Tributes pour in for Dr Jayant Narlikar; PM Modi calls his death a 'monumental loss to scientific community'

Tributes poured in for eminent astrophysicist science communicator and Padma Vibhushan awardee Dr Jayant Vishnu Narlikar who passed away in Pune on Tuesday A towering figure in Indian science Dr Narlikar was widely known for his pioneering contributions to cosmology his efforts to popularise science and for setting up premier research institutions in the countryAccording to family sources the eminent astrophysicist died in his sleep early in the morning He is survived by three daughtersTaking to social media platform X PM Modi wrote that the passing of Dr Jayant Narlikar is a monumental loss to the scientific communityHe was a luminary especially in the field of astrophysics His pioneering works especially key theoretical frameworks will be valued by generations of researchers He made a mark as an institution builder grooming centres of learning and innovation for young minds His writings have also gone a long way in making science accessible to common citizens Condolences to his family and friends in this hour of grief Om Shanti stated PM ModiThe passing of Dr Jayant Narlikar is a monumental loss to the scientific community He was a luminary especially in the field of astrophysics His pioneering works especially key theoretical frameworks will be valued by generations of researchers He made a mark as anhellipmdash Narendra Modi narendramodi May 20 2025Chief Minister CM Devendra Fadnavis wrote that Dr Narlikar had played a very important role in spreading science by creating literature on scientific subjects The CM also said that the astrophysicist explained complex subjects to ordinary readers in very simple termsWe have lost a great scientist and an equally great writer I pay my heartfelt tribute to him the CM wrote adding that his last rites will be conducted with full state honours hellip pictwittercom1Tws7nMaVRmdash Devendra Fadnavis Dev_Fadnavis May 20 2025Former Union Minister Sharad Pawar also paid his tributes and said that among the Maharashtrian scientists who contributed to research at the national and international levels Dr Narlikar will always be remembered with respect and honourThe HoyleNarlikar theory is considered very important in the scientific world noted Pawar The the HoylendashNarlikar theory of gravity codeveloped by Narlikar advocated alternative models to the Big Bang theory His work challenged conventional thinking and expanded the frontiers of astrophysics and he gave a significant direction to scientific research in India during his stints at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research TIFR and InterUniversity Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics IUCAA Pawar notedThe veteran politician also stated that Narlikars writings and lectures were invaluable for the dissemination of science and that he advocated scientific thinking and opposed superstition hellip pictwittercomYvQix2EwM2mdash Sharad Pawar PawarSpeaks May 20 2025Calling Dr Narlikar one of the worlds greatest astrophysicists Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh stated Along with his doctoral adviser Fred Hoyle he set the world of cosmology ablaze with his pathbreaking contributions He returned to TIFR in 1972 and thereafter emerged as a phenomenal mentor educator author science communicator and institutionbuilder The worldclass InterUniversity Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics IUCAA he established in Pune in 1988 and shaped decisively thereafter is a tribute to his accomplishments vision and indeed his personalityrdquoDr Narlikar combined to an unusual degree formidable scholarship with humility he notedThe Congress General Secretary also shared a picture of a writeup published by the Planning Commission magazine lsquoYojanarsquo in its July 5 1964 issue It captures the impact he Dr Narlikar had when he first shot into global fame he addedOne of the worlds greatest astrophysicists Dr Jayant Narlikar has just passed awayHe hailed from a very distinguished intellectual family and excelled in Cambridge Univ in the 1960s Along with his doctoral adviser Fred Hoyle he set the world of cosmology ablaze with hishellip pictwittercomYjN6MUvvWFmdash Jairam Ramesh Jairam_Ramesh May 20 2025In his post honouring Dr Narlikar Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS chief Raj Thackeray wrote ldquoVeteran astronomer Jayant Narlikar passed away today In 1964 at the age of 26 a young Marathi scientist along with his mentor Fred Hoyle proposed a new theory of gravity which gave impetus to research on the mystery of the creation of the universe At that time the Big Bang theory was the prevailing and widely accepted theory but it was Narlikar who appealed to it and many new possibilities regarding the creation of the universe are still being explored todayrdquo hellip pictwittercomx78a62zYIHmdash Raj Thackeray RajThackeray May 20 2025Former Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO Chairman Dr S Somanath also mourned Dr Narlikarrsquos death and said that the country has lost a visionary astrophysicist and science communicator who inspired my generation with his popular works such as The lighter side of gravity and Seven wonders of the cosmosHis pioneering contributions in cosmology including the Hoyle Narlikar theory and the founding of IUCAA will be remembered for ever the former ISRO Chairman said adding that Narlikars dedication to public science education including the creation of early science books by National Council of Educational Research and Training NCERT inspired generationsA true luminary his legacy will continue to shine Somanath addedMeanwhile IUCAA also took to X to condole Dr Narlikarrsquos In an official post the Punebased institute tweeted The IUCAA family is in griefThe institute also informed that Dr Narlikarrsquos last rites will be performed on WednesdayWas awarded the Padma Bhushan at the young age of 26Born on July 19 1938 Dr Narlikar completed his early education on the campus of Banaras Hindu University BHU where his father Vishnu Vasudeva Narlikar was a professor and Head of the Mathematics Department He then pursued his higher studies at Cambridge becoming a Wrangler and Tyson Medalist in the Mathematical TriposIn 1965 Dr Narlikar was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his scientific contributions He was only 26 years old at the timeFrom 1972 to 1989 Dr Narlikar worked in TIFR Under his charge the Theoretical Astrophysics Group expanded and acquired international standing reported PTIIn 1988 the University Grants Commission invited Dr Narlikar to set up the InterUniversity Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics IUCAA as its Founder DirectorFor his contributions in science Dr Narlikar was honoured by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO in 1996 with the Kalinga Award for popular science worksHe held the directorship of IUCAA until his retirement in 2003 Under his direction IUCAA has acquired a worldwide reputation as a centre for excellence in teaching and research in astronomy and astrophysics He was an Emeritus Professor at IUCAAIn 2004 he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan by the Centre In 2011 the Maharashtra government honoured him with the states highest civilian award the Maharashtra BhushanIn 2012 the Third World Academy of Sciences awarded Dr Narlikar their prize for setting up a centre for excellence in science reported PTIBesides his scientific research Dr Narlikar was wellknown as a science communicator through his books articles and radioTV programmes He is also known for his science fiction storiesIn 2014 the Sahitya Akademi the premiere literary body in India selected his autobiography for its highest prize in regional language Marathi writingWith PTI inputsatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params