Former ISRO Chairman Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan passed away in Bengaluru on Friday at the age of 84. His mortal remains will be kept at the Raman Research Institute for last respects on Sunday, April 27. Dr. Kasturirangan had suffered a minor heart attack two years ago and had been unwell since.
At the time of his passing, he was serving as the Chancellor of the Central University of Rajasthan and NIIT University.
K. Kasturirangan: Early Life and Education
Born on October 24, 1940, in Ernakulam, in the erstwhile Kingdom of Kochi, Dr. Kasturirangan hailed from a Tamil family that later settled in Kerala. He completed his early education at Sri Rama Varma High School. He pursued his undergraduate studies in science at Ramnarain Ruia College, Mumbai, followed by a Master’s degree in Physics from the University of Mumbai. In 1971, he earned his Ph.D. in High Energy Astronomy.
Dr. Kasturirangan married Lakshmi soon after completing his Ph.D. in 1969. The couple had two sons, Rajesh and Sanjay. Lakshmi passed away in 1991.
K. Kasturirangan: A Stellar Career at ISRO
Dr. Kasturirangan served as the Chairman of ISRO for nine years, overseeing some of India’s most significant space missions. He also held the positions of Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of the Space Commission.
As Director of the ISRO Satellite Centre, he played a pivotal role in the development of the INSAT-2 series, India’s remote sensing satellites, and scientific satellite missions. He was the project director for Bhaskara-I and Bhaskara-II, India’s first Earth observation satellites.
Under his leadership, India made major strides in space exploration, including the development of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). His vision and groundwork led to the launch of Chandrayaan-1, India’s first mission to the Moon.
K. Kasturirangan: Contribution to Education Policy
Beyond space science, Dr. Kasturirangan made an indelible mark on India’s education system. He chaired the committee that drafted the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, laying the foundation for transformative reforms in the sector. In September 2021, he was appointed chairman of the 12-member committee tasked with developing the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), whose recommendations are now being integrated into school curricula.
He also served as a trustee of the Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru.
K. Kasturirangan: Relationship with Nambi Narayanan
During the controversial ISRO espionage case in 1994 involving scientist Nambi Narayanan, Dr. Kasturirangan was Narayanan’s senior. Although he was not directly involved, some later criticized him for not publicly supporting Narayanan during the ordeal.
K. Kasturirangan: Awards and Honors
Dr. Kasturirangan was among the rare individuals to receive all three of India’s top civilian honors—the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan—in recognition of his outstanding contributions to science, education, and the nation.