Vikram Sarabhai

Vikram Sarabhai was a visionary scientist who played a pivotal role in the development of India's space and nuclear programs. He was born in a wealthy and influential family of industrialists and philanthropists in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. He had a keen interest in science and mathematics since his childhood and received his education from Gujarat College, University of Cambridge, and Indian Institute of Science. He obtained his PhD in cosmic ray physics from Cambridge in 1947. Sarabhai returned to India after the independence and founded the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad, which became the cradle of space sciences in India. He also established several other institutions in diverse fields, such as the Ahmedabad Textile Industry's Research Association (ATIRA), the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), and the Nehru Foundation for Development. He was instrumental in setting up the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) in 1962, which later evolved into the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 1969. He became the first chairman of ISRO and spearheaded the launch of India's first satellite, Aryabhata, in 1975. Sarabhai was also involved in the promotion of nuclear power in India. He succeeded Homi J. Bhabha as the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India in 1966 and initiated several projects for peaceful uses of atomic energy. He also represented India in various international forums, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations Conference on Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, and the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR). Sarabhai was a man of many talents and interests. He was an avid reader, a lover of arts and culture, a patron of classical music and dance, and a social reformer. He supported various causes, such as women's empowerment, rural development, education, and health. He was married to Mrinalini Sarabhai, a renowned classical dancer, and had two children, Mallika and Kartikeya, who also became prominent figures in their respective fields. Sarabhai died at the age of 52 due to cardiac arrest in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on 30 December 1971. He was cremated in Ahmedabad with full state honors. He was posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honor, in 1972. He is widely regarded as the father of the Indian space program and one of the greatest scientists of India.