“It is not joy that makes us grateful it is gratitude that makes us joyful.” – David Steindl-Rast
Introduction
It’s a journey that is full of discovery, learning, and meaning. Some realize their calling as personal success. Others dedicate their lives to serving a greater cause. Dr. Mohanan M.P. is one who, from such humble beginnings, rose to high levels in both science and education.
Born in Kidangoor, a small Kerala village, Dr. Mohanan M.P. grew up against the pressing economic developments all around. Such economic distress never captured the imagination of his thirst for knowledge. The encouragement of his uncle, who also worked at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, propelled Dr. Mohanan forward on his academic journey. A government merit scholarship further catapulted him into distinguished nuclear energy research at BARC.
Work for BARC did not go down well with India’s top scientist, as in plutonium production and nuclear energy security. For the nation’s energy security, he was always a key contributory factor of India’s nuclear deterrence. But science formed only a half of his mission. His actual passion was on renewable energy research, specifically into Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), an emerging technology in global power generation.
However, his story is not just the tale of scientific achievement. Nearly four decades spent in research brought him back to his roots- to empower students coming from economically disadvantageous backgrounds-Dr. Sarabhai established the Dr. Sarabhai IAS Academy to transform the knowledge he gathered.
His work throughout life reflects an exemplary commitment to the advancement of work whether in a laboratory, or classroom, or the lives he mentored for generations. This book seeks to capture the essence of his journey, a journey that proves that knowledge is not just for personal gain but for the betterment of society.
Phase 1 : Humble Beginnings – The Seed of Ambition
Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” – Nelson Mandela
Great journeys often begin in the most unassuming places. Dr. Mohanan M.P. was born in Kidangoor, a small village in Kerala’s Kottayam district, where life was simple but full of challenges. His family, like many others in the village, lived off modest means. His father was a farmer, and his mother was a homemaker, ensuring their children had the best upbringing possible despite financial hardships.
Poverty, however, was a constant companion even in his earliest years, yet never ultimately clouded Dr. Mohanan’s mind and quest for learning. His uncle at work in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in Nasik found enough intellectual potential in him. Unlike most children, who grow from one year to the next as empty vessels that school goes through, Dr. Mohanan had a thirst for knowledge that separated him from others.
He started his education at the Lower Primary Boys School, Kidangoor, where he passed Grades 1 to 4. Such a small school with primitive facilities did not seem to be much, but for Dr. Mohanan, it was the opening road to a world of knowledge. Later on, in his young age, he emerged as one of the strongest students in Mathematics, Science, and English subjects.
He was only ten years old when he went to St. Mary’s High School, Kedangur, where he studied from the 5th grade up until his SSLC examination. For him, joining an English medium school was quite exciting and at the same time challenging. When fluency in English was an elite privilege of the few in the world, Dr. Mohanan was aware that English would be his key to greater opportunities. His uncle’s support was the solid foundation for his academic ambitions. It was his uncle who encouraged him to study Science and Maths, which he never lost a glimpse of due to lack of money.
Phase 2 : The Journey Through Education
“Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” – Nelson Mandela
Education is a force that smashes barriers, opens up possibilities, and shapes lives. For Dr. Mohanan M.P., it was the biggest tool that catapulted him from his humble childhood to build a glorious career in science. His journey through higher education was not only gaining degrees but was about overcoming challenges, embracing opportunities, and shaping the future.
After excelling in his SSLC exams, Dr. Mohanan pursued his pre- degree (now equivalent to higher secondary education) at St. Thomas College, Pala. This was his first experience of life beyond his village, as he travelled nearly eight kilometres daily to attend college. Determined to excel despite the financial hardships, Dr. Mohanan made a lot from his time in St. Thomas College.
His hard work indeed paid off as he scored very impressive marks in his pre- degree. However, this was just the beginning. He had to select a career-oriented field of study.
The most defining moment of Dr. Mohanan’s education occurred when he gained a government merit scholarship during his second year of B.Sc. He received this because of outstanding performance in Physics and Mathematics and particularly because of a centum (full marks) in Mathematics, which resulted in the financial assistance of the Government of Kerala.
This scholarship was a lifeline. Not only did it pay his tuition fees but also provided him with a one-time sum of ₹800 every year, easing his family’s burden to a certain extent. He finally felt that his dreams were achievable.
He had immense passion for chemistry, and as such, was soon enrolled at Pune University in an M. Sc. programme in Organic Chemistry. This entailed moving away to a totally new city-Dr. Mohanan never experienced anything tougher than the distance from the safety of Kerala but always had to focus on it due to a thirst for more knowledge.
Upon completion of his M.Sc., Dr. Mohanan’s career took off in a monumental way when he was selected to join BARC as a Junior Analyst and Scientific Officer. It was a long-cherished dream realized, as years of hard work had finally paid off, and he was now stepping into the world of scientific research and national service. Joining BARC in 1978 was the beginning of a career that would mould India’s nuclear energy scenario and transform Dr. Mohanan into a distinguished scientist.
Phase 3 : The Scientist’s Ascent – Life at BARC
“Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated.” – Rosalind Franklin
In 1978, he set foot within the gates of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) at Mumbai, the destination where the scientific dreams converted to national achievement. It wasn’t just another new job in line; instead, it began with an unusual and extraordinary career path that eventually marked India’s nuclear energy space as well as helped the nation take a few great strides for technology and energy security.
From his humble village in Kerala, walking into one of India’s leading research institutions could be nothing less than exhilarating and daunting all at once for a young man. But the challenges Dr. Mohanan had faced only made him stand out more for he had confronted poverty, digested the complications of Chemistry and Engineering, and earned himself a place among India’s finest minds. The trail ahead was sterner, but he was always ready to be catapulted forward by sheer force of will and expertise.
It started with Dr. Mohanan at BARC as a Junior Analyst and Scientific Officer. He was assigned major work in the nuclear fuel reprocessing and plutonium production. This was two critical areas related to India’s civilian energy programme and national defence.
Working at BARC was a strictly disciplined and accurate job, where safety factor should be absolute. Nuclear energy was very promising but with a huge responsibility: a single miscalculation would have disastrous results. Dr. Mohanan soon adapted to this environment, proving himself to be an excellent researcher and problem solver. He spent the early years understanding the chemistry of plutonium extraction, nuclear fuel cycles refinement, and how to meet India’s energy needs in a way that was not at the cost of global safety.
This realization came during the period when he understood that science was not only research and innovation but national progress, security, and sustainability.
Dr. Mohanan retired in 2015, having spent nearly four decades at BARC. Far from a life of quiet retreat, however, he has made it a conscious decision to contribute back to society—not as a scientist but as a teacher and mentor. All in scientific records about his legacy there, yet greatest was to unfold, and thus, it seemed, for there came the epoch-making formation named Dr. Sarabhai IAS Academy. The boy from Kidangoor who once had studied under lantern light became a renowned scientist in his country. However, what really defined his success was his ability to rise, overcome, and inspire.