On May 21, 2025, the world lost a great Indian scientist, Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, who passed away at the age of 86 in Pune, India. He was a famous astrophysicist, a writer, and a teacher who made India proud. His life was full of amazing achievements. He worked on big ideas about the universe and shared science with everyone through his books and talks. This article tells the story of Jayant Narlikar’s life in simple words. It covers his childhood, education, work, and awards in detail.
Early Life and Family
Jayant Narlikar was born on July 19, 1938, in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. His family loved learning. His father, Vishnu Vasudev Narlikar, was a mathematician and physicist. He worked as a professor at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi. Jayant’s mother, Sumati Narlikar, was a scholar of Sanskrit. She loved reading and studying. Jayant’s uncle, V.S. Huzurbazar, was a famous statistician. Growing up in such a smart family, Jayant learned to love books and ideas from a young age.
As a child, Jayant was curious. He asked questions about stars and the sky. His parents encouraged him to study hard. He went to Central Hindu College (now Central Hindu Boys School) in Varanasi. At school, he was very good at mathematics and science. He always stood first in his class. His love for numbers and the universe grew stronger every day.
Education in India and Abroad
In 1957, Jayant finished his Bachelor of Science degree at Banaras Hindu University. He was the best student in his university. His excellent marks won him a special scholarship called the Cambridge Nehru Fellowship. This allowed him to study at the University of Cambridge in England. At Cambridge, Jayant joined Fitzwilliam College. He studied mathematics and completed a tough course called the Mathematical Tripos in 1959. He was so good that he became the Senior Wrangler, a top honor for math students.
Jayant wanted to learn more about the universe. He started his PhD at Cambridge under a famous scientist named Fred Hoyle. In 1962, he won the Smith’s Prize for his brilliant work in physics. In 1963, he completed his PhD in cosmology. A year later, in 1964, he earned a master’s degree in astronomy and astrophysics. Jayant stayed at Cambridge as a researcher. He worked at King’s College as a Berry Ramsey Fellow until 1972. He also helped start the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy in 1966, where he worked with Fred Hoyle.
Jayant Narlikar Age, Wikipedia, Biography, Career, Education,Wife, Children, Family
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jayant Vishnu Narlikar |
| Date of Birth | July 19, 1938 |
| Place of Birth | Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India |
| Date of Passing | May 20, 2025 |
| Place of Passing | Pune, Maharashtra, India |
| Family Background | - Father: Vishnu Vasudev Narlikar (Mathematician, Professor at BHU) - Mother: Sumati Narlikar (Sanskrit scholar) - Uncle: V.S. Huzurbazar (Statistician) |
| Childhood | - Curious about stars and sky - Studied at Central Hindu College, Varanasi - Always stood first in class - Loved mathematics and science |
| Education (India) | - B.Sc., Banaras Hindu University (1957) - Top student, won Cambridge Nehru Fellowship |
| Education (Abroad) | - Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge - Mathematical Tripos (1959), Senior Wrangler - PhD in Cosmology (1963) under Fred Hoyle - Master’s in Astronomy & Astrophysics (1964) - Berry Ramsey Fellow at King’s College (until 1972) |
| Scientific Work | - Hoyle-Narlikar Theory (conformal gravity) with Fred Hoyle - Quantum cosmology, action-at-a-distance physics - Published 212 scientific papers (20 in Nature, 1964–2021) - Helped start Institute of Theoretical Astronomy at Cambridge (1966) |
| Work in India | - Joined TIFR, Mumbai (1972) - Led Theoretical Astrophysics Group at TIFR - First Director, IUCAA, Pune (1988) - Planted Newton’s apple tree sapling at IUCAA - Worked with NCERT to improve textbooks |
| Writing Career | - Science books: An Introduction to Cosmology, Seven Wonders of the Cosmos - Science fiction in English, Hindi, Marathi (Dhoomaketu became a film) - Autobiography: Chaar Nagarantale Maze Vishwa (Sahitya Akademi Award, 2014) - Wrote a blog (edited by grandson) |
| Media Appearances | - Appeared on Carl Sagan’s Cosmos (1980s) - Gave talks on radio and TV to explain science simply |
| Awards & Honors | - Padma Bhushan (1965) - Padma Vibhushan (2004) - Maharashtra Bhushan (2010) - Rashtra Bhushan (1981) - Kalinga Prize by UNESCO (1996) - Bhatnagar Award - M.P. Birla Award - Prix Jules Janssen - Atmaram Award (1989) - Indira Gandhi Award (1990) - Tyson Medal (1960), Adams Prize (1967), Smith’s Prize (1962) - Led 94th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan (2021) |
| Memberships | - Royal Astronomical Society, London - Three Indian science academies - President, IAU cosmology group (1994–1997) |
| Personal Life | - Married Mangala Narlikar (mathematics professor) in 1966 - Three daughters: Geeta (biomedical researcher, USA), Girija, Leelavati (computer science) - Played table tennis with Stephen Hawking at Cambridge - Known for kindness and humility - Answered science questions by postcard |
| Legacy | - Strengthened astronomy in India via IUCAA - Inspired students, fought superstitions - Made science simple and fun - Called a “luminary” and “giant of cosmology” - Work on gravity, black holes, and quasars still studied |
Scientific Work and the Hoyle-Narlikar Theory
Jayant Narlikar became famous for his work in cosmology. Cosmology is the study of how the universe began and works. Most scientists believe in the Big Bang theory, which says the universe started with a big explosion. But Jayant and Fred Hoyle had a different idea. They created the Hoyle-Narlikar theory, also called the conformal gravity theory. This theory says the universe has no beginning or end. Instead, new matter is always being created. Their idea mixed Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity with Mach’s principle. This principle says that the mass of an object depends on all other objects in the universe.
