The DIRAC Medal has returned to India. In the discipline of theoretical physics, it is one of the top honours awarded to scientists who have made transformative contributions to fundamental physics, particularly in fields such as quantum mechanics, string theory, statistical mechanics and the like. In 2014, Ashoke Sen, professor at the less known Harish-Chandra Research Institute (HRI) in Prayagraj, was picked for this prize for helping to set off what is described as the “second superstring revolution”. And in August this year, the Dirac Medal has been awarded to Deepak Dhar at the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (ICTS-TIFR), Bengaluru, for his influential work in statistical physics and complex systems. In an era when Indian science and technology is lagging in critical areas such news is uplifting, a reassurance that we have brilliant scientists whose work is recognised by the world.
