Establishment of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research

On 19th December 2020, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) a public deemed research university was established in Mumbai at Kenilworth, a bungalow on Pedder Road. It was inaugurated by Sir John Colville, Governor of Bombay. Initially, the Institute was founded on 1st January 1945 with the help of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and it was based within the Cosmic Ray Research Unit on the campus of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

In 1944, Homi J. Bhabha, known for his role in the development of the Indian atomic energy program, wrote to the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust requesting financial assistance to set up a scientific research institute. With support from J.R.D. Tata, then chairman of the Tata Group.

In 1949, as the Institute grew, it found its second home at the Old Yacht Club Building (former home of Royal Bombay Yacht Club) near Gateway of India. Then in 1954 the foundation stone of the main building at the Colaba campus was laid by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. This constitutes the Institute’s main campus at present. The modern building on the seafront with gardens, lawns and a seaside promenade was designed by the Chicago architect, Helmuth Bartsch. The building was inaugurated by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on 15 January 1962.

Images source: TFIR

Read more:

• TIFR website
• TIFR on Wikipedia