SK Banerji: India’s First Artificial Rainmaker Who Induced Rain in Kolkata in 1952
Dr. Sudhanshu Kumar Banerji, a Kolkata scientist and first Indian director general of the India Meteorological Department, pioneered cloud seeding in India. In 1952, he successfully made it rain over Kolkata using hydrogen balloons to disperse silver iodide vapor, dry ice, and gunpowder charges. His work predated modern efforts like Delhi's recent cloud seeding attempts and earned him the nickname 'Megh Banerji'.
Dr. Sudhanshu Kumar Banerji, known as SK Banerji, was a pioneering meteorologist and India's first artificial rainmaker. In the early 1950s, he closely studied cloud seeding experiments in the United States and adapted the technique to Indian conditions. He created a tall glass cloud chamber at Jadavpur to simulate rain and after extensive experimentation, he launched field trials using hydrogen-filled balloons. These balloons dispersed silver iodide vapor, dry ice, and controlled gunpowder charges into clouds, successfully inducing rain over Kolkata in 1952 with almost 100% success. This achievement occurred decades before recent artificial rainmaking efforts in Delhi. Banerji's background included mathematics studies at Presidency College and Calcutta University and working as C.V. Raman's first research assistant. As the first Indian director general of Observatories and the India Meteorological Department, he also developed meteorological instruments during World War II and was honored with the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Banerji represented India and Asia at the World Meteorological Organization and was affectionately called 'Megh Banerji' for his contributions. His work marked a pioneering milestone in Indian meteorology and demonstrated that cloud seeding could be adapted effectively and cost-efficiently in India using innovative methods.
