Vikram Sarabhai: India’s Space Pioneer

Vikram Sarabhai the legendary Engineer and pioneer of the Indian space program. His vision enabled India to situate itself as the one of the top countries to perform well in the field of Space research. 

Vikram Sarabhai Biography

NAME	Vikram Sarabhai
DATE OF BIRTH	12 August 1919
PLACE OF BIRTH	Ahmedabad,Gujarat
DATE OF DEATH	30 December 1971 (aged 52)
PLACE OF DEATH	Halcyon Castle, Thiruvananthapuram
CAUSE OF DEATH	Cardiac arrest
FATHER	Ambalal Sarabhai
MOTHER	Sarla Devi
SIBLINGS	Mridula Sarabhai,Leena Sarabhai, Gautam Sarabhai, Gita Sarabhai
PROFESSION	Engineer,Physicist,Astronomer
SCHOOL	St.Xavier’s High School, Ahmedabad
COLLEGE	Gujarat College (Ahmedabad), University of Cambridge
AWARDS	Padma Bhushan (1966), Padma Vibhusan (1972)
SPOUSE	Mrinalini Sarabhai (m.1942)
CHILDREN	Mallika Sarabhai, Kartikeya Sarabhai
ALSO KNOWN AS	Father of ISRO, Father of Indian Space Program

Early life, Family background and Education

Vikram Sarabhai was born on 12 August 1919 to father Ambalal Sarabhai and mother Sarla Devi in ahmedabad. His family belonged to Gujarati Svetambara Shrimali Jain faith. His father was an Industrialist and played a part in the Indian independence movement. He studied from Gujarat college and later moved to England, attending University of Cambridge. He appeared for his tripos examination in natural science in 1940. In 1945, he worked on "Cosmic Ray Investigations in Tropical Latitudes” as his thesis while pursuing Ph.D.

Professional life and establishment of ISRO

Vikram Sarabhai founded Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) IN 1947, With an office situated at his own residence and focused on their research on cosmic rays. 
The Organization was formally established at M.G. Science Institute, Ahmedabad. With the help of Two organizations, Karmshetra Educational Foundation and the Ahmedabad Education Society. 

Later the expansion of the organization allowed them to research Upper atmosphere, theoretical physics and radio physics after the permission from Atomic Energy Commission. 
He is credited with the formation of Operations Research Group (ORG) , the first market research organization in the country. 

After 1945, Several developments were being planned and made in the field of research from various scientists of India; s.k mitra, c.v raman, maghnad saha ,Homi J. Bhabha and Sarabhai himself. After the launch of Russia's Sputnik 1 it made it possible for the aspirants to launch similar projects. On the advice of Sarabhai Jawaharlal Nehru set up INCOSPAR (1962) later on this Organization functioned under the name Of ISRO with space commission and Department of Space (Dos) in 1972. 

He was on the forefront of the first Indian satellite launch, Aryabhata which was successfully launched on 19 April 1975 from Kapustin Yar, a Soviet rocket launch site in Astrakhan oblast. Made by ISRO and launched by the Soviet Union. Aryabhatta is India’s first Indigenously Built satellite. 

Organizations set up by Vikram sarabhai

• Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) 
• Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM)
• Physical Research Laboratory 
• Ahmedabad Textile Industry’s Research Association
• Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Center
• Darpana Academy of performing Arts 
• Indian National Committee for Space Research 
• National Remote Sensing Centre
• Nehru Foundation for Development 

Personal life 

He married classical dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai on 3 September 1942. They have two children named Mallika Sarabhai and Kartikeya Sarabhai. Daughter Mallika is a classical dancer (recipient of Padma Bhushan 2010) while son Kartikeya is an environmentalist (recipient of Padma Shri) he is also the chairman of Ambalal Sarabhai Enterprises. His wife Mrinalini is the recipient of Padman Bhushan (1992) and Padma Shri (1965) for contribution in her field. She is the founder and director of the Darpana Academy of Performing arts. 

Depiction in Popular culture 

• Rocket boys (Web series) released in 2022 Was based on the lives of Vikram sarabhai and Homi J. Bhabha. The role of Sarabhai was played by Ishwak SIngh. 
• In 2022, Film Rocketry:The Nambi Effect, the character of sarabhai was played by Rajit Kapur in the hindi version and in the tamil version played by Raghavendra.