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• Vikram Sarabhai Biography

Who is Vikram Sarabhai?

On August 12, 1919, Vikram Sarabhai was born in Ahmedabad, India. His full name is Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai and he was the son of Ambalal Sarabhai who was a Gujarati industrialist. Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai was an Indian physicist and an astronomer who started the space research organization and initiated the nuclear power plant in India. Because of his achievement, he is regarded as the Father of the Indian space program. He was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1966 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1972. Vikram Sarabhai passed away on December 30, 1971, in Kovalam. 

In this article on Vikram Sarabhai biography, we are going to discuss who is Vikram Sarabhai, Vikram Sarabhai education, and the achievements he accomplished throughout his life. 

Vikram Sarabhai Information

Full Name : Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai

Date of Birth: August 12, 1919

Death Date: December 30, 1971

Cause of Death: Cardiac arrest 

Age(at the time of death): 52  

Information about Vikram Sarabhai

Vikram Sarabhai was born on August 12, 1919, in a Gujarati industrial family. His father’s name was Ambalal Sarabhai who was an industrialist, a philanthropist, and the founder of the Sarabhai group of companies. His mother’s name was Sarla Devi and he was the Eighth son of Ambalal Sarabhai. In 1942, Vikram Sarabhai married Mrinalini who was a classical dancer by profession. The couple had two children. His daughter’s name is Mallika, who went on and became an actress and an activist. His son’s name is Kartikeya who is one of the world’s leading environmentalist educators and a dedicated community builder, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 2012. During his lifetime, Vikram Sarabhai practised Jainism and had dedicated his life to building the Indian space program and that is why he is called the Father of the Indian space program. 

Vikram Sarabhai Education

Vikram Sarabhai came from the famous Sarabhai family who was a major industrialist committed to the Indian Independence movement. V ikram Sarabhai attended the Gujarati college in Ahmedabad to complete his higher studies and after doing so he then took admission to the University of Cambridge in England where in 1940, he gave his final honour exam in the Natural Sciences.

Sarbhai returned to Cambridge post world war 2 to pursue his doctorate and in 1945 he submitted a thesis on “Cosmic Ray Investigation in Tropical Latitudes”.

Vikram Sarabhai Achievements 

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai is considered the father of the Indian space program. He was a great institution builder and helped in establishing a large number of institutions in diverse fields. After returning from Cambridge in 1947, he requested his friends and family members to help him in opening a research institution near his home in Ahmedabad, thus at the age of only 28, he founded the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad on November 11, 1947.

The Physical Research Laboratory was the first of many institutions which Vikram Sarabhai created and cultivated. He served in the Physical Research Laboratory from 1966 to 1971. 

Vikram Sarabhai was also very active in his family’s industry and the business which it had. After Independence in 1947, Vikram Sarabhai founded the Ahmedabad Textile Industry’s Research Association and then actively looked after it until 1956. Seeing the immediate need for management professionals in the country, Vikram Sarabhai also helped in setting up the Indian Institute of Management at Ahmedabad in 1962. 

The Indian National Committee for  Space Research (INCOSPAR) which was later renamed the Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO) was established by Vikram Sarabhai in 1962.

After the death of t he beloved physicist Homi Bhabha in 1966, Vikram Sarabhai was appointed as the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India. He is also credited for setting up the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station in Southern India. Vikram Sarabhai also helped in developing indigenous nuclear technology for defence. 

Vikram Sarabhai Discoveries

Vikram Sarabhai helped in setting up many institutions all around the country and here are some of the well-known institutions established by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. 

In 1947, Vikram Sarabhai established the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad. PRL is a National Research Institute for space and allied sciences. 

Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad founded on 11 December 1961 is considered to be the best institute of management in the country. 

Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), Jaduguda, Bihar was founded in 1967, under the department of atomic energy. 

Vikram A. Sarabhai Community Science Centre (VASCSC) or the Community science centre was established in 1960 at Ahmedabad. VASCSC is working towards popularizing science and mathematics education among students, teachers, and the public. Its main objective is to improve and find innovative methods of scientific education.

Darpan Academy for Performing Arts, Ahmedabad was founded in 1949 along with his wife and now directed by his daughter Mallika Sarabhai for the last three decades. 

Faster Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR), Kalpakkam was founded in 1985 and it is the testbed for fast fuel reactors and materials.

Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), Hyderabad was founded in 1967 to create a strong indigenous base in electronics. 

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram founded on 21 November 1963, is a major space research centre of the ISRO which mainly focuses on rocket and space vehicles for the Indian satellite program. 

Space Applications Centre( SAC), Ahmedabad was founded in 1972. The Space Applications Centre has played an important role in realizing the vision and the mission of ISRO. 

Variable Energy Cyclotron Project or the VECC is located in Calcutta and was founded in 1972. VECC performs research in basic and applied nuclear sciences and the development of the nuclear particle accelerator. 

Vikram Sarabhai Inventions/Indian Space Research Organization

The establishment of the Indian space research organization by Vikram Sarabhai is considered to be his greatest achievement. When he returned to India after completing his Doctorate from Cambridge University in London in 1947, he was able to convince the newly formed independent Indian government of the importance of a space program for a developing country like India. Dr. Sarabhai was also supported by Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha who is widely regarded as the father of the Indian nuclear science program. He supported Dr. Sarabhai in setting the first rocket launch station in India. At Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram on the coast of the Arabian sea, the first rocket launch centre was established

The inaugural flight was launched on November 21, 1963, with sodium vapour payload after a remarkable effort in setting up the infrastructure, personnel, communication links, and launch pads. 

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was constantly in negotiations with the other leading country’s space organization such as NASA and because of his efforts, the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) was launched during July 1975 - July 1976.

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was very much interested in science education and founded the Community Science Centre at Ahmedabad in 1956. It is also called Vikram Sarabhai Community Science Centre (VASCSC). He also started a project for the fabrication and the launch of an Indian satellite.

Vikram Sarabhai worked very passionately to ignite India’s first satellite, Aryabhatta but unfortunately, he passed away four years before the launch of the satellite. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1966 and Padma Vibhushan in 1972 to remember and celebrate his life and the legacy he left behind. 

FAQs on Vikram Sarabhai Biography

Q1: When Did Vikram Sarabhai Die?

Ans: Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai was a gem of India and he passed away on 30 December 1971 due to cardiac arrest at Halcyon Castle, Kovalam, Kerala.

Q2: What is Dr. Vikram Sarbhai known for?

Ans: Dr. Vikram Sarabhai is called the father of the Indian space organization and he is also known for laying the foundation stone for many institutes in India like the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.

Q3: Who was the First Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO)?

Ans: Dr. Vikram Sarbhai was the first chairman of the Indian space research organization.

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The History Hit Miscellany of Facts, Figures and Fascinating Finds

• 20th Century

Vikram Sarabhai: Father of the Indian Space Program

Peta Stamper

18 jul 2022.

Referred to as the Father of the Indian Space Program, Vikram Sarabhai was an astronomer and physicist who pioneered India’s space research.

Not only a renowned scientist, Sarabhai was an industrialist, an institution builder, a social reformer and visionary whose fierce commitment to Indian independence fuelled his work to sky-rocket India into the 20th century.

From India to England, the stars and beyond, here’s the story of Vikram Sarabhai.

An industrious beginning

Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai was born on 12 August 1919 into the well-known Sarabhai family. The Sarabhai’s were major industrialists committed to securing India’s independence from British colonial rule , encouraging Vikram to study science at Gujarat College in Ahmedabad.

Sarabhai’s study then took him to the University of Cambridge in England, where he sat his final exams in natural sciences in 1940. By this time, war had engulfed Europe, Britain and its colonies, including India. Sarabhai returned to his homeland where he began researching cosmic rays.

With the end of war in 1945, Sarabhai returned to Cambridge to complete a doctorate, writing the thesis ‘Cosmic Ray Investigations in Tropical Latitudes’ in 1947.

Vikram and Mrinalini Sarabhai (1948)

Image Credit: Jigneshnat, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Father of the Indian Space Program

Back in India again, Sarabhai founded the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad. The lab came to be known as the ‘cradle of space sciences’ in India, and initially focused its research on cosmic rays and the upper atmosphere. This research soon expanded to include theoretical and radio physics, funded by the Atomic Energy Commission.

He established the Indian National Committee for Space Research in 1962 (renamed the Indian Space Research Organisation or ISRO), as well as the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station. Both institutions remain in operation today.

