"There are some who question the relevance of space activities in a developing nation. To us, there is no ambiguity of purpose.
We do not have the fantasy of competing with the economically advanced nations in the exploration of the moon or the planets or manned space-flight.
But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to the real problems of man and society."
VIKRAM SARABHAI (1919 - 1971)
Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai, considered the "Father of the Indian space programme", was born into a privileged family in Ahmedabad on 12 August 1919.
His early education took place at a private school run on Montessori lines which encouraged scientific curiosity and creativity. Further educated at the Gujarat College in his home town, he distinguished himself in the study of science and was amongst only a handful of his fellow nationals who were awarded places to pursue their studies abroad. In 1937, he left for England and studied Physics at St John`s College, Cambridge where he received his undergraduate tripods degree in 1940.
With the Second World War now taking place in Europe, he returned home and at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore became a research scholar on the effects of cosmic rays. Here he was under the under the tutelage of Nobel laureate, Dr C. V. Raman. His enthusiasm for studies of the Sun led him to set up observatories in Bangalore, Poona and in the Himalayas. Once the war was over, he returned to England briefly and was awarded a PhD. by Cambridge University for the pioneering work he had undertaken in his chosen field.
In 1947, alongside a meteorologist, K. R. Ramanathan, he helped to establish the Physical Research Laboratory. It initially consisted of borrowed rooms in the Science Institute of the Ahmedabad Education Society, where the two scientists set up teams studying both cosmic rays and atmospheric physics.