A SHINING STAR

 

ALL his life, Dr Jayant Vishnu Narlikar kept expanding the domain of science as a scientist with relentless pursuit of knowledge. His passing away at the age of 87 has brought curtains on a blazing era in Indian science, global astrophysics and science education. His life steeped in knowledge, seeking to stretch the huge spectrum of science further, has left a legacy that cannot be confined only to laboratories and observatories. Dr Narlikar has left a trail of pioneering contributions to cosmology and astrophysics as a tireless science communicator. The world of science has lost a shining star but its glow is set to guide India’s path to bigger scientific breakthroughs. Dr Narlikar’s life and time is an inspiration not only for the scientific community but also for every ambitious individual searching for a little elbow room within and outside one’s domain. Dr Narlikar did all of it throughout his life as he took efforts to popularise science even through literature.

 

He was a rare talent of many hues bundled into one prism to form a beautiful rainbow. What defined the great scientist’s glorious career was his belief in himself to make bold scientific inquiries. Dr Narlikar showed the world that imagination can be made a trusted friend in science, contrary to the popular perception of a rigid framework driving science. It also made him pick up the pen and pursue literature to reach youngsters and curious minds. Through science books, fiction stories, columns and television programmes, Dr Narlikar was able to build a rare connect as a communicator with the inquisitive generation. It was his small but significant effort to tell the world that scientific temperament is not the birthright of only a few elite.

 

Dr Narlikar opened the domain of science for all, especially the youngsters, through his simple but powerful stories. A generation of scientists still owe it to Dr Narlikar for explaining some complex phenomena with clarity and wit. For Dr Narlikar, the effort to simplify science was like a re-run of his formative days. He had an exceptional academic career through school and college when he did is Bachelor of Science from BHU in 1957. His inclination to seek more from domain knowledge helped Dr Narlikar reach great academic heights in the Cambridge University. A plethora of prizes followed but the best came in the form of mentorship from the legendary Sir Fred Hoyle. It was sort of a turning point for Dr Narlikar as he started forming his own cosmological view. He was not afraid of challenging the set scientific doctrines and was persistent in his efforts to look beyond the entrenched beliefs. The hunger for knowledge is what Dr Narlikar has left as a legacy for Indian scientific community and new aspirants.

 

The mission for Dr Narlikar was clear, whether he was in India or on the foreign soil. He was instrumental in developing alternative cosmological models that questioned the Big Bang theory. It was his lifelong scientific mission to explore the origin of the universe and its basic fabric. He was unyielding in his pursuit to find the truth beyond the normal. In fact, Dr Narlikar carved a niche for himself not only for groundbreaking work on cosmology and gravity but also for his zeal to challenge the mainstream. India is grateful to Dr Narlikar for his significant decision to return home in 1972. It was a moment that spurred science to become a collaborative and inclusive space, inspiring a generation of Indian astrophysicists. Dr. Narlikar nurtured, expanded astrophysics and took it to a higher pedestal globally. It was an audacious move as India started building its own centers of excellence in astrophysics. All of this was possible due to Dr Narlikar’s deep faith in science and his fearless belief rooted on logic. The star has left his glow.