What else should Sarabhai be remembered for?

Sarabhai’s interests were not limited to space. He was committed to developing industry, business and other socio-economic issues India faced.

Alongside managing his family’s business group, Sarabhai founded numerous non-profit organisations such as the Ahmedabad Textile Industry’s Research Association, which he managed between 1947 and 1956. From this experience, he saw the need for professional management education in India.

Under British colonial rule , management positions had commonly been assumed by British colonists. Sarabhai therefore played a large role in setting up the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad in 1962.

Sarabhai had married Mrinalini Sarabhai, a classical Indian dancer from a prominent family committed to Indian independence in 1940. Despite a troublesome marriage, together they founded the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts to promote traditional Indian crafts culture in Ahmedabad.

Dr. Vikram A. Sarabhai, (left) and Dr. Thomas O. Paine, NASA Administrator

Image Credit: NASA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

After the death of India’s leading physicist Homi Bhabha in 1966, Sarabhai was appointed chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India. He avidly continued Bhabha’s work in nuclear research, establishing India’s nuclear power plants and even taking the first steps towards India’s development of nuclear defence technology in the uncertain Cold War climate.

He devised programs to take education to remote villages using satellite communication and called for satellites to be used in searching for natural resources.

Ultimately, Sarabhai passionately believed all aspects of science and technology, especially anything related to space , were “levers of development”. Through science, Sarabhai would propel a decolonising India into a new age.

What was Vikram Sarabhai’s legacy?

One evening in December 1971, Sarabhai was reviewing a design while getting ready to head to Bombay that night. After a brief conversation with fellow space researcher Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (who would later be President of India), Sarabhai died of a heart attack aged 52.

For his service to independent India, Sarabhai was awarded two of the country’s highest honours: the Padma Bhushan in 1966, and the Padma Vibhushan, awarded posthumously in 1972.

His contribution to science has been recognised in the years since his death in a variety of ways: one of the Indian Space Research Organisations buildings was named after him; the Vikram Sarabhai Journalism award was created in his name; and the Indian Postal Department released a commemorative stamp on the first anniversary of his death.

Undoubtedly, Sarabhai’s legacy remains the huge leaps made by Indian space and nuclear science in the years following independence, earning India a place among the world’s leading space-faring countries and Sarabhai international renown as Father of the Indian Space Program.

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Vikram Sarabhai Biography, Birth Anniversary, Invention, Awards & Honors

Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai was an Indian physicist and astronomer who initiated space research and helped develop nuclear power in India. Read all about Vikram Sarabhai in this article.

Table of Contents

Vikram Sarabhai

Vikram Sarabhai, an eminent scientist, visionary, and the founding father of the Indian space program, left an indelible mark on the world of science and technology. His unwavering dedication, pioneering vision, and relentless efforts have played a pivotal role in shaping India’s journey into space exploration. This article explores the life, achievements, and legacy of Vikram Sarabhai, highlighting his contributions to space research and technology.

Who is Vikram Sarabhai?

Vikram Sarabhai (12 August 1919 – 30 December 1971) was one of the greatest scientists in India. He is renowned as the Father of the Indian space program, encompassing roles of a scientist, innovator, industrialist, and visionary. His contributions extended to establishing the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) and chairing the Atomic Energy Commission.

Alongside fellow Ahmedabad-based industrialists, he was pivotal in founding the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. A prolific institution builder, he founded or aided in creating an impressive 42 institutes spanning fields like Science, Industry, Management, and Education. Instrumental in forming the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), his legacy resonates through his multifaceted accomplishments.

Read about: Sarojini Naidu

Vikram Sarabhai Education and Early Life

Vikram Sarabhai emerged into the world as one of eight siblings in a privileged family of forward-thinking industrialists. His early schooling transpired within the nurturing corridors of “Retreat,” a private Montessori institution founded and guided by his parents. Set against the backdrop of a politically charged environment, he grew up amid India’s elite, instrumental in securing the nation’s independence and subsequently orchestrating its inaugural governments. This immersive upbringing acquainted him with notable figures, including interactions with Congress Party stalwarts like Jawaharlal Nehru. His familial network extended to spirited activism—his mother, Sarladevi, championed social causes and Montessori education, while his sister ventured into political activism. His aunt, Ansuyaken, emerged as a leader in the national labor movement.

Having completed his studies at Gujarat College in Ahmedabad in 1937, Vikram embarked on a journey to England for advanced education. He matriculated at the venerable St. John’s College, University of Cambridge, culminating in the attainment of the Tripos in Natural Sciences in 1939. As the shadows of World War II loomed, he returned to India, enrolling at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. Under the sagacious guidance of the esteemed scientist C.V. Raman, he delved into pioneering research on cosmic rays, ultimately authoring his inaugural scientific publication, “Time Distribution of Cosmic Rays,” in 1942.

In 1942, he entered into matrimonial union with the renowned classical dancer, Mrinalini. Their partnership flourished, yielding two offspring who, in time, would carve their own niches in the world of prominence. Noteworthy among them, his daughter Mallika and son Karthikeya emerged as accomplished individuals in their own right. Intriguingly, his spouse, Mrinalini Sarabhai, bore a kinship with India’s freedom fighter and revolutionary, Dr. Laxmi Sahgal. The Sarabhai clan’s leisure pursuits often led them to the tranquil embrace of the Himalayas. Here, Vikram astutely recognized the fertile grounds high altitudes provided for the study of cosmic rays, a realization that led to his strategic deployment of cosmic ray counters during these sojourns.

It was amidst the sublime landscapes of Gulmarg, near Alpathari Lake, in 1943 that Vikram’s aspirations coalesced into a visionary concept—a dedicated laboratory focused on cosmic and atmospheric physics. A return to Cambridge in 1945 further honed his expertise in cosmic ray investigations, culminating in the conferment of his doctoral degree for his scholarly dissertation, “Cosmic Ray Investigations in Tropical Latitudes.”

His influence radiated across geographical boundaries. During a visit to Thiruvananthapuram, he participated in the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Thumba railway station, a critical component supporting the newly established Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station.

Read about: Bhagat Singh

Vikram Sarabhai Birth Anniversary and Legacy

Every year on August 12th, India celebrates the birth anniversary of Vikram Sarabhai as National Science Day. This day serves as a reminder of his enduring legacy and his significant role in propelling India’s technological advancement. Sarabhai’s unparalleled vision prompted the establishment of several research institutions, with the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) being a standout accomplishment.

Read about: Subhash Chandra Bose

Vikram Sarabhai: Contributions and Inventions

Upon his return to India in the post-independence era, Vikram Sarabhai keenly perceived the dearth of robust scientific infrastructure. Harnessing the influence of the charitable trusts under his family’s stewardship, he orchestrated the establishment of pivotal institutions that would redefine India’s scientific landscape.

Notably, in November 1947, Sarabhai played a pivotal role in birthing the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad. With atmospheric scientist K.R. Ramanathan as its founding director, PRL evolved into a distinguished research institution specializing in cosmic rays and space sciences. The foundation was laid within the confines of M.G. Science Institute, an educational bastion his parents had founded. Bolstered by support from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Department of Atomic Energy, PRL burgeoned into a scientific powerhouse.

The pivotal juncture of 1957-1958 marked the International Geophysical Year (IGY), a turning point that exposed Sarabhai to the uncharted domain of space science following the launch of Sputnik-I. Galvanized by this, the Indian National Committee for Space Research emerged, with Vikram Sarabhai at its helm. His strategic initiatives extended to education, notably as the founding director of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad, which he co-pioneered with businessman Kasturbhai Lalbhai in 1961. Another pioneering endeavor was the creation of the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology University (CEPT University) in 1962, enriching disciplines such as architecture, planning, and technology.

The 1960s were marked by the establishment of key institutions driven by Sarabhai’s vision. The Vikram A. Sarabhai Community Science Centre (VASCSC) was forged to ignite scientific and mathematical interest among students and the public. Meanwhile, the Nehru Foundation for Development (NFD), established in 1965, was dedicated to probing societal and individual development concerns.

An invaluable collaborator was Dr. Homi Bhabha, a luminary in nuclear research. Together, they propelled the launch of India’s first Rocket Launching station (TERLS) at Thumba, strategically located near the equator on the Arabian Coast. The inaugural rocket, bearing a sodium vapor payload, soared on November 21, 1963. Recognition soon followed, with the UN General Assembly acknowledging TERLS as an international facility.

