Jayant Narlikar: Astrophysicist, science communicator, science-fiction writer... a master of all trades

India lost a leading light in the domain of science today, with the passing of astrophysicist and science communicator and Jayant Vishnu Narlikar. The 86-year-old breathed his last early in the morning in Pune, his family said.

He had recently undergone a hip surgery, and is survived by three daughters. His wife Mangala Narlikar, a mathematician, passed away two years ago.

Narlikar was a force to reckon with in cosmology, and gained fame both as a researcher as well as a writer who popularised science. He also set up premier research institutions in the country.

Jayant Vishnu Narlikar: Early life, education and research

Narlikar was born in Kolhapur on July 19, 1938. His father, Vishnu Vasudev Narlikar, was a renowned mathematician, and the head of the Mathematics Department in Banaras Hindu University. His mother, Sumati Vishnu Narlikar, was a Sanskrit scholar. Narlikar did his schooling in Varanasi, and went to Cambridge for higher studies, becoming a Wrangler and Tyson Medallist in the Mathematical Tripos.

He returned to India to join the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (1972-1989), and led the Theoretical Astrophysics Group to international heights.

He rose to international fame with his research in astronomy, and he worked on several research projects with eminent British astronomer and professor Fred Hoyle. The duo propounded the Hoyle–Narlikar theory of gravity (also known as conformal gravity) in 1964, which sought to improve on Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity.

He founded the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune in 1988 as per the invitation of the University Grants Commission and served as its first director. He held the directorship of IUCAA until his retirement in 2003.

Narlikar was also a popular science communicator, and popularised science through his books, articles, and radio/TV programmes. Antaralatil Bhasmasur, Antarala Awar Vigyan, Akashashi Jadle Nate, Suryacha Prapok are some of his famous science books, along with Brahmand ki Yatra. He also conceptualised and scripted a popular science documentary series Brahmand – The Universe on Doordarshan.

Jayant Vishnu Narlikar: Awards and recognition

Such was Narlikar’s fame, that he was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1965, when he was only 26.

In 1996, the UNESCO conferred him with the Kalinga Award for popular science works.

In 2004, he was awarded Padma Vibhushan.

The Maharashtra government honoured him with the state's highest civilian award, Maharashtra Bhushan, in 2011.

In 2012, the Third World Academy of Sciences awarded Narlikar their prize for setting up a centre for excellence in science.

In 2014, the Sahitya Akademi selected his autobiography Char Nagarantele Maje Vishwa for its highest prize in regional language (Marathi) writing.

Jayant Vishnu Narlikar: PM Modi, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, others mourn his passing

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the passing away of Narlikar, calling it a monumental loss to the scientific community.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that his last rites will be conducted with full state honours.

Former ISRO chairman S. Somanath said India has lost a "visionary astrophysicist and science communicator”.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh shared a picture of a write-up published by the Planning Commission magazine Yojana in its July 5, 1964, issue.