Dr. Hafiz Saleh Muhammad Alladin, one of the world’s most renowned astronomers, died on Monday after a brief illness at the age of 80. The news was announced in a press release issued by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of India. He was the educational advisor to former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam.The good Dr. was among the top 100 most famous astronomers in the world. Hafiz, who completed his PhD in 1963 from Chicago University, was eventually elected as the director of the Osmania University at Hyderabad’s Center of Advanced Astronomy.
He published more than 50 papers, many books, penned hundreds of articles in his tenure, and was the recipient of countless awards including; the Meghnad Saha Award 1981 from UGC New Delhi, Man of the Year 2000 American Biographical Institute USA, 2000 Outstanding People Medal, International Biographical Centre Cambridge UK 2003, Bharat Excellence Award, among the many, many others.
Early today many people in India thought the news of Hafiz’s death was actually that of former President APJ Abdul Kalam, but those fears proved unfounded, the ever popular former leader is in good health. In fact, only a few days ago, Kalam warned the nuclear industry in India to begin closer scrutiny of nuclear plants there in the wake of the Fukushima incident in Japan. In addressing reproters at a conference, the former Indian President had this to add:
“India has never experienced a combination of an earthquake and a tsunami. There is, therefore, a need for our scientists to study the same. The safety of our nuclear power installations and the people living around them is of prime importance.”
Our condolences go out to Dr. Hafiz’s friends, family, and contemporaries in science.
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