Origins & Early Life

Meghnad Saha (6 October 1893 – 16 February 1956) was an Indian astrophysicist and politician who helped devise the theory of thermal ionisation. His Saha ionisation equation allowed astronomers to accurately relate the spectral classes of stars to their actual temperatures. Meghnad Saha was born on 6 October 1893 to a lower-caste Bengali Hindu Shunri family in the village of Sheoratali in Gazipur, then part of the Dacca district of the Bengal Presidency (now Bangladesh). He was the fifth of eight children born to Jagannath Saha, a poor shopkeeper, and his wife, Bhubaneshwari Devi.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Having faced casteism in his childhood and professional life, Saha grew to detest the caste system and Orthodox Hinduism from a young age. During his time, the caste system in Bengal was rigid, unlike today when it is minimal compared to the rest of India. During his youth, he was forced to leave Dhaka Collegiate School because he participated in the Swadeshi movement. After that, he joined K. L.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Jubilee High School & College. He earned his Indian School Certificate from Dhaka College. He was also a student at the Presidency College, Kolkata, and Rajabazar Science College CU. Saha faced caste...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Bai Chongxi — Contemporary (Born in 1893) (1893): Prominent Chinese military general and KMT leader who ruled Guangxi province.
• Chaïm Soutine — Contemporary (Born in 1893) (1893): Belarusian-Jewish Expressionist painter of the School of Paris, known for raw emotional texture.
• Claire Lee Chennault — Contemporary (Born in 1893) (1893): Pioneering American aviator, famed for leading the 'Flying Tigers' in WWII.
• A. A. Milne — Contemporary (Died in 1956) (1956): Celebrated English author, famed for Winnie-the-Pooh and children's literature.
• Alan Davis — Contemporary (Born in 1956) (1956): English comic book writer and artist known for Captain Britain and X-Men work.
• Alan Eustace — Contemporary (Born in 1956) (1956): Pioneering computer scientist known for his work at Google and record-breaking space dive.
• Anwar Sadat — Shared historical date (10-06 · Died) (1981): Egyptian President who spearheaded economic reform and the peace treaty with Israel.
• Basil Zaharoff — Shared historical date (10-06 · Born) (1849): Greek industrialist and arms dealer, known as a 'merchant of death' in global conflicts.
• Bruno Ganz — Shared historical date (02-16 · Died) (2019): Esteemed Swiss actor celebrated for intense roles in German cinema and stage.
• Carl Icahn — Shared historical date (02-16 · Born) (1936): Activist investor and founder of Icahn Enterprises, known for corporate influence.
• 1893 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1893
• October 6 (10-06) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 6
• 1956 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1956
• February 16 (02-16) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on February 16