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MS-015N L Char PapersMS-015Deepika SArchives at NCBS

National Centre for Biological Sciences - Tata Institute of Fundamental ResearchBangalore, Karnataka 560065Business Number: +9180 6717 6010Business Number: +9180 6717 6011archives@ncbs.res.inURL:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-04-07 01:23:22 +0000.Description is written in: English, Latin script. Archives at NCBS N L Char Papers Lakshamanachar, N (Nandyal) S, Deepika MS-015 /repositories/2/resources/30 0.5 Linear Feet 1 Hollinger-style box 1943 - 2010 The collection is mostly in good condition. Some letters and certificates appear to be fragile and in need of conservation. Archives at NCBS English Arrangement

NL Char's papers were organised by his family after his death in 2021. The original order cannot be found, hence the Archives has applied an order, and folders within series are arranged in chronological order. See Scope and Content section for further details on the series and subseries.

 Biography

Nandyal Lakshmana Char was a nuclear engineer who headed the construction of India's first fast breeder test reactor at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, and went on to head the Nuclear Power Division of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.

Born on 4 September 1928, in Pavagada, Tumkur district, in the erstwhile state of Mysore, he attended school in Kurnool in the erstwhile state of Madras. He obtained a Bachelor of Science (Physics) degree in 1948, and a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) degree in 1952, both from the University of Madras. In 1955, he was appointed to the Department of Atomic Energy and worked as part of an engineering team under Homi J Bhabha that designed and constructed APSARA, India's first nuclear reactor, in Trombay.

Char was also involved in the installation and commissioning of ZERLINA, a zero energy experimental reactor, and in the mechanical design of an experimental organic cooled heavy water moderated natural uranium reactor, both at Trombay. During the course of his career, he went through training stints at the Argonne National Laboratory in the US and at the CANDU reactor at Douglas Point in Canada and spent time at Cadarache in France to understand the operation of the Rapsodie and Phénix reactors. In the 1970s he was involved in the construction of the fast breeder test reactor at the Reactor Research Centre (RRC – in 1985 renamed the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research) in Kalpakkam. In 1983 he was appointed Group Director for Engineering Projects at RRC, including the fast breeder test reactor – for which he was in-charge of commissioning and operating – and the Kalpakkam Reprocessing Plant. In 1985, he proceeded on foreign service to join the IAEA as head of its Nuclear Power Division. In 1988, he retired from both the DAE and the IAEA.

NL Char passed away in Mysore on 13 October 2021.

 Content Description

The NL Char Collection is a small donation consisting of a handful of letters, certificates, official documents, newspaper clippings, an essay, ephemera and artefacts that are arranged into the following series:

Series 1: Personal

Series 2: Administration

Series 3: Correspondence

Series 4: Writings

Series 5: Media coverage

Series 6: Ephemera

Series 7: Artefacts

Personal contains records of Char's school and college education, as well as some information about subsequent training. It also includes a brief biodata prepared by Char as well as a detailed personnel form for the IAEA which includes details of Char's roles and specific projects that he worked on in the course of his career. Given the limited amount of material in this collection and about NL Char generally in the public domain, this personnel form provides an interesting snapshot of Char's work life. This series also includes ephemera such as a business card, id card and pension booklet. This series has no sub-series.

Correspondence contains letters exchanged about promotion, retirement, and invitations to the anniversary of the reactor he helped build at Kalpakkam. This series has no sub-series.

Administration contains memoranda related to appointment, promotion, and retirement. This series has no sub-series.

Writings contains an essay authored by Char about his role in India's nuclear programme; it offers a broad view of the early years of India's nuclear programme, mentioning colleagues and key figures. This series has no sub-series.

Media coverage contains two newspaper clippings in which Char is mentioned. This series has no sub-series.

Ephemera contains published material created by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research at Kalpakkam about the different aspects of the fast breeder test reactor (that Char played a pivotal role in building and operating), some of it commemorating anniversaries of the reactor's commissioning. It also includes a 2006 paper about the functioning of the reactor authored by engineers at IGCAR. This series has no sub-series.

Artefacts contains two pewter medals commemorating 10 years of the Phénix reactor in the Rhone Valley, France. This series has no sub-series.

 Conditions Governing Use

Copyright may not have been assigned to Archives, National Centre for Biological Sciences. Permission for reproduction or distribution must be obtained in writing from the Archives at NCBS (archives@ncbs.res.in). The Archives at NCBS makes no representation that it is the copyright owner in all of its collections. The user must obtain all necessary rights and clearances before use of material and material may only be reproduced for academic and non-commercial use.

 Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for access unless mentioned in specific folders of the finding aid.

 Preferred Citation

When quoting from this material, kindly use the following format: Collection id/identifier, name of collection, Archives (Eg MS-015-1-1-1-1, N L Char Papers, Archives at NCBS).

