He was Secretary, Ministry of Education and Educational Adviser
to Government. Bhatnagar played an important role both in the constitution
and deliberations of the Scientific Manpower Committee Report of
1948. ‘It may be pointed out that this was the first-ever systematic
assessment of the scientific manpower needs of the country in all
aspects which served as an important policy document for the government
to plan the post-independent S&T infrastructure.’ Bhatnagar
was a University Professor for 19 years (1921-40) first at the Banaras
Hindu University and then at the Punjab University and he had a
reputation as a very inspiring teacher and it was as a teacher that
he himself was most happy. His research contribution in the areas
of magneto chemistry and physical chemistry of emulsion were widely
recognised. He also did considerable work in applied chemistry.
He played an instrumental role in the establishment of the National
Research Development Corporation (NRDC) of India, which bridges
the gap between research and development. Bhatnagar was responsible
for the initiation of the Industrial Research Association movement
in the country. He constituted the one-man Commission in 1951 to
negotiate with oil companies for starting refineries and this ultimately
led to the establishment of many oil refineries in different parts
of the country. He induced many individuals and organisations to
donate liberally for the cause of science and education. He exhibited
high poetic talent particularly in Urdu .
Bhatnagar was born on 21 February 1894 at Bhera,
in the district of Shapur in Punjab (now in Pakistan). Bhatnagar
belonged to an educated elite family both from the paternal and
maternal side. His paternal grandfather Rai Bahadur Munshi Manohar
Lal Bhatnagar held high executive post and was particularly noted
for his piety and honesty. His father Parmeshwari Sahai Bhatnagar,
who was a distinguished graduate of the Panjab University, refused
to take up judicial or executive service which was the tradition
of the family and became headmaster of a high school in Bhera. His
mother Parbati Bhatnagar was the eldest daughter of Pearey Lal,
who was a distinguished engineer (he was one of the first to qualify
as an engineer from the Roorkee College of Engineering). Under the
influence of his maternal grandfather the young Bhatnagar not only
developed a taste for engineering and science but also became interested
at a very early age in his grandfather’s instruments, geometry and
algebra and in making mechanical toys. Bhatnagar’s interest in poetry
and literature also came from his mother’s side. It may be noted
that his mother’s family produced a number of poets, the most famous
of them was Munshi Hargopal Tufta who got the title of Mirza from
Mirza Ghalib the greatest Urdu poet. Bhatnagar’s maternal family
which adorned the Moghul courts was bestowed with the title of Khwaja-i-Khawaja.
Bhatnagar’s father was disinherited and thus lost
his share of family property because of his refusal to follow the
family tradition. Unfazed by this Parmeshwari Sahai Bhatnagar continued
to serve the society but when he died he left his wife and young
children in dire poverty. Bhatnagar had his earliest schooling in
a private ‘Maktab" and then studied in A.V. High school in
Sikandrabad in UP where his maternal grandfather worked. Rai Sahib
Lala Raghunath Sahai, the famous headmaster of the Dyal Singh High
School at Lahore and a friend of Bhatnagar’s father persuaded his
mother to send Bhatnagar for schooling at Lahore. While studying
in the Dyal Singh High School Bhatnagar came in contact with two
leading Brahmos namely Pandit Shiv Nath Sastry and Babu Abinash
Chandra Mazumdar. Bhatnagar, whose father had joined Brahmo Samaj,
became highly interested in the activities of the Samaj. Raghunath
Sahai, the head master, who later became Bhatnagar’s father-in-law
played an important role in shaping the views news of Bhatnagar.
Besides the headmaster the other teachers who had influenced Bhatnagar
were Rai Bahadur Lala Ram Kishore (who later became the Vice-Chancellor
of the Delhi University), Lala Bishen Narain Mathur, Moulvi Talib
Ali Paband and Mohd. Ashraf .
Bhatnagar passed the Matriculation Examination
in the first division and secured a University Scholarship. In 1911
Bhatnagar joined the newly established Dyal Singh College. Here
he became an active member of the Saraswati Stage Society, established
by Mrs. Norah Richards, the wife of the English literature professor
of the College, P.E. Richards. Bhatnagar earned a good reputation
as an actor. With Mrs. Richards’ encouragement Bhatnagar wrote in
Urdu a one-act play called ‘Karamati’ (Wonder worker), the English
translation of which earned him the prize and medal of the Saraswati
Stage Society for the best play of the year 1912. Bhatnagar continued
his interest in literary work in his later phases of life. After
the death of his wife Bhatnagar wrote a collection of poems in Urdu
in memory of his wife, which were published under the title Lajwanti.
