GordonCoulston: updated details

2026-02-26T14:36:39Z

updated details

Show changes

WikiDwarfBOT: Cleanup:

2023-07-21T23:47:39Z

Cleanup:

Show changes

imported>Ohsin at 06:37, 25 August 2021

2021-08-25T06:37:27Z

New page

{{Short description|Father of India's Space Programme}}{{Use Indian English|date=November 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| title = [[Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation|Chairman]] of [[Indian National Committee for Space Research]] and [[Indian Space Research Organisation]]
| term_start = 1963
| term_end = 1971
| predecessor = Position established
| successor = [[M.G.K.Menon]]
| name = Vikram Sarabhai
| birth_name = Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai
| image = File:Vikram Sarabhai.jpg
| caption = Vikram Sarabhai in the US (1971)
| birth_date = {{birth date|1919|8|12|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Vikram Sarabhai Biography|url=http://www.mapsofindia.com/who-is-who/science-technology/vikram-sarabhai.html|publisher=mapsofindia|website=mapsofindia.com|date=30 January 2014|access-date=22 July 2015}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Ahmedabad]], [[Bombay Presidency]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1971|12|30|1919|8|12|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Halcyon Castle]], [[Trivandrum]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]
{{Infobox scientist
| embed = yes
| field = [[Physics]]
| work_institution = [[Indian Space Research Organisation]]<br />[[Physical Research Laboratory]]
| residence =
| alma_mater = [[University of Cambridge]] ([[B.A.|BA]], [[PhD]])
| doctoral_advisor = [[C. V. Raman]]
| doctoral_students = [[Udupi Ramachandra Rao]]
| known_for = [[Indian space program]] <br /> [[Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad]]
| awards = [[Padma Bhushan]] (1966)<br />[[Padma Vibhushan]] (posthumously) (1972)
}}
| spouse = [[Mrinalini Sarabhai]]
| children = [[Mallika Sarabhai]] (daughter)<ref>{{cite web|title=Mystery behind Vikram Sarabhai's death|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Mystery-behind-Vikram-Sarabhais-death/articleshow/3910516.cms|publisher=[[Times of India]]|date=30 December 2008|access-date=22 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Vikram Sarabhai's love affair gave birth to IIM-A|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Vikram-Sarabhais-love-affair-gave-birth-to-IIM-A-book-says/articleshow/28534030.cms|publisher=[[Times of India]]|date=8 January 2014|access-date=22 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Witness to persecution|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060121/saturday/above.htm|publisher=tribuneindia|date=14 January 2006|access-date=22 July 2015}}</ref><ref>Amrita Shah (2007) ''Vikram Sarabhai: A Life''. Penguin Viking. {{ISBN|0-670-99951-2}}</ref>
<br>[[Kartikeya Sarabhai]] (son)
| parents = [[Ambalal Sarabhai]] (father)
}}

'''Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai''' (12 August 1919 – 30 December 1971) was an Indian [[physicist]] and [[astronomer]] who initiated [[space research]] and helped develop [[nuclear power]] in India. He was honoured with [[Padma Bhushan]] in 1966 and the [[Padma Vibhushan]] (posthumously) in 1972. He is internationally regarded as the Father of the Indian Space Program.<ref name="Padma Awards Directory">{{cite web |url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards Directory (1954–2013) |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=14 August 2013 |access-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015 }}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Vikrambhai and amma .jpg|thumb|Vikram and Mrinalini Sarabhai (1948)|alt=|263x263px]]
Son of [[Ambalal Sarabhai]], he came from the famous [[Sarabhai family]] of India who were major industrialists committed to the [[Indian independence movement]]. Vikram Sarabhai married the classical dancer [[Mrinalini Sarabhai|Mrinalini]] in 1942. The couple had two children. His daughter [[Mallika Sarabhai|Mallika]] gained prominence as an actress and activist, and his son [[Kartikeya Sarabhai|Kartikeya]] too became an active person in science. During his lifetime, he practiced [[Jainism]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Jains steal the show with 7 Padmas|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Jains-steal-the-show-with-7-Padmas/articleshow/46856659.cms|website=The times of India|access-date=9 December 2015|publisher=[[Times of India]]|date=9 April 2015|quote=The Jain community has always nurtured exceptional talent whether it is eminent scientist Vikram Sarabhai, who is considered the father of the country's space program, or poet, thinker and spiritual leader Banarsidas who composed the magnum opus Ardhakathanaka, the first-ever autobiography in Hindi literature.}}</ref> He attended [[Gujarat College]], Ahmedabad, but later moved to the [[University of Cambridge]], England, where he took his [[tripos]] in natural sciences in 1940.<ref name="vikram_education"/> In 1945 he returned to Cambridge to pursue a [[doctorate]] and wrote a thesis, “Cosmic Ray Investigations in Tropical Latitudes,” in 1947.<ref name="vikram_education">{{cite web|url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/vikram-sarabhai-1565439068-1|title=Vikram Sarabhai founder of ISRO 100th Birthday: All you need to know|website=jagranjosh.com|access-date=12 August 2019}}</ref>
==Professional life==
[[File:Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and Dr. Paine Sign a Satellite Agreement - GPN-2002-000081.jpg|thumb|Dr. Vikram A. Sarabhai, (left) Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and head of India's Department of Atomic Energy and Dr. Thomas O. Paine, NASA Administrator, sign an agreement to cooperate in an unprecedented experiment using a space satellite to bring instructional television programs to some 5,000 Indian villages.|alt=|257x257px]]
{{more citations needed section|date=September 2019}}
Known as the cradle of space sciences in India, the [[Physical Research Laboratory]] (PRL) was founded in 1947 by Vikram Sarabhai.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/seta/2003/04/03/stories/2003040300100300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030518211014/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/seta/2003/04/03/stories/2003040300100300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 18, 2003|title=Vikram Sarabhai (1919-1971): Architect of Indian space programme|last=R.|first=Parthasarathy|date=April 3, 2003|website=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=2019-08-10}}</ref> PRL had a modest beginning at his residence, the "RETREAT", with research on [[cosmic rays]].