Tragedy struck in 1966 with the untimely demise of Homi Bhabha, leading to Sarabhai’s appointment as Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. Yet, his most enduring contribution materialized in 1969—the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). This entity, born of his vision, aimed to advance space technology for national betterment. Sarabhai’s multifaceted impact extended to sectors beyond science, with initiatives such as the Ahmadabad Textiles Industrial Research Association (ATIRA), empowering the textiles industry. He continued this legacy of empowerment through endeavors like the Blind Men Association (BMA), providing essential support to the visually challenged.

Moreover, in tandem with his wife, Mrinalini Sarabhai, he seeded the inception of the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts. The imprint of his visionary prowess extended to institutions of note including the Faster Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR), Variable Energy Cyclotron Project, Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), and Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL).

The culmination of his dialogue with NASA in 1966 was the launch of the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) in 1975-1976, a legacy that persisted even after his passing.

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Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)

The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, founded in 1963, stands as a testament to Sarabhai’s dedication to advancing space technology in India. Located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, VSSC has been instrumental in developing indigenous rockets and launch vehicles. Under his leadership, India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, was launched in 1975, marking a historic milestone in the country’s space endeavors.

Incorporating state-of-the-art facilities and a cadre of brilliant minds, VSSC nurtures a culture of innovation and exploration. Its endeavours encompass conceptualizing, designing, and validating space systems, all of which form the bedrock of India’s space accomplishments. Significantly, VSSC has been a key player in the design and advancement of launch vehicles such as the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). These achievements have empowered India to effectively launch satellites dedicated to communication, navigation, earth observation, and scientific investigation.

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai’s indomitable spirit is woven into the very fabric of VSSC, infusing it with a relentless pursuit of excellence and a commitment to serving national and global interests through space exploration. As a beacon of scientific innovation, VSSC continues to shape India’s space journey, ever-advancing the frontiers of human knowledge and technology, and exemplifying the profound impact of visionary leadership and dedicated pursuit of the unknown.

Read about: Chandra Shekhar Azad

Vikram Sarabhai: Awards & Achievements

• President, Physics Section, Indian Science Congress (1962): Showcased his stature in the scientific community and commitment to advancing knowledge.
• Vice-President, Fourth U.N. Conference on ‘Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy’ (1971): Exhibited his global influence in peaceful nuclear technology.
• President, General Conference of the I.A.E.A., Vienna (1970): Underlined his significant contributions to global atomic energy cooperation.
• Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC): A tribute to his role in shaping India’s space program, this center remains a hub for pioneering rocket propulsion research.
• Sarabhai Crater: Honored by the International Astronomical Union with a crater on the moon, cementing his legacy in space exploration.
• Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (1962): Recognized for his pioneering cosmic ray research and space science contributions.
• Padma Bhushan (1966): One of India’s highest civilian honors, acknowledging his multidimensional impact on science, education, and society.
• Posthumous Padma Vibhushan (1972): Enshrined him as a visionary leader and scientific luminary in India’s history.

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Vikram Sarabhai: Passing and Legacy

Tragically, Vikram Sarabhai’s journey was prematurely curtailed as he breathed his last on December 30, 1971, at the age of 52, succumbing to a cardiac attack. His sudden departure was an irreplaceable void in the scientific realm, yet his enduring legacy persevered through the institutions he founded and the frameworks he set in motion. His pioneering notion of leveraging space technology for societal progress continues to illuminate ISRO’s path, propelling India into a commanding stature within the international space domain.

Information about Vikram Sarabhai

Dr. Sarabhai, who is regarded as the founder of the Indian space programme, was a brilliant institution-builder who founded or assisted in the establishment of numerous institutions across a wide range of areas. After returning from Cambridge to an independent India in 1947, he encouraged philanthropic trusts run by his family and friends to endow a research facility close to home in Ahmedabad, which is how the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) came to be.

Thus, Vikram Sarabhai founded the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad on November 11, 1947. He was only 28 at that time. Sarabhai was a creator and cultivator of institutions and PRL was the first step in that direction. Vikram Sarabhai served of PRL from 1966-1971.

Read about: Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Vikram Sarabhai UPSC

Vikram Sarabhai’s life and work continue to inspire generations of scientists, researchers, and visionaries. His pioneering efforts, coupled with his dedication to using science and technology for the betterment of society, have left an indelible mark on India’s space program. Through his visionary leadership, he ignited the spark that has propelled India’s journey into space exploration, turning his dreams into reality and laying the foundation for a brighter technological future.

Read about: APJ Abdul Kalam

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Vikram Sarabhai FAQs

Did abdul kalam worked with vikram sarabhai.

Yes, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam worked with Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, who is often regarded as the father of India's space program. Kalam was mentored by Sarabhai and played a significant role in India's space and missile development programs.

What did Vikram Sarabhai died?

Vikram Sarabhai died on December 30, 1971, due to a sudden heart attack. He was a pioneering Indian scientist and the driving force behind India's space program.

What is the difference between ISRO and VSSC?

ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) is the national space agency of India responsible for space research and exploration. VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre) is a major ISRO facility focused on the development of launch vehicles and associated technologies, named after Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the pioneer of India's space program.

What is the role of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre?

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) plays a pivotal role within ISRO by designing and developing launch vehicle technology, conducting research and testing related to space propulsion, aerodynamics, and materials, contributing significantly to India's space exploration and satellite launch capabilities.

Which is the greatest achievement of Vikram Sarabhai?

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai's greatest achievement was establishing the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) in 1962, which later evolved into the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). His visionary leadership and efforts laid the foundation for India's successful space program, contributing to numerous space missions, satellite launches, and technological advancements.

What is the important information about Vikram Sarabhai?

Vikram Sarabhai founded the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad on November 11, 1947. He was only 28 at that time. Sarabhai was a creator and cultivator of institutions and PRL was the first step in that direction. Vikram Sarabhai served of PRL from 1966-1971.

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Remembering vikram sarabhai: the father of indian space programme.

India’s achievement in the field of space science makes one inevitably think of one extraordinary figure —Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai — popularly called Vikram Sarabhai and widely known as ‘father of Indian space programme’, the man who placed India on the international map in the field of space research. Had it not been the Sarabhai’s vision and pioneering contribution, India would not have achieved the heights it did in the field of space science.

Born on August 12, 1919 in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad in a wealthy Jain business family his father Ambalal Sarabhai was a renowned businessman and owned many mills in Gujarat. Being a physicist and an astronomer he initiated space research and helped develop nuclear power in India. He was considered the Father of the Indian space program. Being a great institution builder, he helped establish many institutions in diverse fields.

He was a creative genius, a successful and forward looking industrialists, an innovator and a great institution builder. Establishment of India Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was one of his greatest achievements as he was the person who convinced the Government about the significance of a space programme for a developing country like India.

However, the most important thing is that besides being all that he was a very warm human being with tremendous compassion for others. He was a man who could charm and win the hearts of all those who came in contact with him. He could instantly establish a personal rapport with those with whom he interacted. This was possible because he could convey a sense of respect and trustfulness to them and also a sense of his own trustworthiness.

He had an uncanny ability to gauge the capability of a person just by talking to him for a few minutes. In fact he used to frequently say that he could judge a person from the sparkle in his/her eyes. He believed in systematically developing people. At times he will go out of the way to give a person full opportunity of developing himself/herself. He had a pleasant personality. It is said that by his mere smile he was able to transmit a great deal of inspiration to all those who worked with him.

After completing his Intermediate Science examination from Gujrat College, he shifted to Cambridge, UK in 1937 where he obtained his Tripos in Natural Sciences in 1940. At the outbreak of the Second World War he returned to India and joined the Indian Institute of Science at Bangalore where he took up research in cosmic rays under the supervision of C.V. Raman. He published his first research paper entitled “Time Distribution of Cosmic Rays” in the Proceedings of Indian Academy of Sciences.

Sarabhai’s work on cosmic rays during the period 1940-45 included the study of the time variations of cosmic rays with Geiger-Muller counters at Bangalore and at the high level station in the Kashmir Himalayas. After the war he returned to Cambridge to work for his PhD is cosmic ray physics. In 1947, he was awarded PhD by the Cambridge University for his thesis ‘Cosmic Ray investigation in Tropical Latitudes’.

After he returned from Cambridge to an independent India in 1947, he persuaded charitable trusts controlled by his family and friends to endow a research institution near his Ahmedabad home. He founded the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad on November 11, 1947, at the age of just 28.

