Vikram Sarabhai Explained

Title1:Chairman of the Indian Space Research
Organisation
Term Start1:1969
Term End1:1971
Predecessor1:Position established
Successor1:M. G. K. Menon
Title2:Chairman of the Indian National Committee for
Space Research
Term Start2:1963
Term End2:1969
Predecessor2:Position established
Successor2:Position abolished
Title3:Chairperson of the Atomic Energy Commission of India
Term Start3:1966
Term End3:1971
Predecessor3:Homi J. Bhabha
Successor3:H.N. Sethna
Vikram Sarabhai
Birth Name:Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai
Birth Date:12 August 1919
Birth Place:Ahmedabad,
Bombay Presidency,
British India
(now in Gujarat, India)
Death Place:Halcyon Castle, Trivandrum (now Thiruvananthapuram), Kerala, India
Spouse:Mrinalini Sarabhai (m.1942)
Children:Mallika Sarabhai (daughter)
Kartikeya Sarabhai (son)
Parents:Ambalal Sarabhai (father)

Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai (12 August 1919 – 30 December 1971) was an Indian physicist and astronomer who initiated space research and helped to develop nuclear power in India. Often regarded as the "Father of Indian space program",[1] Sarabhai was honored with Padma Bhushan in 1966 and the Padma Vibhushan (posthumously) in 1972.

Personal life

Vikram Sarabhai was born on 12 August 1919 in a Gujarati Jain family, in Ahmedabad, India.[2] [3] His father was Ambalal Sarabhai a major industrialist committed to the Indian independence movement.[4] [5] Vikram Sarabhai married the classical dancer Mrinalini in 1942. The couple had two children. His daughter Mallika gained prominence as an actress and activist, and his son Kartikeya too became an active person in science. He attended Gujarat College, Ahmedabad, but later moved to the University of Cambridge, England, where he took his tripos in natural sciences in 1940. In 1945 he returned to Cambridge to pursue his PhD and wrote a thesis, "Cosmic Ray Investigations in Tropical Latitudes", in 1947.[6]

Professional life

Known as the cradle of space sciences in India, the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) was founded in 1947 by Vikram Sarabhai.[7] PRL had a modest beginning at his residence, the "RETREAT", with research on cosmic rays.

The institute was formally established at the M.G. Science Institute, Ahmedabad, on 11 November 1947[8] with support from the Karmkshetra Educational Foundation and the Ahmedabad Education Society. Kalpathi Ramakrishna Ramanathan was the first Director of the institute. The initial focus was research on cosmic rays and the properties of the upper atmosphere. Research areas were expanded to include theoretical physics and radio physics later with grants from the Atomic Energy Commission.He led the Sarabhai family-owned business conglomerate.

His interests varied from science to sports to statistics. He set up the Operations Research Group (ORG), the first market research organization in the country. Most notable among the many institutes he helped set up are the Nehru Foundation for Development in Ahmedabad, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), and the Ahmedabad Textile Industry's Research Association (ATIRA). Along with his wife Mrinalini Sarabhai, he founded the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts. Other projects and institutions initiated or established by him include the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) in Kalpakkam, Variable Energy Cyclotron Project in Calcutta, Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) in Hyderabad and Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) in Jaduguda, Jharkhand.Sarabhai started a project for the fabrication and launch of an Indian satellite. As a result, the first Indian satellite, Aryabhata, was put in orbit in 1975 from a Russian cosmodrome. He was the founder of Indian Space Research Organisation.

Death

On 30 December 1971, Sarabhai was to review the SLV design before his departure for Bombay the same night. He had spoken to A. P. J. Abdul Kalam on the telephone. Within an hour into the conversation, Sarabhai died of cardiac arrest at the age of 52 in Trivandrum (now Thiruvananthapuram). His body was cremated in Ahmedabad.

Distinguished positions

Legacy

In popular culture

On 12 August 2019, Google's Doodle for India commemorated Sarabhai's 100th birth anniversary.[17] On 30 September 2020, ACK Media along with ISRO released a book namely, Vikram Sarabhai: Pioneering India's Space Programme. It was released in Amar Chitra Katha's digital platform and merchandise, ACK Comics.

A 2022 web-series Rocket Boys was based on the fictionalized lives of Sarabhai and Homi J. Bhabha, played by Ishwak Singh and Jim Sarbh respectively

In the 2022 film based on Nambi Narayanan's life, Sarabhai was played by Rajit Kapur in the Hindi version and by Ravi Raghavendra in the Tamil version.[18] [19] [20] [21]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dr. Vikram Sarabhai . Master Control facility - Department Of Space - Government Of India . 16 June 2024.
  2. Web site: formerchairman . 2024-08-18 . www.isro.gov.in.
  3. News: 2015-04-09 . Jains steal the show with 7 Padmas . 2024-08-18 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
  4. Book: Entrepreneurship and Industry in India, 1800-1947. 44. 1992. Oxford University Press. 978-0-19-562806-7 . The Sarabhais and the Lalbhais, the town's two most prominent entrepreneurial families, were Banias prominent as shroffs..
  5. Book: Shah, Amrita . Amrita Shah - Vikram Sarabhai - A Life . Penguin . 2007 . 9780670999514 . 97 . en.
  6. Web site: Goyal. Shikha. 12 August 2019. Vikram Sarabhai founder of ISRO 100th Birthday: All you need to know. 12 August 2019. Jagran Josh.
  7. Web site: R.. Parthasarathy. April 3, 2003. Vikram Sarabhai (1919-1971): Architect of Indian space programme. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20030518211014/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/seta/2003/04/03/stories/2003040300100300.htm. May 18, 2003. 2019-08-10. The Hindu.
  8. Web site: BRIEF HISTORY . 28 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160408134414/https://www.prl.res.in/website_english15/about/hist.php . 8 April 2016 . dead . dmy-all . Physical Research Laboratory, Department of Space, Government of India.
  9. News: From the Archives (May 23, 1969): Sarabhai assails faltering nuclear policy. 2019-05-23. The Hindu. 2019-08-10. en-IN. 0971-751X.
  10. Web site: Former Chairmen of Atomic Energy Commission. 2012-06-05. Government of India Department of Atomic Energy. 2019-08-10.
  11. Web site: Space Applications Centre. www.sac.gov.in. 2019-08-10. 26 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190326030524/https://www.sac.gov.in/Vyom/founder.jsp. dead.
  12. [Antonín Rükl]
  13. [Sarabhai (crater)]
  14. Web site: Space Museum opened at Hyderabad with ISRO Collaboration - ISRO. 2020-09-22. www.isro.gov.in.
  15. News: 2019-12-06. Birla Science Centre's Pranav Sharma gets REX Karmaveer Award. en-IN. The Hindu. 2020-09-22. 0971-751X.
  16. Web site: 8 August 2019. ISRO announces Vikram Sarabhai awards for journalism in the fields of space science, applications, and research. Firstpost.
  17. Web site: Vikram Sarabhai's 100th Birthday.
  18. Web site: 2022-03-02 . 'Rocket Boys' gets Vikram Sarabhai wrong . 2022-03-04 . The Indian Express . en.
  19. Web site: 2022-02-24 . Why Rocket Boys didn't need to take so many creative liberties . 2022-03-04 . Mintlounge . en.
  20. Web site: As a Historian of the Nuclear Program, I Can Only Laugh at the Howlers in Rocket Boys . 2022-03-04 . The Wire.
  21. Web site: 'Rocket Boys' Begins Well, Then Turns Into Hagiography With a Blatantly Communal Touch . 2022-03-04 . The Wire.