Saroj Ghose, 'Father of India's Science Museums', passes away in US

Mumbai: Dr Saroj Ghose, widely recognised as the ‘Father of Indian Science Museums’, passed away in the United States.

A former Director General of the National Council of Science Museums (NSCM), Government of India, he transformed science education in India, making it accessible and inspiring for generations.

He is credited for bringing India to the forefront of global museology.

Dr Ghose had held several important positions in the Paris based International Council of Museums (ICOM) between 1974 and 1998 and twice became its President (1992-95 and 1995-98).

He was also the President, Second Science Centre World Congress, 1999.

A Padma Bhushan awardee, he had mentored several generations of learners and educators.

"NCSM mourns the sad demise of Dr. Saroj Ghose, our founding Director General and a trailblazer of the Science Museum and Science Centre movement in India. His extraordinary contributions and enduring legacy will continue to inspire and guide us for generations,” the NSCM said in a post on X.

Dr. Ghose retired from NCSM’s service in 1997, but NCSM continued his good work by setting up large numbers of science centres across the country. This was possible because of the visionary outlook of Dr. Ghose, who always emphasized on building a dedicated, motivated and trained manpower of Scientific, Technical and Administrative staff who would take his legacy forward.

Prior to this in 1979, the International Year of the Child, he turned a municipal garbage ground at Worli in Mumbai into the world’s first science park, where children could explore the basics of science while playing with the exhibits, set up in the lush green ambience of the park. The model was globally followed by large numbers of science centres and is considered as an original contribution by NCSM. In 1985, this became the Nehru Science Centre, considered as the largest interactive science centre in India.

“It is a providential coincidence that his passing away in the USA, unfolded today in India, which is commemorated as International Museums Day,” said Shivaprasad M Khened, the former Director of Nehru Science Centre-Mumbai and Nehru Science Centre-Delhi.

“Dr Ghosh’s visionary leadership shaped innumerable mentees in NCSM and other museums and institutions in India including my 39-year journey in the museum profession, guiding me from an engineering career to a fulfilling path in the field of museums, fuelled by curiosity and knowledge,” added Khened.

“Dr Ghosh’s His passion for science communication and tireless dedication to public engagement continue to inspire all who were fortunate to know him or experience his legacy. He was a down to earth person, soft spoken, impactful, a legend,” Suhas Naik-Satam, General Secretary, National Centre for Science Communicators.

Born in Calcutta, he earned a degree in Electrical Communication Engineering from Jadavpur University. He went on to complete his Master’s at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and earned a Ph.D. from the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Throughout his illustrious career, Dr Ghose played a key role in establishing science museums and centers in cities like Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi, as well as in smaller towns across India. He also pioneered innovative outreach programs that brought science education to remote regions. His influence extended internationally, having worked in US science museums and curated a major science exhibition for the Festival of India held in the United States (1985–86).

He held several prominent international roles, including Vice-President of the International Committee for Education and Cultural Action (ICOM, 1974–1980), and Vice-President of the International Committee for Science and Technology Museums.

“He gave India its Science City, led ICOM globally and made museums more accessible,” said Indian Museum Kolkata in a post on X.

“A visionary in science communication, Dr. Ghose was instrumental in shaping India’s museum landscape,” said Gujarat Science City in a post on X.

In the mid ‘80s, Dr Ghose masterminded the concept of an international mega travelling exhibition titled “India: a Heritage of Science”. The exhibition was hugely popular in the USA, France, Soviet Union, Bulgaria, China, Bangladesh, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana etc. The exhibition earned NCSM international recognition for its contribution to the science popularization activities.