CHANDIGARH-April 05, 2013: Panjab University initiated year long commemoration of its
illustrious alumnus Prof. Ruchi Ram Sahni on his 150th Birth Anniversary. As Ist part of
these celebrations, a series of lectures were delivered in the University Auditorium.
Prof. Ashok Sahni, grandson of Prof. Ruchi Ram Sahni delivered the key note address with
the topic, “Grandfather: Leading Many Lives.” In plenary session Prof. Jayant Narlikar ,
founder Director, Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune delivered
a lecture on “Strange Events in Our Solar System .“
  Shri K.K. Sharma, IAS, Advisor to the UT Administrator was Chief Guest. Prof. R.P.
Bambah, Ex –Vice Chancellor , Panjab University, Dr. Narinder K. Sehgal and Dr. Subodh
Mahanti, Editors of the Biography ‘Memoirs of Ruchi Ram Sahni : Pioneer of Science
Popularisation in Punjab’ and Sh. Arun Bhatnagar, IAS (Retd.), Grandson of the Legendary
Scientist Dr. S.S. Bhatnagar, FRS, were the esteemed Guests of Honour.
Born in 1863, Prof Sahni was instrumental in spreading formal scientific education in
the Northern part of our country. He was Ist Gold Medalist in B.A of PU in 1884. He
served as professor of Chemistry at Government College Lahore from 1887 till his
retirement in 1918. He remained the member of the Senate of PU.
He worked for his Ph.D. degree with the Noble Laureates Lord Rutherford and Dr. Niels
Bohr at Manchester in England. Prof. Ruchi Ram Sahni was the first Indian Scientist to
write two research papers in Philosophical Magazine, the most prestigious journal of
Physics of that era. He delivered over 500 public lectures on all facets of science
under the aegis of the Punjab Science Institute.
Prof. Sahni was a multi-faceted personality. He was a scientist, an innovator, an
educationist, a devoted patriot and social reformer. Prof. Arun K. Grover, VC, PU
announced that the Government of India is expected to release a commemorative postal
stamp in recognition of his outstanding contributions later in 2013.