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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Jayant Narlikar, the storyteller who brought the stars closer to India
Some people do not come in through the door but rather jump through the roof. Jayant Narlikar was one of them. In 1964, when Fred Hoyle and he announced in Cambridge University their new theory of gravity, suddenly Jawaharlal Nehru's modern India found a hero in science. It is therefore no surprise that Narlikar became a household name overnight in a country seeking its bearings in the world of science and technology. He passed away peacefully in his sleep, just two months short of his 87th birthday on July 19, marking the end of an era. He doesn't leave behind a vacuum but a thriving world-class institute in the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA); a galaxy of young women and men inspired by his work and books; and millions of admirers all over the globe. He has 'curved' a special place for himself in 'time'. That would be the right way to remember him and a fitting tribute. Today, we should celebrate the life of a great human being, committed to science and its propagation, a man who personified excellence in whatever he indulged in. It is a matter of great privilege for some of us who had the opportunity to work with him at various levels. He had the uncanny knack of getting the best out of everyone by sharing and involving them in things. Narlikar was an outstanding student at Cambridge, winning laurels, including the coveted Adams Prize, which he shared with Roger Penrose, who went on to become a Nobel Laureate. He was among the front-ranking researchers of his time. The Hoyle–Narlikar theory was developed in support of the steady state theory of cosmology, which proposed that the universe looks the same from every point in space and at all times, and that it has no beginning or end. However, this theory eventually fell out of favour as astronomical observations provided strong evidence that the universe had a definite beginning, marked by a massive explosion known as the Big Bang. The term 'Big Bang' was actually coined by Hoyle — ironically, one of the main proponents of the steady state theory. Narlikar was, in fact, among the last prominent supporters of the steady state model. He was a brilliant researcher and had the conviction and courage to ride against the tide and still be held in the highest esteem even by his academic opponents. The distinguished visitors to IUCAA, including Nobel laureates, bear testimony to this fact. IUCAA was his greatest gift to science and the nation. He wanted to facilitate research in astronomy in universities. It is gratifying to see university students and faculty doing pathbreaking research and publishing their work in front-ranking journals. This is what would have pleased him the most. The thing that stands out most is his missionary zeal to communicate science and its method to young students and ordinary people through his innumerable public lectures and science-fiction books. It would be no exaggeration to say that it is this aspect that strongly endeared him to people. There are many renowned scientists in the country, but none have attained his kind of popularity and respect. To this end, let me recall an incident from 1997 when he had organised Penrose's lecture in Pune's Balgandharva theatre. Such was the demand to listen to him that there was nearly a riot-like situation with people who could not get in shouting and banging at the gates, and, from the other side, Shriram Lagoo was pacifying them, saying that it was their very own Narlikar's event. The ultimate value of one's work and contribution is how far and how well it is remembered. Besides his scientific work, the two things that will keep his memory alive will be the institute, IUCAA, and his popular writings and science fiction. I am sure that even after 50 years or more, one would certainly come across people who had been motivated by him. Let me end on a personal note. In 1965, three of us travelled from Vallabh Vidyanagar to Ahmedabad to listen to Narlikar's lecture in the Atira hall. Little did I know then that I would end up spending over half a century intimately interacting and working with him. That is something I will always treasure. The writer, a former director of IUCAA, was Narlikar's colleague for five decades
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Narlikar was deeply committed to IUCAA's welfare: Srianand
IUCAA is a living memory of Jayant Narlikar,' said professor R Srianand, director, Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) recalling the legacy of the astrophysicist who laid the foundation for one of India's premier research institutions. 'Even decades from now, I believe IUCAA will continue to reflect the ideals he established. Our ideas may evolve with time and context, but the spirit he injected into this institute will remain unchanged.' The Pune International Centre on Saturday hosted the Dr Jayant Narlikar Memorial Lecture as tribute to the life and works of the globally known scientist and founding director of IUCAA. Srianand said, 'One of the most important things I hope to learn from him is how to conduct meaningful, independent research. He was among the few who boldly proposed alternate theories about the universe.' He noted Narlikar's extraordinary ability to engage and continuously inspire students, recalled the structured pace of his lectures — very calm, non-hurried, and deeply impactful. 'You would never feel rushed in his class,' he said. 'He maintained a consistent speed throughout the one hour and yet managed to cover a tremendous amount of material. It reflected the level of preparation and research he brought to his lecture.' Srianand said that Narlikar as an administrator was a very democratic person, tolerant, and deeply committed to the welfare of the IUCAA. 'He had incredible tolerance. Where others might have reacted harshly, he chose to listen and let people be heard. Despite being an internationally respected physicist, Narlikar always remained available for everyone from faculty to driver,' he said. He recalled Narlikar's emotional attachment to IUCAA, especially his continued presence at events such as retirement functions of faculty, and did not impose his ideas on the new director. Professor Ajit Kembhavi said, 'Narlikar, along with Fred Hoyle and others, helped develop the Steady State Theory, which was a serious alternative to the Big Bang. They suggested that new matter is constantly created, so the universe always looks the same and has no beginning. Even though this idea was later set aside after the discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation, it was an important and creative theory at the time.'
