Profile of Prof. Naresh Dadich: Director of IUCAA, Pune

D2D team had a chat with Prof Naresh Dadich over a cup of tea. A video clip of the chat can be viewed here:

This article is a reprint from D2D issue 3, dated 6th Sep 2008.

Prof. Naresh Dadich is a renowned physicist and heads Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) at Pune. D2D team caught up with him over tea at IUCAA. A physicist, a poet, an academician with social concern - he is a very versatile person exuding energy and intellect yet carrying a calm disposition that is instantly contagious.

Born in a small village, Sarsali in Churu district in Rajasthan, he used to walk 3 miles everyday to go attend a school. He went to Pilani to do his higher secondary and some part of B.Sc. and that is how he is associated with BITS. “It was really a cosmopolitan culture which gave me a big opportunity to learn things and learn to live with people from different background and make friends with them”, he adds. He went to Vallabh Vidyanagar to do his M.Sc. and then came to Pune in 1966 to do his Ph.D.. After his Ph.D, he joined department of Maths in Pune university and taught there for 17 years.

Prof. Dadich has been associated with IUCAA project since its inception in 1988 when Prof. Jayant Narlikar took up the challenge of building a world class institute. “IUCAA is an institute for promoting Astronomy and Astrophysics teaching and research in universities. Astronomy was not a part of Physics or Maths curriculum in universities and hence the students were not aware of the exciting work being done in astronomy. IUCAA was setup as a common facility for all universities to promote research in astronomy”.

Prof. Dadich feels that institute such as BITS can contribute in much bigger way. His message for BITSAA - “If Alumni association has to do anything, it is to impress upon management to promote research and make a mark as a good academic institution”. He adds “One thing I have been very unhappy with BITS and that is it has never grown out of school mode. I don’t see many research papers coming out. Management doesn’t promote these things”. He asks pointedly, “In last 50 years, how many scientists have come out?”. He thinks BITSAA events should go beyond the dinner parties and really engage the intellectual capital of BITSAA community for larger good of the society. He quickly offers all the support from his side for any such activities.

Prof. Dadich lives with his family at IUCAA campus. He shares, “My wife is a Maharashtrian and a devoted social activist associated with social and environmental causes such as Narmada Bachao Andolan, Nari Samta Manch, rural and water health issues. I have 2 children. My daughter is a statistician and working for a software company. My son is interested in movies and is pursuing a career in production”.

Before we conclude our meeting, Prof. Dadich shows us a simple science model showing a levitating pencil, shares a copy of his address to passing out NDA cadet and Hindi poem written by him.