Less than eight months after former Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) chairman Sekhar Basu succumbed to Covid, another veteran nuclear scientist Srikumar Banerjee, who headed the nuclear establishment when India signed the nuclear deal with the US and later legislated the liability bill, passed away after recovering from the disease.
Banerjee, 75, passed away in the wee hours of Sunday in Navi Mumbai due to a heart attack after recovering from Covid-19 last month. A reputed scientist, he was a leading global expert in the use of specialised alloys used in nuclear processes and was widely published. He joined Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) after a BTech in metallurgy from IIT, Kharagpur, from where he later earned his PhD as well.
Soft spoken and affable, Banerjee helmed the atomic energy establishment at a tumultuous time when expert and political opinion was sharply divided over whether India will lose its nuclear “autonomy” by signing the 123 pact with the US. His argumentation went a long way in convincing sceptics that India will not lose its strategic options and will in fact gain vastly by coming out of the nuclear cold once the Nuclear Suppliers Group passed an India-specific exemption allowing nuclear trade. His role in the paradigm shift in India’s nuclear thinking will remain a lasting contribution.
Condoling his death, minister of state for atomic energy Dr Jitendra Singh told TOI, "Saddened to hear about the demise of Dr S Banerjee who just defeated Covid last month. His contributions in nation building are exceptional. His specialised expertise in physical metallurgy and material science is reflected in several coveted awards bestowed upon him. My heartfelt condolences."
Current DAE secretary KN Vyas told TOI, "It’s a huge loss for the entire DAE family. Dr Banerjee was active even a few days ago as he attended the virtual meeting of the governing council of one of our institutes. The amount of academic work he did for the organisation was unparalleled, especially in the field of metallurgy and material science. His overall academic capabilities were also extremely good. He was a down-to-earth person and we had always looked up to him for his suggestions in difficult projects." Vyas said it’s a big loss, losing two veterans in a few months as "they were our guides and advisers".
Banerjee worked as BARC director for six years till 2010. During his BARC stint, he had organised research in nuclear fuel cycle, design of innovative reactors, applications of radiation and isotope technology in agriculture, healthcare, and food preservation and industry. After taking over the reins of AEC and DAE from veteran scientist Anil Kakodkar in November 2009, Banerjee oversaw the path breaking shift of India’s nuclear policy. He retired as AEC chairman and DAE secretary in 2012.
Banerjee was a recipient of several awards, including the Indian Nuclear Society Award (2003), Padma Shri in 2005, National Metallurgist Award (2008) and presidential citation of American Nuclear Society (2012).
The principal scientific adviser to the government of India, K Vijay Raghavan, tweeted, "Dr Srikumar Banerjee’s passing is too sudden, too soon. His interests straddled the most fundamental to the most applied. In every discussion, his astute leadership ensured that there was more light and no heat. Dr Banerjee had a complete lack of condescension, also spoke to authority in the same gentle analytical way he discussed with a student. Welcoming critiques, he gently navigated reality in a principled manner, helping science and institutions. A culture, to imbibe, amplify."