12 Facts About Anil Kakodkar

Anil Kakodkar, was born on 11 November 1943 and is an Indian nuclear physicist and mechanical engineer.

Anil Kakodkar was the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India and the Secretary to the Government of India, he was the Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay from 1996 to 2000.

Anil Kakodkar was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour, on 26 January 2009.

Anil Kakodkar had his early education at Barwani and at Khargone, until moving to Mumbai for post-matriculation studies.

Anil Kakodkar graduated from Ruparel College, then from VJTI, University of Mumbai with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1963.

Anil Kakodkar joined the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in 1964.

Anil Kakodkar obtained a master's degree in experimental stress analysis from the University of Nottingham in 1969.

Anil Kakodkar joined the Reactor Engineering Division of the BARC and played a key role in design and construction of the Dhruva reactor, a completely original but high-tech project.

Anil Kakodkar was a part of the core team of architects of India's Peaceful Nuclear Tests in 1974 and 1998.

Anil Kakodkar worked in the rehabilitation of the two reactors at Kalpakkam and the first unit at Rawatbhata, which at one stage were on the verge of being written off.

Anil Kakodkar believes that India should be self-reliant in energy, especially by use of the cheap national thorium resources.

Anil Kakodkar continues to engage in designing the Advanced Heavy Water Reactor, that uses thorium-uranium 233 as the primary energy source with plutonium as the driver fuel.