Prof Jayant Narlikar, astrophysicist who proposed an alternative to Big Bang theory, passes away at 86

Indian Express

20-05-2025

Eminent astrophysicist Prof Jayant Narlikar, one of India's best known scientists, passed away in his sleep on Tuesday. He would have turned 87 this July. He is survived by three daughters.
The veteran astrophysicist was the founder-director of the Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune and is known for his seminal works in the areas of cosmology and most importantly, for believing in an alternate model to the popular Big Bang theory for the origin of the universe. He was also a well-known science communicator.
Narlikar was an alumnus of Cambridge University, Banaras Hindu University and has worked at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
According to close associates of Prof Narlikar, the scientist had undergone a surgery for a hip fracture at a city hospital a fortnight ago. He was recovering at home. Doctors said that he passed away peacefully at his residence.
Prof R Srianand Director of IUCAA told The Indian Express that it was an unimaginable loss. 'He has been an inspiration and father of Indian cosmology. Till the last minute, Prof Narlikar was thinking of various aspects of science and science popularisation and would always say that research institutes had a great responsibility in spreading awareness about science,' Srianand said.
Born on July 19, 1938 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, Prof Narlikar received his early education in the campus of Banaras Hindu University (BHU), where his father Vishnu Vasudeva Narlikar was Professor and Head of the Mathematics Department. His mother Sumati Narlikar was a Sanskrit scholar. After a brilliant career in school and college, Narlikar got his B.Sc. degree at BHU in 1957. He went to Cambridge for higher studies, becoming a Wrangler and Tyson Medallist in the Mathematical Tripos.
He got his Cambridge degrees in mathematics: B.A.(1960), Ph.D. (1963), M.A. (1964) and Sc.D. (1976), but specialized in astronomy and astrophysics. He distinguished himself at Cambridge with the Smith's Prize in 1962 and the Adams Prize in 1967. He later stayed on at Cambridge till 1972, as Fellow of King's College (1963-72) and Founder Staff Member of the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy (1966-72).
During this period he laid the foundations of his research work in cosmology and astrophysics in collaboration with his mentor Fred Hoyle. Narlikar returned to India to join the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (1972-1989) where under his charge the Theoretical Astrophysics Group expanded and acquired international standing.
In 1988 the University Grants Commission invited him to set up the proposed Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) as its Founder Director. He held the Directorship of IUCAA until his retirement in 2003. Under his direction IUCAA has acquired a world-wide reputation as a centre for excellence in teaching and research in astronomy and astrophysics. He was Emeritus Professor at IUCAA. In 2012 the Third World Academy of Sciences awarded him their prize for setting up a centre for excellence in science.
In 1966, Narlikar married Mangala Rajwade. She is a Ph.D. in mathematics. They have three daughters, Geeta, Girija and Leelavati, all of whom have opted for research careers in science. Narlikar is internationally known for his work in cosmology, for championing models alternative to the popularly believed big bang model.
Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition.
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