Mahendra Singh Sodha

Mahendra Singh Sodha (8 February 1932 – 12 October 2024), popularly known as M. S. Sodha, was an Indian physicist specialising in plasma, optics and energy and the Vice-chancellor of Lucknow University, Devi Ahilya University and Barkatullah University. A 1974 winner of the highest Indian science award, the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, Sodha was honoured by the Government of India again in 2003 with Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award.

Biography M. S. Sodha, born on 8 February 1932, secured his master's degree (MSc) in physics in 1951 from Allahabad University and started his career as a junior scientist by joining the Defence Science Laboratory, New Delhi, present day Laser Science and Technology Centre, in 1953. He continued at DSL till 1956 and moved to the University of British Columbia, Canada as a post doctoral fellow to stay there till 1958,

Legacy Sodha did extensive research in the physical science disciplines of plasma and energy. is reported to be the first book on the subject. He has also published 13 books Solar Distillation and Solar Passive Building: Science and Design and had edited a book, Sodha Reviews of Renewable Energy Resources. He has also published over 500 research papers in peer reviewed journals and mentored several students for their doctoral studies.