"Jewel of India" - RUB Physicist Prof. Padma Kant Shukla receives Hind Rattan Award
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Padma Kant Shukla (International Chair of Ruhr-Universität Bochum) will receive the “Hind Rattan Award”, which translates to “Jewel of India”. The award is bestowed by the Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, in cooperation with the NRI Welfare Society of India. Each year, around 30 members of the worldwide Indian diaspora, i.e., non-resident Indians (NRIs) and people with Indian origin, are chosen for the prize. It honours the outstanding contributions and accomplishments of Prof. Shukla in his research area, which are keeping the flag of India high in the world. The awarding ceremony will take place during the 32nd International Congress of NRI's in New Delhi from 24 - 28 January. High-level members of the Indian government and international ambassadors regularly attend this meeting.
“RUB was my destiny”
Padma Kant Shukla was born in 1950 in Tulapur, India. He moved to Europe when he was 21 years old. “RUB was my destiny,” said the Physicist. “Here I did all my scientific work.” He researches at the interface of condensed matter physics, astrophysics and plasma physics, and his results have been published in numerous articles in high-ranking scientific journals, e.g. Nature and Physical Review Letters. “When I heard that I will receive the Hind Rattan Award, I was very moved. I had never dreamt of it,” said the Bochum researcher, who is 62 years of age today.
International connections
During the NRI congress, Padma Kant Shukla will represent the interests of Germany and Ruhr-Universität Bochum. He has been a German citizen since 1993 and head of the International Chair at RUB since 2010. As an “ambassador”, he expands the university’s network across country borders and disciplines with the aim of increasing the reputation of RUB abroad. Padma Kant Shukla is a highly renowned researcher with excellent international connections. He has received numerous awards during the past years. One of the most outstanding examples is the Nicholson Medal, as he was the first Western European to achieve this in 2005. In autumn 2006, he was the first German citizen to be elected into the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Physics division, which comprises only few researchers worldwide. As a member of the academy, he nominates Physicists for the Nobel prize and advises the Nobel Prize committee.
Editorial journalist
Dr. Julia Weiler
Press Office Ruhr-Universität Bochum