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Economic Times
25-05-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
Jayant Vishnu Narlikar: The great astrophysicist believed it's essential to have voices who question mainstream dogma
In June 1995, Cambridge University's Institute of Astronomy (IoA) celebrated the 80th birthday of its founder, the renowned physicist Fred Hoyle. Members of the original team who helped establish one of the world's leading scientific institutions in 1972 were invited. Among them was Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, one of the founding faculty of IoA, and one of Hoyle's old research students. Narlikar was then founding director of Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune, a place modelled closed after IoA. At the summer garden party on one of those rare English sunny afternoons, Hoyle, the most important figure in Britain's post-WW2 astronomy and space sciences establishment, was asked to speak about his life in science. In a letter to Robert Hooke in 1675, another Cambridge scientist, Isaac Newton, had famously said, 'If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.' Hoyle started his speech about his main contributions to astronomy by saying, 'If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of a Jayant.' In the 1960s, Narlikar, with his mentor Hoyle, developed a work that's arguably the finest among their scientific oeuvres. Hoyle-Narlikar theory of gravity presented an alternative to Einstein's general relativity by fundamentally incorporating Mach's Principle. Think of it this way: what if the weight and mass (inertia) of an object isn't just something it has by itself, but is actually influenced by everything else in the universe? Unlike Einstein's theory of relativity, which sees gravity as a warping of space and time, Hoyle and Narlikar proposed that gravity is a direct interaction between all particles in the universe, near and far. Their theory also included a unique concept called the 'creation field', which meant new matter constantly appearing to keep the universe expanding without becoming empty. This was consistent with their model of the universe-steady state theory-which believes the universe to be infinite in age and expanse. While we now have strong evidence for the Big Bang model-which believes the universe began from a point almost 14 bn years ago-this theory was a bold and thought-provoking alternative that pushed scientists to think differently about how our universe works. Celebrity came early to Jayant Narlikar. He was a decorated student, a senior wrangler in Cambridge mathematics with lots of prizes under his belt. With his work on cosmology with Hoyle being discussed in the halls of science across the world, the Indian government laid out a red carpet for him to return to India and set up a strong group in physics and astronomy research at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), from which would hopefully spawn many others. In 1988, UGC created for him his own institution, IUCAA, in Pune, to help build astronomy and cosmology teaching and research in all the universities across India. At 27, he had been awarded the Padma Bhushan, which later became a Padma Vibhashan as he stepped off his 3-term stint as director of IUCAA. Narlikar's approach to the nature of gravity, even at an early stage of his career, showed that at heart, he was a maverick. As most cosmologists grew comfortable accepting the Big Bang model, Narlikar held his ground that the steady state had to be the answer. As more evidence was unearthed in favour of Big Bang, he responded with alternative explanations. With Geoff Burbidge and others, he proposed the quasi-steady state model, a universe that contracts and expands, cycling endlessly, with no beginning. The cosmic microwave background, which is the strongest evidence in support of the Big Bang, was elegantly explained with a kind of interstellar dust. Models of dust led to more problems. But Narlikar was undeterred. He refused to stop thinking, or reimagining. He was not a contrarian, but somebody who believed that it's essential to have voices who question mainstream IUCAA director, I cherished Narlikar's daily presence at the institute in his office next to the library, where I would regularly go for discussions and advice. In the entire time I worked with him, I found his allegiance to his theories never to be dogmatic. In front of students and other academics, he would be open to all-out debate about anything he did or did not believe in. He would argue with impeccable rigour, ever fact that I often contradicted him in academic debates was never held personally against me, or anybody else. Narlikar was a professional academic in every sense of the term.I got interested in astronomy as a child from his books, and Carl Sagan, whose TV series, 'Cosmos,' he brought to Doordarshan audiences. Later on, as I worked alongside him to bring science to the public, especially to young people, I saw the true Jayant Narlikar-the maverick who was not afraid to question the core dogmas of science, as well as all-pervasive pseudo-science in society, embodied in astrology and general was truly a giant, not just of astrophysics or academia, but of rational thought and expression, and spent a lifetime very effectively communicating this to the rest of the world. There won't be another of his kind. Adieu.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Jayant Vishnu Narlikar: Astrophysicist who reached for stars, brought them closer to us
