Eminent Scientist From Odisha, Trilochan Pradhan, No More

Noted physicist, educationist and Padma Bhushan recipient, Dr. Trilochan Pradhan who was also the first Director of the Institute of Physics in Bhubaneswar, passed away at the age of 93.

Pradhan died due to age-related ailments at Bhubaneswar on Saturday, family sources informed.

Born on January 3, 1929, Pradhan was a resident of Ghanashalia village in Nayagarh district and appeared for matriculation exams from Nayagarh High School.

He joined Revenshaw University (then Ravenshaw College) in 1945 and pursued graduation with Physics Honours. He then moved to Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1949 for Masters’ Degree.

He later joined Revenshaw college as a faculty and then went to the University of Chicago, USA in 1956 to obtain Ph.D.

Pradhan headed the Theoretical Nuclear Physics Division at the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics from 1964 to 1974 and joined as the first director of the Institute of Physics in Bhubaneswar in 1974. He also served as the vice chancellor of Utkal University from 1989 to 1991.

Pradhan was an eminent scientist from India who was recipient of many national and international awards, including Kalinga Ratna in 2018, Kalinga Prize in 2014, Padma Bhusan in 1990 and Meghnad Saha Award in 1980.

Meanwhile, condolences poured in from several quarters after the news of the demise of Pradhan broke.

Expressing grief over the demise of Pradhan, Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik tweeted, “Saddened to know about the demise of Padma Bhushan awardee and Odia scientist, Trilochan Pradhan. His invaluable contribution to the world of science will always be remembered. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family members.”

 

ପଦ୍ମ ଭୂଷଣ ସମ୍ମାନରେ ସମ୍ମାନିତ ସୁଖ୍ୟାତ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ବୈଜ୍ଞାନିକ ଡଃ. ତ୍ରିଲୋଚନ ପ୍ରଧାନଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ବିଜ୍ଞାନ ଜଗତ ପ୍ରତି ତାଙ୍କର ବହୁମୂଲ୍ୟ ଅବଦାନ ସର୍ବଦା ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ରହିବ। ତାଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଉଛି।

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) December 4, 2021

 

“Hon'ble Governor condoled the sad demise of eminent scientist Padma Bhushan Dr Trilochan Pradhan and conveyed his sympathy to his bereaved family members. ‘Dr. Pradhan's stellar contribution to the world of scientific research and education will be remembered forever,' he noted,” stated a tweet from the Governor Odisha’s twitter handle.

 

Hon'ble Governor condoled the sad demise of eminent scientist Padma Bhushan Dr.Trilochan Pradhan and conveyed his sympathy to his bereaved family members. 'Dr. Pradhan's stellar contribution to the world of scientific research and education will be remembered forever,'he noted.

— Governor Odisha (@GovernorOdisha) December 4, 2021

 

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJP’s National Vice President Baijayant Panda also condoled the death of Pradhan.

 

ଖ୍ୟାତିସମ୍ପନ୍ନ ବୈଜ୍ଞାନିକ, ଶିକ୍ଷାବିତ୍ ପଦ୍ମଭୂଷଣ ପ୍ରଫେସର ଡଃ. ତ୍ରିଲୋଚନ ପ୍ରଧାନଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଓ ମର୍ମାହତ । ସାଧାରଣ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ବିଜ୍ଞାନକୁ ଆଦୃତ କରିବାରେ ଉଲ୍ଲେଖନୀୟ ଅବଦାନ ପାଇଁ ସେ ଚିର ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ହୋଇରହିବେ । ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାର ବର୍ଗକୁ ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଉଛି ।

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) December 4, 2021

 

 

ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ବୈଜ୍ଞାନିକ, ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ଶିକ୍ଷାବିତ୍, ଇନ୍‌ଷ୍ଟିଚ୍ୟୁଟ୍‌ ଅଫ୍ ଫିଜିକ୍ସର ପୂର୍ବତନ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶକ ତଥା ଉତ୍କଳ ବିଶ୍ଵବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟର ପୂର୍ବତନ କୁଳପତି ପଦ୍ମଭୂଷଣ ଡ. ତ୍ରିଲୋଚନ ପ୍ରଧାନଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଖବର ଶୁଣି @PandaJay ଗଭୀର ଦୁଃଖପ୍ରକାଶ କରିଛନ୍ତି । ସେ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ଗଭୀର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇଛନ୍ତି।
ଓଁ ଶାନ୍ତି 🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/luLJc7sgc2

— Office of Jay Panda (@mp_office) December 4, 2021