Former Isro chief K Kasturirangan cremated with full honours in Bengaluru
A steady stream of friends, former colleagues from the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), and political leaders across party lines came to the Raman Research Institute (RRI) in Bengaluru to pay homage to Dr K Kasturirangan Sunday.
Kasturirangan, 84, who served as the Isro chairman from 1994 to 2003, passed away Friday, and his cremation was held at Hebbal Sunday afternoon with full state honours.
After Nobel laureate C V Raman and radio astronomer Professor V Radhakrishnan, it was the third instance when the mortal remains of a noted scientist were kept at RRI.
Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, state Home Minister G Parameshwara, former Karnataka CM B S Yediyurappa, and former Union law minister Veerappa Moily were among those who paid their last respects to Kasturirangan.
Speaking on the occasion, Shivakumar said, 'Dr Kasturirangan's contributions cannot be matched and there will never be another scientist like him. Soon, the Karnataka government will hold discussions and plan ways that will keep his name and scientific contributions immortal.'
Former Isro chiefs A S Kiran Kumar, K Sivan, and S Somanath were among the dozen space scientists, along with other academicians, scientists and researchers who had gathered at RRI on the day.
The visionary scientist had been ailing for the last two years due to age-related complications. After his condition deteriorated last month, he had been under palliative care at home.
Kasturirangan served at Isro for over three and a half decades — a turbulent time for the Indian space agency amid several international restrictions, including access to cryogenic technology. Under Kasturirangan's leadership, Isro also embarked on a path of self-reliance and began planning for the big missions like Chandrayaan.
Kasturirangan later became a member of Rajya Sabha, and then a member of the erstwhile Planning Commission. He also served the government in several other advisory capacities — he either headed or was part of committees that advised the dispensation on a range of issues, including higher education, technology, as well as environment.
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