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
How Jayant Narlikar inspired generations of students through Science popularisation efforts
Jayant Narlikar, an eminent astrophysicist who passed away in Pune on May 20, 2025, has left behind a legacy of inspired minds. It is no less known a fact that Mr. Narlikar dedicated significant time and effort to Science popularisation. Inspired by Michael Faraday and his mentor Fred Hoyle, Mr. Narlikar worked to popularise Science through articles, books, speeches, and media. His small acts of kindness, such as replying to postcards, emails, and letters sent by students, attending school exhibitions and interacting with young minds, delivering a guest lectures at various universities left a lasting impression that shaped students' lives. 'Narlikar was an excellent communicator. He could convey complex scientific concepts to the general public simply and engagingly', says Ajit Kembhavi, Mr. Narlikar's student and former director of IUCAA. Narlikar's drive towards Science popularisation Mr. Narlikar started blogging about eventful and meaningful stories and lessons from his life in January 2024. In the blog, 'Sharing the Thrills of Science', he talks about his drive towards Science popularisation. In the blog, Mr. Narlikar talks about Faraday's knack for presenting scientific discoveries in simple language, and how his lectures inspired a liking for science in the general public. In the same blog, he acknowledges the guidance he received from Fred Hoyle. Mr. Narlikar writes, 'He (Mr. Hoyle) not only showed me the necessity of keeping an open mind while doing scientific research but also the enjoyment one derives from conveying one's findings to lay audiences. When I returned to India after some ten years of post-doctoral research, I continued my interest in Science popularisation.' Also Read: Jayant Narlikar: The Indian astrophysicist and sci-fi writer who challenged 'Big Bang' Mr. Narlikar held the directorship of IUCAA until his retirement in 2003. Under his direction, IUCAA didn't just acquire recognition as a hub of teaching and research in Astronomy and Astrophysics, but also as a hub for public outreach. Mr. Kembhavi recollects, 'Hundreds of school children would visit the campus for Saturday lectures, even though it was under construction. These students who are now, in their middle age, still remember the way Mr. Narlikar inspired them'. Notes from students Mr. Kembhavi recollects that Mr. Narlikar was always enthusiastic to answer questions from his audience. But he always politely declined their requests for an autograph. He, however, would offer to send a signed reply for a postcard. After his passing, many students wrote heartfelt notes on social media recollecting the moment Mr. Narlikar changed their lives. Rahul Bagal, Co-Founder and Director, IncubXperts, who received a postcard reply from Mr. Narlikar, in a post on LinkedIn writes, 'For many of us who grew up with a curiosity about the universe, Dr. Narlikar was more than just a scientist. He was an inspiration — someone who made science feel accessible and exciting.' Mr. Bagal recollects his meeting with Mr. Narlikar during a school science exhibition in Sangli. He remembers him being nervous and Mr. Nalikar engaging in a conversation with him patiently. Later, when Mr. Bagal sent him a letter full of questions, he was happiest when he received a response from Mr. Narlikar. 'Looking back, I wonder — why would one of India's busiest scientists take the time to write back to a small-town student? Because that's who he was. He believed in nurturing curiosity, in encouraging young minds to ask questions, to explore, and to imagine', he writes. Another LinkedIn user, Kaustubh Agashe, CFA, talks about how Mr. Narlikar's Maths and Science writings in Marathi made the subjects accessible for him. Mr. Agashe was one of the many students who could visit IUCAA for Mr. Narlikar's lectures and was deeply inspired by him. 'He wrote extensively in Marathi, something which is very rare and much needed, which is: an authority in any field writing in Marathi to communicate with the people who otherwise would not get exposure to that knowledge', says Mr. Agashe. Raj Bagwe, an ISSER Pune student, notes on X, 'Jayant and Mangala Narlikar were an inspiration for countless kids like me across Maharashtra and beyond. I remember attending a public colloquium of theirs 7 years ago in Aurangabad. Jayant asked us a brainteaser and told us to email him the answer. I mailed him on the 2nd of December, and received a reply on my birthday the next day. The best birthday gift for a 12-year-old. They will always hold a dear place in my heart'. Rest in Peace 💐 Jayant and Mangala Narlikar were an inspiration for countless kids like me across Maharashtra and beyond. I remember attending a public colloquium of theirs 7 years ago in Aurangabad. Jayant asked us a brainteaser and told us to email him the answer. ⬇️ — RaJ Bagwe (@your_local_raj) May 20, 2025 Ponnala Lakshmaiah writes on X, 'I recall the day of his lecture in our Osmani Engg College during 19664 - 1965, who came on our college invitation, which remains as an inspiration forever in our minds'. Office@Ponnala Jayanth Narlikar ( of Hoyle - Narlikar Theory of Gravity , Fame ) I feel sorry to hear of the passing of Dr. Jayant Narlikar, on May 20, 2025 I recall the day of his lecture in our Osmani Engg College during 19664 - 1965 who came on our college invitation which… — Ponnala Lakshmaiah (@PonnalaLaksmiah) May 21, 2025 Another X user notes that he was named after Mr. Narlikar, as his father, during his student days, was inspired by the astrophysicist. This shows the profound impact Mr. Narlikar had on the student community.
