Kailasavadivoo Sivan is the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) since 15 January 2018. Under his chairmanship, ISRO launched its second lunar exploration mission (Chandrayaan 2) in July 2019. Apart from being the Chairman of ISRO, Sivan has also served as the Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC).
Wiki/Biography
Of. Sivan was born on Sunday, 14 April 1957 (age: 66 years, as of 2023) in Mela Sarakkalvilai, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India. He was very brilliant in studies since childhood. His family was very poor. His father, Kailasavadivundaar, was a paddy and mango farmer. In his childhood, Sivan used to help his father in farming and sell mangoes in the market. He received his primary education from a small Tamil medium school in his village.
Picture of the school where Sivan studied
He follows Hindu religion and his zodiac sign is Aries.
Family
Sivan was born to Kailasavadivundaar (farmer) and Chellamall.
Old picture of Sivan and his mother
He has two sisters and one brother.
Sivan with his sisters and other family members
He is married to Malathi Sivan who is a housewife. The couple have two sons; Sushant (engineer) and Siddharth.
Sivan with his wife and son
livelihood
He passed the Bachelor of Science examination from South Travancore Hindu College, Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India. He got 100% marks in Mathematics in B.Sc. Subsequently, he enrolled at the Madras Institute of Technology (MIT) and received a bachelor’s degree in engineering in 1980.
Old picture of Siwan’s classmates and teachers
He completed his post-graduation in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in 1982. In 2007, Sivan received his PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai. He joined the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in 1982 and participated in the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) mission. He contributed to the planning, design, analysis and integration of the mission. In 2014, he became the Director of ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. In 2015, Sivan became the director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC).
Sivan in VSSC with other scientists
On 15 January 2018, he succeeded AS Kiran Kumar as the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
K with AS Kiran Kumar. Sivan
Awards/Honors
- Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Research Award (1999)
- Dr. Biren Roy Space Science and/or Design Award (2011)
- Distinguished Alumni Award from the Madras Institute of Technology (MIT) Alumni Association (2013)
- Doctor of Science from Satyabhama University, Chennai (2014)
- Distinguished Alumni Award from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (2018)
- ‘Vigyan Ratna’ Award by Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu (2019)
Sivan receiving Vigyan Ratan Award
- Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Award (2019) by the Government of Tamil Nadu
Sivan honored with Kalam Award
Favourite Things
- Food: Dal-rice, South Indian cuisine
fact
- His family was so poor during his childhood that his siblings could not obtain higher education.
- According to his uncle A Shunmugavel, Sivan was very hardworking and serious about his studies. He never received any tuition.
- He is the first graduate from his family as well as his village.
Siwan (far left) with his friend
- His father came to know about his talent when he got 100% marks in Mathematics in B.Sc. To get Sivan admitted to Madras Institute of Technology (MIT), his father sold part of his land and borrowed some money from others.
- Before joining MIT, Sivan used to wear ‘dhoti/lungi’ in college. He wore pants for the first time at MIT.
- He has earned the nickname ‘Rocket Man’ for developing cryogenic engines for India’s space programmes. They also helped in launching rockets in different weather and wind conditions.
Sivan helped develop cryogenic engine
- He is an expert in 6D trajectory simulation software that predetermines the path of the trajectory.
- Sivan joined the GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) project in 2011. He has also contributed to the Reusable Launch Vehicle Project.
- In February 2015, Sivan played a key role in launching 104 satellites in one go by PSLV-C37.
Sivan with model of rocket
- Sivan has been a part of almost all Rockets programs since 1982.
- On 22 July 2019, under his chairmanship, ISRO launched its second lunar exploration mission, ‘Chandrayaan 2’. However, contact with lander Vikram was lost. After this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed ISRO scientists and encouraged them. During the meeting with the Prime Minister, Sivan became very emotional and started crying bitterly. Narendra Modi hugged him and consoled him.
#Watch After ISRO Chief K Sivan started crying, PM Narendra Modi hugged and consoled him. #Chandrayaan2 pic.twitter.com/R1d0C4LjAh
– ANI (@ANI) 7 September 2019
- Sivan believes in spiritual values. He visits temples regularly before and after working on any specific project.
K Sivan visiting a temple
- His hobbies are reading, travelling, listening to Tamil classical songs, gardening etc.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn