How ICTP Shaped My Scientific Career in India

How ICTP Shaped My Scientific Career in India

Hardev Singh Virk

Senior Associate ICTP (1988-93)

Formerly Head, Physics Department &

Director, Earthquake Research Centre

Guru Nanak Dev University

Amritsar, India

Mailing Address:

# 360, Sector 71, SAS Nagar (Mohali), India – 160071

E-mail: hardevsingh.virk@gmail.com

            My schooling started in 1947, after India gained her freedom, in a rural one-teacher primary school with hardly any infrastructure. Learning was by rote and I mastered all the texts. I topped in Government High School Malerkotla (1957) and opted to study science (non-medical group) on the advice of my Headmaster. My interest and faith in science grew after reading a popular science book “The Universe and Dr. Einstein” by Lincoln Barnett, priced at Rupee 1(2 cents), awarded to me for scoring second position in First Year of College Physics. I was so fascinated by the Theory of Relativity and Cosmology that Einstein became my role model in life. After my Master degree (M.Sc.) in Physics from Aligarh Muslim University in India (1963), my interest shifted to the study of Elementary Particles. When I started teaching in Punjabi University Patiala, my favourite subjects were Theory of Relativity and Particle Physics. I could motivate my undergraduate students by narrating episodes from the lives of great physicists like Albert Einstein, Marie Curie and Abdus Salam. The latter belonged to my own province of Punjab in united India.

            My research career started in 1970 when I was selected as a ‘Boursier’ (Scholar) of the French Government to pursue my doctoral research in Marie Curie University of Paris under Professor Max Morand in Particle Physics. Our group was working on nuclear emulsions exposed to proton beams at CERN (Geneva) and Fermi lab at Batavia. My passion to find a new particle or a resonance in high-energy nuclear interactions was so great that I started working round the clock in my laboratory. For two years, I worked in perfect isolation and got frustrated in my research pursuits. A visit to Rutherford Laboratory in Cambridge in April 1972 brought me on the right track and I submitted my doctoral thesis rejecting the hypothesis of L-meson put forward by my own supervisor, Tsai Chu. My research career has been quite eventful but I bade good-bye to Particle Physics after failing to discover a new particle proposed by my own supervisor.

            During the seventies, India had no high-energy accelerators. I was given the choice to work under Indo-French collaboration at CERN but my family wanted me to return home. During my stay of more than two years in Paris I could not visit my family and was feeling homesick. Moreover, I wanted to serve India despite obvious handicaps in experimental research in my area of interest.

            ICTP came to my rescue in shaping my scientific career in India. It is no less than a miracle that a physicist returning from Paris was saved from utter frustration by the intervention of the ICTP. During 1977, Professor A.H. Cook of Cambridge University conducted the first ten-week course on Physics of Earth at ICTP and I was lucky to join it. It gave me an opportunity to visit some laboratories in Europe. In those days ICTP funded such visits and the choice was given to the participant. I also made a friendship with Professor Abdus Salam, which lasted till his death. We met frequently and discussed the problems of scientists from the developing countries. I advised him to start more courses of the applied nature, e.g., medical physics, soil physics, geophysics, and microelectronics, to which he agreed in principle but he had reservations about setting up laboratories at the ICTP. During the eighties ICTP took the initiative to start Applied Physics programmes with the collaboration of the University of Trieste. I may claim some credit for changing the character of ICTP from a purely theoretical centre of physics to a wholesome physics institute. As a consequence, ICTP underwent a sea change, creating infrastructure at both the physical and academic levels. This rapid expansion put a lot of strain on the resources of ICTP, its staff and its Director. ICTP became more and more bureaucratic in its approach and the cordial personal relationship between the staff and course participants became a legacy of the past.

            After my training at the ICTP, I ventured into new fields of research in Earth Sciences, namely, Geochronology, Exploration Geophysics, Earthquake Prediction studies. Professor Abdus Salam visited my laboratory in 1981 and was surprised to see a Particle physicist transformed into a Geophysicist. I also attended courses in Medical Physics at ICTP and on return to India set up the Radiation Physics laboratory in Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. Using the heavy ion beam facility (UNILAC) at GSI, Darmstadt, I engaged myself in the study of radiation effects in mineral crystals, glasses and polymers. Ion Track Filters were developed and used in medicine and environment and our laboratory became a pioneer in earthquake prediction research and Ion Track Technology in India.

            Our collaboration resulted in many diverse activities when our Physics Department was affiliated to ICTP for almost a decade. A Centre for the Promotion of Science was set up under my supervision for popularisation of science in Punjab; research grants were received from ICTP in a project mode; the book Ideals and Realities by Abdus Salam was translated by me into Punjabi and I had the honour to work as a Senior Associate of ICTP (1988-93). ICTP proved to be a launching pad for my research activity in India, culminating in the publication of 360 research papers, 125 popular science articles and 30 books during my scientific career. To keep alive the spirit of ICTP, since my retirement in June 2002, I have been engaged in the promotion of Physics Education in India as President of the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT). I am also engaged in nanotechnology research as my pastime.

            Let me quote the last paragraph from the obituary note I published in Current Science (Vol. 72, No. 11, June 10, 1997), after the sad demise of my esteemed friend, guide and philosopher: “If ICTP in Trieste has become a Mecca for Third World scientists over the years since its creation in 1964, Professor Abdus Salam, its Director, was destined to play the role of a prophet of Third World scientists. May the mercy of Allah be on His servant?”

My Review Report (II) on GNDU Physics Department

After 2 years, interest in my Report on Physics department has revived again; some motivation came from Dr Gursharanjit Singh of GN studies and the rest by our own students/teachers. I don’t mind criticism as nothing is perfect in this World. We are bound to make errors (To error is human).

After my return from Paris, I met VC of GNDU in Jan. 1974. He read my CV but asked me a counter question: How can U reach the top of Ladder from the lower danda (rung)? I understood his satire that I am too young for Professorship.

In June 1979, when GNDU failed to find a suitable candidate for Professorship from USA, I was called by Dean Science Faculty (SS Sandhu of Chemistry) to appear for Professor’s post again; this time they selected me as Assoc. Professor (Reader) with a rider that I shall be promoted after watching my progress for 2 years. I reported myself on duty on 10^th July, started admission exercise, as we were already late, and shifting from one room accommodation in Chemistry block to 2 rooms provided in Physics Block on 15^th July.

Our Start was good but we were soon plagued by circumstances: Punjab was engulfed by terrorism leading to Operation Blue Star in 1984. In 1979 interview, 55 candidates appeared for Lecturer Interview including 16 Toppers of Universities from Kolkatta to Calicut. After 1984, GNDU failed to attract good candidates beyond Punjab-Haryana border at Shambu. We lost 4 best teachers up to 1984 and replacement was a big problem. Once I called a Particle Physicist from UK, Baldev Singh Bains, he reached Amritsar but returned from city Bus stop calling me on Phone: “Sir, I am a clean shaven, I don’t want to be killed by joining GNDU”.   Ultimately, I asked Dr Z.R. Khan of AMU to send some suitable Scholar to teach Theory courses in GNDU.

Our Courses were up to date but our faculty could not cope with its delivery. In my Opinion, teachers are mere Communicators of Knowledge and students, if guided and inspired, can fill up the gap. Building up Teaching & Research from a scratch was a big Challenge. No one can doubt my sincerity but we were under duress to cope with the Punjab situation going from bad to worse. This situation remained up to 1990s but my Headship was over after 7 years (1979-86). Another handicap was our sudden expansion program during my headship: from B.Sc. (Hons) in 1979, we started 4 M.Sc. Courses during 7 years. Geophysics and Energy Science Programs crashed after 5 years as competent faculty was not available.

Why I recount all this Story? Last year, GNDU VC twice complained that our Teachers are not doing enough research as We (myself and other HODs of Physics) failed to recruit good quality teachers and employed our own Ph.Ds.  I reminded him, we recruited 4 IITians, 2 were good but the other 2 proved a flop show.  Analysis of 500 Research Papers published by Physics Faculty (2009-14) has revealed that per Capita production of research in Physics is higher than any other Department of GNDU in citations. As Tarsem Gill points: Google Baba and Research gate can establish the TRUTH, if there is any doubt about performance of our faculty. Hope this blame game is a part of GNDU politics, not a reality.

HS Virk

          

Review Report GNDU Physics Department

GNDU Physics Department: An Introductory Survey

H.S. Virk (Founder Head Physics Deptt.)

When Gurtej Sandhu, Topper of 1st M.Sc. (Hons.) batch, presently serving in the top echelon of Micron Company, visited me in Surrey in mid-July, I was reminded of good old days when we started B.Sc. (Hons.) in end of July 1979 with intake of 16 students. 

Till my joining on 10^th July as HOD Physics, the department operated from Chemistry Block. The first task before me was to shift to Physics block which was then housing Registrar Office and University Library. We got just 2 rooms, one for HOD and the other served as a class room. We were 5 teachers to begin with. Berkeley Physics Course was introduced at B.Sc. level.

UGC had sanctioned a total grant of Rs. 5 lacs (10,000 USD) for Teaching and Research Labs. But VC did not allow us to spend the whole amount; I had to move all demands for approval of an Advisory Committee of Senior Physicists. This was my first encounter and foretaste of Indian bureaucracy and its tentacles. By nature, I was a little rebel and faced lot of problems to build infrastructure for teaching and research. Despite these hurdles, we could publish 3 Papers in area of Geochronology during 1979 using a Student Microscope (costing 200 USD) for study of fission tracks in minerals.

Our first batch of M.Sc. (Hons.) and M.Sc. (Pass) was out in 1983. It took us 5 years to get the Physics block vacated and set up facilities for research in Thin films (Material Science), Ultrasonics, Radiation Physics and Nuclear Spectroscopy. During the first decade, Physics Department was running 4 M.Sc. Courses; M.Sc. in Geophysics and Energy Sciences were added to diversify our Physics Program. Our faculty strength grew up to 22; Earthquake Research Centre was created on GNDU Campus; Solar Energy Station became functional and an MOU was signed with ICTP, Trieste, Italy for training of Physics Faculty. A Centre for Promotion of Science was created in 1986, with the blessings of Professor Abdus Salam, the Nobel Laureate, and Director ICTP.

I retired on 30^th June 2002. It is more than a decade when I moved out of GNDU; never to be invited by its faculty or the VC, except once by Jai Rup Singh, then VC GNDU, to speak on CV Raman on Science Day. I wonder WHY Professors are not allowed to do research in India till they desire, as it exists in USA. Professors in US Universities enjoy doing cutting edge research even during their 80s! I was fortunate to serve DAV University in its formative years to create a Research Centre in Nanotechnology; as a consequence, 2011 turned out to be year of my highest citations in research.

According to my rough estimate, Physics Department has produced more than 1000 M.Scs. during last 3 decades (1983-2013) and nearly 200 Ph.Ds. (my loud guess). Will any one inform me, if GNDU Physics produced any Professor in a university outside India? In my survey, I failed to find any! Our students are engaged in all other Professions in India and abroad. RC Singh, present HOD in Physics may try to locate if there are any students serving as Professors abroad?

A Message for Sikh Youth

Aspects of the Sikh Religion: A Dialogue with Prof. Hardev Singh Virk

* Excerpts of the Interview recorded by Asian Television in September 2003 in Canada for the Sikh Youth of North America by Professor H.S.Virk , after his retirement from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.

Q 1. What are special features of Sikh Religion?

A. (a) It is one of the five major religions of the world, viz., Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism.

(b) It was established by Guru Nanak in 15th Century, in the epoch when Martin Luther introduced Reformation in Roman Catholic religion in Europe.

(c) It is a unique religion and not a synthesis or syncretisation of Hinduism and Islam, as misunderstood by most of the foreigners.

(d) It has its own Holy Book, Aad Guru Granth Sahib, which contains hymns of Sikh Gurus, Hindu and Muslim saints of India.

(e) It has a universal message for whole of mankind: Reality (God) is one, its name is Truth, Creator Person, Without Fear, Without Enmity, Timeless Being, Unborn, Self Existent, Realised with Grace of the Guru.

(f) AGGS was installed in Harmandir Sahib by Guru Arjun, 400 years ago (Sept. 1604) (Bhadon Sudi 1, 1661 Bikrami).

