Biman B. Nath
{{Short description| Educator, writer}}{{Use Indian English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Biman B Nath
| image = Biman B. Nath.jpg
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1964}}
| birth_place = Assam, India
| alma_mater = University of Maryland
}}
Biman B. Nath (born 1964) is an educator, scientist, cosmologist, astrophysicist, and bilingual author from Bangalore, India. He writes in English and Bengali (fiction and non-fiction). He is currently a professor in Astronomy and Astrophysics at Raman Research Institute, Bangalore, India.{{Cite web |title=Biman B. Nath |url=https://www.rri.res.in/people/faculty/biman-b-nath |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Raman Research Institute}}{{Cite web |title=The Tattooed Fakir by Biman Nath |url=https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/biman-nath/the-tattooed-fakir/9781447242413 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Pan Macmillan |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Marik |first=Priyam |date=2022-04-04 |title='Rocket Boys' is flawed fiction that undermines the effort of Homi Bhabha: Biman Nath |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/people/biman-nath-the-author-of-homi-j-bhabha-a-renaissance-man-among-scientists-talks-about-why-rocket-boys-does-not-do-justice-to-the-story-of-homi-bhabha/cid/1858583#goog_rewarded |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220924151624/https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/people/biman-nath-the-author-of-homi-j-bhabha-a-renaissance-man-among-scientists-talks-about-why-rocket-boys-does-not-do-justice-to-the-story-of-homi-bhabha/cid/1858583 |archive-date=2022-09-24 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Telegraph India}}{{Cite news |last=Sinha |first=Arunava |date=2016-07-01 |title=Conflict and coexistence |url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/conflict-and-coexistence/article3843958.ece |access-date=2025-01-07 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}
His 2022 book Homi J Bhabha sheds light on the rich scientific legacy of Homi J Bhabha and his vision for India. Asian Age described the book as an authentic biography of a scientific pioneer.{{Cite web|url= https://www.asianage.com/books/260222/book-review-an-authentic-biography-of-a-scientific-pioneer.html |title = An authentic biography of a scientific pioneer }}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-02-27 |title=An authentic biography of a scientific pioneer |url=https://www.asianage.com/books/260222/book-review-an-authentic-biography-of-a-scientific-pioneer.html |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=The Asian Age |language=en}}
Early life
Biman Nath was born in Assam to Binode Bihari Nath and Sabita Nath. He attended Narsing H S School and Gurucharan College in Silchar, then received his bachelor's degree in physics from Delhi University's Kirori Mal College, followed by a doctorate in astronomy from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1992.{{Cite web |title=Astronomy PhD theses (1966-present) |url=https://www.astro.umd.edu/people/allphds_pub.html |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=University of Maryland |language=en}} {{Failed verification|date=January 2025|reason=The source provides some of the information in this section, but not all of it. Of relevance here, the article reads, "He was born in Assam, and after initial schooling there, he studied in Delhi University and then received his PhD in University of Maryland, USA." No other information is provided about his early life.}}
Career
Nath was a postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Germany, then at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics India. He was a visiting professor at the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, University of Colorado in 2004. He joined the Raman Research Institute in 1997. He has received the Vikram Sarabhai research award for space science in 2005. He has authored and co-authored more than 120 research papers.{{Cn|date=January 2025}} He is an active member of the International Astronomical Unit.{{Cite web |title=Biman B. Nath |url=https://www.iau.org/administration/membership/individual/427/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=International Astronomical Union}}{{primary source inline|date=January 2025}} He is often invited to deliver talks on research and development in astrophysics and astronomy.{{Cite web |last=Kumari |first=Barkha |date=2024-02-22 |title=Bengaluru gears up to celebrate Science Day |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/bengaluru-gears-up-to-celebrate-science-day-feb-28-raman-effect-2906461 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |date=2024-08-24 |title=National Space Day Commemorated at Assam University - NE India Broadcast |url=https://neindiabroadcast.com/2024/08/24/national-space-day-commemorated-at-assam-university/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=NE India Broadcast |language=en-US}} He also wrote columns for national papers such as Indian Express,{{Cite web |last=Nath |first=Biman |date=2024-08-18 |title=An Expert Explains: How James Webb Space Telescope has raised questions in cosmology |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/expert-explains-how-james-webb-space-telescope-has-raised-questions-in-cosmology-9518351/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} {{Cite web |last=Nath |first=Biman |date=2024-01-05 |title=Meet ISRO's new X-ray eye in the sky |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/meet-isros-new-x-ray-eye-in-the-sky-9090997/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} The Hindu,{{Cite news |last=Nath |first=Biman B. |date=2015-04-22 |title=Major achievements by Hubble Telescope |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/Major-achievements-by-Hubble-Telescope/article60329310.ece |access-date=2025-01-07 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}} and other newspapers.{{Cite web |last=Nath |first=Biman |date=2022-02-25 |title=Loved the web series "Rocket Boys" and want to know more about Dr. Homi Bhabha: This new book sheds light on his rich scientific legacy and vision for India |url=https://www.thedispatch.in/loved-the-web-series-rocket-boys-and-want-to-know-more-about-dr-homi-bhabha-this-new-book-sheds-light-on-his-rich-scientific-legacy-and-vision-for-india/#google_vignette |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=The Dispatch |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Nath |first=Biman |date=2022-02-25 |title=The original rocket man: A new book examines the life and times of scientist Homi Jehangir Bhabha |url=https://scroll.in/article/1018166/the-original-rocket-man-a-new-book-examines-the-life-and-times-of-scientist-homi-jehangir-bhabha |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Scroll.in |language=en}}
Books
He has authored several books (fiction and non-fiction), including the following:
- Mohabishwer Prothom Aalo (First light in the Universe), Book in Bengali, 2002, Anustup (Kolkata, India).