Bhatnagar passed the Intermediate Examination of
the Panjab University in 1913 in the first division and joined the
Forman Christian College for the BSc degree. At the time of Bhatnagar’s
joining the college. Dr. J.C.R Ewing was the Principal. Dr. Ewing
(who later became Sir James Ewing) was for many years Vice-Chancellor
of the Panjab University. Here he studied physics and chemistry
and took up on Honours course in physics. He was taught physics
by J.M. Benade, who had done research with Arthur Holly Compton
(1892-1962), the Nobel Laureat in physics. It may be noted here
that Bhatnagar did his first research work with Benade for his MSc
degree on the subject of surface tension). Chemistry was taught
by P. Carter Speers who used to be regarded as father of technical
education in the University
Mr. Welinker, Principal of Dyal Singh College,
who later became Director of Public Instruction wrote: ‘Mr. Shanti
Swarup was one of the ablest students in that large class of about
100 students; indeed, I am of opinion that in all-round ability
he was the ablest. He distinguished himself in every branch of the
work of his class—literary, scientific, dramatic, social and he
gave the most complete satisfaction to the Professor by the excellence
of his behavior. He is a young man of more than usual ability and
I feel sure that if he is given opportunities of developing his
talent in some great European or American Centre of Scientific research
he will do some remarkable work in science and will thus be in a
position to render high service to his country.’
After taking the Bachelor’s degree in 1916 he decided
to take up his first formal employment as Demonstrator in the Physics
and Chemistry Department of the Forman Christian College. Later
he became the Senior Demonstrator in the Dyal Singh College. The
employment, however, did not hinder Bhatnagar’s efforts in pursuing
higher studies. He joined the MSc course in chemistry in the Forman
Christian College and took the degree in 1919
With the initiative taken by Ruchi Ram Sahni Bhatnagar
was awarded a scholarship by the Dyal Singh College Trust for his
studies abroad. Armed with this scholarship Bhatnagar left for America
via England. But after reaching England he found that it was impossible
to find berth on ships sailing to America as all tickets had been
booked for American troops which were then being demobilised. He
informed the situation to the Trustees and the latter agreed to
his doing post-graduate research in London. Bhatnagar presented
himself with his research papers to Professor F. G. Donnan of the
University College of London. Professor Donnan readily agreed to
take Bhatnagar under his care for the DSc degree of the London University.
In 1921 Bhatnagar received the degree. As a member of Donnan’s school
he was engaged in the study of adhesion and cohesion in emulsions.
His thesis was entitled ‘Solubilities of bi- and trivalent salts
of higher fatty acids in oils and their effect on surface tension
of oils.’ While working in London he also had a fellowship of the
value of 250 pounds a year from the DSIR, England.
Bhatnagar returned to India in August 1921 and
he joined the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) as Professor of Chemistry.
It may be noted that the BHU was founded by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya
in 1916. Bhatnagar stayed for three years in BHU and during this
short span of time he was able to create an active school of physico-chemical
research. Bhatnagar wrote the ‘Kulgeet’ (University song) of the
University. Justice N.H. Bhagwati, Vice-Chancellor of BHU said:
"Many of you perhaps do not know that besides being an eminent
scientist, Professor Bhatnagar was a Hindi poet of repute and that
during his stay in Banaras, he composed the ‘Kulgeet’ of the University...Prof.
Bhatnagar is remembered with reverence in this University and will
continue to be so remembered till this University exists."
From Banaras Bhatnagar moved to Lahore where he
was appointed as University Professor of Physical Chemistry and
Director of University Chemical Laboratories. He spent 16 years
in the Panjab University, Lahore and this period was the most active
period of his life for original scientific work. While his major
fields of study were colloidal chemistry and magneto-chemistry he
did considerable work in applied and industrial chemistry. In 1928
Bhatnagar, jointly with K.N. Mathur, invented an instrument called
the Bhatnagar-Mathur Magnetic Interference Balance. The balance
was one of the most sensitive instruments for measuring magnetic
properties. It was exhibited at the Royal Society Soiree in 1931
and it was marketed by Messers Adam Hilger and Co, London.