The Wire
24-05-2025
- Science
- The Wire
J.V. Narlikar: Visionary Cosmologist, Tireless Science Populariser, Beloved Mentor
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Opinion J.V. Narlikar: Visionary Cosmologist, Tireless Science Populariser, Beloved Mentor Varun Sahni 10 minutes ago From reshaping cosmology with the Steady State theory to building IUCAA from scratch, Jayant Narlikar's career spanned scientific brilliance, fearless rationalism, and an unwavering commitment to public understanding of science. Jayant Narlikar. Photo: Wikimedia commons Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now Jayant Vishnu Narlikar (1938-2025) was an exceedingly versatile and talented scientist who was both an outstanding educationist and a dedicated science populariser. He wrote extensively – in English, for scientific journals and textbooks, in Hindi as well as in his native Marathi. His writings, spanning over a dozen books on science, science fiction, and fiction, inspired and nurtured several generations of youngsters towards science and the development of a scientific and rational temperament. He disliked all manner of superstition and was particularly critical of astrology, which he strongly opposed both privately and publicly. His extensive science popularisation efforts – through books, as well as radio and television programmes – earned him the prestigious Kalinga Prize, awarded by UNESCO in 1996. Jayant Narlikar came from a distinguished family. His father, Vishnu Vasudev Narlikar, was a theoretical physicist specialising in Einstein's theory of relativity and was head of department at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi. His mother, Sumati Narlikar, was a Sanskrit scholar, and his maternal uncle, V.S. Huzurbazar, was a statistician who founded the Department of Statistics at the University of Pune. Jayant initially studied at Banaras Hindu University and then went to Cambridge University, where he completed his PhD in 1963 under the eminent British cosmologist Sir Fred Hoyle. A famous outcome of this collaboration was the Hoyle–Narlikar Steady State theory of the universe (1963). This work propelled Narlikar to international fame, and he was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1965 at the young age of 27. He left Cambridge and joined the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Bombay as a professor and head of the Theoretical Astrophysics Group in 1972. The Steady State theory was radically different from its alternative, the Big Bang model, in that it suggested that the universe was not created from a single event (the Big Bang) that occurred at a finite time in the past, but instead was infinitely old and unchanging (in a statistical sense). As the universe expanded, it replenished itself through the continuous creation of matter, thereby always remaining in a steady state. The discovery of the cosmic microwave background radiation in 1964 tilted the scales in favour of Big Bang cosmology, but rather than give up on their idea, Hoyle and Narlikar, together with G. Burbidge, modified it into the Quasi-Steady State theory in 1993. Also read: What Jayant Narlikar Wrote on Scientific Temper a Decade Ago Still Holds True Jayant Narlikar was a staunch supporter of other radical ideas, including the notion of Panspermia – a hypothesis suggesting that life on Earth was seeded by bacterial cells which originated elsewhere in the universe and were transported to Earth by comets and asteroids. This idea is now gaining acceptance among the scientific community since complex organic molecules, including amino acids, have been detected in comets and in the environment between stars, known as the interstellar medium. However, when Hoyle originally proposed it, panspermia was considered too far-fetched to be published in a regular scientific journal. This led Hoyle to explore the idea in a fascinating science fiction novel called The Black Cloud (1957), in which a super-intelligent alien gas cloud approaches planet Earth in the distant future. Aside from being a versatile scientist, Jayant Narlikar was also an institution builder par excellence. It was in this capacity that I first came under his wing when he founded the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune in 1989, and hired me as a young scientist in 1991. On arriving at