Eknath Vasant Chitnis
Eknath Vasant Chitnis | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 July 1925 Kolhapur, Kolhapur State, India |
| Died | 22 October 2025 (aged 100) Pune, Maharashtra, India |
| Occupation | Space scientist |
| Known for | X-ray astronomy |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan (1985) |
Eknath Vasant Chitnis (25 July 1925 – 22 October 2025) was an Indian space scientist and a member secretary at the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR),[1] which evolved into the present-day Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).[2] He was also a director of the Space Applications Centre of ISRO and a colleague of APJ Abdul Kalam, the erstwhile President of India.[3] The Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award, in 1985.[4]
Life and career
Chitnis was born in Kolhapur on 25 July 1925. At a very young age, he lost his parents. His grandmother raised him. Soon after completing his graduation, he was reported to have worked at All India Radio, but only for a brief period of time. He started his scientific journey by joining the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad.[5]
Chitnis helped Vikram Sarabhai choose the location of the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station, which was the result of a location hunt done by Chitnis in 1961.[6] Chitnis who recommended induction of A. P. J. Abdul Kalam into Indian space program after getting impressed by his resume and recommendation from H.G.S. Murthy (after interview by Murthy) by selecting him for the training under NASA.[7][8]
In 2008, Chitnis was unanimously selected as the Chairman of the Press Trust of India.[9]
Chitnis died on 22 October 2025, at the age of 100.[10][11] His son, Chetan Chitnis, is a malaria researcher who is currently working at the Pasteur Institute in Paris.[12]
See also
References
- ^ "This man gave Dr Kalam his first project". India Today. 28 July 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ Pushpa M. Bhargava; Chandana Chakrabarti (2003). The Saga of Indian Science Since Independence: In a Nutshell. Universities Press. pp. 39–. ISBN 978-81-7371-435-1.
- ^ "People's president started out with Isro giants". The Times of India. 29 July 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ "Padma Awards". Padma Awards. Government of India. 17 May 2018. Archived from the original on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
- ^ "Isro pioneer Eknath Chitnis passes away: Meet the man who hired APJ Abdul Kalam". MSN. 22 October 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ "Remembering Vikram Sarabhai on his 100th birth anniversary: 'He treated everyone as an equal'". The Indian Express. 12 August 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ Pawar, Ashwini (29 July 2015). "I'm proud that I recommended him for ISRO: EV Chitnis". DNA India. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ Khelkar, Pankaj (28 July 2015). "This man gave Dr Kalam his first project". India Today. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ "Chitnis new PTI Chairman". outlookindia.com/. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ Prof Eknath Chitnis, veteran scientist who pioneered India’s space programme, dies at 100
- ^ "इस्रोच्या जडणघडणीत मोलाची भूमिका बजावणारे अवकाश शास्त्रज्ञ डॉ. एकनाथ चिटणीस यांचे निधन". Lokmat. 22 October 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ "Isro pioneer Eknath Chitnis passes away: Meet the man who hired APJ Abdul Kalam". MSN. 22 October 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.