Bhatnagar did considerable work in applied and
industrial chemistry. The first industrial problem undertaken by
Bhatnagar was the development of a process to convert bagasse (peelings
of sugarcane) into food cake for cattle. This was done for the Grand
Old Man of Punjab, Sir Ganga Ram. He had undertake industrial problems
for Delhi Cloth Mills; J.K. Mills Ltd., Kanpur; Ganesh Flour Mills
Ltd., Layallapur; Tata Oil Mills Ltd., Bombay; Steel Brothers &
Co. Ltd., London and so on. One of the important achievements of
Bhatnagar in applied and industrial chemistry was the work he did
for Attock Oil Company at Rawalpindi (representative of Messers
Steel Brothers & Co London). Attock Oil Company in their drilling
operations confronted a peculiar problem, wherein the mud used for
drilling operation when came in contact with the saline water got
converted into a solid mass which hardened further. This solidification
of the mud rendered all drilling operations impossible.
Bhatnagar realised that this was a problem in colloidal
chemistry and developed a suitable method to solve it. ‘The problem
was elegantly solved by the addition of an Indian gum which had
the remarkable property of lowering the viscosity of the mud suspension
and of increasing at the same time its stability against the flocculating
action of electrolytes." M/s Steel Brothers was so pleased
with the method developed by Bhatnagar that they offered a sum of
Rs. 1,50,000/- to Bhatnagar for his research work on any subject
related to petroleum. At the instance of Bhatnagar the company placed
the amount at the disposal of the University. The grant helped to
establish the Department of Petroleum Research under the guidance
of Bhatnagar. Investigations carried out under this collaborative
scheme included deodourisation of waxes, increasing flame height
of kerosene and utilisation of waste products in vegetable oil and
mineral oil industries. Realising the commercial importance of the
collaborative scheme the Company increased the amount and extended
the period from five years to ten years.
Bhatnagar persistently refused to receive any monetary
benefit arising out of his applied/industrial chemical research
for his personal ends on the ground that it may be utilised for
strengthening research facilities at the University. His sacrifices
drew wide attention. Meghnad Saha wrote to Bhatnagar in 1934 saying,
‘you have hereby raised the status of the university teachers in
the estimation of public, not to speak of the benefit conferred
on your Alma Mater’.
Bhatnagar jointly with K.N. Mathur wrote a book
‘Physical Principles and Applications of Magneto chemistry’ and
which was published by Macmillan publishers. This book was recognised
as a standard work on the subject. Prafulla Chandra Ray wrote: "On
turning over the pages of Nature my eyes chanced upon an advertisement
of Macmillan’s in which I find your book at last advertised. That
the book is of a high standard is indicated by the most excellent
review in Current Science by Professor Stoner, who is competent
to judge. As far as I know Meghnad’s is the only text book in physical
sciences which has been adopted by foreign universities; and it
gladdens my heart that another work in physical science is likely
to occupy a similar place. My days are practically numbered; and
my great consolation is that you, in chemistry, are raising the
reputation, abroad, of Indian workers".
In 1930s there were no appropriate research organisations
for the development of natural resources and new industries. Thus
Sir Richard Gregory, then editor of Nature, who after visiting scientific
departments and universities in India in 1933 drew the attention
of Sir Samuel Hoare, Secretary of State for India, to the lack of
appropriate research organisation equivalent to those of in DSIR
in Britain for the development of natural research and new industries.
He observed: "I knew that work of the Geological Survey of
India, Botanical Survey of India, Meteorological Department, Forestry
and so on; but I think something should be done to form an Indian
Research Council to make use of the undoubted capacity of Indians
for scientific investigations and its applications. Scientific activities,
many of them having a direct bearing upon the development of resources
of the country, are scarcely given the attention they deserve."
