Padma Vibhushan for Anil Kakodkar

Dr Anil Kakodkar, India's foremost nuclear scientist and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) has been awarded Padma Vibhushan, the country's second-most highest honour on this year's Republic Day.

Dr Kakodkar, who is also the Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy, was the director of the prestigious Bhabha Atomic Research Centre at Trombay from 1996 to 2000.

Kakodkar was born on 11 November 1943 in the Barawani village in Madhya Pradesh. Son of Gandhian freedom fighters Kamala Kakodkar and P. Kakodkar, he pursued his post-matriculation studies in the then Bombay.

Kakodkar then joined VJTI in Bombay University in 1963 to obtain a degree in Mechanical Engineering. In 1964, he joined the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). He also notched a masters degree in experimental stress analysis from the University of Nottingham in 1969. Kakodkar's career as nuclear scientist further saw him join the Reactor Engineering Division of the BARC.

Kakodkar was a member of the core team of architects of India's peaceful nuclear tests conducted during 1974 and 1998. He also led the indigenous development of the country's Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor Technology. Kakodkar's efforts in the rehabilitation of the two reactors at Kalpakkam and the first unit at Rawatbhatta were noteworthy as these were about to close down.

In 1996, Kakodkar became the youngest Director of the BARC after Homi Bhabha himself, after whom, the reactor was named. From 2000 onwards, he has been heading AEC and the Secretary to the Department of Atomic Energy. Kakodkar is known for being a strong advocate of India's self-reliance by employing thorium as a fuel for nuclear energy, in order toi reduce India's dependence on uranium.