(g) Creation.of Khalsa (Transformation of Sikhism) in April 1699, which gave distinct identity to the Sikhs.

Q. 2. What is your message for the Sikh Diaspora?

A. Diaspora is the term used for the Jews who spread all over the globe. Now same is the case of Sikhs. Guru Nanak visited many countries during his itineraries, called Udasis. He visited Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Afganistan, Uzbekistan, Tibet and Ceylon. Guru blessed his Sikhs in a unique way; if he was served well, he used to utter a blessing: Be uprooted. To others who misbehaved, He uttered: Be confined to your home and hearth! So the Diaspora Sikhs should prove themselves worthy of great Guru’s utterance by excelling in all fields of their activity. In Multicultural society of Canada, they have equal opportunity to prosper. My students in Abbotsford and Toronto are doing fine. Sikhs have established their own schools, Gurdwaras and cultural centers. While keeping their separate identity intact, they should participate in all spheres of activity. During my travels in B.C; Ontario and Alberta, I was pleased to see that Sikhs have created a niche for their religion and culture in Canadian society.

Q.3. What is the purpose of SGPC and role of Akal Takht?

A. Guru Nanak established Dharamshala at Kartarpur and started Sangat and Pangat. Guru Amardas set up 22 Manjis to propagate Sikh Religion. Guru Ramdas created Amritsar city and Guru Arjun, Tarn Taran. Sikh Gurdwaras were managed by Udassi/Nirmalas during the period of Sikh misals. During Ranjit Singh’s rule, it further degenerated into the Brahmanical tradition. Singh Sabha Movement (1872) was promoted by Professor Gurmukh Singh and Giani Dit Singh of Oriental College, Lahore. Sunder Singh Majithia, Harbans Singh Attari, and a galaxy of other Sikh intellectuals were involved in its activities. British Govt. wanted to perpetuate the Brahmanical tradition and accepted Mahants as owners of Gurdwaras. During 1920’s, the struggle for Gurdwara control by the Sikhs was started. Mahant Narayan Das of Nankana Sahib Gurdwara murdered 130 Sikhs and in Jaito Morcha nearly 200 Sikhs died in jails. Gurdwara Bill was passed in July 1925 and first election was held on 18 June 1926.SGPC came into power. Akali Dal became a political wing of SGPC. All evils of election process i.e. corrupt practices were used even during first SGPC election.

Q.4. What is the concept of Miri and Piri in Sikh Religion?

A. Since the times of Guru Hargobind, the concept of Miri-Piri was introduced in Sikh Religion. Guru Jee wanted to wear 2 swords at the initiation ceremony: one of Piri (divine power) and the other of Miri (temporal power). He also raised army to defend Sikh religion against the state repression let loose by the Mongol rulers. Akal Takht (The throne of Timeless Being) was set up by Guru Hargobind (as his seat of Temporal power) and political decisions were taken sitting there. It was constructed in front of Harmandir Sahib(Golden Temple), so that temporal power is subordinate to spiritual power or divinity of Sikh religion. During misal period all Sikh Sardars assembled here on two occasions, Diwali and Baisakhi, to take stock of the Sikh affairs. This gathering was called Sarbat Khalsa. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was also called by Akali Phula Singh to appear at Akal Takhat,when he violated Sikh Maryada by marrying a Muslim dancing girl ‘Moran’. Akal Takhat held a special role in Sikh religious and political affairs and its hukamnamas have sanctity for all Sikhs.

Q. 5. What is your message for Sikh Youth of America?

A.(a) Sikh youth must study history of Sikh Religion, its unique philosophy of

Universal brotherhood and other salient features in the comity of world religions.

(b)  They must keep and cherish their unique identity. I was the only Sikh

 student in Marie Curie university of Paris in 1970 amongst more than 100,000

 on its rolls. Hence I used to be invited as a special guest on all occasions.

 I always considered myself an ambassador of my country and Sikh Religion.

 So Sikh youth must behave in a manner which leaves an impact on the

 minds of other people with whom they interact.

(c)  Sikh youth must try to excel in their studies, professions and sports.

(d)  Participation in Sikh youth camps is useful.

(e)  Keeping Sikh and Indian traditions intact will be useful for the Sikh youth.

