Srikumar Banerjee - A Lifestory

Here's an introduction to someone: He was more than just an engineer; he was someone with big ideas who changed India's atomic energy scene. Born into a world changing fast after World War II, he showed the spirit of new ideas. He wasn't just watching the atomic age like someone watching the Olympics; he was helping to build its future. His journey, like a good Bollywood movie, was full of hard work and success. From the start, his love for working with metals stood out, even more than the reactor cores he would later look after. A coworker once said, "He could see the good in every element, every mix of metals. He was like a modernday wizard." He held important jobs, like Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) from 2004 to 2010, a very important time for India's nuclear program. His leadership then helped to improve local technology, like the selfreliance supported by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi. His help wasn't just in labs and research papers. He was a teacher, guiding many young scientists and engineers, encouraging them to go beyond what they thought was possible. His impact goes beyond scientific discoveries; it's part of India's science world, showing a life dedicated to progress and new ideas. He passed away on 05 May 2021.