Veteran ISRO pioneer Dr. Eknath Vasant Chitnis Passes Away

Dr Eknath Vasant Chitnis, one of the founding architects of India’s space programme and a driving force behind the country’s television revolution, passed away in Pune at the age of 100. His century-long life was marked by pioneering contributions that shaped the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), inspired scientific innovation, and extended the reach of technology to the nation’s remotest corners.

Architect of India’s Space Vision

Born on 25 July 1925, Dr Chitnis was among the earliest collaborators of Dr Vikram Sarabhai in building the foundations of India’s space programme. As the Member Secretary of the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), he played a critical role in identifying Thumba in Kerala as the site for the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS), owing to its proximity to the magnetic equator — a decision that shaped the trajectory of Indian space exploration.

Founding ISRO and Expanding Communication Frontiers

Dr Chitnis was instrumental in transitioning INCOSPAR into ISRO and was a key mind behind the INSAT programme and India’s early remote sensing projects. Under his direction, space technology became a tool for social transformation — particularly through satellite-based communication that brought television, education, and telecommunication to rural India, bridging the urban-rural information divide during the 1970s and 1980s.

Mentor to APJ Abdul Kalam and Recognised Nation Builder

Known for his remarkable ability to recognise talent, Dr Chitnis identified and mentored a young APJ Abdul Kalam, recommending him for advanced aerospace training in the early 1960s — a decision that profoundly influenced India’s missile and space development programmes. For his invaluable contributions to science and nation-building, he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 1985.

Related GK Facts

• The Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) was established in 1963 as India’s first rocket launching site.
• INSAT, India’s multipurpose satellite system, was initiated in the 1980s to revolutionise telecommunications and broadcasting.
• The Space Applications Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad became a major hub for applied space technology under Dr Chitnis’s leadership.
• Dr APJ Abdul Kalam later served as India’s 11th President and was known as the “People’s President.”

Legacy Beyond Space and Science

After retiring in 1989, Dr Chitnis continued to champion science communication by founding the Educational Multimedia Research Centre (EMRC) at Savitribai Phule Pune University. He also served twice as president of the Press Trust of India, blending his interests in science and media. On his centenary, the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune and the National Centre for Science Communicators celebrated his enduring legacy — a testament to the visionary who helped steer India’s journey from rocket launches in Thumba to missions reaching Mars.