PUNE: In his last blog on March 24 this year, celebrated astrophysicist Jayant Vishnu Narlikar wrote about the importance of stepping back and looking at one's creations in a detached manner, and delegating work to youngsters. "This is where the IUCAA story is supposed to end," he said. "Karmayoga advocated by Bhagwad Gita shows the way for a graceful exit," the founder-director of Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics concluded, almost like a prophetic farewell. Narlikar - rationalist, cricket lover, science communicator, author and scientist who dared challenge the Big Bang theory about origin of the universe - passed away at 86 early Tuesday in his sleep at his Pune home. Just the previous day, Narlikar - who recently underwent hip surgery - had spent three hours reading in the massive wooden recliner that belonged to his father. He then stepped out of his modest home and went for a drive. Later that night, he told his daughter to give him a hug before he went to sleep. Narlikar's wife Mangala, a mathematician, passed away in 2023. The couple's three daughters - Geeta, Girija and Leelavati - pursue research careers in science. Narlikar is best known for Steady State Cosmology, an alternative to the widely accepted Big Bang theory. He also worked on Mach's Principle, quantum cosmology and problems related to quasars and black holes, earning the epithet 'Father of Indian cosmology'. 'Life beyond earth was another topic that interested him. Since 1999, he also collaborated with Isro and a group of scientists to design experiments that sampled air at altitudes of up to 41km to search for microorganisms. The samples collected in 2001 and 2005 found live cells and bacteria, opening up new possibilities to be explored through experiments,' IUCAA director RSrianand said. Born in Kolhapur, Narlikar graduated from Banaras Hindu University, where his father was a mathematics professor, before going to Cambridge. His mother was a Sanskrit researcher. JNV became a household name in India in 1964 when newspapers across the country wrote about the research by the young Indian and his senior, Fred Hoyle, at Cambridge. Their research looked beyond Einstein's Theory of Relativity to give an alternative model for gravity that fits into the quasi-steady state model of the universe. At Cambridge, Narlikar became a Wrangler and Tyson Medallist in Mathematical Tripos, was awarded the Smith's Prize in 1962, and the Adams Prize in 1967. He returned to India in 1972 to join TIFR in Mumbai. It was there that he worked on the idea of founding IUCAA. 'It was considered crazy to leave a secure job at TIFR for an unknown, undefined idea. But we did it anyway, setting up IUCAA in 1988, where Narlikar remained founder director for three terms till his retirement in 2003,' Ajit Kembhavi, one of the other founding members and ex-director of IUCAA, said. Carl Sagan's 'Cosmos' At heart, Narlikar was as much a science communicator as he was a researcher. Arvind Gupta, known for his creative ways of explaining science through toys and other means, points to the IUCAA tradition of hosting lectures for schoolchildren every month. This has continued for over 40 years. 'The science centre in IUCAA was set up with funds from Pu La Deshpande's trust, but I was sceptical as it was a govt institute. But I got a free hand to shape it and was told I could leave after six months if it felt too bureaucratic. We owe science popularisation to Narlikar. He believed that good PhD students don't fall from the sky — we have to nurture and inspire them from a young age,' Gupta said. Narlikar's love for explaining science led to him being featured on Carl Sagan's popular TV show Cosmos: A Personal Voyage. Colleagues remember him as a remarkably structured individual — someone who, despite wearing many hats, was never in a hurry; despite his fame, never unreachable; and a person who always made time for badminton and tennis during his IUCAA days. His love for cricket was probably only a notch less than that for science. In his blog, he wrote about playing matches during his time at BHU, with Pakistani students when in Cambridge, and recalls being complimented for his batting and bowling by former Test cricketer Chandu Borde during a chance match in Birmingham in July 2002. Rationalist above all For a man who loved science, belief in rationality came naturally. Hamid Dabholkar, son of slain rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, said Narlikar spoke out against the tendency to find pseudo-scientific reasoning in mythology, published a research paper debunking astrology, and even provided a mobile planetarium to activists working to dispel superstition — enabling them to travel to villages and explain eclipses and other natural phenomena. Narlikar's friendship with eminent Marathi writer Pu La Deshpande is well-known. But even among ordinary citizens, he had a lasting impact. Jasin S, who works for a private firm in New Delhi, said he may not remember what he recently read online, but vividly recalls two chapters from his Class VIII and IX NCERT English textbooks. 'One was 'The Comet' and the other was 'The Adventure' by Narlikar. That was my introduction to science fiction. I didn't know who he was, but he was an amazing writer. I was fascinated by the concept of a parallel universe in The Adventure. Now, I read everything I can about black holes, astrophysical discoveries, and life on Mars,' he said. Narlikar's body will be kept at IUCAA from 11.15am till noon Wednesday before the final journey to Pune's Vaikunth crematorium.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Jayant Narlikar, who challenged Big Bang Theory, passes away at 86
