Mumbai, Jan 4 (Reporter) Legendary Indian Nuclear Scientist Dr R Chidambaram, who was the architect of India's atomic explosions at Pokhran in 1974 and 1998 passed away at Jaslok hospital due to age releated diseases here on Saturday. He was 88. Chidambaram was the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, when India did the crucial Pokhran-II nuclear tests. Born in Chennai in 1936 to C Rajagopal Aiyar, a Controller of Defence Accounts and Ananthalakshmi, Chidambaram became a first ranker in Madras University, passing B.Sc (Honours). He later joined the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, in 1956, picked up his masters in one year and PhD in 1961. After that, Chidambaram recalls in his memoirs, “Many of my friends went to the US for post doctoral studies. I was however not interested in going abroad. Instead, I joined Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in 1962.” That is how India got one of its brightest nuclear scientists. He was conferred with Padma Shri in 1975 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1999. After Pokhran-II, as the Principal Scientific Adviser to Government of India – a post he held for 17 years – Chidambaram was involved in managing the fallout of the tests, which had created global consternation. “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram, an eminent physicist and one of India’s most distinguished scientists, died early this morning at 3:20 a.m. Dr. Chidambaram’s unparalleled contributions to India’s scientific and strategic capabilities and his visionary leadership in science and technology will forever be remembered,” a statement issued by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). said...////...