 Apsara reactor Atoms for Peace Blackstone Project CANDU reactor Department of Atomic Energy Fast breeder test reactor Gas-cooled heat transfer Nuclear engineering Nuclear power Nuclear reactor Organic cooled reactor Pressurised heavy-water reactor Reactor engineering Swimming pool reactor Tarapur boiling water reactors ZERLINA reactor Zero energy experimental reactor Locomotive reactor History of Indian atomic energy programme History of Indian nuclear programme Argonne National Laboratory, Chicago Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Douglas Point Reactor Research Centre, Kalpakkam Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna Kurnool Rajasthan Atomic Power Project, Kota Series 1: PersonalMS-015-1/repositories/2/archival_objects/9930MS-015 Box 1Secondary School-Leaving CertificateMS-015-1-0-1-1/repositories/2/archival_objects/993118 Sheets1943MS-015 Box 11

Secondary School-Leaving Certificate

Scope and Contents

Booklet containing details of marks in individual subjects, teacher remarks, physical attributes

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online.

Bachelor of Science degree from University of MadrasMS-015-1-0-1-2/repositories/2/archival_objects/99321 Sheets24 August 1948MS-015 Box 12

Bachelor of Science degree from University of Madras

Scope and Contents

Bachelor of Science degree certificate from University of Madras

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online.

Letter from Hindustan Aircraft recording NL Char's areas of trainingMS-015-1-0-1-3/repositories/2/archival_objects/99331 Sheets19 June 1951MS-015 Box 13

Letter from Hindustan Aircraft recording NL Char's areas of training

Scope and Contents

Letter certifying NL Char's training in multiple departments at Hindustan Aircraft (now HAL) over 8 weeks in 1951, written by Personnel Manager G Vasudeva Rao

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online.

Bachelor of Engineering degree from University of MadrasMS-015-1-0-1-4/repositories/2/archival_objects/99341 Sheets21 August 1952MS-015 Box 14

Bachelor of Engineering degree from University of Madras

Scope and Contents

Bachelor of Engineering degree certificate from University of Madras

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online.

Certificate from Argonne National LaboratoryMS-015-1-0-1-5/repositories/2/archival_objects/99351 Sheets1 June 1956MS-015 Box 15

Certificate from Argonne National Laboratory

Scope and Contents

Certificate from Argonne National Laboratory, Chicago, USA, stating that N Lakshmanachar completed a course at the School of Nuclear Science and Engineering

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online.

Personal History form as part of application to IAEAMS-015-1-0-1-6/repositories/2/archival_objects/99364 Sheets23 July 1984MS-015 Box 16

Personal History form as part of application to IAEA

Scope and Contents

Four-page application form covering personal details and work history

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online.

NL Char BiodataMS-015-1-0-1-7/repositories/2/archival_objects/99371 SheetsundatedMS-015 Box 17

NL Char Biodata

Scope and Contents

Single-page document containing brief overview of NL Char's professional career

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online.

Professional ephemeraMS-015-1-0-1-8/repositories/2/archival_objects/993838 SheetsundatedMS-015 Box 18

Professional ephemera

Scope and Contents

Pension payment order, IAEA retiree pass, IAEA business card

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online.

Series 2: AdministrationMS-015-2/repositories/2/archival_objects/9939MS-015 Box 1Memorandum informing of start date at DAEMS-015-2-0-1-9/repositories/2/archival_objects/99401 Sheets16 May 1955MS-015 Box 19

Memorandum informing of start date at DAE

Scope and Contents

Memorandum informing NL Char about his start date at the Department of Atomic Energy, written by RC Sharma, Under Secretary to the Government of India

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online.

Office order about appointment to DAEMS-015-2-0-1-10/repositories/2/archival_objects/99412 Sheets30 May 1955MS-015 Box 110

Office order about appointment to DAE

Scope and Contents

Office order with details of NL Char's appointment, including start date, salary, location at TIFR, written by VN Parulekar, Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online.

Promotion noticeMS-015-2-0-1-11/repositories/2/archival_objects/99421 Sheets22 October 1984MS-015 Box 111

Promotion notice

Scope and Contents

Notice of pay raise in 1984 from the Reactor Research Centre, Kalpakkam

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online.

Notification of retirementMS-015-2-0-1-12/repositories/2/archival_objects/99431 Sheets25 October 1988MS-015 Box 112

Notification of retirement

Scope and Contents

Copy of notification drafted by P Gopalan, Under Secretary to the Government of India, to be published in the Gazette of India announcing NL Char's retirement from the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, on 30 September 1988.

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online.

Series 3: CorrespondenceMS-015-3/repositories/2/archival_objects/9944MS-015 Box 1Ramanna, RajaMS-015-3-0-1-13/repositories/2/archival_objects/99451 Sheets1 September 1984MS-015 Box 113

Letter from Raja Ramanna informing of promotion

Scope and Contents

Letter from Raja Ramanna informing of promotion

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online

Char, NLMS-015-3-0-1-14/repositories/2/archival_objects/99461 Sheets12 September 1984MS-015 Box 114

Copy of letter from NL Char to Raja Ramanna thanking him for promotion

Scope and Contents

Copy of letter from NL Char to Raja Ramanna thanking him for promotion

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online

Char, NLMS-015-3-0-1-15/repositories/2/archival_objects/99471 Sheets16 September 1988MS-015 Box 115

Copy of letter from NL Char to IGCAR admin about completing retirement formalities

Scope and Contents

Copy of letter from NL Char to IGCAR admin about completing retirement formalities

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online

Raj, BaldevMS-015-3-0-1-16/repositories/2/archival_objects/994812 Sheets2006MS-015 Box 116

Letters and invitation from Baldev Raj to NL Char on Fast Breeder Test Reactor anniversaries

Scope and Contents

Two letters from Baldev Raj, Director of IGCAR, to NL Char inviting him to the 20th anniversary celebration of the Fast Breeder Test Reactor.

