[1] Born in Lahore (now in Pakistan), Brahm Prakash had his college education in chemistry, and pursued his doctoral research in physical metallurgy at the Punjab University (1942).
He completed his second PhD programme under the influence of John Chipman, Morris Cohen, A.M. Gaudin, and Reinhardt Schumann (Jr.), qualifying for his Sc.D.
When Prakash returned to India, he obtained a position in the Atomic Energy programme, in Bombay, working as a metallurgist from 1948 to 1950.
During the six years of his leadership, there was a steady expansion in the volume and variety of research programmes, including externally sponsored and funded projects, in the Department.
In 1955, he was selected for a prestigious assignment as one of the scientific secretaries for the first United Nations conference on the peaceful uses of Atomic Energy (that was held in Geneva in 1955).
Results on vapour phase dechlorination of zirconium presented by Brahm Prakash at the conference was acclaimed for its originality.
Prakash was instrumental in taking a far-sighted decision to go for new generation Maraging Steel against 15 CDV-6 for construction of rocket motor casings for satellite launch vehicles.
It was on his recommendation that Government of India sanctioned setting up of a special metals and alloys project by Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (acronym MIDHANI) at Hyderabad.