Sukhendra Nath Mitra obtained his MSc (1949) from University of Cambridge, UK specializing in radiophysics, electronics and telecommunication engineering. He served as the Director, Technical Laboratories, Ministry of Home Affairs; Chief Engineer, All India Radio; Visiting Professor, University of Roorkee and Technical Director, Toshniwal Brothers (Delhi) Pvt Ltd.

Academic and Research Achievements: Mitra carried out research in radio wave propagation through upper atmosphere. He discovered a method (known after his name) of measuring ionospheric drifts, a radio method of detecting solar flares, and semi-automatic method of measuring ionospheric absorption. His investigations can be broadly categorized as Analysis of Radio Fade Outs, Magnetic Storms, Sunspot Numbers, and Solar Flares; Analysis of Fading Phenomena in Ionosphere; Statistical Analysis of Sky-Wave Reflection from Ionosphere over a period of eleven years; Best Method of Calculating Sky Wave Field Intensity; Corpuscular eclipse in F2 Layer; Magneto-Ionic Fading on Ionospheric Echoes; Anomalous Reflection from Ionosphere; Diurnal variation of Ionospheric absorption with Reference to Solar Zenith Angle; Triple Splitting of an Ionospheric Wave.

Other Contributions: Mitra established a well-recognized school of research in All Indian Radio. He was the Chairman/Member, International Working Party 10/2 on Tropical Broadcasting, Consultative Committee of International Radio (1976-78), Working Parties VIA (Satellite Broadcasting) and VII (Technical Centre), Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (1974-79). He was Member, RAC of National Physical Laboratory (1980-82) and Banaras Hindu University (1984), Council Member of Institute of Engineers (1987) and Indian National Academy of Engineering (1987) and Technical Director, Toshniwal Brothers (1981-91).

Awards and Honours: Mitra was a Fellow, Royal Astronomical Society (London), President, Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers, Indian Institute of Engineers, President, Indian Standards Institution; Academy of Forensic Sciences (President, 1971-74). He received the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE) Award (1959); IETE Silver Jubilee Award (1979); UGC National Lecture (1980-82) and Bhabha Memorial Lecture (1979).