Father of Indian Space Research Dr. Vikram Sarabhai

Who was Dr. Vikram Sarabhai?

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was born on 12th August, 1919, the day of Gaurun Pnachami, to Sri Amba Lal Sarabhai, famous business man and industrialist. His mother’s name was Smt. Sarala Devi. Child Sarabhai had initial Education at home, under the guidance of his mother. A school was opened at home for this purpose.

Father of Indian Space Research Dr Vikram Sarabhai

In his school specialist teachers taught language, science, arts, gardening, technical education etc. there was a separate teacher for every subject out of them three held the degree of Ph.D and had training in Europe. Laboratory facility was also available in the school.

Gurudeva Rabindra Nath Tagore had selected an artist for this school who taught dancing. Thus this school provided to child Vikram good accompaniments, and also was a place of full development.

Rabindaranth Tagore Known As ‘Gurudev’Besides the effect of the school atmosphere he had effect of contacts with great personalities, who visited his father, such as Gurudeva Rabindra Nath Tagore, Pandit Motilal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, Sarojni Nayadu, C.V.Raman, Jawaharlal Nehru etc. since his baby hood he was gifted and brave.

What are Interests of Sarabhai?

Dr. Sarabhai had great attachments with ancient Indian culture and archaeology. He had deep interest also in culture, painting and photography. He started an institution named Darpan to enable the artists to get training and make inventions in free atmosphere.

The Director of this Institution was Dr. Sarabhai’s wife Smt Mrinalini Sarabhai, who herself was a famous dancer. Dr. Sarabhai was of the view that the scientists should always busy with research, but at the same time they would not neglect their social duties.

In 1975-76 must go to Dr. Sarabhai. The object of which was to take education to 50 lacs of Indians, living in 2400 villages. His dream of rural of development of Education and Agriculture through television has come true.

Early Life and Education

Sarabhai was joined to Gujarat College, Ahmedabad. Thereafter, he went to join St. John’s College of Cambridge (London) and passed from there tripod exam in Physical Science.

He was of 20 years only then. On return to India, he did research for two years on cosmic rays under the guidance of the great scientist and recipient of Nobel Prize, Sir C.V. Raman in Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Here he met Dr. Homi Jahangeer Bhabha was doing great research in Space Rays and Meson.

Dr. Sarabhai did research of very high on Space Science and Atomic Physics, Dr. Sarabhai’s many research papers were published in Physical review, Nature, Physical Society of London, Journals of Geophysical Research, Astrophysics Journal, Proceeding of the Academy of Sciences and Proceedings of the Royal Society, London.

Cosmic Rays Discovery

Dr. Sarabhai’s first inventions paper was published in 1942 in a research magazine, Bangalore, which related to changes in speed of Cosmic Rays. In 1943, at the age of only 23 years he went to Kashmir for make a study of Cosmic Rays on hilly places. There he had the idea of opening a research centre at such a high altitude.

Vikram Sarabhai went to again to Cambridge in 1945. He got the degree of Ph.D. from there in 1947. He did research work in the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge as well. Sarabhai return from England, he established Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad.

This institution in dutiful to the study of Cosmic Rays and Outer Space. Dr. Sarabhai was Director of Physical Research Lab in Ahmedabad from 1947 to 1965. With hard labour and attachment he was successfully in giving impetus to the scientific programmes and developing them. He established such centres also in Thiruanant Puram and Kodai Kanal.

How Sarabhai Became a Father of Indian Space Research?

Dr. Sarabhai is called the father of Indian Space Research. During period 1962, Dr. Sarabhai was given the responsibility of Space Research and its development. He was president of the Committee formed for Space Research. Dr. Sarabhai approved the country to the space age, by increasing the Space Research Organization (ISRO).

The credit of achievement of India in Space technology goes to Dr. Sarabhai. Dr. Sarabhai was also the father of Rohini and Menaka Rockets chain of India. Among the projects initiated by Dr. Sarabhai, was also the project, under which the satellite Aryabhata was propel hooked on Space in 1975.

The Cosmic Rays are the currents of energy which come to be the earth from space. Before reaching the earth, they are affected by the sun the atmosphere and appeal; they are also affected by the events which take place in the planets. Dr. Sarabhai had experienced at an early age that study of Cosmic Rays will help in understanding the nature of space magnetism, atmosphere and the sun, and also the outer space.

Legacy of Sarabhai and Accomplishments

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was also become the President of Indian Science Congress in 1962. Till 1966, he was Director of several companies in the private sector. From 1962 to 1965, he was Director of Indian Institute of Management. In 1966, he was appointed the Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy and Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission.

Sarabhai did venerable work as a member of the Executive Committee of Planning Commission. Besides these, he was member of Central Education Advisory Board Senate Gujarat University. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was honoured with man of Indian Academy of Sciences, National Institute of Sciences of India, Physical Society London and Cambridge Philosophical Society.

Sarabhai also honoured with Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award for Physics in 1962. For his contribution of high order, the Government of India awarded him the decoration Padma Bhushan in 1966. In 1968, he was President of United Nations Conference on peaceful uses of outer space.

In 1970, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was the President of the Fourteenth international Conference on Atomic Energy. In 1971, he was Vice-President of the fourth conference on the peaceful uses of Atomic Energy.

Death of Sarabhai

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai is a son of India, and also a great scientist, while on way to Thumba Rocket Launching Centre disappeared into the five elements on 30th December, 1971. The Government of India paid tributes to Dr. Sarabhai, the father of Indian Space Research, by telecasting a serial on television, based on ‘Sudoor Samvedan’, on the 12th August, 1993, the day of his 72nd birthday.