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Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
‘Prof Jayant Narlikar believed in nurturing children with love of science from young age': Educator remembers astrophysicist
Astrophysicist Prof Jayant Narlikar believed children should be nurtured with the love of science from a young age, and he realised his dream to set up a children's science centre at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune in 2004, said Prof Arvind Gupta, a science educator and toy inventor. Prof Gupta, 71, a Padma Shri awardee, well known for turning trash into toys that children can make themselves while learning the basic principles of science, recalled his association with Prof Narlikar, who passed away at the age of 86 Tuesday. His mortal remains were kept at the Bhaskara foyer at IUCAA Wednesday morning for the public to pay their final respects. 'He (Prof Narlikar) would often argue that good PhD students did not fall from the sky,' Prof Gupta said on the occasion. 'In 2003, I was invited by JVN (Prof Narlikar) to work in the IUCAA's children's science centre (Muktangan Exploratory Science Centre). Initially, I was reluctant to work in a government institute. But JVN assured me that I could help shape the science centre, and if I did not like it, I could quit after six months. So, I initially joined for six months, but ended up working there for 11 years,' he said. Prof Narlikar was the founder-director of the IUCAA in Pune and was known for his seminal works in cosmology and most importantly, for believing in an alternate model to the popular Big Bang theory for the origin of the universe. In 1988, Prof Narlikar founded the IUCAA within the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU). Professor Narlikar was India's most celebrated astrophysicist, having received the second highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan in 2004. Two decades earlier, he was honored with the Kalinga Award, UNESCO's highest recognition for science popularisation. A large donation from Sunita Deshpande, the wife of his late friend Pu La Deshpande, a cultural icon of Maharashtra, turned this dream into reality and the children's exploratory science centre was inaugurated in 2004 by Prof Yash Pal, a fellow Kalinga awardee who shared his vision of science. 'Right from its inception, IUCAA had an active public outreach programme. Every second Saturday, there was a popular science lecture/demonstration for some 1,000 students and teachers from over 100 schools in Pune. This tradition still continues. JVN started the students' summer internship programme. During summer holidays, children would work with scientists on some projects. That gave children a feel for what goes into doing science,' Prof Gupta said. Prof Gupta also spoke about Dr Vidula Mhaiskar, who is now with Garware Bal Bhavan, Pune; and Ashok Rupner, now with Indrani Balan Science Centre, IISER, who had joined him at IUCAA's children's science centre. 'In 2004, we set up the popular website We started uploading science projects – photographs, videos, and popular books on the website. We made over 8,700 videos in 15 languages and uploaded them on YouTube. We had 3.7 lakh subscribers, and we were the second-largest YouTube channel from India at one stage. Today, 12 crore children worldwide have viewed our 2-minute 'toys from trash' videos,' Prof Gupta said. Dr Gupta also recalled that the anti-superstition activist Dr Narendra Dabholkar often collaborated with Prof Narlikar. 'Prof JVN was a renaissance scientist. He wrote prolifically in his mother tongue, Marathi, and was a pioneer of science fiction writing. He was a rationalist and consistently debunked pseudoscience. Dr Narendra Dabholkar often collaborated with JVN, who was invited widely to give lectures to school and college children,' he added. According to reports, Dr Dabholkar also conducted a statistical test on the accuracy of horoscopes with Prof Narlikar. The report was published in the journal Current Science. 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. ... Read More
Hans India
21-05-2025
- Science
- Hans India
Astrophysicist Jayant Narlikar passes away at 87
Pune: Eminent astrophysicist, science communicator, and Padma Vibhushan awardee Dr Jayant Vishnu Narlikar passed away in Pune on Tuesday, family sources said. He was 87. A towering figure in Indian science, Dr Narlikar was widely known for his pioneering contributions to cosmology, his efforts to popularise science, and for setting up premier research institutions in the country. According to family sources, Dr Narlikar died in his sleep in the early hours of Tuesday. He had recently undergone hip surgery in a city-based hospital. He is survived by three daughters. Born on July 19, 1938, Dr Narlikar completed his early education on the campus of Banaras Hindu University (BHU), where his father, Vishnu Vasudeva Narlikar, was a professor and Head of the Mathematics Department, and he went to Cambridge for higher studies, becoming a Wrangler and Tyson Medallist in the Mathematical Tripos. He 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 Dr Narlikar 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 worldwide reputation as a centre for excellence in teaching and research in astronomy and astrophysics. He was an Emeritus Professor at IUCAA. In 2012, the Third World Academy of Sciences awarded Dr Narlikar their prize for setting up a centre for excellence in science. Besides his scientific research, Dr Narlikar was well-known as a science communicator through his books, articles, and radio/TV programmes. He is also known for his science fiction stories. For all these efforts, he was honoured by UNESCO in 1996 with the Kalinga Award for popular science works. Dr Narlikar was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1965 at the young age of 26. In 2004, he was awarded Padma Vibhushan, and the Maharashtra government honoured him with the state's highest civilian award, Maharashtra Bhushan, in 2011. In 2014, the Sahitya Akademi, the premiere literary body in India, selected his autobiography for its highest prize in regional language (Marathi) writing.
