Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan is an Indian astrophysicist and space scientist who led the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) from 1994 to 2003.
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Krishnaswamy Kasthurirangan was born on Thursday, 24 October 1940 (age 82 years; as in 2022) in Ernakulam, Kochi, Kerala. His mother died when he was young. Subsequently, Kasturirangan and his brother, Ananthanarayan (Ravi), grew up in their grandparents’ house in Ernakulam, meanwhile their father remarried and moved to Bombay (now Mumbai). At first, she attended an all-girls school, where boys were admitted in the first two classes. After this, he joined Sri Rama Varma High School, Ernakulam. Describing the equality prevalent during his school days in an interview, he said,
In our class, a few tables were set aside for members of the Cochin royal family. These boys used to come in limousines and enter the class just one minute before the class. Its purpose was to maintain a level of separation between the children of the royal family and the common people.
When Kasturirangan was 10, his grandfather died after which he moved to Bombay, where he continued his schooling at the South Indian Education Society High School, Matunga. Subsequently, he joined Ramnarayan Ruia Autonomous College, Matunga, where he completed his B.Sc. Studied. (Hons.) in Physics (Primary subject) and Mathematics (Secondary subject).
Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan on the day of his convocation at the University of Bombay, B.Sc. Reached out to receive. (Hons) degree in 1961
He studied Master of Science in Physics from the University of Bombay (Mumbai University), which he completed in 1963 with Electronics as an optional subject. After seeing an advertisement in a newspaper, he applied for a fellowship at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. He did his PhD in Cosmic X-rays under Vikram Sarabhai, considered the father of the Indian space programme.
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 6″
Hair Colour: Black (Half Bald)
Eye colour: black
Family
Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan belongs to a Tamil Brahmin family. Several centuries ago, their ancestors migrated to Kerala from Tamil Nadu. His maternal grandfather, Sri Ananthanarayana Iyer, completed his school and college education and became a sanitary inspector in Ernakulam. His grandfather’s name is Chalakudy Manickam Iyer.
Krishnaswami Kasturirangan’s maternal grandfather, Shri Ananthanarayan Iyer
Krishnaswami Kasturirangan’s grandfather, Chalakudi Manickam Iyer
parents and siblings
His father, CM Krishnaswamy Iyer, did his graduation in chemistry at Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam. He worked in various administrative positions in Tata Airlines and retired as a senior accounts officer in Indian Airlines Corporation (now Indian Airlines).
Krishnaswami Kasturirangan’s father CM Krishnaswami Iyer
Kasturirangan’s mother Vishalakshi died in his childhood. After his mother’s death, Kasturirangan and his brother, Ananthanarayana (Ravi), grew up with their grandparents in Ernakulam. Meanwhile, his father remarried Alamelu Ammal. Together, they had two children, Subbaram and Subbalakshmi.
wife and children
In 1969, shortly before completing his PhD, he married Lakshmi, who died in August 1991. They have two sons, Rajesh and Sanjay.
livelihood
In 1969, when Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan was completing his doctoral thesis, he witnessed the birth of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), where he was offered the position of scientist by Vikram Sarabhai in 1971. His first project in ISRO was to build Rohini. Satellite. He was also the project director of India’s first two experimental Earth observation satellites, Bhaskar-I and II. For more than 9 years until 2003, Dr. Kasturirangan led the Indian space program as Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation. He also served as the Chairman of the Space Commission and Secretary in the Department of Space, Government of India, before leaving his post on 27 August 2003. Under his leadership, ISRO witnessed various successful operations including the launch and operation of Polar. Satellite Launch Vehicle, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, civilian remote sensing satellites IRS-1C and 1D, new generation INSAT communication satellites, and ocean observation satellites IRS-P3/P4. He made major contributions to the study of cosmic X-ray and gamma ray sources and the effects of cosmic X-rays in the lower atmosphere. These efforts have placed India as a major space-leading nation among the six countries with major space programmes. He has served as Honorary Professor of Physics at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad and the Jawaharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Research in Bengaluru. He has chaired some of the prestigious international committees, such as the International Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), COSPAR/ICSU’s Panel for Space Research in Developing Countries and UN-ESCAP’s Committee Meeting at Senior Official Level. Led to the adoption of the “Delhi Declaration” by the region’s ministers (1999–2000). He is a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, the Indian National Science Academy, the Indian National Science Academy, the Indian National Academy of Engineering, the Indian Astronautical Society, the National Telematics Forum, the Indian Meteorological Society, the Third World Science Academy, the Indian National Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy of Sciences. Science Academy. He is a distinguished fellow of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunications Engineers, a founding member of the Astronomical Society of India, a life member of the Indian Physics Association, the Indian Science Congress Association and the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, and an honorary fellow of the Aeronautical Society of India. , Kerala Academy of Sciences, and Cardiff University, UK. He has published more than 200 papers in international and national journals and edited 6 books in the areas of astronomy, space science and space applications. In 2021, he was appointed as the head of the 12-member steering committee responsible for developing a new National Curriculum Framework (NCF). This committee was assigned a 3-year task to develop textbooks, curriculum and teaching practices for schools across the country.
held other positions
- Director of the National Institute of Advanced Study (NIAS) in Bangalore (2004–2009)
- Member of the Upper House of the Indian Parliament (2003–2009)
- Member (Science) of the Planning Commission of India (now defunct)
- Vice President of the International Academy of Astronautics
- Member of the International Astronomical Union
- President of the Indian Academy of Sciences (2001-03)
- President of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (2005-06)
- Academician of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Vatican City
- General Secretary of Indian Science Congress
- President of the United Nations Center for Space Science and Technology Education (UN-CSSTE)
- Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Chairman of Karnataka Knowledge Commission
- Chancellor of Central University of Rajasthan
- Chancellor of NIIT University
- Member of the Board of Trustees of Raman Research Institute Trust, Bengaluru
Awards, Honors, Achievements
- Brock Medal of the International Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (2004)
- Alain D’Emile Memorial Award of the International Astronautical Federation (2004)
- Theodore von Karman Award (2007) by the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA),
- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in Engineering
- Lifetime Achievement Award of the Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council, Singapore
- Aryabhata Medal (2000) by the Indian National Science Academy
- Ashutosh Mukherjee Memorial Award by the Indian Science Congress, Jewel of Ruia Award, Ruia College Alumni Association, 2007
- Maharana Udai Singh Award in 2007-08 by the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, Udaipur, 2008
- Rajayogindra Award, Maharaja of Mysore, Mysore, 2008
- Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Gold Medal, Indian Science Congress, Shillong, 2009
Facts/General Knowledge
- As a member of the Rajya Sabha, he donated Rs 1 crore from his Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund to his school for the construction of an additional academic block.
- Since childhood he had a strong hunger for studies. Conan Doyle, Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas are his favorite authors.
- He was awarded the “Jewel of Ruia” award in 2007, given to the alumni of Ramnarayan Ruia Autonomous College, Matunga.
- Dr. Krishnaswami Kasturirangan led the team that drafted the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which introduced the 5+3+3+4 structure, flexible examinations and vocational education training at youth levels in India’s education structure.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn