Sisir Kumar Mitra, Physicist
Physicist

Sisir Kumar Mitra

Born 13 February 1890 · West Bengal — Died 13 August 1963

Founded the Radio Research Board of India in 1942 to advance ionospheric and radio wave research.

Sisir Kumar Mitra MBE, FNI, FASB, FIAS, FRS was an Indian physicist.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Mitra established the first ionospheric field station in India at Haringhata in 1950, decades before ionospheric research became widespread in the country.

The Story

1
🌟 In 1890, Sisir Kumar Mitra was born in Konnagar, Bengal Presidency, into a family blending orthodox Hindu and progressive Brahmo Samaj traditions, setting the stage for his scientific curiosity.
2
By 1916, Mitra began research under Nobel laureate C.V. Raman at Presidency College, Kolkata, completing his D.Sc. in just three years by 1919 through experiments on light diffraction and interference.
3✈️ As a child in Bhagalpur, around 1897, Mitra’s fascination with atmospheric science was sparked by hearing about Ramchandra Chatterjee’s 1889 solo balloon flight, India’s earliest aeronautical feat.
4In 1920, Mitra moved to Paris to work under Charles Fabry at the Sorbonne, advancing his studies on copper spectrum wavelengths between 2000-2300 Å and earning a doctorate.

🏅 Awards & Honours

—
Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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At age six or seven, Mitra’s fascination with atmospheric science began after hearing about Ramchandra Chatterjee’s 1889 solo balloon flight, the first by an Indian aeronaut. This childhood curiosity steered his scientific focus decades later.

🖼️

Through the Years

2 photographs from the archives
Sisir Kumar Mitra with Indian scientists during a US tour in Washington, D.C. (1944).
Sisir Kumar Mitra with Indian scientists during a US tour in Washington, D.C. (1944).
1944
Professor Sisir Kumar Mitra in a formal portrait (1960).

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Birth in Konnagar, Bengal Presidency
Sisir Kumar Mitra was born into a family blending orthodox Hindu and Brahmo Samaj traditions, influencing his progressive outlook.
1890
⚡
Career
Research under C.V. Raman begins
Mitra joined Presidency College as a research scholar under Nobel laureate C.V. Raman, focusing on diffraction and interference of light.
1916
📚
Education
Earned D.Sc. from Calcutta University
Completed doctoral thesis in under three years with experiments on light, solidifying his early scientific credentials.
1919
📚
Education
Doctorate at Sorbonne, Paris
Studied under Charles Fabry, focusing on copper spectrum wavelengths (2000-2300 Å), earning a second doctorate.
1920
📖
Publication
Published The Upper Atmosphere
Released a treatise on ionospheric physics that later became foundational and translated into multiple languages.
1947
⚡
Career
Established Haringhata field station
Set up India’s first ionospheric research station near Kolkata, enabling systematic atmospheric studies.
1950
🏅
Award
Elected Fellow of the Royal Society
Recognized internationally for his contributions to upper atmospheric physics.
1958
🏅
Award
Awarded Padma Bhushan
Received one of India’s highest civilian honors for his scientific achievements.
1962
🕊️
Death
Passed away in Kolkata
Died in Ballygunge, leaving a lasting legacy in Indian atmospheric physics.
1963
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🗝️Discoveries

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01 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

In 1919, Mitra completed his D.Sc. in less than three years under C.V. Raman’s guidance by conducting innovative experiments on light diffraction and interference at Presidency College, Kolkata.

02 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Mitra’s 1947 book, The Upper Atmosphere, remains a seminal work in ionospheric physics and has been translated into multiple languages, reflecting its international influence.

03 / 04
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

Despite his family’s orthodox Hindu background, Mitra’s father joined the Brahmo Samaj in 1878, facing social exclusion, which influenced Mitra’s progressive upbringing and scientific outlook.

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🌱 What changed because of them

Mitra’s foundation of ionospheric studies in India led to the creation of institutional research programs in atmospheric physics, notably at Calcutta University and later at dedicated research centers. His work laid the groundwork for India’s advances in radio communication and space science. By introducing courses on wireless technology and setting up field stations, he helped position India on the global map of atmospheric physics research.

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