Gregory was not alone in realising the need for appropriate research
organisation. C.V. Raman, Lt. Col. Seymour Sewell and Dr. J.C. Ghosh
had earlier proposed the creation of an Advisory Board of Scientific
Research for India. Indian scientists at Calcutta and Bangalore
initiated schemes to launch a National Institute of Sciences and
an India Academy Science respectively. At the Fifth Industries Conference
in 1933 the Provincial Governments of Bombay, Madras, Bihar and
Orissa unanimously reiterated their demand to set up a co-ordinating
forum for industrial research, Sir Hoare advised the Viceroy, Lord
Willingdon to support the idea of an Indian version of DSIR. However,
in May 1934 Willingdon informed Hoare in London that `the creation
of a Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in India to
promote the application of research to natural resources does not
appear to be necessary." Having rejected an Indian version
of the DSIR the colonial Government decided in 1934 to make a small
concession. The Govt. agreed to create an Industrial Intelligence
and Research Bureau and which came into operation in April 1935
under the Indian Stores Department. The Bureau had very limited
resources (with a budget of Rs. 1.0 lakh per annum) and thus it
was not possible for it to undertake any industrial activity. It
was mainly concerned with testing and quality control.
When the Second World War began it was proposed
to abolish the Bureau. Sir Ramaswamy Mudaliar, the Commerce Member,
while accepting the recommendation that the Bureau be abolished
argued that "the old Bureau should be abolished not as a measure
of economy but to make room for a Board of Scientific and Industrial
Research with vaster resources and wider objectives. Mudaliar’s
persistent efforts led to the creation of the Board of Scientific
and Industrial Research (BSIR) on April 1, 1940 for a period of
two years. Bhatnagar, who by then had made remarkable contributions
to chemistry was called on to take charge. Bhatnagar was designated
Director, Scientific and Industrial Research and Sir Mudaliar became
BSIR’s first Chairman. The BSIR was allocated an annual budget of
Rs. 500,000 and placed under the Department of Commerce. By the
end of 1940, about eighty researchers were engaged under BSIR, of
whom one-quarter was directly employed. Within two years of its
establishment the BSIR was able to work out a number of processes
at the laboratory level for industrial utilisation. Those included
techniques for the purification of Baluchistan sulphur anti-gas
cloth manufacture, the development of vegetable oil blends as fuel
and lubricants, the invention of a pyrethrum emulsifier and cream,
the development of plastic packing cases for army boots and ammunition,
dyes for uniforms and the preparation of vitamins. Bhatnagar persuaded
the Government to set up an Industrial Research Utilisation Committee
(IRUC) in early 1941 for translating results into application. Following
the recommendation of IURC the Government agreed to make a separate
fund out of the royalties received from industry for further investment
into industrial research. A resolution moved by Mudaliar, recommending
that an Industrial Research Fund be constituted for the purpose
of fostering industrial development in the country , and that provision
be made for an annual grant of rupees one million for a period of
five years was accepted by the Central Assembly in Delhi at its
session on 14 November 1941. The efforts of Mudaliar and Bhatnagar
led to the constitution of the Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research (CSIR) as an autonomous body, to administer the Research
Fund created by the government. The CSIR came into operation on
28th September 1942. The BSIR and IRUC were designated as advisory
bodies to the Governing body of the CSIR. In 1943 the Governing
Body of the CSIR approved the proposal mooted by Bhatnagar to establish
five national laboratories — the National Chemical Laboratory, the
National Physical Laboratory, the Fuel Research Station, and the
Glass and Ceramics Research Institute. In 1944 in addition to its
annual budget of Rs. 1 million, the CSIR received a grant of Rs.10
million for the establishment of these laboratories. The Tata Industrial
House donated Rs. 2 million for the Chemical, metallurgical and
fuel research laboratories.
After India’s independence
the CSIR was placed under the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru himself
who was equally enthusiastic in the development of science in the
country. By the end of 1954 twelve national laboratories were established
and a dozen more were at the planning stage.
In 1936 the British Government
conferred on Bhatnagar the Order of British Empire (OBE) based on
his excellent contribution to pure and applied chemistry. Bhatnagar
was knighted in 1941 in recognition of his work for the war effort.
In 1943 the Society of Chemical Industry, London, elected Bhatnagar
as Honorary Member and later as Vice President. He was elected Fellow
of Royal Society, London, in 1943. He was the President of the Indian
Chemical Society, National Institute of Sciences of India and the
Indian National Science Congress. He was awarded the title Padma
Vibhusan by the President of India.
Bhatnagar died on 1 January
1955.
|