Thread by @sheshapatangi1

#VIKRAMSARABHAI – The Scientist Who Dreamt Of #Atmanirbharata In Space Research.
On his Punyasmaran Divas, 4 incidents which is not known to many.
1) It was late 1960s, the European Union’s Satellites failed one after another in Austalia’s launch station and they decided to stop

further launches.
To avoid losses they decided to sell unused “Satellite Telemetry and Tracking” devices and placed ad in prominent journals and magazines.
Vikram Sarabhai read this advertisement and called up Arvamudan, a scientist who working at Tumba and called him to Bombay.

In Bombay, Sarabhai met Aravamudan and another scientist H G S Murthy asked them to proceed to Australia.
The 2 scientists went to RBI and asked for Blank DD, the RBI officer got angry & sent these 2 scientists out, the 2 scientists called up Sarabhai, he after listening to them

asked them to stay at RBI for few more minutes.
Within no time, the person who kicked them out came running towards them, called them in, within minutes gave the scientists an empty demand draft.
The magic Sarabhai did was, calling up Finance Minister Y B Chavan.
What happened

later was historic, Bharat purchased it after much bargaining and these devices were used to establish Satellite Launching Centre at ShriHarikota.
2) Prof. Yashpal, a close associate of Sarabhai cherishes an incident.
Vikram Sarabhai wished for Indigenous Communication Satellite

and sent Mr. Chitnis to United States for training from Hyus Aircraft, meanwhile, in Bharat, Sarabhai prepared a blue print to help Farmers called “KRISHI DARSHAN” and to explain the uses of Communication Satellite for the then PM Indira Gandhi.
Note that, at that time neither

we had Satellite nor a Tele Vision & Indira asked the same, Sarabhai replied “I have friends in America and they will help me”.
The US had launched a satellite for TV Broadcast and Vikram Sarabhai convinced his Scientist friends to deviate the satellite way while passing over

India..
The Krishi Darshan was telecasted in and around 80 Villages of Delhi and PM Indira Gandhi was a witness to that incredible feat.
3) The first student to receive PhD under Vikram Sarabhai’s guidance was former ISRO Chief Prof U R Rao, who in his memoirs notes...VSNL was

established for long distance and international communications & it was under Central Govt’s authority, in 1967 at Ahmedabad, Sarabhai and team had successfully built a station for telecommunication but VSNL decided to import new devices.
As soon as Sarabhai heard this, he

directly approached Indira Gandhi & met Principal Secretary P N Haksar & asked him in a raised voice “Who Is Running This Country”? We are thriving for Swadeshi and why does VSNL wants to import, who are giving those orders?
Haskar took Sarabhai to Indira and later matter ended

amicably with station coming near Poona in 1970.
4) U R Rao in his memoir recollected another incident..
It was April 1971, Sarabhai asked Rao to come to Delhi, Soviet Union had decided to support India in its Space Mission and this was conveyed to PM by Russian Ambassador.

At Sarabhai’s office, Vikram Rao & Russian Ambassador discussed India’s space programme and after learning China’s recently launched satellite weighed 190 kilos, insisted that India must launch heavier satellite than China and Russia was willing to support them including

providing Soviet Launch Pad.
Sarabhai sent a team to Moscow under U R Rao’s leadership and India launched 360 Kilo ARYABHATA Satellite.
Unfortunately, Dr Vikram Sarabhai passed away a year before the launch, Sarabhai spent his final days at Tumba. On the fateful day 30-12-1971

Sarabhai had a guest, Railway Minister Kengal Hanumantaiah who was on an official visit.
Sarabhai wanted a railway line for the benefit of Scientists and workers and after the meet, he spent rest of the day with colleagues and in meeting till late night.

And the next day, he didn’t get up, but had joined the space which he loved the most.

#Vandemataram