2016-08-12 Fri

Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai, the Father of Indian space programme, was born on 12th August 1919.

He was an Indian scientist and innovator. He is the man who literally put India in space. He was the main personality behind the launching of India’s first satellite, ‘Aryabhatta’. He devoted his entire life to the progress of science in our country.

Vikram Sarabhai founded the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad on November 11, 1947. He was also Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. Vikram Sarabhai along with other Ahmedabad-based industrialists played a major role in the creation of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

“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. "

He was the key personality behind the establishment of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Dr. Sarabhai along with the help and support of Dr. Homi Bhabha (Father of India's nuclear science program) set up India’s first rocket launching station at Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram.

He was a true visionary and he played a major role in establishment of many institutions and organisations to promote the study of sciences. He was conferred with the Vikram Sarabhai received the Padma Bhushan in 1966 , the ‘Padma Vibhushan’ in 1972 and also awarded the ‘Dr. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Medal in Physics’ in 1962.

Vikram Sarabhai was also responsible for bringing cable television to India!

On his first death anniversary in 1972 India Post issued a 20 Naye Paise commemorative stamp to honour this man who initiated India into the space age.