Homi Sethna

Homi Nusserwanji Sethna (August 24, 1923 – September 5, 2010) was an Indian nuclear scientist and a chemical engineer, who remained the head of Atomic Energy Commission of India during India's first nuclear test in Pokhran in 1974. He was the primary and central figure in India's civilian nuclear program as well as the construction of nuclear power plants.

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.

Early life and education

He did his schooling from St. Xavier's High School, Fort, Mumbai St. Xavier's High School, Fort - Official website. and the University of Michigan Ann Arbor.

Career

He was formerly Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, in 1976 he became the first chairman of Maharashtra Academy of Sciences, located in Pune, Maharashtra.

Head of Trombay Nuclear Facility

He completed the construction of the Thorium plant and the plant for the production of nuclear grade uranium metal at Trombay, India. His first major challenging assignment was the setting up of the Plutonium Plant at Trombay in 1959. This was designed and constructed entirely by Indian scientists and engineers under H. N. Sethna as the Project Engineer. The Uranium Mill...
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