From using a lamp for studying, to developing the world’s first efficient excimer laser and being awarded the Padma Shri. Today’s story is about Dr. Mani Lal Bhaumik, who recently pledged $11.4 million towards the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The donation will support an annual award for young minds working on scientific breakthroughs.
Dr. Bhaumik grew up in a small village in West Bengal, India, in the 1930s. His father, a freedom fighter, often had to be away on missions or was locked up in jail, making life tough for the family. They struggled to get by, and Dr. Bhaumik didn’t even have shoes until he was 16.
Despite the difficulties, he was a keen student and walked four miles each day to attend school. He studied hard, even after returning home, using a dim lamp to study during the night.
Dr. Bhaumik had the chance to meet Mahatma Gandhi during the Quit India movement. He also met the famous physicist Dr. Satyendra Nath Bose, who inspired him to pursue Physics. With Dr. Bose’s guidance, Dr. Bhaumik completed his education at the University of Calcutta and later at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, where he earned his Ph.D.
During his studies, he had a life-changing encounter with Paul Dirac, a prominent figure in quantum physics. This meeting sparked his interest in theoretical physics and the idea that matter and energy come from similar fields.
In 1961, Dr. Bhaumik started working on laser research at Xerox Electro-Optical Systems. After seven years, he joined the Northrop Corporate Research Laboratory, where he led a team that developed the world’s first efficient excimer laser, which is now commonly used in precise machining and non-damaging biological tissue cutting, forming the basis for Lasik eye surgery.
Besides his scientific endeavors, Dr. Bhaumik is an author of two best-selling books, “Code Name: God” and “The Cosmic Detective,” and is the creative mind behind the acclaimed American animated TV series, “Cosmic Quantum Ray.” He recently set up the annual International Award through the UCLA Neuropsychiatry Institute to acknowledge young scientific talents.
Dr. Bhaumik hasn’t forgotten his roots and is actively involved in various community service campaigns. His Bhaumik Educational Foundation in Kolkata provides full scholarships to students aspiring to become scientists.
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