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online

Raj, BaldevMS-015-3-0-1-17/repositories/2/archival_objects/99492 Sheets2010MS-015 Box 117

Letter from Baldev Raj to NL Char inviting him for Fast Breeder Test Reactor anniversary

Scope and Contents

Letter from Baldev Raj, Director of IGCAR, to NL Char inviting him to the 25th anniversary celebration of the Fast Breeder Test Reactor.

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online

Series 4: WritingsMS-015-4/repositories/2/archival_objects/9950MS-015 Box 1"Recollections from my Service in the Indian Nuclear Energy Programme"MS-015-4-0-1-18/repositories/2/archival_objects/995113 SheetsundatedMS-015 Box 118

Recollections on his work in India's nuclear programme

Scope and Contents

Personal reflections on India's nuclear energy programme, outlining a broad history of its development and key individuals involved.

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online

Series 5: Media CoverageMS-015-5/repositories/2/archival_objects/9952MS-015 Box 1UnknownMedia clipping announcing appointment to IAEAMS-015-5-0-1-19/repositories/2/archival_objects/99531 Sheets17 April 1985MS-015 Box 119

Media clipping announcing appointment to IAEA

Scope and Contents

"Indian to head IAEA nuclear power division" -- article in The Hindu

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online

Media clipping -- opinion piece about Department of Atomic EnergyMS-015-5-0-1-20/repositories/2/archival_objects/99541 Sheets16 July 1996MS-015 Box 120

Media clipping -- opinion piece about Department of Atomic Energy

Scope and Contents

"Unclear criticism?" -- article in The Hindu

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online

Series 6: EphemeraMS-015-6/repositories/2/archival_objects/9955MS-015 Box 1Publication on Fast Reactor FuelsMS-015-6-0-1-21/repositories/2/archival_objects/99566 SheetsDecember 2003MS-015 Box 121

Publication on Fast Reactor Fuels

Scope and Contents

"Reprocessing of Fast Reactor Fuels at Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam", publication to commemorate Department of Atomic Energy Golden Jubilee Year August 2003-August 2004

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online

Publication on Prototype Fast Breeder ReactorMS-015-6-0-1-22/repositories/2/archival_objects/99576 SheetsDecember 2003MS-015 Box 122

Publication on Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor

Scope and Contents

"Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor: Engineering Research & Development", publication to commemorate Department of Atomic Energy Golden Jubilee Year August 2003-August 2004

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online

Anniversary publication on the Fast Breeder Test Reactor, KalpakkamMS-015-6-0-1-23/repositories/2/archival_objects/99586 SheetsJanuary 2006MS-015 Box 123

Anniversary publication on the Fast Breeder Test Reactor, Kalpakkam

Scope and Contents

"Fast Breeder Test Reactor: 20 Years Operating Experience" -- commemorative brochure

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online

Journal paper on the Fast Breeder Test Reactor at KalpakkamMS-015-6-0-1-24/repositories/2/archival_objects/995916 Sheets2006MS-015 Box 124

Journal paper on the Fast Breeder Test Reactor at Kalpakkam

Scope and Contents

"The Fast Breeder Test Reactor -- Design and operating experiences" -- Nuclear Engineering and Design

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online

Anniversary publication on the Fast Breeder Test Reactor, KalpakkamMS-015-6-0-1-25/repositories/2/archival_objects/9960262 Sheets2010MS-015 Box 125

Anniversary publication on the Fast Breeder Test Reactor, Kalpakkam

Scope and Contents

Publication on the Fast Breeder Test Reactor at IGCAR, Kalpakkam, with text and photographs

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online

Publication on the Fast Breeder Test Reactor, KalpakkamMS-015-6-0-1-26/repositories/2/archival_objects/996134 SheetsundatedMS-015 Box 126

Publication on the Fast Breeder Test Reactor, Kalpakkam

Scope and Contents

Publication on the Fast Breeder Test Reactor at IGCAR, Kalpakkam, with text and photographs

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online

Series 7: ArtefactsMS-015-7/repositories/2/archival_objects/9962MS-015 Box 1Phénix reactor anniversary medalsMS-015-7-0-1-27/repositories/2/archival_objects/99634 Sheetsc. 1984MS-015 Box 127

Phénix reactor anniversary medals

Scope and Contents

Green felt case with two medals commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Phénix fast breeder nuclear reactor in France

Conditions Governing Access

Access Level: Open/Online