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{{Short description|Indian physicist (1902–1979)}}
{{Infobox academic
| birth_name = Lal Chand Ahuja
| birth_date = {{birth date|1902|9|3|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1979|10|21|1902|9|3|df=yes}}
| awards = {{Awards|[[Padma Shri]]|1967|||}}
| birth_place = [[Amritsar]], [[Punjab]]
| notable_works = {{plainlist|
* Metric Change in India (1970)
* Standardization: A New Discipline (1973)
}}
| alma_mater = {{plainlist|
* [[University of Michigan]]
* [[Cornell University]]
}}
| known_for = industrial [[standardization]]
}}
'''Lal Chand Verman''' (3 September 1902 – 21 October 1979) was an Indian [[physicist]] and a pioneer in industrial [[standardization]]. He served as the first Director-General of the [[Indian Standards Institution]] and was instrumental in establishing the framework for standardization in India.

== Early life and education ==
Lal Chand Verman was born on 3 September 1902 in [[Amritsar]], [[Punjab]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xkVZ7wh3DIIC |title=The Shaping of Indian Science: 1948-1981 |date=2003 |publisher=Universities Press |isbn=978-81-7371-433-7 |pages=980–981 |language=en}}</ref> He earned a [[Bachelor of Science]] in [[Electrical engineering|Electrical Engineering]] with Honours from the [[University of Michigan]] in 1927.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NuAeAQAAMAAJ |title=Chemical Industry News |date=1979 |publisher=Indian Chemical Manufacturer's Association. |pages=522 |language=en}}</ref> In 1926, he was elected as a member of the [[Tau Beta Pi]], a scholastic engineering fraternity.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RJrOAAAAMAAJ |title=Hindustanee Student: Official Bulletin of the Hindustan Association of America |date=1926 |pages=10 |language=en}}</ref> He then attended [[Cornell University]], where he conducted research on ionospheric phenomena and [[radio wave propagation]], obtaining his [[Master of Science]] in 1928 and [[Ph.D.]] in 1930.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Mitra |first=S. N. |date=1980-08-01 |title=Dr. Verman—A Tribute |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/03772063.1980.11452183 |journal=IETE Journal of Research |volume=26 |issue=8 |pages=v-xii |language=EN |doi=10.1080/03772063.1980.11452183 |issn=0377-2063|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

== Career ==

=== Early career ===
In 1931–1933, Verman served as a Research Fellow at the [[Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NuAeAQAAMAAJ |title=Chemical Industry News |date=1979 |publisher=Indian Chemical Manufacturer's Association. |pages=522 |language=en}}</ref> He then worked at the Shellac Research Institute in [[Teddington]], [[Middlesex]], from 1933 to 1935.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NuAeAQAAMAAJ |title=Chemical Industry News |date=1979 |publisher=Indian Chemical Manufacturer's Association. |pages=522 |language=en}}</ref> In 1936, Verman was appointed Research Officer at the Industrial Intelligence and Research Bureau of the Indian Stores Department.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8sA-AAAAIBAJ&dq=L+C+Verman&pg=PA2&article_id=6703,1344549 |title=The Indian Express |publisher=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> With the establishment of the Board of Scientific and Industrial Research (BSIR) in 1940, which later evolved into the [[Council of Scientific and Industrial Research]] in 1942, the Research Bureau was integrated into the Board.<ref name=":3" /> In 1940, Verman was promoted to Assistant Director at BSIR.<ref name=":3" /> By 1944, he had become the Acting Director of the newly established [[National Physical Laboratory of India|National Physical Laboratory]] in [[Delhi]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tZUfAAAAMAAJ |title=Industrial Standardization |date=1948 |publisher=American Standards Association |pages=102 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Indian Standards Institution ===
On 3 September 1946, the [[Interim Government of India]] passed its first resolution establishing the [[Indian Standards Institution]] as the National Standards Body. One of its objectives was to recommend national standards for measurements. In June 1947, Verman was appointed Director of the Indian Standards Institution.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WSSL |url=https://wssl.co.in/ISI |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=World Standards Scientific LLP |language=en}}</ref> He later became its Director-General, a role he held until 1966.<ref name=":3" />

Verman undertook a comprehensive study of the issue and prepared a report advocating the adoption of the [[metric system]], incorporating Indian nomenclature for basic units and fractions. His report, submitted before [[Independence Day (India)|India's independence on 15 August 1947]], was later published in the ''Indian Standards Bulletin'' in January 1949.<ref name=":3" /> Verman also prepared a report on [[Decimalisation#Rupee-anna-pice-pie to Rupee-paisa conversion|decimalized coinage]], aligning dimensions and weights with the metric system. Both reports were reviewed by the Engineering Division Council (EDC) of ISI, which recommended their adoption to the [[Government of India]].<ref name=":3" />

In May 1948, a special committee chaired by [[Jnan Chandra Ghosh]], Director-General of Supplies and Disposals, was formed to evaluate the metric system's adoption. The committee included representatives from central ministries, state governments, scientific bodies, and industrial organizations.<ref name=":3" />

Despite resistance from various stakeholders and concerns about costs and timing, Verman persisted in advocating for the metric system. In 1954, he presented his arguments to [[Pitambar Pant|Pitamber Pant]], then Private Secretary to the Chairman of the [[Planning Commission (India)|Planning Commission]]. The Planning Commission decided to undertake a comprehensive study, marking a significant step toward the metric system's eventual adoption.<ref name=":3" />

=== Further contributions ===
Verman acted as an Honorary Adviser to the [[Government of India]] on standardization from 1951 to 1970.<ref name=":6" /> Verman was a founding member of the [[Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers|Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE)]].<ref name=":3" /> After retiring from ISI, Verman continued to contribute to the field of standardization. From 1966 to 1967, he served as Chief Adviser to the Director-General of the [[Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran|Institute of Standard and Industrial Research]] in [[Tehran]], [[Iran]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=metHAQAAIAAJ |title=Materials Research and Standards |date=1967 |publisher=American Society for Testing and Materials |pages=27–28 |language=en}}</ref> Subsequently, he worked as a Senior Regional Adviser on Industrial Standardization for the [[United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific|United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Far East (EGAFE)]] in [[Bangkok]] from 1967 to 1970.<ref name=":4" /> He assisted several countries, including [[Afghanistan]], [[Algeria]], [[Iran]], [[Indonesia]], [[Philippines]], [[Singapore]], and [[Thailand]], in developing their national standardization programs.<ref name=":3" /> He also worked as a Senior Consultant to ISI between 1966 and 1969 and later as an industrial consultant.<ref name=":6" /> From 1974 to 1975, he led the [[USAID]] Project Team for the study of National Standards System of [[South Korea]].<ref name=":3" />

=== Positions ===
* Vice-president of the [[International Standards Organisation|International Standards Organisation (ISO)]] for two consecutive terms (1949-54).<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Academy |first=Indian National Science |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nLgEAAAAIAAJ |title=Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Indian National Science Academy |date=1984 |language=en}}</ref>
* President of the [[Indian Science Congress Association|Indian Science Congress]] (1969–1970).<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FScWAQAAIAAJ |title=Proceedings of the Indian Science Congress |date=1971 |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bengal |language=en}}</ref>
* President of the [[Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers|Institution of Telecommunications Engineers]] for two consecutive terms (1960–1962).<ref name=":2" />
* Fellow of Standards Engineers' Society (USA).<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pjAhLLEXNfcC |title=Standards Engineering |date=1960 |publisher=Standards Engineering Society |pages=17 |language=en}}</ref>
* Fellow of the Institution of Physics (India).<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=blkDUh45ingC |title=The Indian and Eastern Engineer |date=1957 |publisher=Indian & Eastern Engineer Company |pages=185 |language=en}}</ref>
* Fellow of the [[Indian National Science Academy]] (1946).<ref name=":5" />
* Fellow of the [[Institution of Engineers (India)]].<ref name=":5" />
* Honorary member of the [[American Society for Testing Materials]] (1968).<ref name=":2" />

== Publications ==
Verman authored over 150 scientific papers<ref name=":6" /> and several books on standardization and industrial research, such as:

* ''Metric Change in India'' (1970)<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Verman |first1=Lal Chand |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HQCPhC5EHaEC |title=Metric Change in India |last2=Kaul |first2=Jainath |date=1970 |publisher=Indian Standards Institution |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Standardization: A New Discipline'' (1973)<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Verman |first=Lal Chand |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AHtRAAAAMAAJ |title=Standardization, a New Discipline |date=1973 |publisher=Archon Books |isbn=978-0-208-01285-2 |language=en}}</ref>
* ''National Standardization in Developing Countries: Organization and Administration Manual'' (UNIDO, 1974)<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W7YmqHveh-EC |title=Famous India, Nation's Who's who |date=1975 |publisher=Famous India Publications |pages=80 |language=en}}</ref>

He has about 20 patents in areas including automatic voltage regulators and plastics molding techniques.<ref name=":6" />

== Awards ==
* K. L. Moudgill Prize by the [[Indian Standards Institution]] (1958).<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Academy |first=Indian National Science |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nLgEAAAAIAAJ |title=Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Indian National Science Academy |date=1984 |language=en}}</ref>
* Leo B. Moore Prize by the Standards Engineers' Society, USA (1964).<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YPZQAAAAYAAJ |title=IMDA Journal |date=1964 |publisher=All India Instrument Manufacturers & Dealers Association |pages=23 |language=en}}</ref>
* Sir Walter Puckey Prize by the Institution of Production Engineers, UK (1967).<ref name=":4" />
* [[Padma Shri]] by the Government of India (1967).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Padma Awards {{!}} Interactive Dashboard |url=https://dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in/?Field=Public%20Affairs&Award=Padma%20Shri&Year=1967-1967&Place=Delhi |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in |language=en}}</ref>
* Standards Personality of the Month by the [[American National Standards Institute]] in 1966.<ref name=":2" />

== Death ==
Verman died on 21 October 1979 after a brief illness.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NuAeAQAAMAAJ |title=Chemical Industry News |date=1979 |publisher=Indian Chemical Manufacturer's Association. |pages=522 |language=en}}</ref> In his honor, the [[Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers|Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE)]] instituted the Lal C. Verman Award in 1983, recognizing excellence in standardization and quality control.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Engineers (India) |first=Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m0VWAAAAMAAJ |title=Journal of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers |date=1983 |publisher=Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers. |pages=187 |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Public Affairs}}
[[Category:1902 births]]
[[Category:1979 deaths]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in public affairs]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Indian National Science Academy]]
[[Category:University of Michigan alumni]]
[[Category:Cornell University alumni]]
[[Category:Engineers from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian engineers]]

Lal Chand Verman - Revision history

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