After the death Homi J Bhabha in January 1966, Sarabhai was asked to assume the responsibilities of the office of the Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission. At that time he was deeply involved in three major areas. In his own words (what he wrote to the Prime Minister accepting the offer):

“Currently I have substantive responsibilities in three areas. Firstly, at the Physical Research Laboratory as Director and Professor of Cosmic Ray Physics, where I continue my research and the supervision of doctoral candidates. Second, as Chairman of the Indian National Committee for Space Research Programme as well as the project for the development of rockets and space technology. Thirdly, I have been concerned with policy making, operations, research planning and evaluation of a significant segment of the family business interests, particularly centered around chemicals and pharmaceuticals”. He had also regular association with the Laboratory of Nuclear Science of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. But all these did not deter Sarabhai from assuming the new responsibility in the interest of the country. He had to disassociate himself from the family business. He was at the helm of both atomic energy and space research programmes in India from May 1996 till his death.

Sarabhai had realised the enormous potentialities inherent in space science and technology for a wide range of social and economic development activities – communication, meterology/weather forecasting, and exploration for natural resources, to name only a few. The Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, established by Sarabhai pioneered research in space sciences and subsequently in space technology. Sarabhai also spearheaded the country’s rocket technology. He played a pioneering role in the development of satellite TV broadcasting in India.

Sarabhai was also a pioneer of the pharmaceutical industry in India. He was among the very few in the pharmaceutical industy who recognised that the highest standards of quality should be established and maintained at any cost. It was Sarabhai who first implemented Electronic Data Processing and Operations Research Techniques in the pharmaceutical industry. He played an important role in making India’s pharmaceutical industry self-reliant and self-manufacture of many drugs and equipment in the country.

Sarabhai died on 30 December 1971 at Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. In 1974, the International Astronomical Union at Sydney decided that a Moon Crater BESSEL in the Sea of Serenity will be known as the Sarabhai Crater. His body was cremated in Ahmedabad. He was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1966 and the Padma Vibhushan (posthumously) in 1972.

The various institutions established and looked after by Sarabhai benefitted from each other’s experience and techniques to their mutual advantage. Some of the most well-known institutions established by Sarabhai are:-

Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad

Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad

Community Science Centre, Ahmedabad

Darpan Academy for Performing Arts, Ahmedabad

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram

Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad (This institution came into existence after merging six institutions/centres established by Sarabhai)

Faster Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR), Kalpakkam

Variable Energy Cyclotron Project, Calcutta

Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), Hyderabad

Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), Jaduguda, Bihar

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"There is no leader and there are no led. A leader, if one chooses to identity one, has to be a cultivator rather than a manufacturer. He has to provide the soil and the overall climate and the environment in which the seed can grow. One wants permissive individuals who do not have a compelling need to reassure themselves that they are leaders" Vikram Sarabhai

Sarabhai’s name will remain inseparable from India’s space programme. It was Sarabhai who put India on the international map in the field of space research. But then he made equally pioneering contributions in other fields. He worked in the fields of textiles, pharmaceuticals, nuclear power, electronics and many others incessantly till last.

The most striking aspect of Sarabhai’s personality was the range and breadth of his interests and the way in which he transformed his ideas into institutions. Sarabhai was a creative scientist, a successful and forward looking industrialist, an innovator of the highest order, a great institution builder, an educationist with a difference, a connoisseur of arts, an entrepreneur of social change, a pioneering management educator and more.

However, the most important thing is that besides being all that he was a very warm human being with tremendous compassion for others. He was a man who could charm and win the hearts of all those who came in contact with him. He could instantly establish a personal rapport with those with whom he interacted. This was possible because he could convey a sense of respect and trustfulness to them and also a sense of his own trustworthiness.

He was a dreamer with a seemingly unmatched capacity for hard work. He was a visionary, who could not only see opportunities but created some where none existed. To him the object of life, as Pierre Curie (1859-1906), the French Physicist who was co-discoverer with his wife Marie Curie (1867-1934) of polonium and radium, has observed, was “to make life a dream and to turn the dream into a reality”. What is more, Sarabhai taught many others how to dream and to work towards realising the dream. The success of Inida’s space programme is a testimony to his. Sarabhai was a “rare combination of an innovative scientist, forward looking industrial organiser and imaginative builder of insitutions for the economic, educational and social upliftment of the country”. He had an excellent sense of economics and managerial skill. No problem was too minor to him. A large part of his time was taken up by his research activities and he continued to supervise research till his untimely death. Nineteen people did their PhD work under his supervision. Sarabhai independently and in association with his coleagues published eighty-six research papers in national journals.

We are told that anybody, irrespective of his position in the organisation, could meet Sarabhai without any fear or feeling of inferiority and Sarabhai would always offer him/her a seat and make him/her relax and talk on equal terms. He believed in an individual’s dignity and tried hard to preserve it. He was always in search of a better and efficient way of doing things. Whatever he did, he did it creatively. He displayed extreme care and concern for the younger people. He had immense faith in their potentialities. He was always ready to provide opportunities and freedom to them.

Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai was born on August 12, 1919 to a wealthy family at Ahmedabad. During his childhood his ancestral home. The Retreat at Ahmedabad, used to be visited by important people from all walks of life. This played an important role in the growth of Sarabhai’s personality. His parents were Ambalal Sarabhai and Saraladevi Sarabhai. Sarabhai had his early educatio in the family school started by his mother Saraladevi on the line propoounded by Mme. Maria Montessori. After completing his Intermediate Science examination from Gujrat College, Cambridge (UK) in 1937 where he obtained his Tripos in Natural Sciences in 1940. At the outbreak of the Second World War he returned to India and joined the Indian Institute of Science at Bangalore where he took up research in cosmic rays under the supervision of C.V. Raman. He published his first research paper entitled “Time Distribution of Cosmic Rays” in the Proceedings of Indian Academy of Sciences. Sarabhai’s work on cosmic rays during the period 1940-45 included the study of the time variations of cosmic rays with Geiger-Muller counters at Bangalore and at the high level station in the Kashmir Himalayas. After the war he returned to Cambridge to work for his PhD is cosmic ray physics. In 1947, he was awarded PhD by the Cambridge University for his thesis `Cosmic Ray investigation in Tropical Latitudes’. He also carried out an accurate measurement of the cross-section for the photofission of U-238 by 6.2 MeV y-rays which formed a part of his PhD thesis. After getting his PhD he returned to India and continued his research in cosmic ray physics. In India he studied interplanetary space, solar-terrestrial relationships and geomagnetism.

Sarabhai was a great institution builder. He established or helped to establish a large number of institutions in diverse fields. Ahmedabad Textile Industry’s Research Association (ATIRA) was the first institution that Sarabhai helped to build. This assignment he undertook just after returning from Cambridge after obtaining a PhD in Cosmic ray physics. He had no formal training in textile technology. Formation of ATIRA was an important step towards modernising textile industry in India. At the time of establishing ATIRA there were no quality control techniques in majority of the textile mills. At ATIRA, Sarabhai created conditions for the interaction of different groups and fifferent disciplines which cross fertilise each other. While hiring personnel at ATIRA Sarabhai ignored the requirement of experience. The various institutions established and looked after by Sarabhai benefitted from each other’s experience and techniques to their mutual advantage. Some of the most well-knon institutions established by Sarabhai are :-

• Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad
• Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad
• Community Science Centre, Ahmedabad
• Darpan Academy for Performing Arts, Ahmedabad (alongwith his wife)
• Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuramm
• Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad (This institution came into existence after merging six institutions/centres established by Sarabhai)
• Faster Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR), Kalpakkam
• Varaiable Energy Cyclotron Project, Calcutta
• Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), Hyderabad
• Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), Jaduguda, Bihar

After the death Homi J Bhabha in January 1966, Sarabhai was asked to assume the responsibilities of the office of the Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission. At that time he was deeply involved in three major areas. In his own words (what he wrote to the Prime Minister accepting the offer):

“Currently I have substantive responsibilities in three areas. Firstly, at the Physical Research Laboratory as Director and Professor of Cosmic Ray Physics, where I continue my research and the supervision of doctoral candidates. Second, as Chairman of the Indian National Committee for Space Research Programme as well as the project for the development of rockets and space technology. Thirdly, I have been concerned with policy making, operations, research planning and evaluation of a significant segment of the family business interests, particulary centered around chemicals and pharmaceuticals”. He had also regular association with the Laboratory of Nuclear Science of the Massachussetts Institute of Technology, USA. But all these did not deter Sarabhai from assuming the new responsibility in the interest of the country. He had to disassociate himself from the family business. He was at the helm of both atomic energy and space research programmes in India from May 1996 till his death.

