Ex-AEC chief Sekhar Basu, who played key role in 1st N-sub reactor development, dies of Covid-19

Veteran atomic scientist and former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Sekhar Basu, 68, died of Covid-19 complications at a private hospital in Kolkata on Thursday.
Basu, who was also the secretary of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and served as BARC director, is revered for his immense contributions to the country’s atomic energy programme. He had also spearheaded the development of the highly complex reactor for India’s first nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant as the project director of the programme and continued to guide the country’s nuclear propulsion programme for sea-going versions.
He had also been proactively engaged in the design, development, construction and operation of nuclear recycle plants at Tarapur and Kalpakkam involving reprocessing and nuclear waste management.
Speaking to TOI, former AEC chairman and veteran nuclear scientist Anil Kakodkar said, “Losing him at such an early age is very tragic. He was much younger than all of us (former chairmen). He had been a doer as he had demonstrated his ability to handle difficult and large projects successfully. For example, the nuclear submarine reactor in which he was involved for a very long time. Also, he was engaged in the programme on several nuclear recycle facilities that he had brought to a successful level. These are all difficult things that he had achieved during his lifetime.”
Mourning the loss of Dr Basu, PM Narendra Modi tweeted, “I join the atomic energy fraternity in grieving the passing away of Dr Sekhar Basu, a renowned nuclear scientist who played a key role in establishing India as a lead country in nuclear science and engineering. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. Om Shanti!” Union minister for the department of atomic energy Jitendra Singh too paid homage to the veteran scientist in his tweet, “Pained to share the sad news of the demise of Dr Shekhar Basu, former Chairman Atomic Energy Commission & Secretary, who was suffering from COVID with Comorbidity and was admitted in a Kolkata hospital. Dr Basu & I had worked closely together during the first term of Modi Govt."
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee also tweeted, "Grieved to hear about the passing away of veteran nuclear scientist and former Atomic Energy Commission chairman, Dr Sekhar Basu. My condolences to his family and colleagues."
Born on September 20, 1952, Basu did his schooling from Kolkata's Ballygunge Government School and then graduated in mechanical engineering from Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), University of Mumbai, in 1974. After completing a year’s training in nuclear science and engineering at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) School, he joined its reactor engineering division in 1975.
Prominent among several awards that he had received during his lifetime were Indian Nuclear Society Award in 2002 and Padma Shri in 2014.