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Indian Express
04-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
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.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
What was it like to have Jayant Narlikar as a father? A daughter answers
1 2 3 4 5 6 Pune: Throughout their lives, the three Narlikar sisters — Geeta, Girija, and Leelavati — were often asked variations of this question: What is it like to have a famous father? On behalf of the three daughters of renowned astrophysicist Jayant Narlikar (86), who passed away on May 20, Geeta, a US-based biochemist, answered the question at Narlikar's memorial meeting organised by the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) on Tuesday. "If Baba were there, he might be thinking, 'Why are you doing this?' Speaking on behalf of all three sisters, I would say we have heard variations of these lines — 'Your father was a major influence on me when growing up', 'What is it like to have a famous father?' If it was not for these questions, occasional newspaper articles, and Baba's travels to accept an award, we would not have known the huge impact he had on the world of astrophysics or the scientific consciousness of Marathi and Indian society more broadly. This is because his behaviour at home was of a deeply engaging family man, not of someone flaunting fame," said Geeta. She spoke of how their father, together with mother Mangala Narlikar, a mathematician who passed away in 2023, were ahead of their time in society in raising three girls. "Looking back, we were influenced more by his actions than his words. We internalised the deep respect Baba showed for Aai and the freedom to make our choices in our careers and life partners. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo This was implicit in how they fostered our independence of thoughts and actions," said Geeta, while sharing several memories about the noted astrophysicist with the gathered audience. The memorial meeting was attended by renowned scientists such as Naresh Dadhich, Ajit Kembhavi, and Anil Kakodkar, among others. Geeta further spoke about her parents, saying they enjoyed the work they did and never thought of research and teaching as a chore. "It was energising for them. Baba's zest for life and his creativity were integral parts of his parenting. We see it now in reflection. This ranged from setting up puzzles for all of us to solve to telling us stories using characters we made up on the spot. We would make all kinds of characters and weave them into a story that was engaging, fascinating, and novel. This also ranged from making sure, as much as possible, to take the family with him on sabbatical trips, so we would experience what it meant to live in another country and be influenced by their culture. His ready laughter also resulted in happy tears at jokes he told or stories he recounted, and this is one of the most joyous memories of him. What it showed us is a father who loved to be happy, a father who was not stuck in the seriousness of his achievements," said Geeta. Narlikar also had a deep love for good food. "Some of you are also familiar with how much Baba loved good food," Geeta told the gathering, adding, "Every trip to other countries involved savouring local delicacies, from street food to gourmet meals. Even in his last few days, he made a request for a full English breakfast, a pot of biryani, and, of course, chocolates and mango with ice cream, living life to the fullest. His parenting, in collaboration with Aai, prepared us to meet the challenges of life and career with courage and an open mind, to enjoy the little things in life, and never take ourselves too seriously. "
Indian Express
02-06-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Jayant Narlikar, the storyteller who brought the stars closer to India
Some people do not come in through the door but rather jump through the roof. Jayant Narlikar was one of them. In 1964, when Fred Hoyle and he announced in Cambridge University their new theory of gravity, suddenly Jawaharlal Nehru's modern India found a hero in science. It is therefore no surprise that Narlikar became a household name overnight in a country seeking its bearings in the world of science and technology. He passed away peacefully in his sleep, just two months short of his 87th birthday on July 19, marking the end of an era. He doesn't leave behind a vacuum but a thriving world-class institute in the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA); a galaxy of young women and men inspired by his work and books; and millions of admirers all over the globe. He has 'curved' a special place for himself in 'time'. That would be the right way to remember him and a fitting tribute. Today, we should celebrate the life of a great human being, committed to science and its propagation, a man who personified excellence in whatever he indulged in. It is a matter of great privilege for some of us who had the opportunity to work with him at various levels. He had the uncanny knack of getting the best out of everyone by sharing and involving them in things. Narlikar was an outstanding student at Cambridge, winning laurels, including the coveted Adams Prize, which he shared with Roger Penrose, who went on to become a Nobel Laureate. He was among the front-ranking researchers of his time. The Hoyle–Narlikar theory was developed in support of the steady state theory of cosmology, which proposed that the universe looks the same from every point in space and at all times, and that it has no beginning or end. However, this theory eventually fell out of favour as astronomical observations provided strong evidence that the universe had a definite beginning, marked by a massive explosion known as the Big Bang. The term 'Big Bang' was actually coined by Hoyle — ironically, one of the main proponents of the steady state theory. Narlikar was, in fact, among the last prominent supporters of the steady state model. He was a brilliant researcher and had the conviction and courage to ride against the tide and still be held in the highest esteem even by his academic opponents. The distinguished visitors to IUCAA, including Nobel laureates, bear testimony to this fact. IUCAA was his greatest gift to science and the nation. He wanted to facilitate research in astronomy in universities. It is gratifying to see university students and faculty