(f)   Exploring other cultures in a multicultural society is a useful act.

(g)  Sikh youth must aviod the use of DRUGS as forbidden by the Sikh Gurus

and Rehat Maryada.

My Teacher Who Inspired Me

Piara Singh Gill (1911-2002)

Piara Singh Gill, a pioneer cosmic ray physicist, died 23 March 2002 at Atlanta, Georgia. Born on 28 October 1911 in Hoshiarpur District, Punjab, Gill used to trek 10 km daily to attend primary school. Graduating high school in 1928, he sailed for America, working initially as a taxi driver in Panama to earn money for his education. He was later awarded tuition scholarships at the University of Southern California, earning Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees there in 1935 and 1936. During this time, he picked fruit, scrubbed floors, and washed dishes to support him.

During 1936-40, Gill worked at the University of Chicago for his PhD under Nobel Laureate Arthur Compton. His thesis established the ‘latitude effect’ in cosmic ray intensity at sea level. In the course of this work, he travelled 15 times between Vancouver, Canada and Hobart, Tasmania during 1937-38 in a regular passenger steamship, the S.S. Aurangi, where he had installed an ionization chamber shielded by a 12cm thick lead enclosure. In June 1939, Gill attended the International Symposium on Cosmic Rays, presenting a paper on the ‘Size-frequency distribution of cosmic ray bursts’, which described the first experiment to provide clues about meson spin.

On his graduation in 1940, Compton offered Gill a postdoctoral fellowship to continue his research at Chicago, but Gill was keen to carry out experiments on the azimuthal variation of cosmic ray intensity in India. So Chicago awarded him a travelling Research Fellowship, and Gill sailed for India in April 1940, joining Forman Christian College, Lahore as a lecturer in physics, where he also set up a cosmic ray research laboratory. In the summer of 1945, he organized an expedition to the Himalayas to study the production of mesons by the non-ionizing component of cosmic rays, but the results showed no production of mesons. Later, these experiments were repeated using RAF planes and meson production was detected at altitudes above 20,000 ft.  In 1946, Gill visited the USA and Europe, delivering invited lectures on cosmic ray experiments carried out in India. Upon returning, he became a Professor at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Bombay, where he initiated high altitude experiments with hydrogen balloons. Gill resigned from TIFR the next year (probably due to personality conflicts with its then Director Homi Bhabha, himself an eminent cosmic ray physicist) and returned to the US to work at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, studying the relationship between solar flares and sudden increases in the intensity of cosmic rays, in collaboration with M. S. Vallarta and S. E. Forbush.

Gill was appointed to the Atomic Energy Commission when he returned to India. Soon thereafter, he was invited to work at the National Bureau of Standards, when he also assisted the Indian Embassy in Washington DC as Scientific Advisor. In 1949, Gill joined Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) as Professor & Head of the Physics Department where he spent a very fruitful decade-and-a-half. He took immediate steps to update course syllabi, improve physics instruction, and establish well-equipped research laboratories. Under his leadership, AMU became a leading centre for physics research in India by the late 1950s. In September 1963, Gill was appointed Director of the Central Scientific Instruments Organization (CSIO) in Chandigarh. Under his leadership, CSIO established itself as a leader in instrument design in Asia. On retiring from CSIO in 1971, Gill joined Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana as Emeritus Professor. During this time, he also wrote high school physics texts in English, which I translated into Punjabi. Later, he became an entrepreneur, starting a company manufacturing magnetic heads for tape recorders. He sold the company to return to the US to spend the last years of his life with his daughter, Suristha G. Sehgal at Georgia State University, Atlanta.

Gill set an inspiring personal example to his students and colleagues. He was always punctual and never missed lectures, despite a busy schedule of non-academic engagements. His students eventually came to occupy eminent positions in Indian universities and scientific establishments. He was a first-class researcher, a teacher of teachers, an institution builder, an administrator and an entrepreneur who spent significant chunks of his career both in India and the US. Even in the Indian context, his is the story of a person from humble beginnings rising to great prominence in scientific and public life. His career is truly a testament to the power of the individual to succeed against all odds. His autobiography Up Against Odds, is compelling, inspirational and educative reading. May his soul rest in peace!