Sarabhai had realised the enormous potentialities inherent in space science and technology for a wide range of social and economic development activities – communication, meterology/weather forecasting, and exploration for natural resources, to name only a few. The Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, established by Sarabhai pioneered research in space sciences and subsequently in space technology. Sarabhai also spearheaded the country’s rocket technology. He played a pioneering role in the development of satellite TV broadcasting in India.

Sarabhai was also a pioneer of the pharmaceutical industry in India. He was among the very few in the pharmaceutical industy who recognised that the highest standards of quality should be established and maintained at any cost. It was Sarabhai who first implemented Electronic Data Processing and Operations Research Techniques in the pharmaceutical industry. He played an important role in making India’s pharmaceutical industry self-reliant and self-manufacture of many drugs and equipment in the country.

Sarabhai was a man of deep cultural interests. He was interested in music, photography, archaeology, fine arts and so on. With his wife Mrinalini, he established Darpana, an institution devoted to the performing arts.

He believed that a scientist should never shut himself up in an ivory tower or overlook the problems faced by the society in mere academic pursuit of pure science. Sarabhai was deeply concerned with the state of science education in the country. To improve the same he had established the Community Science Centre.

He had an uncanny ability to gauge the capability of a person just by talking to him for a few minutes. In fact he used to frequently say that he could judge a person from the sparkle in his/her eyes. He believed in systematically developing people. At times he will go out of the way to give a person full opportunity of developing himself/herself. He had a pleasant personality. It is said that by his mere smile he was able to transmit a great deal of inspiration to all those who worked with him.

Sarabhai died on 30 December 1971 at Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. In 1974, the International Astronomical Union at Sydney decided that a Moon Crater BESSEL in the Sea of Serenity will be known as the Sarabhai Crater.

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Remembering Vikram Sarabhai in his birth centenary year

The architect of india's space programme founded 38 institutions, many of which continue to be a critical part of the country's missions..

LAST WEEK, scientists from all corners of India descended on Ahmedabad to remember a man whom the late president, APJ Abdul Kalam, had famously termed “Mahatma Gandhi of Indian Science”. They were there to launch celebrations on the birth centenary of Vikram Sarabhai, 47 years after he was found dead in a hotel room in Kovalam in Kerala at the age of 52, by when he had founded 38 institutions that are now leaders in space research, physics, management and performing arts.

Former director of the Space Applications Centre Pramod Kale was a 19-year old science graduate from MS University of Baroda, besotted by space technology, when he first met Sarabhai. “In May 1960, I went to Ahmedabad to meet Dr Sarabhai. At the time, his office was at the Calico Mills which is where I met him and ended up talking for two hours,” Kale says.

By June that year, Kale had done exactly as Sarabhai had advised him and taken up a master’s course at Gujarat University. In 1962, when Sarabhai was looking at studying the magnetic equator, Kale went on to be among the first few to go to NASA to learn radar tracking.

The room resounded with many such memories. Former ISRO chairman K Kasturirangan remembered how they ran into some trouble at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), founded in 1947 by Sarabhai, in their attempts to fly a balloon at 4 am, when in sailed Sarabhai. “He told us had the flight been successful, you would not have learnt even half of what you learnt because of that initial problem,” said Kasturirangan.

Many of those who had collected in Ahmedabad in Sarabhai’s memory were teenagers when they first met him. Gandhinagar -based entrepreneur K Subramanian was 19 and a student of National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, working on a summer project at PRL, when a man in a kurta-pyjama walked in and began turning all the wastepaper bins upside down, inspecting their contents and putting them back again. “I asked a colleague who that was and was told it is Dr Vikram Sarabhai. He had come to check how much waste the lab was generating,” laughs Subramanian.

Born to Ambalal and Sarla Devi, Ahmedabad’s leading textile-mill owners, Vikram Sarabhai showed creative promise early. He was 15 when he built a working model of a train engine with the help of two engineers, which is now housed at the Community Science Centre (CSC) in Ahmedabad. The CSC was Vikram’s way of providing other children the privileges he had, of experimental research, says his son Kartikeya, 71, adding how his father wished to work with children at the science centre after he retired.

“He was essentially a researcher, and believed that people, especially children, should be allowed to think freely and come up with solutions on their own,” recalls Kartikeya, who founded the Centre for Environment Education in 1984. His sister and Indian classical dancer Mallika recalls how, as children, they were at the centre of every family decision. This freedom helped “garner convictions early in life and to take a position. You were never too young to be able to be involved in what was going on or what affected you,” says Mallika, 65. Kartikeya is carefully piecing together all the dog-eared notes he is discovering in the recesses of their three grand homes — Shanti Sadan, The Retreat and Chidambaram.

To inspire the young to dream like Sarabhai, Kartikeya is building a permanent exhibition gallery on the Sabarmati Riverfront, expected to open this November, while Mallika is in talks with ISRO and is designing a performance to attract the young to careers in science. Their father would have approved. After studying from Gujarat University in Ahmedabad, Sarabhai went to study physics and mathematics at Cambridge University, with a reference from Rabindranath Tagore, but was forced to return when World War II broke out. He completed his post-graduation at the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru under Dr CV Raman, where he also met Dr Homi Bhabha, and returned later to Cambridge for a PhD in cosmic rays. When Sarabhai and Indian classical dancer Mrinalini Swaminathan married in 1942, the Quit India movement had broken out and his eldest sister Mridula had been arrested. None of the family could attend the wedding except Vikram’s driver, Lala, recalls Kartikeya.

The PRL, ISRO’s predecessor, the Indian National Committee for Space Research as well as the Space Applications Centre in Ahmedabad are the cradle of India’s space programme, and continue to be a critical part of the country’s missions. Sarabhai’s research-and applications-based approach singled him out as a scientist and entrepreneur who lived ahead of his time. Those who worked closely with Sarabhai say he was quick to recognise people’s capabilities, which made him an exceptional manager. In 1963, NASA was keen on only PhD fellows to impart its technical know-how to. “NASA reasoned that they wanted only people who spoke English and, thus, insisted on PhD as the minimum requirement, but Dr Sarabhai managed to assure them that Indians spoke English without a PhD as well,” says Kale.

Padmanabh Joshi who works with the Nehru Foundation for Development remembers his first meeting meeting with him when he was 17 and working on a socio- economic survey commissioned by Sarabhai. Joshi had asked him the connection between atomic energy and the survey. “Vikrambhai laughed and told me how, in the future, if we were to use satellites to spread education in villages, we would need to know their levels of understanding. The word ‘satellite’ confounded me and he explained: ‘If you stick a mirror on the ceiling and beam a torch on it, what will happen? It will reflect back. Same with satellites’.” Joshi went on to co-author his biography, Vikram Sarabhai — India’s Space Pioneer.

Giving flight to Sarabhai’s dream of probing the atmospheric regions for space research, was the first sounding rocket that was launched from Thumba, in Kerala, in 1967. “He was already talking of launching satellites in 1969. He knew we not only had to look at earth but the near space as well. He would keep saying, we shouldn’t fall behind other nations in the realisation of our space programme. PRL was shaped through three arms — Dr Sarabhai and his team looking at cosmic rays, KR Ramanathan and his team looking at upper atmosphere and Sudhir Pandya who looked at the theoretical physics aspect. I think he would’ve really appreciated how the space programme has shaped up in India,” says Kale.

Sarabhai had convinced Parliament and the Planning Commission in 1969 on the merits of “decade profile”, as he envisioned the Indian nuclear programme. The short-term goal-oriented approach, followed especially in universities, might have disappointed him today. In 1966, when Sarabhai took over as Atomic Energy Commission chairman after Homi Bhabha’s death in a plane crash, he started a dialogue with NASA that formed the base for Satellite Instructional Television Experiment. Launched in 1975 from village Pij in Gujarat’s Kheda district, it would beam TV programmes to villages and was the first Indo-US space venture using technology for education. This was how the Krishi Darshan programme for farmers on Doordarshan was conceived.

Sarabhai extended his research emphasis even to business, when he founded Sarabhai Chemicals in Vadodara in 1943, and subsequently the Sarabhai Research Centre and the Operations Research Group. According to Mallika, had her father been alive, “a lot of things in India would have been very different. Because there have been very few people who have the deep commitment, the wherewithal, the world view and the power to sway policy making”.

A man of many parts, Sarabhai’s students and colleagues would often wonder how he found the time for everything. Ahmedabad-based architect Kamal Mangaldas remembers how Sarabhai one day asked for a site plan for a project for the Electronic Corporation of India Ltd in Hyderabad which had been awarded to him and well-known architects Balkrishna Doshi and Charles Correa. “After seeing the plan, he came back in 10-15 minutes and changed everything,” says Mangaldas, who designed Sarabhai’s study outside their home on the banks of Sabarmati. “Later I watched it get washed away in the floods after Vikrambhai’s death,” he says.

Last year, Ahmedabad dedicated its first public memorial to Sarabhai — a statue of him seated on a desk overlooking the river, right below the patch where once stood his study.

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Vikram A. Sarabhai Biography For Students

4to40.com August 11, 2019 Biographies for Kids 7,918 Views

One of the greatest scientists of India . As Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, he guided research of the greatest importance to the country. A born scientist and a beloved teacher. ~ P.S.V. Shetty

On his return from the United Kingdom with a Ph.D., he founded the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, an institution devoted to the study of cosmic rays and other space. In 1955, he set up a branch of the laboratory at Gulmarg in Kashmir. He also set up other branches in Trivandrum and Kodaikanal.

Vikram A. Sarabhai was born on August 12, 1919, and his wife was similar to Bhabha’s. He, too, belonged to a wealthy family. Had he wished, he could have become an industrialist, but his basic interest was in mathematics and physics? The purpose of the Physical Research Laboratory that he founded was similar to Bhabha’s creation, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. It provides the technology and scientists needed for the country’s space programmes, just as the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research provides these for its nuclear programme.

In fact, Sarabhai ushered in the space age in the country by expanding the Indian Space Research Organization. The credit for much of what India achieved in space technology must go to him, though he did not live to see many of the fruits of his labour. Among the projects he planned was the one under which India ‘s first satellite, Aryabhata , was launched in 1975. The Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) in 1975-76, which sought to bring education to five million people in 2,400 Indian villages, also owes much to Sarabhai.

In one respect Sarabhai went a step ahead of Bhabha. He built a variety of institutions-one devoted to modernization of the textile industry, another to development of management skills and yet another to popularizing science, apart from the Physical Research Laboratory and the Indian Space Research Institute.

Like Bhabha he died at an early age, when he was only 52. He received many honors and awards for his services to science and society. The International Astronomical Union named after him a crater on the moon in the Sea of Serenity.

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Vikram Sarabhai – Inventions, Contribution, Awards, Quotes

Table of Contents

Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai was the man who spearheaded India’s space programme and he is considered as the Father of the Indian space program , Who Orchestrated The First Satellite Launch In The Country. He was born on 12 August 1919 in Ahmedabad, Bombay Presidency. He is popular across the country for establishing the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), which was renamed later as Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).  He was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1966 and the Padma Vibhushan (posthumously) in 1972.

This article gives you a glimpse of Inventions, contributions, awards received, famous quotes and other important facts of the well known physicist and astronomer who initiated space research and helped develop nuclear power in India . Going through this article will be very useful in GK parts for the candidates who are preparing for various competitive exams.

Sarabhai started a project for the fabrication and launch of an Indian satellite. As a result, the first Indian satellite, Aryabhata, was put in orbit in 1975 from a Russian cosmodrome.

In order to promote all round development in the field of science and technology he helped establish several institutions.

Sarabhai along with Homi Jehangir Bhabha set up the first rocket launching station in the country. The Father of India’s space programme Vikram Sarabhai was also the man who brought television and cable to India.

Dr Sarabhai died in December 1971 at Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram aged 52.

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History and Invention of Vikram Sarabhai

Vikram Sarabhai was born on 12 August, 1919 in the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India. He is one of the eight children of Ambalal Sarabhai and Sarla Devi. He belongs to rich family who managed several textile mills. He passed his intermediate examination in Science subject from the Gujarat College in Ahmedabad and then for further studies he went to England. He was an intelligent student and from his childhood he had an interest in science. In England in 1940, he took admission at the St John’s College, University of Cambridge and pursue Tripos in Natural Sciences. In 1942, he published his first scientific paper ‘Time Distribution of Cosmic Rays’. In 1945, he came back to Cambridge for further research on cosmic rays and earned his PhD degree for his thesis ‘Cosmic ray investigations in tropical latitudes’. In 1947, he came back to India and then joined the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore to carry out research on cosmic rays.

Sarabhai earned his doctorate from the University of Cambridge, England. After moving to India during World War II.

He did research in cosmic rays under physicist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

 In 1945 he returned to Cambridge to pursue a doctorate and wrote a thesis, “Cosmic Ray Investigations in Tropical Latitudes,” in 1947.

He founded the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmadabad on his return to India.

He also established Ahmedabad Textile Industry’s Research Association in 1947.

 Sarabhai is also the man behind setting up the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmadabad in 1962.

Vikram Sarabhai established Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) in 1962 which was renamed later the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

He should be majorly credited for setting up the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station in southern India.

In 1966, Dr Sarabhai took charge as the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India after the death of physicist Homi Bhabha.

He is the face behind foundations for developing India’s indigenous nuclear technology for defence.

Vikram Sarabhai worked immensely to launch India’s first satellite, Aryabhata.

Indian Space Program

The establishment of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) was one of his greatest achievements. He successfully convinced the government of the importance of a space programme for a developing country like India after the Russian Sputnik launch. Dr. Sarabhai emphasized the importance of a space program in his quote:

“There are some who question the relevance of space activities in a developing nation. To us, there is no ambiguity of purpose. We do not have the fantasy of competing with the economically advanced nations in the exploration of the moon or the planets or manned space-flight. “

“But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to the real problems of man and society.”

Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha, widely regarded as the father of India’s nuclear science program, supported Dr. Sarabhai in setting up the first rocket launching station in India. This center was established at Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram on the coast of the Arabian Sea, primarily because of its proximity to the equator. After a remarkable effort in setting up the infrastructure, personnel, communication links, and launch pads, the inaugural flight was launched on November 21, 1963 with a sodium vapour payload.

As a result of Dr. Sarabhai’s dialogue with NASA in 1966, the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) was launched during July 1975 – July 1976 (when Dr.Sarabhai was no more).

Dr. Sarabhai started a project for the fabrication and launch of an Indian Satellite. As a result, the first Indian satellite, Aryabhata, was put in orbit in 1975 from a Russian Cosmodrome.

Dr. Sarabhai was very interested in science education and founded a Community Science Centre at Ahmedabad in 1966. Today, the Centre is called the Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre.

First rocket launching station in India

Architect of the atomic dream Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha supported Dr. Sarabhai in setting up the first rocket launching station in India. This centre was established at Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram on the coast of the Arabian Sea, primarily because of its proximity to the equator.

After a remarkable effort in setting up the infrastructure, personnel, communication links, and launch pads, the inaugural flight was launched on November 21, 1963, with a sodium vapour payload.

Vikram Sarabhai Contributions

His important contribution includes initiation of space research and development of nuclear power in India. He played an important role in convincing the Government to initiate space research programs. He convinced the Government of India to form the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) in 1962 and was the first chairperson of the committee. INCOSPAR was later renamed as Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 1969. He played an advisory role in the new setup.

Vikram Sarabhai founded the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad on November 11, 1947. He was only 28 at that time. He was also Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission  and played a major role in the creation of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

Institutes established by Vikram Sarabhai

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
• Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA)
• Operations Research Group (ORG) – India’s first market research organization
• Ahmedabad Textile Industry’s Research Association (ATIRA)
• Center for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT)
• Faster Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) at Kalpakkam
• Blind Men Association (BMA)
• Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) at Hyderabad
• Variable Energy Cyclotron Project at Calcutta
• Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) at Jharkhand.
• Darpana Academy of Performing Arts (along with his wife, dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai)

Awards conferred by Vikram Sarabhai

• President of the Physics section, Indian Science Congress (1962).
• Vice-President, Fourth U.N. Conference on ‘Peaceful uses of Atomic Energy’ (1971).
• President of the General Conference of the I.A.E.A., Vienna (1970).
• The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, (VSSC) which conducts research in the field of rocket propellants in Thiruvananthapuram is named after him.
• A crater on the moon ‘BESSEL A’ has been named the Sarabhai crater by the International Astronomical Union in 1973.
• Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (1962).
• Padma Bhushan (1966).
• Padma Vibhushan, posthumous (1972).

