Vikram Sarabhai, the scientist, innovator, businessman, art connoisseur who put India on the global space map
He established the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad.
By ET Online | Updated:
Agencies
(Image: Twitter/ISRO)
Vikram Sarabhai or Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai who would have turned 99 today was a rare combination of a scientist, an innovator, industrialist and a visionary.
He was one of the greatest scientists produced by India, and was known as the father of the Indian space programme.
Sarabhai was born in an affluent family of industrialists and was one of the eight children of Ambalal and Sarla Devi.
He enjoyed a privileged childhood and the means to pursue all the education he wanted. From a young age, Sarabhai developed a deep interest in science and mathematics.
#TimelessThoughts #VikramSarabhai We are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in th… https://t.co/x3ikZCqOcJ
Born on August 12, 1919, he passed the intermediate Science examination from the Gujarat College in Ahmedabad and went to England for further studies.
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He enrolled at the St. John's College, University of Cambridge from where he received the Tripos in Natural Sciences in 1940. After coming back to India, he joined the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore.
He wanted to conduct research on cosmic rays, which was something he undertook on the advice of the eminent scientist C.V. Raman. His first scientific paper 'Time Distribution of Cosmic Rays' was published in 1942.
In 1942, he married celebrated classical dancer Mrinalini. The couple had two children. His daughter Mallika and son Karthikeya too became famous personalities.
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He returned to Cambridge in 1945 to further his research on cosmic rays and earned his PhD for his thesis 'Cosmic ray investigations in tropical latitudes'.
One of his first milestones was establishing the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad on November 11, 1947. He was only 28 at that time. Sarabhai served for PRL from 1966-1971.
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He also served as a Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. Along with other Ahmedabad-based industrialists, he played a major role in the creation of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
A humble tribute to Vikram Sarabhai: scientist, thinker and pioneer. From ISRO to IIM-A, a grateful nation contin… https://t.co/oOt2Hlu4pD
Sarabhai was the man behind setting up these premier institutions:
1. Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad 2. Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad 3. Community Science Centre, Ahmedabad 4. Darpan Academy for Performing Arts, Ahmedabad (along with his wife) 5. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuramm 6. Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad (This institution came into existence after merging six institutions/centres established by Sarabhai) 7. Faster Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR), Kalpakkam 8. Variable Energy Cyclotron Project, Calcutta 9. Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), Hyderabad 10. Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), Jaduguda, Bihar
Paying tributes to Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the visionary scientist & innovator who put India on the space exploration m… https://t.co/belXImqzI7
The year 1957-1958 was designated as International Geo-physical year (IGY). The Indian programme for the IGY had been one of the most significant ventures of Sarabhai. This gave him exposure to new vistas of space science with the launching of Sputnik-I in 1957. Subsequently, the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was formed, under his chairmanship.
He founded the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) which eventually became the largest government space agency in the world. He convinced the government of the importance of a space programme after the Russian Sputnik launch.
Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha, widely regarded as the father of India's nuclear science program, supported Dr. Sarabhai in setting up the first rocket launching station in India. This centre was established at Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram on the coast of the Arabian Sea, primarily because of its proximity to the equator.
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With Elon Musk recently unveiling the first image of a new space suit developed by SpaceX, here's a look at some of the iconic space suits from famous movies. Musk might as well take some notes.
With Elon Musk recently unveiling the first image of a new space suit developed by SpaceX, here's a look at some of the iconic space suits from famous movies. Musk might as well take some notes.
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Considered as one of the greatest science fiction films, '2001: A Space Odyssey' had astronauts wearing colourful space suits made of a loose, rubbery material that straps to a device on the chest an..
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