NDTV
20-05-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Padma Vibhushan Astrophysicist Jayant Narlikar Dies At 87
Pune: Eminent astrophysicist, science communicator, and Padma Vibhushan awardee Dr Jayant Vishnu Narlikar passed away in Pune on Tuesday, family sources said. He was 87. A towering figure in Indian science, Dr Narlikar was widely known for his pioneering contributions to cosmology, his efforts to popularise science, and for setting up premier research institutions in the country. According to family sources, Dr Narlikar died in his sleep early Tuesday morning. He had recently undergone hip surgery in a city-based hospital. He is survived by three daughters. Born on July 19, 1938, Dr Narlikar completed his early education on the campus of Banaras Hindu University (BHU), where his father, Vishnu Vasudeva Narlikar, was a professor and Head of the Mathematics Department, and he went to Cambridge for higher studies, becoming a Wrangler and Tyson Medallist in the Mathematical Tripos. He 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 Dr Narlikar 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 worldwide reputation as a centre for excellence in teaching and research in astronomy and astrophysics. He was an Emeritus Professor at IUCAA. In 2012, the Third World Academy of Sciences awarded Dr Narlikar their prize for setting up a centre for excellence in science. Besides his scientific research, Dr Narlikar was well-known as a science communicator through his books, articles, and radio/TV programmes. He is also known for his science fiction stories. For all these efforts, he was honoured by UNESCO in 1996 with the Kalinga Award for popular science works. Dr Narlikar was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1965 at the young age of 26. In 2004, he was awarded Padma Vibhushan, and the Maharashtra government honoured him with the state's highest civilian award, Maharashtra Bhushan, in 2011. In 2014, the Sahitya Akademi, the premiere literary body in India, selected his autobiography for its highest prize in regional language (Marathi) writing. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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Business Standard
20-05-2025
- Science
- Business Standard
Renowned astrophysicist and Padma Vibhushan Dr Jayant Narlikar passes away
Eminent astrophysicist, science communicator, and Padma Vibhushan awardee Dr Jayant Vishnu Narlikar passed away in Pune on Tuesday, family sources said. He was 87. A towering figure in Indian science, Dr Narlikar was widely known for his pioneering contributions to cosmology, his efforts to popularise science, and for setting up premier research institutions in the country. According to family sources, Dr Narlikar died in his sleep early Tuesday morning. He had recently undergone hip surgery in a city-based hospital. He is survived by three daughters. Born on July 19, 1938, Dr Narlikar completed his early education on the campus of Banaras Hindu University (BHU), where his father, Vishnu Vasudeva Narlikar, was a professor and Head of the Mathematics Department, and he went to Cambridge for higher studies, becoming a Wrangler and Tyson Medallist in the Mathematical Tripos. He 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 Dr Narlikar 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 worldwide reputation as a centre for excellence in teaching and research in astronomy and astrophysics. He was an Emeritus Professor at IUCAA. In 2012, the Third World Academy of Sciences awarded Dr Narlikar their prize for setting up a centre for excellence in science. Besides his scientific research, Dr Narlikar was well-known as a science communicator through his books, articles, and radio/TV programmes. He is also known for his science fiction stories. For all these efforts, he was honoured by Unesco in 1996 with the Kalinga Award for popular science works. Dr Narlikar was awarded Padmabhushan in 1965 at the young age of 26. In 2004, he was awarded Padmavibhushan, and the Maharashtra government honoured him with the state's highest civilian award, Maharashtra Bhushan, in 2011. In 2014, the Sahitya Akademi, the premiere literary body in India, selected his autobiography for its highest prize in regional language (Marathi) writing.
News18
20-05-2025
- Science
- News18
Who Was Jayant Narlikar? Astrophysicist, Padma Vibhushan Awardee Passed Away In Pune
Last Updated: Dr Jayant Vishnu Narlikar was a renowned Indian astrophysicist and science communicator, known for his groundbreaking work in cosmology. He died in Pune at the age of 87. Dr Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, who passed away on Tuesday, was a Padma Vibhushan awardee, a science communicator, and an eminent astrophysicist. According to his family, Narlikar died while in his sleep at his Pune home. He was 87. Dr Narlikar has been a towering figure in Indian science, known for his contributions to cosmology. He has also been popular for his efforts to popularise science and for setting up premier research institutions in the country. DR NARLIKAR's EDUCATION BACKGROUND Born on July 19, 1938, Dr Narlikar was a graduate from the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), and then went to Cambridge for higher studies, where he became a Wrangler and Tyson Medallist in the Mathematical Tripos. His father, Vishnu Vasudeva Narlikar, was also a professor and Head of the Mathematics Department at the BHU. Dr Narlikar joined the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in 1972, after his return to India. He worked there until 1989. where, under his charge, the Theoretical Astrophysics Group expanded and acquired international standing. In 1988, the University Grants Commission invited Dr Narlikar 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. In 2012, the Third World Academy of Sciences awarded Dr Narlikar their prize for setting up a centre for excellence in science. Besides his scientific research, Dr Narlikar was well-known as a science communicator through his books, articles, and radio/TV programmes. He is also known for his science fiction stories. For all these efforts, he was honoured by UNESCO in 1996 with the Kalinga Award for popular science works. Dr Narlikar was awarded Padmabhushan in 1965 at the young age of 26. In 2004, he was awarded Padmavibhushan, and the Maharashtra government honoured him with the state's highest civilian award, Maharashtra Bhushan, in 2011. In the year 2014, Dr Narlikar's autobiography was selected by the Sahitya Akademi, the premier literary body in India, for its highest prize in regional language (Marathi) writing.