  Quotes of Vikram Sarabhai

• “We look down on our scientists if they engage in outside consultation. We implicitly promote the ivory tower”. 
• “….choosing to lead one kind of life means putting aside the desire to pursue other options.” 
•  “He who can listen to the music in the midst of noise can achieve great things”. 
• “….my friend Vikram Sarabhai who often said to me: When you stand above the crowd, you must be ready to have stones thrown at you”. 
• “I also believe that a person who does not have respect for time, and does not have a sense of timing, can achieve little.” 
• “One wants permissive individuals who do not have a compelling need to reassure themselves that they are leaders”. 
• “…failure is not about not succeeding. Rather it is about not putting in your best effort and not contributing, however modestly, to the common good”. 
• “..with adequate support, confrontation at the right time pays off”. 
• “I have often claimed that I have had but one good idea in my life: that true development is the development of women and men”. 
• “Our belief at Anand has always been: let the people’s energies be unleashed”. 
• “Our bureaucracy today is too bloated and therefore it is burdensome”. 
• “What, therefore, is a government at its best? It is a government that “governs” least and instead finds ways to mobilise the energies of our people”. 

The contributions made by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai are extraordinary in the field of space science. His dedication and hard work can’t be forgettable and so, to pay homage to the father of India’s Space program, ISRO has announced an award in the name of Vikram Sarabhai on his 100th birthday on 12 August, 2019.

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Vikram Sarabhai

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GS-III: Science & Technology

Prelims : General Science

Mains : Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology.

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, often referred to as the "Father of the Indian Space Program," was a visionary scientist, space physicist, and astronomer who played an instrumental role in shaping India's space research and exploration endeavours.

His significant contributions to space science and technology have left a profound mark on India's scientific landscape.

Vikram Sarabhai - Background

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was a renowned Indian physicist and astronomer who played a pivotal role in the development of India's space program. He was a great institution builder who not only established but also assisted in establishing several institutions in various fields.

Early Life and Education of Vikram Sarabhai

• His father, Ambalal Sarabhai, was an industrialist and was associated with the Ahmedabad mill strike of 1918.
• Here, he began research on cosmic rays under the supervision of Sir C. V. Raman .
• After the war, he again returned to Cambridge in 1945 and received a PhD in 1947 for his thesis, “ Cosmic Ray Investigation in Tropical Latitudes ”.
• He studied interplanetary space, solar-terrestrial interactions, and geomagnetism.
• Vikram Sarabhai passed away on December 30, 1971, in Kerala.

After returning to India, Vikram Sarabhai embarked on a fruitful career in academia and research.

• At PRL, he conducted groundbreaking research in cosmic rays and space physics.
• Community Service Centre: He founded the Community Science Centre (later renamed Vikram A. Sarabhai Community Science Centre) under the auspices of the Nehru Foundation for Development.
• ISC: He served as the President of the Physics Section of the Indian Science Congress in 1962.
• Atomic Energy Commission: Vikram Sarabhai was appointed Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission under the Government of India in 1966 .
• ISRO: He served as the Chairman of the Indian National Committee for Space Research ( INCOSPAR ) from 1962 to 1969 and later served as the first chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from 1969 to 1971.
• IAEA: He served as the President of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency in 1970.
• U.N. Conference on 'Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy’: He served as the vice-president of the Fourth U.N. Conference on 'Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy' in 1971.

Contributions of Vikram Sarabhai

Vikram Sarabhai made a number of significant contributions to science and technology, particularly in the fields of space and nuclear technology.

Indian Space Program

• After the Russian Sputnik launch , he successfully persuaded the government of the significance of a space programme for a developing country like India.
• As a result, INCOSPAR was established in 1962 and later renamed ISRO.
• First rocket launching station: Vikram Sarabhai, along with the support of Homi Jehangir Bhabha, set up the first rocket launching station (Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station) in 1963 in India at Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram.
• SITE Project: As a result of Vikram Sarabhai's dialogue with NASA in 1966, the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) was launched between July 1975 and July 1976.
• As a result, the first Indian satellite, Aryabhata, was launched into orbit from a Russian Cosmodrome in 1975 .

Nuclear Energy

• He was largely responsible for the establishment and development of India's nuclear power plants, carrying on Bhabha's work in the field of nuclear research.
• He started the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) project in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu.

Institutes Established by Vikram Sarabhai

Vikram Sarabhai was a visionary and established many institutions in the field of science and technology, which have benefited India in various fields. Some of the famous institutions established by Vikram Sarabhai include

• Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad
• Ahmedabad Textile Industry’s Research Association (ATIRA), Ahmedabad
• Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad
• Community Science Centre, Ahmedabad
• Operations Research Group (ORG), (India’s first market research agency)
• Darpan Academy for Performing Arts, Ahmedabad
• Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram
• Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad
• Faster Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR), Kalpakkam
• Variable Energy Cyclotron Project, Calcutta
• Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), Hyderabad
• Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), Jaduguda, Bihar

Awards and Honours received by Vikram Sarabhai

Following are some of the notable awards and recognitions of Vikram Sarabhai:

• Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award , 1962
• Padma Bhushan,1966
• Padma Vibhushan, posthumous, 1972
• It is a research institute specialising in solid and liquid rocket propellants.
• In 1974, the International Astronomical Union in Sydney decided to name a Moon Crater BESSEL in the Sea of Serenity, as the Sarabhai Crater.
• ISRO named the lander of Chandrayaan 2 and Chandrayaan 3 , 'Vikram' in honour of Vikram Sarabhai.

Vikram Sarabhai's extraordinary contributions to science and technology, especially in the space and nuclear sectors, have earned him numerous awards and honours. He instilled a culture of scientific inquiry and research in India, inspiring countless young minds to explore the frontiers of science and technology.

FAQs on Vikram Sarabhai

Who was dr. vikram sarabhai.

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was a renowned Indian physicist and astronomer known as the "Father of the Indian Space Program " for his pivotal role in establishing ISRO and advancing India's space research.

What is the role of Vikram Sarabhai in ISRO?

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai is widely regarded as the "Father of the Indian Space Programme" by the scientific community. He played a key role in the formation of India's space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), of which he later served as chairman.

How did Vikram Sarabhai contribute to the field of nuclear energy?

Dr. Sarabhai served as the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and was instrumental in the establishment and development of India's nuclear power plants.

What institutions were established by Vikram Sarabhai?

Vikram Sarabhai was a visionary who established several institutions, such as the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), IIM- Ahmedabad, Darpan Academy for Performing Arts, and many more.

Where is the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre located?

The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) is a major space research facility of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), focusing on rockets and space vehicles for India's satellite program. It is located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.

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Vikram Sarabhai: 10 facts about the Indian science pioneer with a love for art

Find out these interesting facts about vikram sarabhai on his death anniversary..

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Some lesser known facts about Vikram Sarabhai

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced an award in Vikram Sarabhai's honour on his 100th birthday, August 12, 2019, the Vikram Sarabhai Journalism Award in Space Science Technology and Research.

READ: Vikram Sarabhai Death Anniversary: Death, legacy, awards and quotes

READ: CV Raman Birth Anniversary 2021: Interesting Facts About the Nobel Laureate

• IAS Preparation
• This Day in History
• This Day In History Aug - 12

Birth of Eminent scientist Vikram Sarabhai - [August 12, 1919] This Day in History

Vikram Sarabhai, the ‘Father of Indian space programme’ was born on 12 August 1919 in Ahmedabad, Bombay Presidency. In this edition of This Day in History, you can read about the life and contribution of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai for the IAS exam .

Vikram Sarabhai Biography

Born into a Gujarati industrialist family, Dr Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai was educated at Gujarat College and the University of Cambridge. His doctoral thesis at Cambridge was on ‘Cosmic Ray investigation in Tropical Latitudes’.

Dr Sarabhai understood the importance of having a space research programme for a developing country and convinced the government of it. He pioneered space research in India. He was instrumental in establishing the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 1969. He also set up India’s first rocket launching station at Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram with the help of Dr Homi Bhabha. Thus, he is widely regarded as the ‘Father of Indian space programme’ .

