M. G. K. Menon

M. G. K. Menon FRS
Born	Mambillikalathil Govind Kumar Menon (1928-08-28)28 August 1928 Mangalore,British India (present dayKarnataka,India)
Died	22 November 2016(2016-11-22)(aged 88)
Alma mater	University of Mumbai University of Bristol
Known for	KGF Experiments (Particle experiments atKolar Gold Fields)
Children	2
Awards	1996Abdus Salam Medal 1985Padma Vibhushan 1970FRS 1968Padma Bhushan 1961Padma Shri 1960Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology
Scientific career
Fields	Physics
Institutions	Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Indian Space Research Organisation Department of Science & Technology, Government of India
Doctoral advisor	Cecil F. Powell

M. G. K. Menon
Chairman,Indian Space Research Organisation
In office January 1972(1972-01)– September 1972(1972-09)
Preceded by	Vikram Sarabhai
Succeeded by	Satish Dhawan

Mambillikalathil Govind Kumar MenonFRS(28 August 1928 – 22 November 2016)also known asM. G. K. Menon,was aphysicistand policy maker from India. He had a prominent role in the development of science and technology in India over four decades. One of his most important contributions was nurturing theTata Institute of Fundamental Research,Mumbai,which his mentorHomi J. Bhabhafounded in 1945.

Born inMangalore,he attended theUniversity of Bristolfor his PhD in elementaryparticle physicsunder the guidance ofNobel LaureateCecil F. Powell.He joined theTIFRin 1955.

He undertook experiments withcosmic raysto explore the properties offundamental particles.He was actively involved in setting up balloon flight experiments, as well as deep underground experiments with cosmic rayneutrinosin the mines at Kolar Gold Fields. He was the Director of theTata Institute of Fundamental Research,Mumbai(1966–1975), President of theIndian Statistical Institute,the Vikram Sarabhai Fellow of theIndian Space Research Organisation,President of theNational Academy of Sciences, India,Chairman Board of Governors,Indian Institute of Technology, Bombayand chairman Board of Governors of theIndian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad.

He won theAbdus SalamAward, and was a member of thePontifical Academy of Sciences.He was one of the most prominent scientists from the state of Kerala and was elected aFellow of the Royal Societyin May 1970.Theasteroid7564 Gokumenonwas named in his honour in late 2008.†

Early life and education

M.G.K.Menon was born into aMalayaliNairfamily to Justice Sankara Menon of Kizhakkepat and Narayanikutty Amma of Mamballikalathil.He was educated at Jaswant College,Jodhpur,and theRoyal Institute of Science, Bombay(now called The Institute of Science, Mumbai), before he moved to theUniversity of Bristolfor his PhD in elementaryparticle physicsunder the guidance ofNobel LaureateCecil F. Powellin 1953.

Career

Menon joinedTata Institute of Fundamental Researchin 1955 "essentially because ofBhabha",and the association lasted nearly five decades. He became the director of the institute in 1966, at the age of 38, following Bhabha's untimely death. In fact, Menon began handling the affairs of the institute ever since he was 33, because of Bhabha's increasing involvement with the country's nascent atomic energy programme.

Menon was thechairman of the ISROin 1972.He was a member of the Planning Commission (1982–1989), Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister (1986–1989) and vice-president, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) (1989–1990).

Menon was elected as aMember of Parliament, Rajya Sabhaduring 1990–96. In 1989, thenPrime Minister of India,Vishwanath Pratap Singhappointed him as theMinister of State for Science, Technology and Education.

Awards and recognition

• He won theAbdus Salam Medalin 1996
• Special Awards: He won thePadma Shriin 1961,Padma Bhushanin 1968 andPadma Vibhushanin 1985.
• Theasteroid7564 Gokumenonwas named in his honour in late 2008.

Personal life

While working towards his doctoral degree inparticle physicsat theUniversity of Bristolunder ProfessorCecil F. Powell,Menon met and married Indumati Patel, who was working towards a degree in philosophy.They have two children, Anant K. Menon, Professor of Biochemistry atWeill Cornell MedicineinNew York City,and Preeti Vaid, a practicing radiologist inNew Delhi.Menon has one grandchild, Kartikeya M. Menon, a medical student at theIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinaiin New York City.

External links

• Article by Menon: Impact of Advances in science and new technologies on society
• Article on Menon
• Interview about India's nuclear programfor the WGBH series,War and Peace in the Nuclear Age
• Activists Condemn Gujarat Violence, Screen New Documentary[1]