- Dawn of the Universe (Universities Press (India), 2005) (A review of his book ‘Dawn of the Universe’ published in Resonance.{{Cite web |last=Souradeep |first=Tarun |date=May 2007 |title=Book Review: The Dawn of the Universe |url=https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/reso/012/05/0085-0087 |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=Resonance |pages=85–87}}
- Nokkhotrer gaan (Song of stars), Book in Bengali, 2006, Ananda Publishers (Kolkata, India).A review of his book ‘Nakkhotrer Gan’ (Bengali) published in the Guruchandali (in Bengali).{{Cite web |title=জ্যোতির্পদার্থবিদ্যার জটিল তত্ত্বের প্রাঞ্জল হদিশ - গৌতম গঙ্গোপাধ্যায় |url=https://www.guruchandali.com/comment.php?topic=20234 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=guruchandali.com |language=Bengali}}
- Eyes on the sky: The story of telescope, Vigyan Prasar, 2010
- The story of helium and the birth of astrophysics, Springer (US), 2013. A review of his book ‘The story of helium and the birth of astrophysics’ published in the Journal of Astronomy History and Heritage (2013: November issue)
- Homi J Bhabha: A renaissance man among scientists, Niyogi Books (New Delhi), 2022
- Nokkhotrer sathe kotha koy prithibir pran (Stars and life on Earth), Book in Bengali, 2022, Sahitya Samsad (Kolkata)
- Solar system in verse, Niyogi Books (New Delhi) , 2022 (February, 2023)
- Ashanto Mahabishwo (The violent universe), Book in Bengali, 2023, Sahitya Samsad (Kolkata)
- Bishmoye tai jaage (translations of articles and letters by Rachel Carson), Book in Bengali, 2024, Nirjhar (Kolkata). A review of his book ‘Bishmoye tai jaage’ (Bengali) published in Sangbad Pratidin (in Bengali)
- Nothing is Blue (HarperCollins India, 2009){{Cite web |last=Soni-Sharma |first=Kavita |date=2009-05-03 |title=Journey into Buddhist past |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090503/spectrum/book4.htm |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Tribune India}}{{Cite web |last=Ananthasuresh |first=G K |date=April 2011 |title=Book Review: Nothing is Blue |url=https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/reso/016/04/0356-0358 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Resonance |pages=356–358}}
- The Tattooed Fakir (Pan Macmillan 2014){{Cite web |last=Lobo |first=Joanna |date=2012-09-08 |title=Book review: 'The Tattooed Fakir' |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/review-book-review-the-tattooed-fakir-1738588 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=DNA India |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Shutapa |date=2012-08-31 |title=Impressions of ink and indigo |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/books/2012/Sep/02/impressions-of-ink-and-indigo-402168.html |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Datta |first=Sudipta |date=2012-08-12 |title=A tale from the fringes of history |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/a-tale-from-the-fringes-of-history/987255/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Financial Express |language=en}}
Awards
- Rabindra Puraskar for his work Mohabishwer Prothom Aalo (Science) (2005).
- Indira Gandhi Prize (for popularization of science) shared along with BN DWivedi - Awarded by Indian National Science Academy.{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Shutapa |date=2011-01-23 |title=BHU Prof conferred Indira Gandhi Award|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/bhu-prof-conferred-indira-gandhi-prize/articleshow/7348899.cms |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Times of India |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Google Scholar|id=yQa01BoAAAAJ}}
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