Born into a prominent Parsi family in Bombay, Homi Jehangir Bhabha grew up in an environment that valued education and culture. His early academic brilliance led him to the University of Cambridge, where he studied mechanical engineering before shifting to theoretical physics, a field that captured his imagination. His research during this period, particularly on cosmic rays and the behaviour of elementary particles, earned him early recognition, including the prestigious Adams Prize.

When the Second World War broke out, Bhabha returned to India and joined the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, working under Nobel laureate C.V. Raman. Recognising the need for a world-class research institution in fundamental science, he persuaded the Tata Trust to support the creation of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in 1945, where he served as founding director. His leadership extended beyond pure science; he became the driving force behind India’s atomic energy programme, chairing the newly formed Atomic Energy Commission from 1948. His vision laid the groundwork for India’s three-stage nuclear power strategy and its long-term scientific self-reliance.

Bhabha was also known for his deep appreciation of the arts, architecture, and music, embodying a rare blend of scientific rigour and cultural sensitivity. His life was tragically cut short in 1966 when he died in an air crash near Mont Blanc while travelling to Vienna for an International Atomic Energy Agency meeting. Despite his early death, Bhabha’s legacy endures in India’s scientific institutions, its nuclear capabilities, and the generations of researchers inspired by his vision.