| Ashesh Prosad Mitra | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1927-02-21)21 February 1927 Kolkata, West Bengal |
| Died | 3 September 2007(2007-09-03) (aged 80) New Delhi |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Citizenship | Indian |
| Alma mater | Rajabazar Science College University of Calcutta |
| Known for | Radio & Space Physics |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan, 1987 |
Ashesh Prosad Mitra FNA, FASc, FRS (21 February 1927 – 3 September 2007) was a physicist who headed the National Physics Laboratory in Delhi, India, and was the director general of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). He is primarily known for his work on environmental physics.
Life
Mitra studied at the Bangabasi College, an affiliated college of the University of Calcutta. He completed his post graduation studies from the renowned Rajabazar Science College campus of same university.
He was the director of the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) from 1982 to 1986 and the director general of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) from 1986 to 1991.
He died at New Delhi in September 2007.
Research
Radio and space physics was his area of specialization. He performed major work in the field of earth's near-space environment, through group based and space techniques. He worked on cosmic radio noise for studying the upper atmosphere led to a series of discoveries in ionosphere, solar physics and cosmic rays.
Honours and awards
- He was awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Physical Science in 1968. The citation read:
Dr Mitra is one of the acknowledged authorities on ionosphere and on some aspects of space research. His pioneering work on the use of cosmic radio noise for upper atmosphere studies resulted in a whole series of scientific discoveries in ionosphere, solar physics and cosmic rays. He has carried out comprehensive studies on the ionospheric effects of solar flares and has established one of the most extensive radio flare systems at the National Physical Laboratory. He developed an atmospheric model from observations of satellite drag and initiated new D region rocket experiments. Dr Mitra’s work on ion and neutral chemistry in the upper atmosphere, especially on the minor constituent nitric oxide, provided the basis for much of our present knowledge about the lower ionosphere. He has contributed substantially to the establishment and operation of the International Spacewarn System and the International Ursi-gramme and World Day Service.
- Foreign Fellow of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences
- Awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1987
- Fellow of the Royal Society of London in 1988.
- President of the International Union of Radio Sciences - URSI between 1984 and 1987
- Member, General Committee of International Council of Scientific Unions between 1984 and 1988
- Fellow - Indian National Science Academy in 1961
- Fellow of the Indian Academy Sciences in 1974
- Fellow of the Thud World Academy of Sciences in 198
- President, National Academy of Sciences between 1992 and 1993
- Honorary President, URSI in 2002
- Jawahar La1 Nehru Fellowship between 1978 and 1980
- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Fellowship between 1991 and 1996
- Senior Homi Bhabha Fellowshp between 1996 and 1998
- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Memorial Award for Physical Sciences in 1968
- C. V. Raman Award of University Grants Commission in 1982
- Om Prakash Bhasin Award for Physical Physical Sciences in 1987
- FICCI Award for Physical Sciences in 1982
- Meghnad Saha Golden Jubilee Award of Indian Association of Science in 1991
- Modi Science Award in 1992
- Vasuic Award on Environmental Science and Technology in 2002
- Meghnad Saha Medal by Asiatic Society in 1994
- S. K. Mitra Centenary Medal by Indian Science Congress Association in 1995
- DSc (Honors Causa) degrees from the universities of Manipur, Kolkata, Jadavpur, Burdwan North Bangal, Vidhyasagar.
Personal life
Ashesh Prosad Mitra had two daughters with his wife, Sunanda, whom he married on 12 August 1956.
References
- ^ "ASHESH PROSAD MITRA (21 February 1927 - 3 September 2007)" (PDF).
- About CSIR Archived 26 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- Prof. A. P. Mitra passes away Archived 29 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- "List of Fellows of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences". Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "List of Fellows of the Royal Society 1660 – 2007" (PDF). Royal Society. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
- Mahajan, Kushal Kumar (2024). "Ashesh Prosad Mitra. 21 February 1927 — 3 September 2007". Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society. 77: 285–300. doi:10.1098/rsbm.2024.0010.
- Mitra, A.N (November 2007). "Ashesh Prosad Mitra (1927–2007)" (PDF). Current Science. 93 (9): 1314–1315. Retrieved 10 July 2008.
| Padma Bhushan award recipients (1980–1989) | |
|---|---|
| 1980 | |
| 1981 | |
| 1982 | |
| 1983 | |
| 1984 | |
| 1985 |
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| 1986 | |
| 1987 | |
| 1988 | |
| 1989 | |
| # Posthumous conferral | |
- 1927 births
- 2007 deaths
- Scientists from Kolkata
- Bangabasi College alumni
- University of Calcutta alumni
- 20th-century Indian physicists
- 20th-century Indian educators
- Fellows of the Royal Society
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
- Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in science & engineering
- Fellows of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences