Prahlada (scientist): Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}

{{Use Indian English|date=December 2022}}

'''Prahlada''' is an Indian missile scientist, former vice chancellor of [[Defence Institute of Advanced Technology]] and a former director of [[Defence Research and Development Laboratory]], the largest of the [[Defence Research and Development Organization]] laboratories in India, known for his contributions to [[Indian space programme]].<ref name="NIAS">{{cite web | url=http://www.nias.res.in/docs/Biodata_Dr_Prahlada.pdf | title=NIAS | publisher=NIAS | date=2015 | access-date=1 March 2015 }}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="IISc">{{cite web | url=http://mgmt.iisc.ernet.in/newwordpress/dr-prahlada/ | title=IISc | publisher=Indian Institute of Science | date=2015 | access-date=1 March 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529234727/http://mgmt.iisc.ernet.in/newwordpress/dr-prahlada/ | archive-date=2015-05-29 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="DRDO">{{cite web | url=http://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/English/index.jsp?pg=chiefcontrollers-prahlad.jsp | title=DRDO | publisher=DRDO | date=2015 | access-date=1 March 2022}}</ref> He was honoured by the [[Government of India]] in 2015 with [[Padma Shri]], the fourth highest Indian civilian award.<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=114952 |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Padma Awards |date=2015 |access-date=16 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128022143/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=114952 |archive-date=28 January 2015 }}</ref>

Prahlada was born on 5 February 1947 in [[Bangalore]]<ref name="IISc" /><ref name="DRDO" /> in [[Madras Presidency]] of [[British Raj|British India]].<ref name="NIAS" /> He graduated in mechanical engineering from [[University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering|University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE)]] which is affiliated to [[Bangalore University]] in 1969<ref name="India Strategic">{{cite web | url=http://www.indiastrategic.in/topstories3673_Dr_Prahlada_Honoured_with_Padma_Shri.htm | title=India Strategic | publisher=India Strategic | date=2015 | access-date=1 March 2022}}</ref> and obtained a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the [[Indian Institute of Science]], with ''rockets and missile systems'' as the major.<ref name="NIAS" /><ref name="IISc" /><ref name="DRDO" /> He pursued his research at the [[Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad]]<ref name="The Hindu">{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/prahlada-takes-over-as-diat-vicechancellor/article2359758.ece | title= Prahlada takes over as DIAT Vice-Chancellor | newspaper=The Hindu | date=16 August 2011 | access-date=29 December 2022}}</ref> from where he secured a doctoral degree (PhD).<ref name="NIAS" /><ref name="IISc" /> He started his career with the [[Government of India]] in 1971 and has served several space and defence organizations<ref name="India Strategic" /> such as [[Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre]] (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram and [[Aeronautical Development Establishment]] (ADE), Bengaluru before joining [[Defence Research and Development Laboratory]] (DRDL), Hyderabad as its director in 1997, a post he held till 2005.<ref name="NIAS" /><ref name="IISc" /><ref name="DRDO" /> During this period, he also served as the chairman of the [[Integrated Guided Missile Development Program]] (IGDMP).<ref name="IISc" /><ref name="DRDO" />

In 2005, Prahlada moved to [[DRDO]] headquarters as the Chief Controller Research and Development with the additional responsibility of the Chief Controller for Aeronautical Cluster of laboratories of the organization.<ref name="NIAS" /><ref name="DRDO" /> He was appointed, in 2011, as the vice chancellor of [[Defence Institute of Advanced Technology]],<ref name="India Strategic" /><ref name="Press Infirmation Bureau">{{cite web | url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=74440 | title=Press Infirmation Bureau | publisher=Press Infirmation Bureau | date=11 August 2011 | access-date=1 March 2022}}</ref> a deemed university based in Pune and run by the [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]]<ref name="The Hindu" /> and served there till his superannuation in February 2015.<ref name="DIAT">{{cite web | url=http://www.diat.ac.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=82&Itemid=142 | title=DIAT | publisher=DIAT | date=2015 | access-date=2 March 2022}}</ref> He holds the post of an adjunct professor at the Indian Institute of Science at its Department of Aerospace and the Department of Management Studies.<ref name="NIAS" /><ref name="DRDO" />

Prahlada is a former president of Hyderabad Management Association during 2003-04 and is reported to have organized a year long Lecture series titled ''India - My Dream'' where eminent personalities were invited to deliver key lectures.<ref name="NIAS" /> He held the presidency of the World Congress on Disaster Management<ref name="World Congress on Disaster Management">{{cite web | url=http://www.wcdm.org/ | title=World Congress on Disaster Management | publisher=World Congress on Disaster Management | date=2015 | access-date=2 March 2022}}</ref> on two occasions, in 2008 and 2010.<ref name="NIAS" /> He is a former chairman of the Hyderabad chapters of ''Indian Society for Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering'' (ISAMPE),<ref name="ISAMPE">{{cite web|url=http://isampe.org/hyd-chap.htm |title=ISAMPE |publisher=ISAMPE |date=2015 |access-date=2 March 2015 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908093637/http://www.isampe.org/hyd-chap.htm |archive-date=8 September 2013 }}</ref> ''Indian Society for Nondestructive Testing'' (ISNT)<ref name="ISNT">{{cite web | url=http://www.isnt.org/chapters_Hyderabad.htm | title=ISNT | publisher=ISNT | date=2015 | access-date=2 March 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402115201/http://www.isnt.org/chapters_Hyderabad.htm | archive-date=2015-04-02 | url-status=dead }}</ref> and the ''Indian Academy of Engineering'' (INAE) and is a former president of the ''Society for Aerospace Quality and Reliability''<ref name="SAQR">{{cite web | url=http://saqrindia.org/Home.aspx | title=SAQR | publisher=SAQR | date=2015 | access-date=2 March 2022}}</ref> (SAQR).<ref name="NIAS" /><ref name="IISc" /> He is a donor member of the Alumni Association of the Indian Institute of Science and a managing trustee of the Trust for Advancement of Aerodynamics of India.<ref name="NIAS" /><ref name="IISc" /> He is also a member of [[Confederation of Indian Industries]] (CII) National Committee on Higher Education, [[Ministry of Human Resource Development (India)|MHRD]] Task Force on Institution Mechanism, Sector Innovation Council of the [[Ministry of Human Resource Development (India)|Ministry of Human Resource Development]] and [[Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry]] (FICCI) National Committee on Science and Technology<ref name="NIAS" /><ref name="IISc" /> and sits on the editorial board of the Indian journal, ''Indian Strategic''.<ref name="India Strategic" />

Prahlada is a fellow of several Indian institutions and professional bodies such as Andhra Pradesh Academy of Sciences, [[Indian National Academy of Engineering]], [[Institution of Engineers (India)|Institution of Engineers]], Society for Shock Wave Research of India, Astronautical Society of India,<ref name="Astronautical Society of India">{{cite web | url=http://asindia.org/ | title=Astronautical Society of India | publisher=Astronautical Society of India | date=2015 | access-date=2 March 2022}}</ref> Systems Society of India,<ref name="Systems Society of India">{{cite web | url=http://www.sysi.org/ | title=Systems Society of India | publisher=Systems Society of India | date=2015 | access-date=2 March 2022}}</ref> [[Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers]] and [[Aeronautical Society of India]].<ref name="NIAS" /><ref name="IISc" /><ref name="DRDO" /> He was conferred the doctoral degree (honoris causa) by [[Sri Venkateswara University]] in 2006 and by the [[Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Anantapur|Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University]], Anantapur in 2012.<ref name="NIAS" /><ref name="IISc" /><ref name="DRDO" /> He is a recipient of awards and honours such as [[DRDO]] Scientist of the Year, HMA – Member of the Year, [[IISc]] Distinguished Alumnus Award, Sivananda Eminent Citizen Award and Hyderabad Management Association Life Time Achievement Award.<ref name="NIAS" /><ref name="IISc" /><ref name="DRDO" /> He has also received National Aeronautical Prize, 2008 [[DRDO]] Award and Eminent Engineers Award. The [[Government of India]] awarded him [[Padma Shri]] in 2015.<ref name="Padma Awards" /><ref name="India Strategic" />