10 December 2021 - Dr K Kasturirangan’s Space Odyssey (E)
Astrophysicist Dr. K. Kasturirangan has had many avatars, as a researcher on astro-sciences, chairman of ISRO, Member of Parliament, head of the committee that drafted the New Education Policy. But most importantly, he laid the foundations of India’s inter-planetary missions, announcing in 1999 - that India could undertake a mission to the moon. The `Bahubali’ rocket or the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III was conceptualised under his able leadership. It was Chandrayaan - 1 India’s maiden mission to the moon that changed the history of moon as we knew it, from a parched landscape the discovery of water molecules on the moon was thanks to Dr Kasturirangan’s foresight. Even when India was still under technology denial and sanctions he paved the way for international collaboration with USA, Europe to be partners in the moon mission and gave them a free ride to the moon. More recently Dr Kasturirangan has been instrumental in shaping the New Education Policy and is now setting the new curriculum framework. He now works from the Raman Research Institute the institute set up by Prof C V Raman, till date India’s only Nobel Laureate in science. With him we explore and take a look at the gold medallion and find out why a Nobel in Science has eluded India for the last ninety plus years and will the National Education Policy 2020, help bridge the gap. He worked with several prime ministers and he shares his experiences working with India’s leaders. He has recently published his autobiography of sorts `Space and Beyond: Professional Voyage of K. Kasturirangan’. Watch this and more, only on India Science.