The institute was formally established at the M.G. Science Institute, Ahmedabad, on 11 November 1947<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.prl.res.in/website_english15/about/hist.php | title=BRIEF HISTORY | access-date=28 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408134414/https://www.prl.res.in/website_english15/about/hist.php | archive-date=8 April 2016 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all |publisher=Physical Research Laboratory, Department of Space, Government of India}}</ref> with support from the Karmkshetra Educational Foundation and the [[Ahmedabad Education Society]]. Prof. [[Kalpathi Ramakrishna Ramanathan]] was the first Director of the institute. The initial focus was research on [[cosmic rays]] and the [[properties]] of the [[upper atmosphere]]. Research areas were expanded to include [[theoretical physics]] and [[radio physics]] later with grants from the Atomic Energy Commission.

He led the Sarabhai family-owned business conglomerate. His interests varied from science to sports to statistics. He set up the Operations Research Group (ORG), the first market research organization in the country. Most notable among the many institutes he helped set up are the [[Nehru Foundation for Development]] in [[Ahmedabad]], the [[Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad]] (IIMA), the [[Ahmedabad Textile Industry's Research Association]] (ATIRA) and the (CEPT). Along with his wife [[Mrinalini Sarabhai]], he founded the [[Darpana Academy of Performing Arts]]. Other projects and institutions initiated or established by him include the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) in [[Kalpakkam]], Variable Energy Cyclotron Project in [[Calcutta]], [[Electronics Corporation of India Limited]] (ECIL) in [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]] and Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) in Jaduguda, [[Jharkhand]].

Sarabhai started a project for the fabrication and launch of an Indian satellite. As a result, the first Indian satellite, [[Aryabhata (satellite)|Aryabhata]], was put in orbit in 1975 from a Russian [[cosmodrome]].<ref name=":0" /> He was the founder of [[ISRO|Indian Space Research Organisation]].

==Death==
On 30 December 1971, Sarabhai was to review the SLV design before his departure for [[Bombay]] the same night. He had spoken to [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam|A. P .J. Abdul Kalam]] on the telephone. Within an hour of the conversation, Sarabhai died at the age of 52 due to [[cardiac arrest]] in Trivandrum (now [[Thiruvananthapuram]]). His body was cremated in [[Ahmedabad]].

==Distinguished positions==
*President of the Physics section, [[Indian Science Congress]] (1962)
*President of the General Conference of the [[I.A.E.A.]], [[Vienna]] (1970)
*Chairman of the [[Atomic Energy Commission of India]] (1966–1971)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/archives/from-the-archives-may-23-1969-sarabhai-assails-faltering-nuclear-policy/article27210262.ece|title=From the Archives (May 23, 1969): Sarabhai assails faltering nuclear policy|date=2019-05-23|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-08-10|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dae.nic.in/writereaddata/chmnaec.pdf|title=Former Chairmen of Atomic Energy Commission|date=2012-06-05|website=Government of India Department of Atomic Energy|access-date=2019-08-10}}</ref>
*Vice-President, Fourth UN Conference on 'Peaceful uses of Atomic Energy' (1971)
*Founder and Chairman (1963–1971), [[Space Applications Centre]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sac.gov.in/Vyom/founder.jsp|title=Space Applications Centre|website=www.sac.gov.in|access-date=2019-08-10}}</ref>

