Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai

Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai, hailed as the father of India’s space technology, made indelible contributions across various fields of human endeavor. His visionary leadership is evident in the numerous institutions of learning, research, and experimentation established nationwide, from Kashmir to Kerala, which reflect his dedication to national advancement and knowledge promotion. Born on August 12, 1919, in Ahmedabad, Dr. Sarabhai pursued his education at St. John’s College, Cambridge University, where he excelled in Natural Sciences. Subsequently, he conducted research on cosmic rays at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and earned his doctorate from Cambridge in 1947 with a thesis on “Cosmic Ray Investigations in Tropical Latitudes.”

In 1962, Dr. Sarabhai assumed the responsibility of organizing space research in India and became the Chairman of the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), established by the Department of Atomic Energy. Under his leadership, the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station was established, and a program for manufacturing French Centaure sounding rockets in India was initiated. Dr. Sarabhai spearheaded the production of Indian rockets at Thumba, with “Rohini” and “Menaka” being among the rockets developed there. He epitomized a blend of modernity with Indian values, integrating aesthetics with science, and championed the role of administrators as innovators rather than conservators.

Despite his immense workload, Dr. Sarabhai remained a compassionate individual, deeply attuned to the beauty of life. He passed away, like Homi Bhabha whom he succeeded, just as new frontiers were opening up due to his visionary ideas and efforts. On the occasion of his first death anniversary, the P&T department is privileged to release a commemorative stamp depicting his portrait against the backdrop of a Rohini Rocket in action, launched from the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station near Trivandrum.