We know what the 'ethical' and moral levels of Indian bosses are generally like. Particularly egregious are the satraps in govt. labs. Dr. B. Raj's case, though an extreme example, is merely the manifest symptom of a deeper malaise, like the festering blisters on a small-pox patient. The real disease is the feudalism of our milieu that enables unprincipled despots to manoeuvre themselves into czar-like positions of virtually absolute power, ours being the ultimate kiss-up, kick-down society. The tragedy is that these people breed others in their own image and position them appropriately before they depart the scene. Many are our science super-czars, all anointed with the highest honours of our country. The singular lack of progress of atomic energy in India, unlike in ISRO, is a direct result of this feudalism. By the way, should not your last name be Chokraborty?

Your article is good, but there are also great minds in Atomic science in India. Raja Ramanna and his direct students are really brilliant, and they never involved in any sorts of corruption. they really deserve the respect they have or had. BUT, the case like Baldev Raj is really schocking to me. Recently, CNR Rao cries that bright minds are running behind money and not interests in Science. F*****ff. If he keep on nominating Baldevs in top science administration post, how come he expect bright young minds to stay in India ?

The one of the current Directors B. Venkatraman is not yet in the list. Its a pity how such guys to climb ladders in organisational chart. Defence minister Nirmala Seetharaman's claim about incompetency of HAL did not surprise me as most of the Govt Research institutions are filled by Baldev Rajs and Venkatramans

Excellent article. Not only Baldev Raj. If you analyse B. Venkatraman of IGCAR, you will find more funny numbers. TERRIBLE. These people occury high posts in science and do all nonsenses. Your article unearthing those corrupt people are amazing. A JOB WELLDONE.

I have known Dr Baldev Raj for over forty years and have directly reported to him for six years in my capacity as the Head of a major Scientific Division with about 100 scientists and scientific personnel. I have coauthored very few papers with him and for which his involvements have been significant.
I would like to remember Baldev Raj for his very significant contributions to promoting scientific programmes, projects and institutions, nucleating expert groups even beyond his acknowledged expert areas, with relentless support to enthusiastic scientists and with a highly positive attitude. I do not believe that he needed his publications list to achieve what he did, nor was he offered the positions and responsibilities that he shouldered in DAE and in other professional bodies, because of them. I have fought with him on professional matters to the extent that his secretary sitting in his cabin outside his office had run away at times in embarrassment. This has not deterred our professional relationship nor was I obliged to treat those scientists under my administrative charge who have had authorships with him with any special privilege. His voluminous list of publications, if any has only denied him certain key positions in the country to which he could have risen, because of his vision and judgement, attitude, abilities and carrying people along. My take is that he needed some familiarity and attachment to the programmes he supported and being an author gave him a natural understanding to this task. Another Director, well known in the country coauthored a couple of review articles with me on topics he was not so familiar with and he explicitly mentioned that he was interested in the topic and it was one way of his getting better insight. I will only end this note, not by endorsing the vast publication list of Baldev Raj on diverse topics and with scores of scientists, but by voicing the opinion that he perhaps needed this familiarity (with the topics and subjects) to promote activities in areas, no one would have found fault with, if he had not done so.
T.S.Radhakrishnan

Thanks for making this public. Very distressing to see how some people in high places prosper inspite of unethical practices. Perhaps govt labs should be more strict about this sort of thing. Unfortunately I have heard even worse stories......

This feudal patronage culture that is part and parcel of Indian culture, institutions and the polity has to change, especially in academia.

First of all, sorry to hear about your contract status; I hope this isn't a result of raising such issues at your workplace.

That said, gift & guest scholarship is fairly common in the natural sciences and engineering. It's not uncommon to find journal papers with as many as 10 authors. Doesn't mean it's right, and I certainly would object if I were offered a gift/guest authorship, but this practice is endemic precisely for the reasons you mention.

77 papers in a year puts your soon-to-be-ex boss in a league of his own! The only mitigating factor, if I could call it that for want of a better word, is that IGCAR publications as a whole increased from 200 to 500 in the years 2004-2011. Which is why his share of IGCAR publications in 2011 is no better than in 2002 (and a little lower than in 2003). I wonder how IGCAR publications rose so fast, particularly the nearly 50% increase in 2010-2011. Were most of the papers published in newly started journals with less rigorous review standards? But all this is beside the point ... Good luck with your fight!

Thanks for your support! You raise an important issue about the 50% increase in publications in 2010-2011. Will try to investigate that if I find some time.

Investigate also the output from B. Venkatraman, who is the sycophant of Baldev Raj. The third grade copy paste scientist B. Venkatraman received Homi Baba award is the joke of 21st Century. Now he is dreaming to become IGCAR director. Hahahaha. He will be publishing 300 papers per year once he becomes director. Incorrigible.

Please email me if you have further information.

I emailed some info to you Dr Shoibal. Its a high time that we need to fight agaist these corrupt scientific criminals.