Letters - Gandhi and Einstein
15/9/2006
Reg B.R.Nanda’s article on Einstein and Gandhi, it is probably more charitable to characterize the first half of the last century not just as a preparation for the atomic bomb but as the time of a great intellectual revolution in physics. It also happened to be the time that our planet was doubly blessed by having two colossal figures of history at the same time who headed great revolutions in their spheres of activity. The great moments of modern physics and those of the Indian non violent movement did run parallel. In 1894 Gandhiji founded Natal Indian congress and a year later Roentgen discovers X-rays, the first important experiment in modern physics. 1905 was the year of Einstein’s great papers and Gandhiji’s satyagraha in South Africa started in 1906. .In 1913 the atomic theory of Rutherford-Bohr is born; Gandhiji’s march with 2500 people also took place in Natal in the same year . 1919 was the year of the first artificial transmutation of atom by Rutherford and of the first Hartal (which later gave raise to the Civil Disobedience movement) in India. !930 was the year of the Dandi march whereas in physics the first two years of that decade had great discoveries including that of neutron by Chadwick.. The first nuclear chain reaction was achieved in 1942; 1942 was also the year of the Quit India movement. While more parallels could probably be found, it should be noted that among all these events the nuclear chain reaction was the only deliberate attempt towards the bomb.
P.R.Vishwanath