Dhirendra Nath Kundu did his PhD (1950) from the Ohio State University, USA. His area of specialization was nuclear physics. He was Professional Associate in Nuclear Physics, National Academy of Sciences and National Research, Washington (1955-57); and Professor (1958-80) and Director (1967-80), Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata.

Academic and Research Achievements: Initiating cyclotron irradiations with tritons as nuclear bombarding materials, Kundu investigated several nuclear reactions affected with two neutrons and 3He. His method of introducing two neutrons into atomic nuclei through (t, p) reactions led to the synthesis and identification of several new radioactive nuclei. With cross-bombarding techniques he established the experimental basis of core-isomerism in a nucleus, viz. 93Mo. His work on nuclear transmutations led to the discovery and mass assignment of many new radioisotopes and characterization of the disintegration modes of several others.

Other Contributions: As Director of Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kundu was largely responsible in bringing up the institute to its present state as a leading center for modern nuclear research. He was deeply interested in sculpture, music and literature. He was Founding Member and President (till 1991) of National Institute of Socio-Cultural Development, Kolkata.

Awards and Honours: Kundu was a recipient of Meghnad Saha Memorial Gold Medal of Asiatic Society. He was a Fellow of the American Physical Society; the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore; and the Indian Physical Society. He was also a Member, Sigma Xi (USA).