Man behind ‘Concepts of Physics’ gets Padma Shri

HC Verma has simplified physics to the extent that any student can prepare the biggest definition and formula in the way given by him.

President of India giving Padma Shri award and citation to HC Verma

A popular face among Indian science and more popular among engineering aspirants, Dr Harish Chandra Verma also known as HC Verma has been conferred with Padma Shri by President Ramnath Kovind. Prof Verma is retired from the Department of Physics at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur as Professor.

President Kovind presented Padma Shri to Dr Harish Chandra Verma for his contribution to the field of Science and Engineering. He is a physics educator and researcher, who is famous for his two-volume book "Concepts of Physics" which has revolutionized Physics education at the school level.

When it comes to explaining the definitions, formulas, questions and rules of physics easily, the one name that comes to mind is that of HC Verma. He has simplified physics to the extent that any student can prepare the biggest definition and formula in the way given by him.

Prior to joining IIT Kanpur as Assistant professor, he served at Science College, Patna University (1979-1994) as Lecturer and Reader. His research interests had been in Nano fabrication using focused ion beam, Magnetism in Graphite on irradiation by ion beam, Nanosize (4 nm-20 nm) magnetic materials, Fe-based alloys, Earth Science etc.

He has published 139 research papers in reputed journals. He has also written several books in Physics for School and College level. He has developed more than 600 physics experiments that can be used by teachers as DEMOs in their classrooms. He has also produced a set of 45 video lectures in Hindi at the school level. Prof. Verma is an Executive Committee member of the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT) which works for physics education in schools and colleges.

A well-known teacher

During his tenure at IIT Kanpur, Prof Verma has taught a number of professional and core courses. These include theory as well as laboratory courses. The reaction surveys show that the courses were very effective and students were greatly benefited. Almost every year, he was adjudged outstanding instructor/tutor as announced in the senate of IIT Kanpur and was given an appreciation letter from the Director.
The UG/professional courses include Nuclear Physics, Classical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Review courses for PhD Students etc.

Prof. Verma had been associated with social causes from childhood. He has been instrumental in making a group of IIT Kanpur faculty members and students together with local youths to run an NGO called Shiksha Sopan. Through various centres in the villages around IITK Shiksha Sopan is in direct daily contact with about 250 families. Under the leadership of Prof. Verma, at these centres, Indian values and culture are inculcated together with giving them educational help.

Apart from the centres, Shiksha Sopan runs various Scholarship programs which help the poorest of the poor to continue education. There were several cases where the family was about to stop the education of a girl child but because of our scholarship, the girl could continue education.

Prof. Verma has developed more than 600 physics experiments that can be used by teachers as DEMO in their classrooms.

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