Homi Sethna

Homi Nusserwanji Sethna
Born(1923-08-24)24 August 1923
Died5 September 2010(2010-09-05) (aged 87)
Nationality British India (1923-1947)
 India (1947-2010)
Alma materUniversity Department of Chemical Technology
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Known forIndian nuclear programme
Smiling Buddha
Operation Shakti
AwardsPadma Shri (1959)
Padma Bhushan (1966)
Padma Vibhushan (1975)
Scientific career
FieldsChemical Engineering
InstitutionsAtomic Energy Commission of India
Homi Sethna
Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission of India
In office
1972-1983
Preceded byVikram Sarabhai
Succeeded byRaja Ramanna
Sheriff of Mumbai
In office
1991-1992
Preceded bySaad Alim Bagban
Succeeded byBakul Rajani Patel

Homi Nusserwanji Sethna (24 August 1923 – 5 September 2010) was an Indian nuclear scientist and a chemical engineer, gaining international fame as the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (India) during the time when the first nuclear test, codename Smiling Buddha in Pokhran Test Range in 1974 was conducted.[1][2] He was the primary and central figure in India's civilian nuclear program as well as the construction of nuclear power plants. In 1991, he was appointed as Sheriff of Mumbai.

He was awarded the second highest civilian award the Padma Vibhushan in 1975, by Government of India.

Earlier in his career, he had full technical responsibility for setting up of the Thorium extraction plant at Alwaye, Kerala India, for separation of rare earth from monazite sands.

  1. ^ Laxman, Srinivas (7 September 2010). "Homi Sethna, nuclear legend, passes away". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012.
  2. ^ "Homi Sethna passes away". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 7 September 2010. Archived from the original on 10 September 2010.