On the 100th birthday of Dr Vikram Sarabhai today, Google is honouring him with a doodle. Considered as the Father of the Indian space program, Dr Vikram Sarabhai was an award-winning physicist, an industrialist and an innovator who established the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Who is Vikram Sarabhai?
Dr Vikram established ISRO in 1962, which was earlier known as the Indian National Committee for Space Research. Born in Ahmedabad on 12 August 1919, he matriculated from the Gujarat College before earning his doctorate from Cambridge University.
After coming back to India, he established the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad on 11 November, 1947. At this time he was just 28-years-old. Dr Vikram successfully persuaded the Indian government of the significance of a space programme after the launch of Russian Sputnik. He said, "There are some who question the importance of space actissvities in a developing country. To us, there is no uncertainty of purpose... We should be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to the real problems of man & society."
Dr Homi Bhabha, known as the father of India's nuclear science program supported Dr Vikram in setting up the 1st rocket launching station in the country. The inaugural flight commenced on 21 November, 1963 with a sodium vapour payload.
Dr Vikram Sarabhai's conversation with NASA in the year 1966 helped the launch of the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment or SITE in July 1975 to July 1976 - years after his demise in 1971.
He also took up a project for the fabrication as well as launch of an Indian Satellite. Consequently, the 1st Indian satellite ‘Aryabhata’ was put in orbit in 1975 from a Russian Cosmodrome.
Dr Vikram Sarabhai was also the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. He along with other Ahmedabad-based industrialists had played an important role in the creation of the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad.
He was honoured with the prestigious Padma Bhushan in 1966 & the Padma Vibhushan (posthumously) in 1972. A crater on the moon was named in his honor in the year 1973.
Indian Space Research Organisation successfully launched the Chandrayaan-2 this year & the Vikram lander is planned to touch down on the lunar surface on 7 September.
To pay tribute to this great man, ISRO has announced an award in the name of Dr Vikram Sarabhai. The Vikram Sarabhai Journalism award in Space Science Technology & Research will be given to journalists who have contributed in the fields of space science, applications & research.
Google Doodle commemorates Dr Vikram Sarabhai on his birthday with an illustration by Mumbai-based artist Pavan Rajurkar.