H. S. VIRK

Department of Physics

Guru Nanak Dev University

Amritsar 143 005, India

e-mail: hardevsingh.virk@gmail.com

100 Reasons To Be A Scientist

One Hundred Reasons To Be A Scientist

(40^th Anniversary Volume of ICTP, Trieste, Italy)

Published by: Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy

Reviewed by: Prof. H. S. Virk, President Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT)

Pages: 263, Price: 3 Euro, 1^st Edition: Oct. 2004

The book under review is a 40^th anniversary volume of Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), which was founded by Professor Abdus Salam, Nobel Laureate, in Trieste in 1964. As the title suggests, the book contains 100 essays written by eminent scientists who were connected with ICTP during the 40 years since its inception. The galaxy of contributors to this volume include 25 Nobel Laureates, many Field Medallists, ICTP Dirac Medallists and other decorated scientists. Out of 100 selected contributors, 7 are of Indian origin. Most of the essays are written in the first person and revolve around the formative years in the life of the scientist. It mainly focuses on the trials and tribulations undergone by the scientists and their contributions to research.

              The opening essay of this volume is written by the late Professor Abdus Salam, narrating episodes of his student life, a scholarship to Cambridge University at the end of Second World War, his isolation in Lahore and return to Cambridge. Abdus Salam created ICTP to help Third World Scientists from developing countries. He had a prophetic vision and devoted his whole life in building up infrastructure at ICTP, for training of Third World scientists from all over the world. I had the privilege of visiting ICTP, almost a dozen times, first as a participant and later as a Senior Associate of ICTP. I feel delighted that the Director ICTP chose me as one of the contributors for the next volume of the series.

             Reading personal accounts of eminent scientists is an exhilarating experience for both students and teachers. Two decades ago, ICTP arranged special lectures by Nobel Laureates and this monograph was published by ICTP under the title, “My Life of Physics”. I believe this new volume is an extension of the same exercise at a bigger scale. Some of the common themes elaborated by most of the contributors are their adventure or accidental entry into field of science, rewarding experience of working in a world class laboratory helped by peers and reaching the pinnacle of their career resulting in Nobel Prize or some other distinction.

               It is not possible to quote from all essays included in this volume. Just for sake of citation, I choose from D. Allen Bromley’s essay, “A life of Literature, Science, Engineering, Business and Public Policy”. Professor Bromley describes vividly how he entered Queens University at Kingston in Canada by winning a national essay competition on the evils of alcohol. The family could not support his university education. Entering as a freshman in English literature, he shifted to Engineering Physics, then moved on to Nuclear Physics, became Chairman of Physics Department and Dean of Science Faculty at Yale University, Director of New York Stock Exchange Companies, ending up as Science Policy Advisor to the U.S President. In his own words: “Changes of field are actually important to maintaining intellectual interest and acuity and I would urge all scientists and engineers to consider spending some time in public policy and government activities as a small return for all the opportunities and activities that the public provides”.

                                I found equally or more interesting accounts given by some of the Nobel Laureates. ECG Sudarshan in his essay, “An Account of My Theoretical Physics Contributions” describes highlights of his research work. He ends his essay with remarks: “The great miracle is that the physical world can be understood in terms of mathematical models which can make predictions that could be verified by laboratory experiments. From the beginning of my career, I have been fascinated and even mystified by this”. CNR Rao was lucky to be brought up in Bangalore, a city famous for its Raman Research Institute and Indian Institute of Science. He was attracted to research even when he was in school after listening to Sir CV Raman, the Nobel Laureate. CNR Rao is a leading scientist of India involved in Science Policy and planning cell of Government of India. We have MGK Menon, JV Narlikar, K Kasturirangan, Roddam Narasimha and Partha Dasgupta, other Indian contributors to this special volume.

                        The most interesting essay by the Indian contributors is from Dasgupta: “The Making of an Academic Economist”. The author describes how he shifted from Physics to Economics in Cambridge University during his Ph.D; even without knowing an iota of economics. He is a leading economist in the world in the field of Ecological Economics. He is concerned with environmental ecology and developing world. There are more than a dozen women scientists included in the list of contributors to this volume.