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V. S. R. Arunachalam

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Vallampadugai Srinivasa Raghavan Arunachalam(10 November 1935–16 August 2023) was an Indian scientist and former head ofDefence Research & Development Organization (DRDO).He was the founder and chairman ofCSTEP,a science and technologythink tank.

Early life and education

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Arunachalam was born on 10 November 1935.[1]He held bachelor's and master's degrees in science and received his PhD degree inmaterials scienceand engineering from theUniversity of Wales,in 1965. He was also alumnus of Sharada Vilas College Mysuru.[citation needed]

Career

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Arunachalam worked as a scientist at theBhabha Atomic Research Centre,National Aeronautical LaboratoryinBangalore,andDefence Metallurgical Research LaboratoryinHyderabad.He was the head ofDRDOfor about ten years in the 1980s.[2]During his tenure the budget of DRDO increased eightfold, and he is credited with being able to get over both bureaucratic and financial hurdles.[3]He initiated major defence projects like the Light Combat Aircraft and the Integrated Guided Missiles programmes.

Arunachalam served as defence scientific advisor to the defence minister of India between 1982 and 1992, serving ten defence ministers and five prime ministers,[4]and as secretary, Department of Defence Research forGovernment of India.[5]He advised the government on the definition, assessment and review of a number of major technological and societal programs such as optical fiber communications for India, development of indigenous iron and steel technologies, scientific and technological missions for the country to eradicate illiteracy, infant mortality etc. He also advised the government in the area of graduate education in engineering.[6]

Arunachalam was a collaborating professor of engineering and public policy at theCarnegie Mellon University,[7]and an honorary professor at the UK'sUniversity of Warwick.He was a member of theDefence Research & Development Service(DRDS).

Awards

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Arunachalam received numerous awards and medals, including theShanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prizefor Science and Technology in Engineering Science in 1980. He was the first Indian to be elected as a Fellow of theRoyal Academy of Engineering,UK.[5]

Arunachalam was conferredPadma Bhushan(1985) andPadma Vibhushan(1990) for his contribution to Indian science.[8]In 2015, he was awardedDefence Research and Development Organisation's(DRDO's) lifetime achievement award for his outstanding contribution in the field of scientific research and technology.[9]

Death

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Arunachalam died in California on 16 August 2023, at the age of 87.[10][11]

References

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  1. ^"Awardee Details: Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize".ssbprize.gov.in.18 August 2023.Retrieved18 August2023.
  2. ^RAMADAS P SHENOY."DEFENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION 1958–1982"(PDF).Retrieved17 November2015.
  3. ^WPS Siddhu (15 September 1992)."Off course DRDO's budget jumps, major projects get delayed".India Today.Retrieved17 November2015.
  4. ^Rajagopalan, Rajesh; Mishra, Atul (2014).Nuclear South Asia: Keywords and Concepts.Routledge India. pp. 69–70.ISBN978-1138795730.
  5. ^ab"Indian Fellow".Indian National Science Academy.Retrieved19 November2015.
  6. ^"Dr. V. S. Arunachalam on IRGC".IRGC.Retrieved19 November2015.
  7. ^"V.S. Arunachalam on CMU".CMU.Retrieved18 November2015.
  8. ^"Padma Awards"(PDF).Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015.Retrieved21 July2015.
  9. ^"V S Arunachalam gets DRDO lifetime achievement award".Business Standard.23 September 2015.Retrieved10 November2015.
  10. ^"Former DRDO Chief V.S. Arunachalam no more".The Hindu.16 August 2023.ISSN0971-751X.Retrieved16 August2023.
  11. ^"Former defence research body chief VS Arunachalam passes away in America".India Today.Retrieved16 August2023.
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