At memorial for Jayant Narlikar, IUCAA remembers a legend
Written by Kivi Lydia Vito
The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune hosted a heartfelt memorial on Tuesday to commemorate the life and legacy of the late Jayant Narlikar, one of India's foremost astrophysicists and a visionary pioneer in cosmology.
'We organised this public memorial because the earlier ceremony was private. This gathering is our way of honouring how profoundly he touched lives across disciplines and institutions,' said Professor R Srianand, director of IUCAA.
Narlikar, who was instrumental in setting up the IUCAA, passed away in Pune last month.
His eldest daughter, Dr Geeta Narlikar, called the event both a tribute and a celebration of her father's lasting legacy. Representing her sisters, she shared personal stories highlighting his unwavering support and dedication to family, revealing a more intimate side of the celebrated scientist.
'We have often been asked what it is like to have a well-known father. But if it were not for the occasional newspaper articles or his travels to accept awards, we would not have grasped the extent of Baba's impact on astrophysics and Indian society. At home, he was simply a devoted family man, never one to draw attention to his accomplishments,' Geeta said.
Narlikar was married to accomplished mathematician, teacher and science educator Mangala Narlikar. 'We later realised how much Baba and Aai truly enjoyed their work. Research and teaching energised them. Baba's zest for life shaped his parenting. While he inspired many in science, he also deeply influenced us at home,' Geeta added.
The IUCAA memorial for Narlikar featured 15 speakers, including Geeta, Srianand and former IUCAA directors Naresh Dadhich, Ajit Kembhavi, and Somak Raychaudhury. Professor Sanjeev Dhurandhar, Dr Anil Kakodkar, Professor N C Wickramasinghe, Professor Jayaram Chengalur, Professor Tarun Souradeep, Dr Pushpa Khare, Arvind Paranjpye, Satish Alekar, A P Deshpande, and Dileep Majgaonkar also reflected on Narlikar's legacy.
Many recalled Narlikar's foundational role in setting up the IUCAA, emphasising how he fostered a collaborative environment where researchers felt at home. 'Narlikar made IUCAA feel like a home for all who came here. It is now our responsibility to uphold that legacy and ensure every visitor experiences the same warmth and respect he cultivated,' Srianand said.
Echoing this sentiment, Professor Tarun Souradeep said, 'Professor Jayant Narlikar's passing is an immeasurable loss to the nation. For all of us, IUCAA and JVN are synonymous, making it difficult to imagine the institute without him. The greatest tribute we can pay to his legacy is to unite and work together to fulfil his vision of an eminent centre that spreads excellence across the nation and the world.'
'Professor Narlikar's vision and leadership have had a profound and lasting impact on all of us,' Chengalur said.
Kivi Lydia Vito is an intern with The Indian Express.
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