Pune: In his last blog on March 24 this year, renowned astrophysicist Jayant Narlikar wrote about the importance of stepping back and looking at one's creations in a detached manner, and delegating work to youngsters. "This is where the IUCAA story is supposed to end," he said. " Karmayoga advocated by Bhagwad Gita shows the way for a graceful exit," the founder-director of Inter-University Centre For Astronomy and Astrophysics concluded, almost like a prophetic farewell. Narlikar, 86, rationalist, cricket lover, science communicator, author and scientist who challenged the Big Bang theory , passed away early on Tuesday in his sleep at his Pune home. On the previous day, Narlikar — who recently underwent hip surgery — spent three hours reading in the massive wooden recliner that belonged to his father. He then stepped out of his modest home and went for a drive in his car. Later in the night, he told his daughter to give him a hug before he went to sleep. His wife, Mangala Narlikar, a mathematician, passed away in 2023. Their three daughters, Geeta, Girija and Leelavati pursue research careers in science. 'Father of Indian cosmology' Narlikar is best known for Steady State Cosmology—an alternative to the widely accepted Big Bang Theory about the origin of the universe. IUCAA director R Srianand said Narlikar was the father of Indian cosmology who worked on Mach's Principle, quantum cosmology, and problems related to quasars and black holes. He added, "Life beyond earth was another topic that interested him. Since 1999, he also collaborated with ISRO and a group of scientists to design experiments that sampled air at altitudes of up to 41km to search for microorganisms. The samples collected in 2001 and 2005 found live cells and bacteria, opening up new possibilities to be explored through experiments." Born in Kolhapur, Narlikar completed his graduation at Banaras Hindu University, where his father was a mathematics professor before going to Cambridge. His mother was a Sanskrit researcher. JNV or Jayant Vishnu Narlikar became a household name in India in 1964 when newspapers across the country wrote about the research by the young Indian and his senior Fred Hoyle at Cambridge. Their research looked beyond Einstein's theory of relativity to give an alternative model for gravity that fits into the quasi-steady state model of the universe. Birth of IUCAA in 1988 Narlikar's friend and co-founder of IUCAA Naresh Dadhich wrote that he became a household name overnight, a science face of an emerging and aspiring India, and an iconic role model who toured India and gave lectures and perhaps the youngest Padma Bhushan awardee. Dadhich added, "Stephen Hawking, Martin Rees, Brandon Carter, and George Ellis were all Narlikar's contemporaries. Yet, Hoyle chose JVN as his doctoral student. In fact, Nobel Laureate Robert Penrose, shared Adam's Prize with Narlikar. He was so big." At Cambridge, Narlikar became a Wrangler and Tyson Medallist in Mathematical Tripos, was awarded the Smith's Prize in 1962, and the Adams Prize in 1967. He came back to India in 1972 to join TIFR in Mumbai, and it was here that he started the idea for IUCAA. "It was considered crazy to leave a secure job at TIFR for an unknown, undefined idea. But we did it anyway, setting up IUCAA in 1988, where Narlikar remained founder-director for three terms till his retirement in 2003," Ajit Kembhavi, one of the other founding members and ex-director of IUCAA, said. On Carl Sagan's 'Cosmos' Show The centre popularised science, because at heart, Narlikar was as much a science communicator as he was a researcher. Arvind Gupta, well-known for his creative ways of explaining science through toys and other means, recalls an IUCAA tradition where lectures are held for school children every month that has continued for over 40 years. Gupta said, "The science centre in IUCAA was set up with funds from Pu La Deshpande's trust, but I was sceptical as it was a govt institute. But I got a free hand to shape it and was told I could leave after six months if it felt too bureaucratic. We owe science popularisation to Narlikar. He believed that good PhD students don't fall from the sky — we have to nurture and inspire them from a young age." Narlikar's love for explaining science was so profound that he was featured on Carl Sagan's popular TV show Cosmos: A Personal Voyage. Colleagues remember him as a remarkably structured individual — someone who, despite wearing many hats, was never in a hurry; despite his fame, never unreachable; and a person who always made time for badminton and tennis during his IUCAA days. His love for cricket was probably only one notch less than that for science. In his blog, he wrote about playing matches during his time at BHU, with Pakistani students when in Cambridge, and recalls being complimented for his batting and bowling by Chandu Borde during a chance cricket match in Birmingham in July 2002, where he went to attend a convention of Marathi-speaking people from Europe. Research Paper Against Astrology For a man who loved science, belief in rationality came naturally. Hamid Dabholkar, son of slain rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, said Narlikar spoke out against the tendency to find pseudo-scientific reasoning in mythology, published a research paper debunking astrology, and even provided a mobile planetarium to activists working to dispel superstition — enabling them to travel to villages and explain eclipses and other natural phenomena. Narlikar's friendship with eminent Marathi writer Pu La Deshpande is well-known. But even among ordinary citizens, he had a lasting impact. Author Who Inspired Generations Jasin S, who works for a private firm in New Delhi, said he may not remember what he recently read online, but vividly recalls two chapters from his Std VIII and IX NCERT English textbooks. "One was The Comet and the other was The Adventure by Narlikar. That was my introduction to science fiction. I didn't know who he was, but he was an amazing writer. I was fascinated by the concept of a parallel universe in The Adventure. Now, I read everything I can about black holes, astrophysical discoveries, and life on Mars." Last rites today The mortal remains will be kept at IUCAA from 11.15 am till noon on Wednesday after which the last rites will be performed at Vaikunth crematorium in Pune. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced a state funeral.
New Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
Astrophysicist Jayant Narlikar passes away at 87 in Pune
MUMBAI: The noted astrophysicist Jayant Vishnu Narlikar passed away at the age of 87 in Pune on Tuesday. Mr Narlikar was not suffering from any major illness, but owing to age-related factors, he died peacefully in his sleep. The 87-year-old is survived by his three daughters, Geeta, Girija, and Leelavati, all of whom are involved in scientific research. Mr Narlikar was the founding director of the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) and a passionate science communicator. He brought astrophysics, a complex subject, closer to the layperson and helped make it popular among students. He was internationally renowned for his alternative cosmological theories that challenged the widely accepted Big Bang model. His research explored gravity, Mach's Principle, quantum cosmology, and action-at-a-distance physics. He also served as President of the Cosmology Commission of the International Astronomical Union from 1994 to 1997. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the death of Jayant Narlikar is a "monumental loss to the scientific community". "He was a luminary, especially in the field of astrophysics. His pioneering works, especially key theoretical frameworks will be valued by generations of researchers," he posted on X. "He made a mark as an institution builder, grooming centres of learning and innovation for young minds. His writings have also gone a long way in making science accessible to common citizens," PM Modi added. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that Mr Narlikar had made an immense contribution to astrophysics and brought a scientific approach to the masses. He noted that Jayant Narlikar inherited a mathematical legacy from his father and authored several fictional books on scientific subjects, becoming one of the major science writers in Marathi literature.
India Today
20-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
Indian astrophysicist Jayant Narlikar dies, PM Modi calls it monumental loss
Dr. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, a towering figure in astrophysics and co-creator of the renowned Hoyle-Narlikar theory passed away at the age of leaves behind a legacy that has profoundly shaped modern cosmology and inspired generations of Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, 'The passing of Dr. Jayant Narlikar is a monumental loss to the scientific community. He was a luminary, especially in the field of astrophysics. His pioneering works, especially key theoretical frameworks, will be valued by generations of researchers. He made a mark as an institution builder, grooming centres of learning and innovation for young minds. His writings have also gone a long way in making science accessible to common citizens. Condolences to his family and friends in this hour of grief.'advertisement Dr. Narlikar's most celebrated contribution is the Hoyle-Narlikar theory, developed in collaboration with British astrophysicist Sir Fred Hoyle in the passing of Dr. Jayant Narlikar is a monumental loss to the scientific community. He was a luminary, especially in the field of astrophysics. His pioneering works, especially key theoretical frameworks will be valued by generations of researchers. He made a mark as an— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 20, 2025This groundbreaking theory offered an alternative to the Big Bang model, proposing instead a steady-state universe where matter is continuously Hoyle-Narlikar theory introduced the concept of 'Mach's Principle' into cosmology, suggesting that the inertia of any particle is influenced by the presence of all other masses in the elegant framework challenged prevailing notions and sparked vigorous debate, significantly advancing the field of theoretical his research, Dr. Narlikar was a passionate educator and institution builder. He played a pivotal role in founding the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune, nurturing a generation of Indian astrophysicists and fostering international collaborations.A prolific writer, Dr. Narlikar authored numerous books and articles, making complex scientific ideas accessible to the public and inspiring countless young minds to pursue Isro chief Dr S Somanath expressed grief and said, "He was a visionary astrophysicist and science communicator who inspired my generation with his popular works such as 'The lighter side of gravity' and 'Seven wonders of the cosmos."Dr. Narlikar's legacy endures—in the equations he formulated, the institutions he built, and the curiosity he ignited in millions.