IUCAA, I was surprised to see that not a single facility was up and running. Instead, the entire institute was housed in a single shed called Aditi in the lush green Pune University campus. Snakes and scorpions abounded on campus, and to my horror, I was once stung by a scorpion, and my wife by a snake – but luckily, we both survived! Those were difficult times, but a sense of enthusiasm and exuberance permeated the atmosphere. Jayant was very keen that IUCAA be housed in aesthetically appealing surroundings, and for this purpose, he appointed the distinguished architect Charles Correa to design the entire IUCAA campus. He was also conscious of the adverse impact that construction can have on the environment and ensured that not a single existing tree was cut down when our buildings were made. Instead, trees were carefully removed and replanted elsewhere. These included dozens of grand old banyan trees which now embellish our institution. The resulting beautifully designed buildings – intertwined with wide open spaces and an abundance of liberally distributed blackboards – greatly contributed to scientific discussion and debate. I should add that Jayant not only created a new institution from scratch; he also infused it with sound democratic values. He democratised academic decision-making by ensuring that the apex decision-making body – the Academic Programmes Committee (APC) – consisted of all academic members, irrespective of their rank. As one of the younger members of this committee, I had a great feeling of empowerment, since my voice too carried weight in all matters of academic importance at the institute. Jayant laid a lot of emphasis on academic excellence at IUCAA. Since ours was an inter-university centre, we had visitors from all over the country and many from abroad as well. In my own case, I had done my PhD from Moscow in 1985, and Jayant, being fully aware of the strengths of Soviet science, greatly encouraged me to invite my former colleagues to IUCAA. Their visits resulted in numerous collaborations – many with IUCAA students – and a large number of influential papers being written in cosmology, which was my own area of expertise and also that of Prof. Narlikar. I should add that although we worked in the same field, our approaches were very different. I enjoyed working on the Big Bang model, while he firmly opposed it (on scientific grounds). Remarkably, our disagreement in science never resulted in any kind of strain between us. On the contrary, he always encouraged me in my work, helped me to attract good PhD students, and frequently nominated me for academic honours and awards. Jayant's remarkably open and democratic approach to science is exemplified in one incident. Decades ago, when I had just joined IUCAA, both of us participated in an international conference on cosmology organised by the Indian relativity community. An evening session at this meeting was devoted to a debate on Steady State vs Big Bang models. While Jayant defended Steady State theory, I was asked to poke holes in his argument. I reluctantly accepted this role. According to me, a central weakness of the Steady State approach had been explaining the thermal nature of the cosmic microwave background—the primeval light that is observed as faint 2.7-degree radiation today. During the debate, Jayant mentioned that this radiation could be thermalised by extremely thin iron needles which permeate all of space. I asked him about the origin of these needles, and he said they had been seen in laboratories on Earth. I then humorously quipped that colour TV sets were also made in laboratories on Earth but one rarely found them in outer space. There was some laughter in the audience, but after the meeting, an elderly member of our governing board came up to me and said (in Hindi), 'Bahut bahadur ho, Director saheb se jo panga liya. Ab aage dekhna kya hota hai.' (You are very brave to have challenged your director. Now wait and see what happens.) This caused a shiver to run up my spine, and I cursed myself for being so foolhardy. After all, I was the junior-most member of IUCAA's faculty and criticising the director's favourite model would surely put me in his bad books. So I immediately went up to Jayant and asked him, 'Jayant, I hope you did not mind what I said on the stage.' To my amazement, Jayant affectionately took my hand in his and as we walked together hand-in-hand said, 'I don't mind what you said during the debate, but if you say this then I will mind.' I was immensely relieved. Far from being vindictive to those who did not share his views, Jayant welcomed debate and differences of opinion – the hallmark of a truly great scientist. During the early years of IUCAA, Jayant was burdened with a lot of administrative responsibilities. As a result, he was meticulously conscious of the importance of time management and organised his day very precisely, taking into account all of the myriad issues that needed sorting out. The administration was aware of this and they were always kept on