Though many scientists did not agree with the Hoyle-Narlikar theory, it made people think differently. Jayant also studied other topics like quantum cosmology and action-at-a-distance physics. He wrote many scientific papers. From 1964 to 2021, he published 212 articles, with 20 in the famous Nature journal. His work inspired young scientists to ask big questions about the universe.
Returning to India and Building IUCAA
In 1972, Jayant came back to India. He joined the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai. There, he led the Theoretical Astrophysics Group. He worked hard to make India a strong place for astronomy. In 1988, the Indian government started the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune. Jayant became its first director. He helped build IUCAA into a top center for studying stars and the universe. He also brought a special apple tree sapling from England, linked to Isaac Newton, to plant at IUCAA. This tree became a symbol of science and curiosity.
Jayant believed science should help everyone. He worked with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to make science and math textbooks better. He wanted students to understand science easily. He also served as president of the International Astronomical Union’s cosmology group from 1994 to 1997.
Writing and Sharing Science
Jayant Narlikar was not just a scientist. He was also a great writer. He wrote books to explain science to common people. His books, like *An Introduction to Cosmology* and *Seven Wonders of the Cosmos*, made hard ideas simple. He also wrote science fiction stories and novels in English, Hindi, and Marathi. His story *Dhoomaketu* (The Comet) was made into a film. His autobiography, *Chaar Nagarantale Maze Vishwa* (My Tale of Four Cities), won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014. This book told the story of his life in Kolhapur, Varanasi, Cambridge, and Pune.
Jayant loved talking about science. He appeared on radio and TV shows, including Carl Sagan’s *Cosmos* in the 1980s. He spoke clearly and avoided hard words, so everyone could understand. In 1996, UNESCO gave him the Kalinga Prize for making science popular. He also wrote a blog, edited by his grandson Sharad Parulekar, to share his thoughts with the world.
Awards and Honors
Jayant Narlikar won many awards for his work. In 1965, when he was only 27, the Indian government gave him the Padma Bhushan. In 2004, he received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award. He also got the Maharashtra Bhushan Award in 2010 and the Rashtra Bhushan Award in 1981. Other awards included the Bhatnagar Award, the M.P. Birla Award, and the Prix Jules Janssen from the French Astronomical Society. He was a member of the Royal Astronomical Society in London and three Indian science academies. In 1989, he won the Atmaram Award for his Hindi writings, and in 1990, he got the Indira Gandhi Award from the Indian National Science Academy.
At Cambridge, Jayant won the Tyson Medal in 1960 and the Adams Prize in 1967. In 2021, he led the 94th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in Nashik. These awards show how much people respected his work in science and writing.
Personal Life
Jayant married Mangala Narlikar, a mathematics professor, in 1966. They had three daughters: Geeta, Girija, and Leelavati. Geeta became a biomedical researcher in the USA, while Girija and Leelavati worked in computer science. Jayant was a kind and humble person. He loved talking to students and answering their questions. He once said he would reply to science questions sent by postcard. He played table tennis with Stephen Hawking when they were students at Cambridge. His simple and friendly nature made him a favorite among people.
Legacy and Impact
Jayant Narlikar’s work changed Indian science. He made astronomy strong in India by building IUCAA. He taught many young scientists, like Ajit Kembhavi, who called him the “ideal teacher.” His books and talks inspired children to love science. He fought against superstitions, like astrology, and wanted people to think logically. Even though his Hoyle-Narlikar theory was not widely accepted, it showed his courage to think differently.
When Jayant passed away, many people shared their sadness. Scientists called him a “luminary” and a “giant of cosmology.” His work on gravity, black holes, and quasars is still studied today. His stories and books continue to spark curiosity in young minds. Every time we look at the stars, we can remember Jayant Narlikar, a man who brought the universe closer to us.
Conclusion
Jayant Vishnu Narlikar was a shining star in Indian science. Born in a small town, he reached the world’s top universities and changed how we see the universe. His life shows that hard work, curiosity, and a love for learning can take you far. From Kolhapur to Cambridge, from classrooms to books, Jayant’s journey inspires us all. He made science fun and simple for everyone. His legacy will live on in the stars he studied and the minds he inspired.
0 Comments