doing pathbreaking research and publishing their work in front-ranking journals. This is what would have pleased him the most. The thing that stands out most is his missionary zeal to communicate science and its method to young students and ordinary people through his innumerable public lectures and science-fiction books. It would be no exaggeration to say that it is this aspect that strongly endeared him to people. There are many renowned scientists in the country, but none have attained his kind of popularity and respect. To this end, let me recall an incident from 1997 when he had organised Penrose's lecture in Pune's Balgandharva theatre. Such was the demand to listen to him that there was nearly a riot-like situation with people who could not get in shouting and banging at the gates, and, from the other side, Shriram Lagoo was pacifying them, saying that it was their very own Narlikar's event. The ultimate value of one's work and contribution is how far and how well it is remembered. Besides his scientific work, the two things that will keep his memory alive will be the institute, IUCAA, and his popular writings and science fiction. I am sure that even after 50 years or more, one would certainly come across people who had been motivated by him. Let me end on a personal note. In 1965, three of us travelled from Vallabh Vidyanagar to Ahmedabad to listen to Narlikar's lecture in the Atira hall. Little did I know then that I would end up spending over half a century intimately interacting and working with him. That is something I will always treasure. The writer, a former director of IUCAA, was Narlikar's colleague for five decades
Indian Express
01-06-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Very few have courage to stand up against astrology today: Mashelkar on Narlikar
SCIENTIST DR Raghunath Mashelkar recalled how astrophysicist Jayant Narlikar had the 'courage to stand up against pseudosciences like astrology', while noting that 'many could not do the same today'. Speaking virtually at a tribute event at the Pune International Centre on Saturday, Mashelkar said, 'He fought pseudoscience with reason, not with ridicule. And he stood up. I remember that I was in Delhi at that period of time, there was an effort to introduce astrology courses. And he was the first one to stand up and say astrology is not science. He had the courage to do that. We have very few people today who have the courage to do that. I don't want to elaborate on that.' In 2008, Narlikar teamed up with the late rationalist Narendra Dabholkar to conduct an experiment testing the validity of astrology. Published in scientific journal Current Science volume 96 in March 2009 titled 'A statistical test of astrology', the experiment invited astrologers to predict the mental capabilities of a set of 40 students based on their birth charts or kundalis. This set of 40 would be randomly drawn from a total set of 200 students. Half of these students were 'intellectually bright' in their schools while the other half were not. Out of all the astrologers who participated in the experiment, the best performance was 24 out of 40 correct answers while the average correct answer per sample was 17.5. These numbers were below the minimum threshold for success statistically calculated to be 28 correct answers. Mashelkar added that Narlikar invited pride in ancient Indian astronomy, showing how our scientific heritage is both rich and relevant. Narlikar's death on May 20 led to an outpour of tributes from scientists, citizens, and politicians from across the country. One of the most popular and accomplished scientists from India, Narlikar was the founding director of Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics. Soham is a Correspondent with the Indian Express in Pune. A journalism graduate, he was a fact-checker before joining the Express. Soham currently covers education and is also interested in civic issues, health, human rights, and politics. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
01-06-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Narlikar was deeply committed to IUCAA's welfare: Srianand
IUCAA is a living memory of Jayant Narlikar,' said professor R Srianand, director, Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) recalling the legacy of the astrophysicist who laid the foundation for one of India's premier research institutions. 'Even decades from now, I believe IUCAA will continue to reflect the ideals he established. Our ideas may evolve with time and context, but the spirit he injected into this institute will remain unchanged.' The Pune International Centre on Saturday hosted the Dr Jayant Narlikar Memorial Lecture as tribute to the life and works of the globally known scientist and founding director of IUCAA. Srianand said, 'One of the most important things I hope to learn from him is how to conduct meaningful, independent research. He was among the few who boldly proposed alternate theories about the universe.' He noted Narlikar's extraordinary ability to engage and continuously inspire students, recalled the structured pace of his lectures — very calm, non-hurried, and deeply impactful. 'You would never feel rushed in his class,' he said. 'He maintained a consistent speed throughout the one hour and yet managed to cover a tremendous amount of material. It reflected the level of preparation and research he brought to his lecture.' Srianand said that Narlikar as an administrator was a very democratic person, tolerant, and deeply committed to the welfare of the IUCAA. 'He had incredible tolerance. Where others might have reacted harshly, he chose to listen and let people be heard. Despite being an internationally respected physicist, Narlikar always remained available for everyone from faculty to driver,' he said. He recalled Narlikar's emotional attachment to IUCAA, especially his continued presence at events such as retirement functions of faculty, and did not impose his ideas on the new director. Professor Ajit Kembhavi said, 'Narlikar, along with Fred Hoyle and others, helped develop the Steady State Theory, which was a serious alternative to the Big Bang. They suggested that new matter is constantly created, so the universe always looks the same and has no beginning. Even though this idea was later set aside after the discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation, it was an important and creative theory at the time.'
