‘He made science accessible to all’

It is with profound grief that I learnt of the passing away of Dr. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, an eminent scientist in astrophysics, cosmology, and science communication, on May 20, 2025.

As we mourn his loss, it is also a time to reflect and celebrate a life of extraordinary intellect, curiosity, and dedication to unravelling the mysteries of the cosmos.

Dr. Narlikar’s contributions to theoretical astrophysics, his role in nurturing scientific talent in India, and in the establishment of the IUCAA, a globally acclaimed institution, and his efforts to make science accessible to all will continue to inspire generations.

Dr. Narlikar was born on July 19, 1938 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra to illustrious parents - Vishnu Vasudeva Narlikar, a well-known mathematician, and Sumati Narlikar, a Sanskrit scholar of eminence.

He received his early education at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), where his father worked as a Professor and Head of the Department of Mathematics.

The young Jayant Narlikar had a brilliant career in school and intermediate. He obtained his BSc degree from the BHU in 1957.

As was the case in those days, he opted to pursue his higher studies at Cambridge, UK. He was a Wrangler and Tyson Medallist in the Mathematical Tripos at Cambridge, from where he obtained his degrees in mathematics: B.A. (1960), Ph.D. (1963), M.A. (1964), and Sc.D. (1976).

He also distinguished himself at Cambridge with the Smith’s Prize in 1962 and the Adams Prize in 1967. He stayed back at Cambridge till 1972, as a Fellow of King’s College (1963-72) and Founder Staff Member of the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy (1966-72).

It was during this period that Dr Narlikar laid the foundations of his research work in cosmology and astrophysics in collaboration with his internationally acclaimed mentor, guide, and collaborator, Fred Hoyle.

One of Dr. Narlikar's most significant contributions is his development of the "Hoyle-Narlikar Theory," also known as the "Quasi-Steady State Cosmology (QSSC).”

This cosmological theory proposes an alternative explanation for the origin and evolution of the universe, challenging the widely accepted Big Bang theory of that time.

Dr. Narlikar returned to India from Cambridge to join the Theoretical Astrophysics Group at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), where he served for seventeen long years, from 1972-1989.

This group, under the leadership of Dr Narlikar, expanded and acquired international standing for TIFR in the field of theoretical astrophysics, which TIFR continues to enjoy even today.

In 1988, Dr Narlikar was extended an invitation by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to set up the proposed Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), as its Founder Director.

Today, IUCAA stands out as one of the institutions of excellence in teaching and research in astronomy and astrophysics, not just in India but globally, and the ideals the work ethics, and culture, which Dr Narlikar instituted at this institution, have continued to guide this institution.

Dr Narlikar has also served as the President of the Cosmology Commission of the International Astronomical Union from 1994 to 1997.

He has received several national and international awards and honorary doctorates.

He was a Bhatnagar awardee, as well as a recipient of the M.P. Birla award, the Prix Janssen of the French Astronomical Society, and a prestigious Associate of the Royal Astronomical Society of London.

He was a Fellow of the three national science academies as well as of the Third World Academy of Sciences.

Dr. Narlikar, belongs to one of the rare breed of scientists, who notwithstanding their international stature, always find time to connect ‘Science with People’, either through his popular science writings, fiction, both in English and most importantly in his mother tongue Marathi.

It is therefore no wonder that most school and college going students from yesteryears to current times, have grown up reading Dr Narlikar’s writings, particularly his fiction works.

Two examples of his fiction writing in Marathi, which he had written three decades ago, resonate with current times. ‘In his fictional story, titled Athenscha Plague’ (The plague in Athens), included in his book ‘Antaralatale Bhasmasur’ (Demons in the Space), Narlikar had written about the deadly viruses and how they pose danger to human society.

Dr Narlikar has contributed many science articles in leading newspapers and has participated in radio/TV programmes for debates and discussion as a part of his science popularisation activities.

For his stellar contributions to science communication and popularising science, Dr Narlikar was honoured by UNESCO in 1996 with the prestigious Kalinga Award for his extraordinary popular science works.

Dr Narlikar is also the recipient of the prestigious Padma Bhushan award from the Government of India in 1965 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2004. In the year 2011, the Maharashtra government awarded him the state’s highest

civilian award, the Maharashtra Bhushan.

Dr Narlikar served as the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai, the centre, which I had the honour to head for two terms. I vividly remember the honour that I had to conduct a curatorial walk of the exhibition on ‘100 Years of Nobel Prizes’, which was presented at IUCAA in 2001. Dr Narlikar has delivered innumerable lectures and conducted many interactions with students at the Nehru Science Centre.

Dr. Narlikar’s life was a testament to the power of curiosity, rigor, and compassion. He not only expanded our understanding of the universe but also inspired countless individuals to dream big and pursue knowledge. May his soul rest in eternal peace, and may his legacy continue to illuminate the cosmos and our lives.

Rest in Peace, Dr Jayant V. Narlikar.

(The author is Advisor at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Mumbai, and a former Director with Nehru Science Centre in New Delhi & Mumbai. Views personal.)