106th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai

• 13 Aug 2025

Why in News? 

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai (12^th August 1919 - 30th December 1971), widely recognized as the Father of India's Space Programme, was remembered and celebrated on his 106th birth anniversary on 12th August.   

Key Points 

• Early Life and Education:  
  • He was born in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, into an affluent Jain family. Sarabhai was one of eight children of Ambalal and Sarla Devi. 
  • Undergraduate degree in Physics and Mathematics from Cambridge University. 
  • Pursued a PhD under Nobel laureate C.V. Raman at IISc, Bangalore, with the thesis titled "Time Distribution of Cosmic Rays," published in 1942. 
• Institutional Legacy:  
  • Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad: Founded in 1947, PRL marked the beginning of Sarabhai’s journey in institution building.  
  • Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad: Played a pivotal role in its creation.  
  • Community Science Centre, Ahmedabad: Founded in 1966 to promote science education.  
  • Darpan Academy for Performing Arts, Ahmedabad: Co-founded with his wife, Mrinalini Swaminathan.  
  • Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram: A hub for India’s space missions.  
• Contributions to Indian Space and Nuclear Programs:  
  • Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO): He founded the ISRO, emphasizing the importance of space technology for societal development.  
  • Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE): Conceptualized with NASA, SITE beamed educational programs to rural areas, laying the foundation for programs like Doordarshan’s Krishi Darshan.  
  • Aryabhata Satellite: Initiated the fabrication of India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, launched in 1975 from a Russian cosmodrome.  
  • Atomic Energy Commission: Took over as chairman after Homi Bhabha’s death, advancing nuclear science.  
• Awards and Honors:  
  • Awards:  
    • Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (1962)  
    • Padma Bhushan (1966)  
    • Padma Vibhushan (posthumously, 1972)  
  • Distinguished Positions:  
    • President, Physics Section, Indian Science Congress (1962)  
    • President, General Conference of the IAEA, Vienna (1970)  
    • Vice-President, Fourth UN Conference on Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy (1971)  
  • Title: Mahatma Gandhi of Indian Science (By former President APJ Abdul Kalam).  
  • Legacy:  
    • Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) was named in his honor.  
    • A lunar crater, “Sarabhai Crater,” was named after him.