==Legacy==
[[File:Vikram Sarabhai 1972 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|Sarabhai on a 1972 Indian stamp]]
*The [[Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre]], (VSSC), which is the Indian Space Research Organization's lead facility for launch vehicle development located in [[Thiruvananthapuram]] ([[Trivandrum]]), capital of Kerala state, is named in his memory.
*Along with other Ahmedabad-based industrialists, he played a major role in setting up of the [[IIM Ahmedabad|Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad]].
*Indian Postal Department released a commemorative Postal Stamp On his first death anniversary (30 December 1972)
*In 1973, the [[International Astronomical Union]] decided that a lunar crater, Bessel A, in the [[Sea of Serenity]] will be known as the [[Sarabhai (crater)|Sarabhai crater]].<ref name=rukl21>[[Antonín Rükl]]: ''Atlas Měsíce'', Aventinum (Praha 1991), chapter Bessel, page 74, {{ISBN|80-85277-10-7}} {{in lang|cs}}</ref><ref>[[Sarabhai (crater)]] – {{cite web|title=Planetary Names: Sarabhai on Moon; |url=http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/5320|publisher=Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, IAU, [[United States Geological Survey|USGS]], [[NASA]]|date=18 Oct 2010|access-date=22 July 2015}}</ref>
*The lander on India's moon mission [[Chandrayaan-2]] which was to land near the South Pole of the moon on Sep 20, 2019 was named Vikram in his honour.
*Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre (VASCSC) located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat is named after him. Vikram Sarabhai established this institute around the 1960s.
*Former World Quiz Champion [[Vikram Joshi]] was named after him.
*A Space Museum was dedicated to him at [[Birla Science Museum|B M Birla Science Centre]], Hyderabad on 26 July 2019. The museum was curated by [[Pranav Sharma]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Space Museum opened at Hyderabad with ISRO Collaboration - ISRO|url=https://www.isro.gov.in/update/08-aug-2019/space-museum-opened-hyderabad-with-isro-collaboration|access-date=2020-09-22|website=www.isro.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=&|date=2019-12-06|title=Birla Science Centre's Pranav Sharma gets REX Karmaveer Award|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/birla-science-centres-pranav-sharma-gets-rex-karmaveer-award/article30214217.ece|access-date=2020-09-22|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
* On 12 August 2019, [[Google]]'s [[Google Doodle|Doodle]] for [[India]] commemorated Sarabhai's 100th birth anniversary.<ref>https://www.google.com/doodles/vikram-sarabhais-100th-birthday</ref>
* On his 100th birthday on 12 August 2019, the [[Indian Space Research Organization]] (ISRO) announced an award in the name of Vikram Sarabhai. The Vikram Sarabhai Journalism award in Space Science Technology and Research will be given to those journalists who have contributed to the fields of space science, applications, and research.<ref>https://www.firstpost.com/tech/science/isro-announces-vikram-sarabhai-awards-for-journalism-in-the-fields-of-space-science-applications-and-research-7129111.html</ref>
* On 30 September 2020, [[Amar Chitra Katha|ACK Media]] along with [[Indian Space Research Organisation|ISRO]] released a book namely, Vikram Sarabhai: Pioneering India's Space Programme. It was released in [[Amar Chitra Katha|Amar Chitra Katha's]] digital platform and merchandise, [[Amar Chitra Katha|ACK Comics]].

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
*[http://astrotalkuk.org/2013/10/30/episode-62-vikram-sarabhai/ Interview with biographer Amrita Shah recorded in August 2013]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041031034705/http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/greatscientists/vikramasarabhai/ Great Scientists at freeindia.org]

{{s-start}}
{{s-gov}}
{{succession box|title=[[Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization|ISRO Chairman]]|before=Position created|after=[[M. G. K. Menon]]|years=1963–1971}}
{{s-end}}

{{Padma Vibhushan Awards}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1960–69}}
{{SSBPST recipients in Physical Science}}
{{Indian space programme}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sarabhai, Vikram Ambalal}}
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:1971 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian physicists]]
[[Category:Alumni of St John's College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Space programme of India]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in science & engineering]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in science & engineering]]
[[Category:Scientists from Ahmedabad]]
[[Category:Indian Space Research Organisation people]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian Jains]]
[[Category:Gujarati people]]
[[Category:Sarabhai family]]

Vikram Sarabhai - Revision history

GordonCoulston: updated details

WikiDwarfBOT: Cleanup:

imported>Ohsin at 06:37, 25 August 2021