Remembering space scientist Vikram Sarabhai on his birthday

New Delhi: Born on August 12, 1919 at Ahmedabad, Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai is considered the "Father of Indian space programme." From the school `Retreat' run by his parents on Montessori lines, he proceeded to Cambridge for his college education and took the tripods degree from St. John's college in 1940. In September, 1942, Vikram Sarabhai married Mrinalini Sarabhai, a celebrated classical dancer. The wedding was held in Chennai without anyone from Vikram's side of the family attending the wedding ceremony because of the ongoing Quit India movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. Vikram and Mrinalini had two children - Kartikeya and Mallika. Vikram Sarabhai had a troubled marriage and was in a long term relationship with Dr.Kamala Choudhary. His daughter Mallika Sarabhai was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honour for the year 2010 and his son Kartikeya Sarabhai was awarded the Padma Shri in 2012. Sarabhai returned to an independent India in 1947. Looking at the needs of the country, he persuaded charitable trusts controlled by his family and friends to endow a research institution near home in Ahmedabad. This led to the creation of the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad on November 11, 1947. The Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) was established in November 1947 in a few rooms in M.G. Science Institute of the Ahmedabad Education Society, which was founded by his parents. Subsequently, it got support from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Department of Atomic Energy. Sarabhai established a permanent recording station at Ahmedabad, and subsequently two more, at Kodaikanal (1951) and Trivandrum (1955). With active support from Homi Bhabha (1906-1966) Sarabhai set up the first Rocket Launching station (TERLS) in the country at Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram on the Arabian Coast, as Thumba is very close to the Equator. The first rocket with sodium vapour payload was launched on November 21, 1963. It involved tremendous work such as recruitment of personnel, setting up of roads and buildings, communication links, and launch pads. After the inaugural flight, range facilities were expanded. In 1965, the UN General Assembly gave recognition to TERLS as an international facility. With the sudden death of Homi Bhabha in an air crash, Sarabhai was appointed Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission in May 1966. Like Bhabha, Sarabhai wanted the practical application of science to reach the common man. Thus he saw a golden opportunity to harness space science to the development of the country in the fields of communication, meteorology, remote sensing and education. Sarabhai launched during July 1975 -July 1976 the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE), which was the result of negotiation between Sarabhai and NASA of U.S.A. Sarabhai next initiated boldly the space project — and now a reality, with the undertaking of fabrication and launching of an Indian Satellite. Thus Aryabhata I was put in orbit in 1975 from a Russian Cosmodrome. This development furthers the indigenous capability for satellite launching from low-orbiting to synchronous levels. Sarabhai received many awards: Bhatnagar Medal (1962), Padma Bhushan (1966), he was President of the Physics section of the Indian Science Congress (1962), President of the General Conference of the I.A.E.A., Verina (1970), Vice-President, Fourth U.N. Conference on `Peaceful uses of Atomic Energy' (1971). Sarabhai passed away in his sleep on December 31,1971. He was truly a rare combination of an innovator, industrialist and visionary.