Deepak Dhar, an IINSA distinguished professor and certainly one of India’s most revered theoretical physicists, has been awarded the 2026 Dirac Medal by the Worldwide Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), a recognition thought-about among the many highest honours within the discipline of physics.
The award, instituted in 1985, has over the a long time been related to a number of the greatest names, together with Stephen Hawkings, in theoretical physics.
Dhar is certainly one of 4 physicists chosen this 12 months in recognition of their important contributions to statistical mechanics.
HONOUR FOR WORK IN STATISTICAL MECHANICS
ICTP mentioned the 2026 Dirac Medal recognises physicists whose work has considerably superior the understanding of statistical mechanics, the department of physics that research how techniques with a really massive variety of particles behave collectively.
The sector just isn’t restricted to theoretical analysis. Scientists say it supplies instruments which can be more and more helpful in understanding synthetic intelligence, advanced networks, and even monetary markets.
Dhar has lengthy been related to the Worldwide Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Bengaluru, and has spent a long time engaged on issues associated to advanced bodily techniques.
A JOURNEY THAT BEGAN IN A SMALL TOWN
Born in 1951 in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Dhar grew up in a Hindi-medium surroundings. His mom hoped he would develop into an IAS officer, however his father inspired a special type of curiosity.
He as soon as recalled that his father usually introduced house science magazines.
One journal specifically, Understanding Science, left an enduring impression on him.
Dhar studied at Allahabad College earlier than transferring to IIT Kanpur for his MSc. He later went to the California Institute of Know-how (Caltech) in the USA, the place he acquired a Richard Feynman fellowship.
At Caltech, he labored intently with the legendary physicist Richard Feynman and served as his instructing assistant. Dhar accomplished his PhD in 1978.
For a lot of younger scientists, such a path would naturally result in a profession in the USA. Dhar, nonetheless, selected to return to India.
RETURN TO INDIA
After ending his doctorate, Dhar joined the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai. He additionally served as a professor at IISER Pune for nearly 8 years, says his LinkedIn profile, contributing to the event within the discipline of Physics and taught a whole lot of scholars.
At TIFR, he labored with out a formal mentor however turned a part of a robust neighborhood of theoretical physicists. Over the subsequent 4 a long time, he made main contributions to statistical physics.
Amongst his best-known achievements is Dhar’s burning algorithm, developed in reference to sandpile fashions, which has develop into an influential idea within the examine of self-organised criticality and complicated techniques.
A SERIES OF MAJOR RECOGNITIONS
The Dirac Medal is the newest in a string of worldwide and nationwide honours acquired by Dhar.
In 2022, he turned the primary Indian to obtain the Boltzmann Medal, broadly thought to be the best honour in statistical physics.
Reflecting on that recognition, Dhar had mentioned:
“Whereas I’m the primary Indian to win the Boltzmann Medal, I’m not the primary Indian who has accomplished good work in statistical physics.”
In 2023, the Authorities of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan, the nation’s third-highest civilian honour.
The ICTP Dirac Medal is a prestigious annual award given by the Worldwide Centre for Theoretical Physics in honour of physicist Paul Dirac. Began in 1985, it recognises excellent work in theoretical physics and arithmetic.
The medal just isn’t awarded to Nobel, Fields, or Wolf Prize winners, though a number of previous Dirac medallists later went on to obtain these honours.
For a lot of within the scientific neighborhood, Dhar’s story carries significance past awards and medals.
A scholar who discovered English via science magazines in a small city in Uttar Pradesh went on to review with one of many world’s best physicists, had the chance to construct a profession overseas, but selected to return to India and contribute to Indian science.
His newest recognition from ICTP is being seen not solely as a tribute to a distinguished physicist, but additionally as a reminder of how curiosity, persistence, and a dedication to science in India can form achievements that earn world respect.
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