Daulat Singh Kothari (1906–1993) was an eminent Indian scientist and educationist.^[1]

Early Life and Education[edit]

D. S. Kothari was born in Udaipur in Rajasthan on 6 July 1906.^[1] He had his early education at Udaipur and Indore and received a Master's degree in physics from Allahabad University in 1928 under guidance of Meghnad Saha. For his PhD, Kothari worked at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge under the supervision of Ernest Rutherford, to whom he was recommended by Meghnad Saha.

Role as an educationist[edit]

After his return to India, he worked at the Delhi University from 1934 to 1961 in various capacities as reader, professor and Head of the Department of Physics. He was scientific advisor to Ministry of Defence from 1948 to 1961 and was then appointed as chairman of the University Grants Commission in 1961 where he worked till 1973.^[1] He was the chairman of the Indian Education Commission of 1964-66, populalry known as Kothari Commission, which was the first ad hoc commission set up in India for the modernization andd standardization of education in India.^[2][3]

Achievements and Honours[edit]

D. S. Kothari was president of the Indian Science Congress at its golden jubilee session in 1963. He was elected President of Indian National Science Academy in 1973. His research on statistical thermodynamics and his Theory of White Dwarf Stars gave him an international reputation.^[4]

The Padma Bhushan was conferred on him in 1962, and the Padma Vibhushan in 1973.^[5] He was also listed as a “Proud Past Alumni" by the "Allahabad University Alumni Association.^[6][7][8] In 2011, the Department of Posts issued a commemorative stamp in his honour.^[9]

There is a boys hostel in his name in the University of Delhi. There are also hostels and auditoriums in his name established by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• The Architect of Defence Science in India