1. Yash Pal was an Indian scientist, educator and educationist.
19 Facts About Yash Pal
1. 2.
Yash Pal was known for his contributions to the study of cosmic rays, as well as for being an institution-builder.
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Yash Pal was born in 1926 in Jhang, Punjab Province, British India, now in Pakistan.
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Yash Pal had a peaceful life in the town of Quetta with his parents until the disastrous 1935 Quetta earthquake when young Yash Pal and his siblings were rescued from beneath the remains of the buildings that were razed down to ground.
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Yash Pal was then visiting Delhi due to his father's job transfer and could not return to Lahore to resume his studies due to the riots that broke out after partition.
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Yash Pal received the MSc degree in Physics from Panjab University in 1949.
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Yash Pal started his career at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay, as a member of the Cosmic Rays group.
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Yash Pal went to Massachusetts Institute of Technology for his PhD and returned to TIFR, where he remained until 1983.
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Yash Pal took charge as the first Director of the newly set up Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad, in 1973.
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Yash Pal held the posts of Chief Consultant, Planning Commission and Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, after which he was appointed chairman, University Grants Commission.
11.
Yash Pal was the Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University.
12.
Yash Pal submitted a report on "Renovation and Rejuvenation of Higher Education in India" to the Ministry of Human Resource Development on 24 June 2009.
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Yash Pal won the case in February 2005 and 112 private universities formed under the said law in Chhattisgarh had to be closed.
14.
Yash Pal is known for regular appearances on the science programme Turning Point telecast on Doordarshan and for explaining scientific concepts in layman's language, along with participation on advisory boards for televised science programmes such as Bharat ki Chaap.
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Yash Pal died due to old age related illnesses on 24 July 2017 in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
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Yash Pal was an atheist, and opposed belief in deities, astrology and religious rituals, dismissing them as unscientific.
17.
Yash Pal was the Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi from March 2007 to March 2012.
18.
Yash Pal was honoured with the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan, the third and second highest Indian civilian honours.
19.
Yash Pal received the Indira Gandhi Prize for Popularization of Science and the Meghnad Saha Medal for his outstanding contribution to science.