Raja Ramanna, one of the great Indian scientists, man behind Pokhran I, played a critical role in our nuclear program during the early stages, and associated with it for around 40 years. A skilled pianist too.

Raja Ramanna was born on January 28, 1925 in Tiptur, located in Tumkur district, to Ramanna and Rukmini, he was a student of Bishop Cotton's, Bangalore and later Madras Christian College, where he studied arts and literature.

He would later graduate from MCC with a degree in Physics, as well as a BA in Classical Music, his twin passions. And he did his Post Grad in Physics from Bombay University later on, as well as a Post Grad in Music too.

Raja Ramanna, got his PhD in Nuclear Physics from King;s College, London in 1954 and did his research at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, which is where he gained his expertise in nuclear technology.

Along with his work in nuclear Physics, Ramanna also continued to follow his passion in Classical Western Music, Western Philosophy, straddling two different worlds at the same time.

On his return to India, Ramanna joined BARC, where he worked under Homi Bhabha on classified nuclear projects. It was Ramanna, who would take up the responsiblity of preparing Test sites for experiments

With the sudden death of Bhabha, it was Ramanna who too over as directing officer of India's still fledgling nuclear program. He was the one who took initiative to develop the first nuke as well as the Pokhran Test site.

Ramanna designed and developed the first nuclear weapon in India, as well as sourcing the material needed. In 1974, he met Indira Gandhi and informed her, that India was ready to conduct nuclear tests on it's own.

With Indira Gandhi giving permission, Ramanna travelled all the way to Pokhran where the nuclear Test site was set up by him earlier. All the preparations for the test were conducted under extreme secrecy.

The first nuclear device in India was flown from Trombay to Pokhran, as Ramanna along with his team, had it installed, and made the necessary preparation in time for Indira Gandhi's visit.

May 1974, Operation Smiling Buddha, India's first ever nuclear test. The man behind it Dr. Raja Ramanna, along with Dr. Homi Sethna. Pokhran I, ensured India would enter the exclusive nuclear club.

While Indira rewarded Dr. Ramanna with the Padma Vibhushan, Saddam Hussein, approached him in 1978, when he was on a visit to Baghdad to develop their nuclear bomb.

You have done enough for your country; don't go back. Stay here and take over our nuclear programme. I will pay you whatever you want.- Saddam Hussein to Dr. Raja Ramanna.

Needless to say Dr. Ramanna was literally scared out of his wits by Saddam's proposal, and after a sleepless night, took the first flight out of Baghdad, that was one narrow escape for him.

In his later years however Ramanna called for peaceful use of nuclear energy, and advocated disarmament. He would later serve as director of DRDO, and was a scientific advisor to the Defense Ministry in 2000.

Dr.Ramanna was a gifted musician too, an expert piano player. He authored a book on The Structure of Music in Raga And Western Systems. His autobiography Years of Pilgrimage is worth a read too.

Dr Raja Ramanna also served for some time as Minister of State for Defense in the VP Singh Govt, and was a nominated member of Rajya Sabha from 1997-2003. Also closely associated with IIT, Mumbai.

Dr Raja Ramanna passed away on Sept 24,2004 at the age of 79, but his legacy would forever remain in the form of Pokhran I, and his sterling work in India's nuclear program, especially after the sudden death of Bhabha. #Naman