Meet Megh Banerji: India’s Original Rain Whisperer Who Pioneered Artificial Rain in 1952

In the rich history of weather modification in India, the contributions of Dr. S.K. Banerji stand as a remarkable yet often overlooked chapter. Decades before Delhi began its famous cloud seeding experiments, Dr. Banerji, the first director-general of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), conducted pioneering artificial rain experiments over Kolkata in 1952. Using hydrogen-filled balloons combined with silver iodide and salt, he seeded clouds from the ground with minimal resources. This innovative technique was far cheaper than the aircraft-based methods being pursued internationally at the time.

 

After retiring from the IMD, Banerji continued his experimentation while teaching at Jadavpur Engineering College. Despite skepticism and limited funding—mostly from the Scientific Research Council and the college itself—his determination led to successful rainfall induction over Kolkata. Neighbours affectionately nicknamed him “Megh Banerji,” meaning the man who could summon clouds.

 

Key highlights from Dr. Banerji’s work and its significance:

This historic episode not only underlines a crucial innovation in India’s meteorological research but also inspires the ongoing efforts today, including the recent drone and AI-based artificial rain experiments in Rajasthan’s Ramgarh Dam and Delhi’s pollution-reduction cloud seeding trials.

 

Sources: My Kolkata, The Telegraph India, Indian Express, Sanskriti IAS, Facebook Economic Times.