Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai was an Indian scientist born in 1919 who is widely regarded as the father of India's space program. He played a pivotal role in establishing major scientific institutions in India, including the Physical Research Laboratory, the Indian Space Research Organization, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, and the Vikram A. Sarabhai Community Science Centre. Sarabhai passed away in 1971 while visiting the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station in Kerala, leaving behind a lasting legacy in advancing India's scientific capabilities.
2. BORN 12 AUG 1919
Ahemedabad,Bombay presidency,British India.
Died 30 December 1971 Halcyon
castle,kovalam in thiruvananthapuram,kerala,
india
Residence India
Nationality Indian
Fields physics
Institutions Indian space research
organization physical research laboratory
Almamater Gujarath college, university
of cambridge
Doctoral Advisor Sir C.V. Raman
Known For Indian space programme
Indian institute of management Ahmedabad
3. Notable Awards : Padma Bhushan (1966) ,
PadmaVibhushan
Spouse : Mrinalini Sarabhai
Children Mallika sarabhai, Karthikeya Sarabhai
• Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai (12 August 1919 – 30
December 1971 was an Indian scientist and innovator
widely regarded as the father of India's space
programme.
Sarabhai received the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Medal in
1962.
The nation honoured him awarding Padma Bhushan in
1966 and Padma Vibhushan
4. Personal life
Sarabhai married the classical dancer Mrinalini in 1942. The couple had two
children. His daughter Mallika gained prominence as an actress and activist, and his
son Kartikeya Sarabhai too became an active person in science.[7]
Physical Research Laboratory
Known as the cradle of space sciences in India, the Physical Research
Laboratory (PRL) was founded on 11 November 1947 by Vikram Sarabhai.
PRL had a modest beginning at his residence, the RETREAT, with research
on cosmic rays.
Today PRL is actively involved in research, related to five major fields of
science. PRL is also instrumental in the PLANEX planetary science and
exploration programme.
Looking at the needs of the country, he persuaded charitable trusts controlled
by his family and friends to endow a research institution near his home in
Ahmedabad. This led to the creation of the Physical Research Laboratory in
Ahmedabad on November 11, 1947.
5. Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre
Vikram A. Sarabhai Community Science Centre (VASCSC)
established in the 1960s by the eminent space scientist, Vikram
A. Sarabhai is working towards popularizing science and
mathematics education among students, teachers and the
laypublic. Its mandate is to stimulate interest, encourage and
expose the principles of science and scientific method and also
to improve and find innovative methods of science education.
6. Indian Space Research Organization
Sarabhai was convinced and envisioned that the resources in space
have the potential to address the real problems of man and society.
As Director, Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) located in
Ahmedabad, Sarabhai convened an army of able and brilliant
scientists, anthropologists, communicators and social scientists
from all corners of the country to spearhead the Indian space
programme
7. Darpan Academy for Performing Arts, Ahmedabad
Darpana was established as a dance academy
by Mrinalini and Vikram Sarabhai in 1949.
For nearly two decades it taught classical
dance. With Mrinalini as the lead dancer, and
ChatunniPanicker as her partner, the Darpana
dance company toured across the world. A
few years later the great Kuchipudi guru, c R
Acharyelu joined the faculty.
8. Indian Institute of Management
(IIM), Ahmedabad
The decade following independence in 1947 was witness to a surge of
innovative ideas to build a fledgling independent nation into a model
democratic state committed to growth with equity in the development of its
people. The establishment of Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
(IIMA) was the outcome of one such innovative initiative.
Led by Vikram Sarabhai, Shri. Kasturbhai Lalbhai and proactively
supported by the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Jivraj Mehta, a group of
enlightened individuals set up IIMA. This group ably wove together a
coalition of five actors - the governments at the centre and the state, the
local industrialists, the Ford Foundation and the Harvard Business School,
in a true spirit of public private partnership to establish the Institute.[13]
9. Later life
Sarabhai was visiting Thiruvananthapuram to review the SLV (satellite
launch vehicle) design, attend the foundation stone laying ceremony of the
Thumba railway station being built to service the newly created Thumba
Equatorial Rocket Launching Station.
He emphasized the importance of a space programme:
"There are some who question the relevance of space activities in a
developing nation. To us, there is no ambiguity of purpose. We do not
have the fantasy of competing with the economically advanced nations
in the exploration of the moon or the planets or manned space-flight."
"But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role
nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second to none
in the application of advanced technologies to the real problems of man
and society."
10. Distinguished Positions
President of the Physics section, Indian Science Congress (1962)
President of the General Conference of the I.A.E.A., Viennaa (1970)
Vice-President, Fourth U.N. Conference on 'Peaceful uses of Atomic
Energy' (1971)
11. Legacy
The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, (VSSC), which is the Indian Space Research
Organization's lead facility for launch vehicle development located in
Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), capital of Kerala state, is named in his
memory.
Along with other Ahmedabad-based industrialists, he played a major role in
setting up of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
In 1973, the International Astronomical Union decided that a lunar crater, Bessel
A, in the Sea of Serenity will be known as the Sarabhai crater.[16][17]
