India on Friday marked the 60th death anniversary of Dr Homi Jehangir Bhabha, the pioneering physicist who laid the foundation of the country’s nuclear programme.
His sudden death in 1966 cut short a transformative scientific career and left behind unanswered questions that still attract scrutiny.
On January 24, 1966, Air India Flight 101 crashed into Mont Blanc in the French Alps while flying from Mumbai to New York via Geneva.
The Boeing 707, named Kanchenjunga, carried 106 passengers and 11 crew members. All 117 people on board died, including Dr Bhabha, who was travelling to attend an International Atomic Energy Agency meeting in Vienna.
Indian and French investigators later attributed the crash to poor weather, navigational misjudgment, and communication failures with air traffic control.
The aircraft strayed off course and struck the mountainside. Investigators also noted that another Air India aircraft had crashed in the same region in 1950.
Born in Mumbai on October 30, 1909, Bhabha emerged as a gifted scientist early in life.
A Vision Cut Short
He earned his doctorate from Cambridge University and gained global recognition for his work on cosmic rays.
Nobel laureate C V Raman once described him as ‘India’s Leonardo da Vinci’ for his intellectual range and artistic sensibility.
Bhabha founded the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in 1945 and later established the Atomic Energy Establishment, now known as BARC.
He served as the first chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission from 1950 until his death. He also acted as Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Atomic Energy.
He envisioned nuclear science as a tool for development, spanning power generation, healthcare, agriculture, and national security.
With Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s support, Bhabha built India’s atomic infrastructure with a focus on self-reliance.
After China’s 1964 nuclear test, Bhabha publicly stated that India could develop a nuclear device within 18 months if approved.
Many historians believe his survival could have accelerated India’s nuclear timeline.
Conspiracy theories later alleged foreign intelligence involvement in his death, particularly the CIA.
However, no official investigation produced evidence beyond accident findings.
Six decades later, Bhabha’s legacy endures through India’s nuclear institutions and scientific strength.
His vision continues to shape national policy, research ambition, and strategic autonomy.
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