Remembering Dr K Kasturirangan: A Legacy That Soared Beyond The Stars

News18

25-04-2025

Last Updated:
As former ISRO chief, Dr Kasturirangan led India's space agency through a golden era, championing indigenous technology and missions that served the nation
'You were named Rohini after a satellite made in ISRO, right?" Dr K Kasturirangan would ask with a knowing smile each time we met. I would nod in affirmation, and he would break into a hearty laugh. 'It was nice of your parents to name you after such an important satellite," he'd say, his eyes twinkling.
Everyone who met Dr Kasturirangan—be it as a colleague, mentor, advisor, scientist, educationist, environmentalist, or simply as a friend—has a story to tell. He was full of fire and vigour, a true star of the scientific community whose legacy continues to inspire generations.
'He was truly multidisciplinary and multifaceted," said his friends and colleagues. 'He would dive deep into each subject, and when he offered suggestions, they would be seen as enabling rather than competitive. He was a rare gem—someone who could handle multiple subjects with ease and still remain a deeply humane person. Most importantly, he was a great listener, and that made all the difference."
Even as he worked tirelessly to push the frontiers of technology and innovation in science and space, he never lost sight of one fundamental principle: 'Any innovation or development must ultimately serve people," he would often say.
'He was an outstanding scientist, no doubt about it. But more than that, he was a man who believed that science must serve people. That was his core," said Dr T.K. Alex, former Director of ISRO's Satellite Centre (ISAC) and a long-time friend and colleague of Dr Kasturirangan.
Alex remembers him not just as his chairman and scientist but as his PhD guide and mentor. 'I had a special affection for him. He was my guide when I did my PhD. He taught me not only science, but how to think about its purpose," he said.
Kasturirangan began his scientific journey as an astrophysicist, immersed in the study of black holes and astronomy. 'He wasn't someone who just sat in a lab theorising. He worked with real hardware—he knew circuit boards, satellite payloads. He was hands-on, just like the likes of Dr U.R. Rao," Alex recalled.
He rose to head ISRO's Satellite Centre, overseeing satellite design and development. 'He didn't just focus on launching satellites. He was very particular that these satellites must help the common man," Alex said.
'He pushed for using remote sensing data for forest mapping, agriculture, and drinking water. He was far ahead of his time in wanting science to be relevant to everyday life."
That same clarity guided him when he led the committee on the Western Ghats ecological zone, which is famously called the Kasturirangan Report, formed after public concerns over the earlier Gadgil Committee recommendations.
'Kasturirangan's strength was balance. He went through the data meticulously, recognised that real towns had been misclassified as forests, and corrected it. He cared for the environment—but also for people," said Alex.
Beyond science, it was his quiet resilience that made an impression. 'He faced personal loss with immense grace," Alex shared. 'His wife passed away early. He raised his two sons while continuing his work. Even when he had a major health scare 20 years ago, he carried on. He never let anything stop him."
One of Dr Kasturirangan's most enduring contributions, Alex said, was his early push for indigenous space technology. People talk about 'Make in India', but ISRO was doing it years ago as part of the organisation's push to remain as close to indigenous in its making of satellites and rockets as possible. He ensured it continued.
'We made integrated circuits in Chandigarh, we built cameras and sensors here in India. It was tough, but he insisted—we must build it ourselves," Alex recalled.
Dr Kasturirangan also chaired the very first meeting for India's moon mission—Chandrayaan.
'Chandrayaan began under him. I was in the room when it was being discussed—he asked if PSLV could launch a satellite to orbit the moon with a payload of 1,000 kg. We optimised weight, roped in international partners for that pathbreaking project," Alex said.
'And then Dr APJ Abdul Kalam came in and said, 'Don't just orbit—drop something on the moon.' That's how the Moon Impact Probe happened. That little payload with the Indian flag—Kasturirangan laid the groundwork for that."
As Alex puts it, 'He was a scientist, yes. But he was also a mentor, a visionary, and a deeply human person."
Kasturirangan's magic was about a string of successes which made people look at him in awe. It was in the way he made people believe that anything was possible—and then quietly showed them how to do it. That's how Dr B R Guruprasad, Director of the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium in Bengaluru, sees the towering legacy of his mentor.
