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ALL INDIA PEOPLE’S SCIENCE NETWORK (AIPSN)
Condolence Resolution for Dr. Jayant Narlikar
With the passing of Dr. Jayant Narlikar on May 20th 2025, the world has lost an outstanding Astrophysicist and Relativist, and India, one of its most eminent scientists . In addition to his important research contributions, Prof. Narlikar made outstanding contributions in the area of scientific outreach. He authored numerous popular books and articles on Astronomy, Cosmology, History of science, science fiction, in Marathi, English and Hindi. In the field of science and mathematics education, he along with his life partner Dr. Mangala Narlikar, played leadership roles in curricular and textbook development at both the national level and at the Maharashtra state level. He was the founder Director of the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, which developed under his leadership as a world renowned centre for scientific research as well as public outreach in science.
In his preface to his book ‘The Scientific Edge: The Indian Scientist from Vedic to Modern Times’, Prof. Narlikar writes “ When as a young lad of twenty-two I enrolled myself as a research student in science my aim was to restrict my attention and career to research in astronomy. More than four decades later, I see that aim as confining myself to the proverbial ivory tower.
Indeed it was fortunate that my research supervisor was Fred Hoyle, a man hailed as the most original astronomer of the twentieth century and a distinguished popularizer of science and a writer of science fiction. A close association with him gradually introduced me to the wider vista of the interaction of science and society as well as the subject of the historical evolution of science. Hoyle’s example showed me that it is possible to maintain a satisfactory level of research productivity while enlarging one’s interest in these wider issues. In fact these interests provided a more mature background to my research.
So it was that while in the UK and later after having returned to India I continued and expanded these interests through writing and lecturing. I discovered that the evolution of science in the subcontinent has followed a different track from that in the West. While interacting with the public one runs into two different viewpoints. On the one hand there is awareness that for various reasons India mounted the bus of science and technology rather late and has to make up for this. On the other hand , there is the feeling that in our ancient past we led the world in knowledge. More often than not these views are stated with undue vigour”
In his writings and speeches , Prof. Narlikar consistently articulated a critical view of undue or ahistorical glorification of the past and stood unambiguously with those promoting scientific temper. Together with Dr, Narendra Dabholkar and two others, he authored a research paper which clinchingly demolished any claim of astrology to being scientific . A few weeks after the martyrdom of Dr. Dabholkar in 2013, he presented these ideas and explained the importance of scientific temper, secularism and the values of the Indian constitution as the keynote speaker to a mass public meeting organised in Pune to protest the murder.
When the AIPSN resolved in 2018 and joined hands with MANS to initiate observance of August 20th as National Scientific Temper Day, Prof. Narlikar was the first signatory to the joint AIPSN-MANS appeal for schools , colleges and organizations to publicly observe NSTD each year. He was the main speaker the first NSTD public meeting held on the eve of NSTD 2018 in Pune in which he spoke eloquently and movingly about his association with Dr. Narendra Dabholkar.
The scientific work and writings of Prof. Narlikar will continue to inspire coming generations of young scientists. The AIPSN pays respectful homage to this great scientist, science publicist and promoter of scientific temper.
Asha Mishra Satyajit Rath
General Secretary, AIPSN President, AIPSN