He was also the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (Founded on August 3, 1954 ) and played a major role in the establishment of many educational Institutes in India. His involvement in the development of India in terms of education and science was visible even after his death, based on his dialogue with NASA, The Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE), launched in 1976.

His contribution to the field of Indian Space Centre has been great in every respect. His contribution in launching the first Indian Satellite, Aryabhatta is also undeniable. Apart from Science and Space, he took an active interest in fields of business and industry. He was the founder of the Ahmedabad Textile Industry’s Research Association and managed it till 1956.

Vikram Sarabhai, along with, The ‘Father of India’s Nuclear Science Program ‘, Homi Bhabha had set up the first rocket launching station in India. It was built in St Mary Magdalene Church near Thiruvananthapuram.

Candidates preparing for the upcoming UPSC 2023 exam must be aware of the life and achievements of Vikram Sarabhai.

He also established the Vikram A. Sarabhai Community Science Centre (VASCSC) in the 1960s to popularise science and maths among students and the public. He was given the position of Vice President in the fourth U.N.Conference on ‘Peaceful uses of Atomic Energy’.

After the death of Homi Bhabha , Vikram Sarabhai was largely responsible for the establishment and development of nuclear power plants in India. He was intensively involved in educating children in remote areas of the country through satellite communication and worked for the evolvement of satellite-based remote sensing of natural resources.

Given below is the list of Institutes established by Vikram Sarabhai along with the honours and awards he was presented with during his life:

Institutes established by Vikram Sarabhai

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
• Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA)
• Operations Research Group (ORG) – India’s first market research organization
• Ahmedabad Textile Industry’s Research Association (ATIRA)
• Center for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT)
• Faster Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) at Kalpakkam
• Blind Men Association (BMA)
• Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) at Hyderabad
• Variable Energy Cyclotron Project at Calcutta
• Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) at Jharkhand.
• Darpana Academy of Performing Arts (along with his wife, dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai)

Awards and honours conferred

• President of the Physics section, Indian Science Congress (1962)
• Vice-President, Fourth U.N. Conference on ‘Peaceful uses of Atomic Energy’ (1971)
• President of the General Conference of the I.A.E.A., Vienna (1970)
• The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, (VSSC) which conducts research in the field of rocket propellants in Thiruvananthapuram is named after him.
• A crater on the moon ‘BESSEL A’ has been named the Sarabhai crater by the International Astronomical Union in 1973.
• Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (1962)
• Padma Bhushan (1966)
• Padma Vibhushan, posthumous (1972)

Dr Sarabhai died in December 1971 at Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram aged 52.

1765 : The East India Company conferred Diwani rights over Bengal, Bihar and Odisha by Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II which paved the way for British expansion into India. 1868 : Birth of Lord Chelmsford, Viceroy of India from 1916 to 1921. Chelmsford, along with Edwin Montague implemented the Montague-Chelmsford reforms that gave more autonomy to local representative bodies in India. 1991 : The Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (prevention) amendment bill (TADA) was passed by the Parliament.

See previous  ‘This Day in History’ here .

Multiple Choice Question

• The Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was established by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1962 under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
• INCOSPAR set up the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) at Thumba, near Thiruvananthapuram at India’s southern tip. TERLS is a spaceport used to launch rockets.
• ISRO has developed three types of launch vehicles (or rockets) namely, the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle), the GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle), and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mark III or LVM).
• Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (TIS) is to map the surface composition and mineralogy of Mars. It was one of the payloads carried on India’s Mars Mission.

Choose the correct answer from the below-given options.

• Only Statements 1 and 2 are correct
• Only Statements 1 and 3 are correct
• Only Statements 2 and 3 are correct
• None of the above-given statements is false.

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VIKRAM SARABHAI - A LIFE

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Vikram Sarabhai and His Contributions to Science in India

Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai is popularly known as Vikram Sarabhai. is a renowned Indian physicist and industrialist. Dr. Sarabhai’s contributions in space research gave him recognition as the Father of the Indian space program. He was the innovator and creator of a number of institutions in the varied fields including but not limited to space, nuclear energy, arts, education, and management. His important contribution includes initiation of space research and development of nuclear power in India. He played an important role in convincing Government to initiate space research programs. He convinced the Government of India to form the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) in 1962 and was the first chairperson of the committee. INCOSPAR was later renamed as Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 1969. He played an advisory role in the new setup.

  Personal Life:

Vikram Sarabhai was born to Ambalal Sarabhai.  The Sarabhais’ were the major industrialist and the family members were committed to Indian Independence.  He belonged to Shrimal Jain community and practiced Jainism throughout his life. He was married in 1942 to classical dancer Mrinalini. The couple was blessed with two children, daughter, Mallika and son, Kartikeya Sarabhai. His daughter and son were activitist. His son was also an active person in science. He died on December 30, 1971, in Kovalam, India.

Education :

Vikram Sarabhai was born on August 12, 1919, in Ahmadabad, India in the family of an industrialist. He has been to Gujarat College, Ahmadabad. In 1940s, Vikram Sarabhai went to the University of Cambridge, England and studied natural sciences.  He was forced to return to India due to World War II but his quest for knowledge didn’t end and he started research on cosmic rays. He was under the guidance of physicist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (Bengaluru).

He did his doctorate from the University of Cambridge in 1945 and he wrote a thesis, “Cosmic Ray Investigations in Tropical Latitudes.”  Upon his return to India, he founded Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmadabad.

Professional life:

The Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) which was established from his residence in 1947 did research in cosmic rays. The institute was later established as the M.G. Science Institute, Ahmedabad, on 11 November 1947. The institute was in collaboration with Karmkshetra Educational Foundation and the Ahmedabad Education Society. The institute started with research on cosmic rays and the properties of the upper atmosphere. Later the research was extended to theoretical physics and radio physics for which grants were received from the Atomic Energy Commission.

He was a pioneer in establishing Operations Research Group (ORG), the first market research organization in India.

Apart from being a physicist, his area of interest included industry and business. He founded the Ahmadabad Textile Industry’s Research Association in 1947. His interest in professional management education in India, Sarabhai led to the formation of Indian Institute of Management in Ahmadabad in 1962.

He was instrumental in establishing the Indian National Committee for Space Research in 1962, which is now called as Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Apart from ISRO, Sarabhai was also responsible for setting up of Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station.

Indian Space Program:

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is his biggest contribution to the country.  Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha, was the father of India’s nuclear science program. He supported Dr. Sarabhai for setting the first rocket launching station in India. Dr. Sarabhai’s discussion with NASA resulted in the launch of Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) (July 1975 – July 1976).

Know About:  Dr. Homi Bhabha Balvidnyanik Spardha( HBBVS)

Dr. Sarabhai overtook the position of Homi Bhabha in 1966, as chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India, after the latter’s death. He continued the work of Homi Bhabha in the field of nuclear research. He was responsible for the establishment and development of nuclear power plants. He has worked for Defense Ministry for developing nuclear technology.

Sarabhai initiated programs to take education to remote villages through Satellite communication programs. Sarabhai efforts led to the start of a project for the launch of an Indian satellite. The first Indian satellite launched was Aryabhata. It was put in orbit from a Russian cosmodrome.

Dr. Sarabhai started a project for the fabrication and launch of an Indian Satellite. As a result, the first Indian satellite, Aryabhata, was put in orbit in 1975 from a Russian Cosmodrome.

Dr. Sarabhai was instrumental in establishing institutions such as:

• Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad
• Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad
• Community Science Centre, Ahmedabad
• Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad
• Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), Hyderabad
• Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), Jaduguda, Bihar
• Darpan Academy for Performing Arts, Ahmedabad
• Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram
• Faster Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR), Kalpakkam
• Variable Energy Cyclotron Project, Calcutta

Important Positions Held:

• In 1962 he was the president of Physics section in Indian Science Congress
• In 1970 he was the president of the General Conference of the I.A.E.A., Vienna
• In 1971 he was the vice-president Fourth UN Conference on ‘Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy

Achievements and Awards:

• Awards: Sarabhai was awarded Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Medal in 1962. He is the recipient of India’s two highest honors the Padma Bhushan (1966) and the Padma Vibhushan. He was awarded Padma Vibhushan posthumously in 1972.
• The Indian Space Research Organization located in Thiruvananthapuram is named in memory of Sarabhai as Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, (VSSC)
• On his first death anniversary (30 December 1972) Indian postal services released a postal stamp.

In 1973, the International Astronomical Union named a lunar crater as the Sarabhai crater.

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