'He initiated me into my PhD journey. He didn't just work in institutions; he enabled people. He drew the best out of those around him," he said.
While the world knew Kasturirangan as ISRO's former chairman and a member of the Rajya Sabha, Guruprasad sees him as far more than the sum of his titles. 'His contribution wasn't limited to space. He was a force across disciplines—education, research, governance," he said. 'He headed the National Institute of Advanced Studies, was a member of the Planning Commission, and led the Karnataka Knowledge Commission."
But it wasn't just his body of work or roles that left a mark—it was how he carried himself. 'He was an excellent communicator," Dr Guruprasad recalled. 'I used to joke with him, 'Sir, if I sit with you for half an hour, I'll walk away with one new English word—and the exact way to use it!' He made language elegant."
What struck him most was Kasturirangan's humility. 'He would often ask me, 'Guru, is this correct?' Imagine—a man of his stature asking me that. It showed his respect for knowledge, no matter where it came from. That's so rare."
Kasturirangan's journey through ISRO is etched in Indian space history. 'He was No. 2 to Prof U R Rao during Aryabhata. Then he led Bhaskara, our first experimental remote sensing satellite. That taught us not just technology but project management. With IRS-1A, India's first fully indigenous operational satellite, he led from the front," Guruprasad said.
There was a term people used—'Kasturirangan magic."
'As chairman from 1994 to 2003, ISRO had a string of successes. The GSLV saw its first launch. Our telecom network expanded with indigenously built satellites," Guruprasad said.
And of course, his role in Chandrayaan. 'He was the one who convinced the scientific community and government to approve it. If we landed near the South Pole with Chandrayaan-3, it started with his vision."
Guruprasad simply calls him 'a seamless blend of brilliance, humility, and vision."
'He was a rare man. And I was lucky to have known him not just as a scientist, but as a human being."
For Sridhar Murthy, a close friend and long-time colleague of Dr K Kasturirangan, the loss is deeply personal. 'He wasn't just a towering scientist. He was a guiding figure for all of us—an inspirational leader because of the many qualities he embodied," Murthy said, his voice reflecting both admiration and emotion.
'He was a man of very high integrity," recalled Murthy, who retired from ISRO as Distinguished Scientist and Managing Director of Antrix.
'He had this rare human chemistry. He could understand people deeply, resolve conflicting situations in a way that left everyone feeling heard and respected. There was always a sense of fairness in how he approached others, no matter how complex the problem."
Murthy worked closely with Dr Kasturirangan during the critical years of ISRO's growth. What stood out to him was Kasturirangan's style of leadership. 'He truly believed in participative management," he said. 'You saw that every single day while working with him. Everyone's voice mattered, and that built immense trust in the organisation."
Beyond his personal traits, Murthy said, it was Kasturirangan's visionary thinking that changed India's space programme. 'He always thought strategically. At the helm of ISRO, he pushed for the programme to be multidimensional. Technologically, he wanted it at the cutting edge. At the same time, it had to serve national development and retain relevance for the common man."
He was deeply involved in various missions, particularly in telecommunications, broadcasting, and remote sensing.
One of Kasturirangan's significant contributions was leading the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) Satellite project as its project director. He was committed to ensuring that these missions transitioned from being experimental to operational.
'Once they successfully served the national user community, he worked towards making them internationally recognised. This led to the global offering of IRS data. Additionally, during his tenure, he forged strategic alliances, including building relations with countries and other space organisations globally," Murthy told News18.
And always, he thought of the next generation. 'He believed that the space programme should inspire the youth. It wasn't just about rockets—it was about dreaming big, building excellence, and serving society," Murthy said.
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'That was his real legacy. Whether it was technology, science, people, or purpose—he created a culture of excellence that will live on long after him."
Dr K Kasturirangan passed away in Bengaluru on Friday. He was 84.
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tags :
Chandrayaan ISRO Chairman k kasturirangan
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
April 25, 2025, 20:29 IST
News india Remembering Dr K Kasturirangan: A Legacy That Soared Beyond The Stars