Dr. Ayyagari Sambasiva Rao (1914–2003) was a pioneering Indian scientist who played a central role in building India’s electronics and nuclear instrumentation ecosystem. Born in a small village called Mogallu in Andhra Pradesh, he went on to earn a master’s in physics from Banaras Hindu University, then an electrical engineering degree from Stanford University.
Rao worked closely with India’s nuclear program: at BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre), he led the design and development of electronics for the country’s first nuclear reactor, Apsara.
In 1967, he founded ECIL (Electronics Corporation of India Limited) in Hyderabad to drive India’s self-reliance in advanced electronics — from nuclear instrumentation to defense and communications systems.
Rao’s character was as remarkable as his technical brilliance. A man of simplicity and integrity, he refused a high-paying job in the U.S. to return and serve his country.
He believed deeply in self-reliance and built ECIL into a powerhouse of innovation.
His contributions didn’t go unnoticed — he was awarded the Padma Shri in 1960 and the Padma Bhushan in 1972, among many other honors.
His legacy lives on: a suburb in Hyderabad, A. S. Rao Nagar, is named after him, and his story continues to inspire generations of scientists and technologists.