Dr. Kasturirangan was instrumental in shaping India’s educational policies. He chaired the committee that drafted the National Education Policy 2020, aiming to transform the Indian education system to meet contemporary needs.
Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, the former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, passed away on Friday at the age of 84. According to a statement from ISRO which read, “Dr. K. Kasturirangan has left for heavenly abode this morning at 10. 43 am at his residence in Bengaluru. His body will be kept in RRI for paying last respects on Sunday April 27th from 1000- 1200 hrs.”
He graduated with honours in science from Ramnarain Ruia College in Mumbai and earned a Master of Science degree in Physics from the University of Mumbai. In 1971, he obtained a Doctorate in Experimental High Energy Astronomy from the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad. He was also the recipient for several honorary degrees from 26 universities.
The Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan recipient, Dr. Kasturirangan served as the chairman of ISRO from 1994 to 2003. During his 40 year long career, ISRO achieved significant milestones, including India’s entry into planetary exploration with the Chandrayaan-1 mission.
Beyond his contributions to space science, Dr. Kasturirangan was instrumental in shaping India’s educational policies. He chaired the committee that drafted the National Education Policy 2020, aiming to transform the Indian education system to meet contemporary needs. He also led a steering committee to develop a new National Curriculum Framework, focusing on research-driven and industry-oriented education.
An extraordinary academician, he published more than 240 papers in the areas of astronomy, space science, and applications. He has left behind an extraordinary legacy worthy of inspiration for generations of scientists.
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