Jayant Vishnu Narlikar: Astrophysicist who reached for stars, brought them closer to us | India News
PUNE: In his last blog on March 24 this year, celebrated astrophysicist Jayant Vishnu Narlikar wrote about the importance of stepping back and looking at one’s creations in a detached manner, and delegating work to youngsters.“This is where the IUCAA story is supposed to end,” he said. “Karmayoga advocated by Bhagwad Gita shows the way for a graceful exit,” the founder-director of Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics concluded, almost like a prophetic farewell.Narlikar – rationalist, cricket lover, science communicator, author and scientist who dared challenge the Big Bang theory about origin of the universe – passed away at 86 early Tuesday in his sleep at his Pune home.Just the previous day, Narlikar – who recently underwent hip surgery – had spent three hours reading in the massive wooden recliner that belonged to his father. He then stepped out of his modest home and went for a drive. Later that night, he told his daughter to give him a hug before he went to sleep.Narlikar’s wife Mangala, a mathematician, passed away in 2023. The couple’s three daughters – Geeta, Girija and Leelavati – pursue research careers in science.
