clear intention of popularising science among the masses. He understood that scientific knowledge, to be truly effective, must reach beyond the confines of laboratories and observatories. This belief drove him to become one of the earliest pioneers of popular scientific writing in India.
His colleagues remember him as ‘an ideal head of the observatory, always taking deep interest in the welfare of his staff, and being held by them in great affection and esteem.’ He was a fearless exponent of the views which he thought were in the true interest of the observatory in his care.
CHALLENGES
Dr Moos’s career was not without challenges. He worked during a time when India was still under the British rule, and scientific research often took a back seat to political and economic priorities. Despite these obstacles, he managed to carve out a space for geomagnetism as an essential scientific discipline. His perseverance and dedication ensured that these observatories became one of the most respected institutions in the world, laying the groundwork for adopting modern technology.
Data from Colaba observatory showing secular and annual variations of absolute horizontal force (left) and a comparison of diurnal inequalities of vertical force
A familiar pattern emerges in the studies of the biographies of many other pre-independence scientists, such as Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray, Meghnad Saha, Satyendra Nath Bose, and also Nanabhoy Moos that they did not stop at performing their administrative duties only; they went much beyond that. They built institutions; did remarkable, international level research; were great teachers; did hands-on experimentation; designed instruments; mentored juniors; contributed to community welfare and actively pursued science popularisation. The life arc of Dr Moos perfectly resonates with other great scientists of India.
UNPARALLELED CONTRIBUTION
For his unparalleled contribution to geomagnetism and science in general, Dr Nanabhoy Moos was recognised internationally, and became Fellow, Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Chemical Society and the Highland Society of Scotland, but it is hard to find mention of Dr Moos’s name in the popular narratives of Indian science. A post-doctoral fellowship of the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism and a street in Colaba have been named after him. However, not much information about his personal and social life is available. Dr Moos is such a personality that can teach us the rigour of scientific work, the meticulous approach and the unwavering consistency required for getting valuable results.
The plan of the placement of different instruments at the observatory
‘The records of Colaba and Alibag were found to form a beautiful series, beginning in 1871 and making up the most complete collection of records in the world. Their quality and especially their regularity were particularly impressive, even in comparison with Kew and Melbourne records’ — these words from Pierrer Noel Mayaud, a French geomagnetician, sums up the life’s work done by Dr Moos in the most exemplary way. There is no doubt that Dr Nanabhoy Ardeshir Framji Moos stands as a towering figure in the history of Indian science. His pioneering work in geomagnetism, seismology and meteorology, had a lasting impact on both India and the world. And contributions to scientific journalism, education, and magnetic research further cement his legacy as a visionary scientist and a dedicated son of the nation.
*The writer teaches at Panjab University, Chandigarh
