AMN
Renowned scientist and educationist Professor Yash Pal passed away last night at his residence in Noida in Uttar Pradesh. He was 90. The globally acclimed renowned physicist and higher education reformer began his career at Mumbai’s Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
Professor Pal was born in 1926 in Jhang district of British India that is now in Pakistan. He gained recognition due to his contribution in the study of cosmic rays. Professor Yash Pal was lappointed as the Chief Consultant of the Planning Commission. He acted as the Secretary of Department of Science and Technology from 1984 to 1986.
He was appointed as the Chairman of University Grants Commission where he served a full single-term of five years and also served as the Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University. He served as a member of UN Advisory Committee on Science and Technology for Development. He is also known for his appearances on the science programme, Turning Point on Doordarshan and explaining scientific concepts in layman’s language. Pal was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1976 and Padma Vibhushan in 2013 for his contribution to Science.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the passing away of Professor Yash Pal. In a tweet, Mr Modi said, India has lost a brilliant scientist and academician who made a lasting contribution to Indian education. The Prime Minister said, he had interacted with Professor Yash Pal extensively on many occasions including the National Children’s Science Congress in Gujarat in 2009.
