K. Sivan Explained

K. Sivan
Office1:9th Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation
Predecessor1:A. S. Kiran Kumar
Successor1:S. Somanath
Office2:12th Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
Term Start2:2015
Term End2:2018
Predecessor2:M. C. Dathan
Successor2:S. Somanath
Birth Name:Kailasavadivoo Sivan
Birth Date:14 April 1957
Birth Place:Mela Sarakkalvilai, Tamil Nadu, India

Sivan Kailasavadivu (born 14 April 1957) is an Indian aerospace engineer who served as the Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) and Space Commission.[1] [2] He has previously served as the Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center and the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre.[3]

Early life

Sivan was born in Sarakkalvilai, near Nagercoil in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu state of India.[4] His parents are Kailasavadivu and mother Chellam.[5]

Education

Sivan is the son of a mango farmer and studied in a Tamil medium Government school in Mela Sarakkalvilai Village and later in Vallankumaranvilai, in Kanyakumari district. He is the first graduate from his family.[6] Later Sivan graduated with a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from Madras Institute of Technology in 1980. He then got a master's degree in aerospace engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in 1982, and started working in ISRO.[7] He earned a doctoral degree in aerospace engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay in 2006. He is a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering, the Aeronautical Society of India and the Systems Society of India.[8] He was conferred Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) from Sathyabama University, Chennai in April 2014.[9]

Career

Sivan worked on the design and development of launch vehicles for Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Sivan joined ISRO in 1982 to participate on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) Project. Sivan played a major role in reviving the GSLV programme. The 6D tragectory simulation software SITARA was developed under the guidance of Dr. K Sivan.[10] He was appointed as the director of ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre on 2 July 2014.[11] On 1 June 2015, he became the Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.[12]

Sivan was appointed the chief of ISRO in January 2018 and he assumed office on 15 January.[13] Under his chairmanship, ISRO launched Chandrayaan-2, the second mission to the Moon on 22 July 2019, of which Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover crashed; the orbiter was not affected and is still orbiting the Moon as of September 2023.[14]

On 30 December 2020, his chairmanship was extended by a year to January 2022. His earlier tenure was up to January 2021.[15]

On 25 January 2021, Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has registered a complaint against Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman and Secretary, Department of Space (DoS), K Sivan, over allegations of irregularities in recruiting his son in ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Valiamala, Thiruvananthapuram, by bypassing norms.[16]

Dr Sivan has been appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Governers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Indore. He will replace Deepak B P, whose term ended on 21 August 2023.[17]

Awards

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Renowned scientist Sivan K named new ISRO chairman . . 10 January 2018 . 10 January 2018.
  2. News: Sivan K named new ISRO chairman . . 10 January 2018 . 10 January 2018.
  3. News: Dr. Sivan takes over as LPSC director. 28 May 2016. The Hindu. 2 July 2014.
  4. News: A humble farmer's son to Isro's 'Rocket Man': Incredible journey of K Sivan. . 7 September 2019 .
  5. Web site: Fighting odds: Once mango trader now Isro chairman. Raman. A. Ragu. 2018-01-12. Deccan Chronicle. en. 2019-08-31.
  6. Web site: K Sivan: A humble farmer's son's journey to Indian Space agency top job . . 11 January 2018 . 11 January 2018.
  7. Web site: 2019-08-17 . Chairman ISRO, Secretary DOS - ISRO . https://web.archive.org/web/20190817225051/https://www.isro.gov.in/about-isro/chairman-isro-secretary-dos . 2019-08-17 . 2022-09-03 .
  8. News: From farmer's son to Isro chief: Lesser known accomplishments of K Sivan. India Today. en. 2019-10-31. Ist.
  9. Web site: 12 January 2018 . Who is K. Sivan? . 22 January 2018 . Sharan Poovanna . Livemint.
  10. Web site: BRIEF BIO-DATA OF DR. K. SIVAN .
  11. News: Correspondent. Special. New Directors at ISRO centres. 2 July 2014. The Hindu. 2 July 2014.
  12. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/science/new-directors-for-major-isro-centres/article7271425.ece New directors for major ISRO centres
  13. News: K. Sivan takes charge as new ISRO chairman . 28 October 2018 . The Hindu . 16 January 2018 . en-IN.
  14. News: Chandrayaan-2: Success in India's second attempt at launching Moon mission .
  15. News: ISRO chief K Sivan gets extension till January 2022, ensures continuity in opening up space sector. The Economic Times. 2020-12-31.
  16. Web site: ISRO top brass pushed Sivan junior's recruitment: Plaint . 2022-04-07 . The New Indian Express. 13 February 2021 .
  17. Web site: Indore . Press Trust of India . Ex-ISRO chief Dr K Sivan is now chairman of IIT Indore's board of governors . 2023-09-01 . Business Standard.
  18. News: ISRO Chairman Sivan gets A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award . 2019-08-15 . The Hindu.
  19. Web site: ISRO on Twitter: "Dr B N Suresh and Dr. K Sivan were awarded the prestigious IEEE 'Simon Ramo Medal' 2020 for their exemplary work in the field of systems engineering..