their toes, arriving at work at 9 AM sharp. But to my great satisfaction, the scientific personnel were given full freedom to organise their work schedules as they liked. I happen to enjoy working at night and was returning home after an all-night session at 7 AM one morning when I happened to meet Jayant on the steps of IUCAA. Jayant used to come to work at 7 AM because this gave him a good two hours to focus on science before the responsibilities of the day took over at 9 AM. I said 'Good night,' and he replied, 'Good morning.' We then had a very pleasant chat. Jayant told me that half of Fred Hoyle's students were early risers while the others were 'owls' like me and worked late nights. As a result, Hoyle could never get his full group to meet together at any given time. After this incident, Jayant was considerate enough to remember that I was an 'owl' and convened all meetings requiring my presence in the afternoon! Jayant was very fond of literature. When my father's (Bhisham Sahni) novel Tamas was released as a teleserial in 1988, Jayant was quite impressed and wrote to me asking for the original Hindi novel. I was doing a postdoc in Canada at the time and requested my father to send Jayant a copy, which he immediately read. Since he had been brought up in Banaras, Jayant's knowledge of Hindi was excellent. He later met my father and the two of them established a warm bond. Jayant was also a close personal friend of the eminent Marathi writer and humorist P. L. Deshpande. Upon his demise, Deshpande's wife, Sunita Deshpande, gave Jayant a generous donation with which the Pu La Deshpande Science Popularisation Centre (also called Muktangan) was established at IUCAA. The centre now has a dedicated team of young science educators who teach telescope-making and travel to distant urban and rural centres giving science demonstrations to school students. Science popularisation has now become an integral part of IUCAA, and we hosted the well-known science toy maker Arvind Gupta on campus for several years. Arvind is renowned for making scientific toys from trash. Jayant Narlikar was the recipient of numerous national and international awards. But what stands out the most in this remarkable individual is his sense of purpose, his eye for detail, his great kindness and empathy, and his amazing sense of humour. His presence will be sorely missed. Varun Sahni is a theoretical physicist and an Emeritus Professor at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics. Known for his research on cosmology, Sahni is an elected fellow of all the three major Indian science academies and the World Academy of Science (TWAS). The Government of India awarded him the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, one of the highest Indian science awards, for his contributions to physical sciences in 2000. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News What Jayant Narlikar Wrote on Scientific Temper a Decade Ago Still Holds True A Star Has Faded: Remembering the Astrophysicist Jayant Vishnu Narlikar We Must Assess Sudden Deaths Which Took Place as a Consequence of COVID-19 Supreme Court Raps MP Govt for Shielding Police in Custodial Death of Pardhi Youth Countdown to Surrender: How World War II Ended in Europe One Dead, 9 Injured After Unidentified Aircraft Crashes in Bathinda One Dead, 9 Injured After Unidentified Aircraft Crashes in Bathinda One Dead, 9 Injured After Unidentified Aircraft Crashes in Bathinda 'He Was Our Only Breadwinner': Family of Bandipora Man Killed in 'Encounter' Seeks Probe View in Desktop Mode About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Remembering the Indian scientist who challenged the Big Bang theory
In his 1983 science fiction story, an Indian astrophysicist predicted what schools would look like in 2050. Jayant Narlikar envisioned a scene where an alien, living among humans, would sit in front of a screen and attend online classes. The aliens are yet to manifest, but online classes became a reality for students far sooner, in 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Narlikar also famously proposed an alternative to the Big Bang Theory - the popular idea that the universe was created in a single moment from a single point. He believed that the universe had always existed, expanding continuously into infinity. With his passing on Tuesday, India lost one of its most celebrated astrophysicists. Narlikar was 86 - a man far ahead of his times and someone who shaped a generation of Indian researchers through his lifelong dedication to science education. His funeral was attended by hundreds, from school children to renowned scientists and even his housekeeping staff, underscoring the profound impact he had on society. Born on 19 July, 1938, in the town of Kolhapur in the western state of Maharashtra, Narlikar was raised in a home steeped in academic tradition. His father, Vishnu Narlikar, was a professor and mathematician, and mother Sumati was a scholar of the Sanskrit language. Following in his parents footsteps, the studious