Demise of a great talent

The passing of Dr. K. Kasturirangan, the Malayali scientist who led India's space research to world-class achievements, is an irreparable loss to the nation in every sense. He served as the Chairman of ISRO, India's premier space research organisation, for nine years. It is fair to say that, after Vikram Sarabhai, very few scientists have made such immense contributions to this field. During his four-decade-long service at ISRO, he led missions including PSLV and GSLV projects. A major turning point in his career was working alongside then-ISRO Chairman U.R. Rao in the construction of India's first satellite, Aryabhata.

Kasturirangan was the project director for India’s first Earth observation satellites, Bhaskara-1 and Bhaskara-2. He also led the launch of remote sensing satellites like IRS-1C and 1D, and second- and third-generation INSAT satellites for communication purposes. It was during his tenure as Chairman that the initial concepts for India's lunar missions were conceived. He served in several key roles, including Secretary of the Department of Space, Member of the Planning Commission, Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and Non-Executive Chairman of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). Even at the age of 84, he was serving as Chancellor of a central university in Rajasthan.

Kasturirangan also led the committee formed by the Ministry of Environment to review the Madhav Gadgil report on the conservation of the Western Ghats. While the Gadgil Committee recommended that three-fourths of the Western Ghats be declared as ecologically sensitive, the Kasturirangan Committee concluded that only about 37% needed such protection. Although environmentalists opposed his report, both the central and state governments largely supported it. The Modi government’s New National Education Policy was also based on the draft prepared by an expert committee headed by Kasturirangan. It was during Kasturirangan’s tenure as ISRO Chairman that the spy case emerged. Although some of the positions he took on the issue were criticized, his efforts to shield ISRO from the investigations were ultimately successful.

Kasturirangan assumed ISRO's leadership in 1993 when the first test launch of the PSLV had failed. Under his leadership, subsequent PSLV launches became successful, marking a golden era for ISRO over the next nine years. The nation honoured this multifaceted genius with the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan awards. As a child, gazing at the stars in the night sky was one of Kasturirangan's favourite pastimes. Over time, this wonder transformed into a deep intellectual pursuit, leading him to become a pioneer in India’s numerous space explorations. The country bids farewell to a great talent who made unparalleled contributions across various sectors.