What was the key-factor that enabled the success of the atomic programme under the stewardship of Bhabha? Bhabha had innate confidence in the capacity of the Indian scientists and knew what exactly they lacked; what they lacked was an institutional support, perhaps more than institutional support the needed freedom to do things. He recognized this and built up laboratories around capable and creative researchers; rather than first build the laboratories and then pack them with people, he looked for talent wherever it was and promoted it in every respect. This seems so obvious, but in those days it was not there in this part of the world; perhaps it is not there even now the way it ought to be there. Regulated science is a paradox in itself, and it persists.

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