Narlikar went to Cambridge University for higher studies where topped a highly prestigious mathematical course. He also took a deep interest in astrophysics and cosmology. But his most significant episode at Cambridge was his association with his PhD guide, physicist Sir Fred Hoyle. Together, Narlikar and Hoyle laid the groundwork for a revolutionary alternative to the popular Big Bang theory. The two physicists contested the Big Bang Theory, which posits that all matter and energy in the universe came into existence in one single instance about 13.8 billion years ago. The Hoyle-Narlikar theory boldly proposed the continuous creation of new matter in an infinite universe. Their theory was based on what they called a quasi-steady state model. In his autobiography, My Tale of Four Cities, Narlikar used a banking analogy to explain the theory. "To understand this concept better, think of capital invested in a bank which offers a fixed rate of compound interest. That is, the interest accrued is constantly added to the capital which therefore grows too, along with the interest." He explained that the universe expanded like the capital with compound interest. However, as the name 'steady state' implies, the universe always looks the same to the observer. Astronomer Somak Raychaudhury says that though Narlikar's theory isn't as popular as the Big Bang, it is still useful. "He advanced mechanisms by which matter could be continually created and destroyed in an infinite universe," Raychaudhary said. "While the Big Bang model gained broader acceptance, many tools developed for the steady-state model remain useful today," he added Raychaudhary recollects that even after Hoyle began to entertain elements of the Big Bang theory, Narlikar remained committed to the steady-state theory. A sign outside his office fittingly stated: "The Big Bang is an exploding myth." Narlikar stayed in the UK till 1971 as a Fellow at King's College and a founding member of the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy. As he shot to global fame in the astrophysics circles, the science community in India took note of his achievements. In 1972, he returned to India and immediately took charge of the Theoretical Astrophysics Group at the coveted Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, which he led it till 1989. But his biggest contribution to India was the creation of an institution dedicated to cutting-edge research and the democratisation of science. This dream materialised in 1988, when Narlikar, along with other distinguished scientists, founded the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune city in western India. From a modest 100sq ft room, IUCAA has gone on to become an internationally respected institution for astronomy and astrophysics. Narlikar served as its founder-director till 2003, and continued to be an emeritus professor after that. He insisted that IUCAA should include programs aimed at school children and the general public. Monthly lectures, science camps, and workshops became regular events. Recalling Narlikar's vision for the institution, science educator Arvind Gupta says, "He said PhD scholars don't fall from the sky, you must catch them young. He offered me a place to stay, told me to try running the children's science centre for six months, and I ended up staying 11 years. He gave me wings to fly." Despite being a prolific scholar who published over 300 research papers, Narlikar never confined himself to being just a scientist. He also authored many science fiction books that have been translated into multiple languages. These stories were often grounded in scientific principles. In a story called Virus, published in 2015, he envisioned a pandemic taking over the world; his 1986 book Waman Parat Na Ala (The Return of Vaman), tackled the ethical dilemmas of artificial intelligence. Sanjeev Dhurandhar, who was part of the Indian team that contributed to the physical detection of gravitational waves in 2015, recalled how Narlikar inspired him to attempt the unthinkable. "He gave me a complex problem early in my research. After I struggled for a week, he solved it on the board in 15 minutes - not to show superiority, but to guide and inspire. His openness to gravitational waves was what gave me the courage to pursue it." A well-known rationalist, Narlikar also took it upon himself to challenge pseudoscience. In 2008, he co-authored a paper that challenged astrology using a statistical method. Raychaudhary said that his motivation to challenge pseudoscience came from the belief system of questioning everything that did not have a scientific basis. But when it came to science, Narlikar believed in exploring the slimmest of possibilities. In his last days, Narlikar continued doing what he loved most - replying to children's letters and writing about science on his blog. Dark Energy experiment challenges Einstein's theory of Universe The truth about life on other planets - and what it means for humans 'Remarkable' astrophysicist praised by top scientist
