Former ISRO Chairman K. Kasturirangan Passes Away

India is in mourning for one of its greatest minds, Padma Vibhushan Dr. K. Kasturirangan, who recently passed away, leaving an everlasting legacy behind in the fields of space science, educational reform, and nation-building policymaking. Everyone from leaders to academicians and scientists has poured tributes in from all over the country, hailing him as a giant whose legacy built modern India.

Dr. Kasturirangan was born on 24 October 1940, in Ernakulam, Kerala, and brought up well entrenched in the intellectual and cultural values of South India. His early childhood upbringing, guided by his maternal grandfather Sri Ananthanarayana Iyer, a sanitary inspector at Ernakulam, developed in him the virtues of discipline, integrity, and service. His ancestors belonged to Nallepalli Agraharam in Palakkad on his mother's side and Chalakudy in Thrissur on his father's side.

Trained as an astrophysicist, Dr. Kasturirangan was an expert in high-energy X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy. His scientific interests led him to make significant contributions to cosmic phenomena, establishing the foundation for a number of major space explorations. He served as the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from 1994 to 2003, taking India through a revolutionary period of space exploration. During his tenure, ISRO embarked on a number of ambitious missions, such as launching India's first space-based high-energy astronomy observatory. All these efforts put India firmly in the league of serious players in the international space community.

His stint at ISRO is universally recognized to have strengthened India's remote sensing abilities and enhancing its communication satellite infrastructure, both essential for socioeconomic development. Dr. Kasturirangan's technical expertise was rewarded with numerous awards such as the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan—India's highest civilian awards. Additionally, he received 27 honorary doctorates, testifying to his far-reaching influence on the scholarly community.

Yet, Dr. Kasturirangan's impact went far beyond the scientific community. He was a key figure in redefining India's education. In 2017, he became chairman of the nine-member panel responsible for preparing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This was after the recommendations of the previous T.S.R. Subramanian committee and was a historic moment in India's vision of education.

The panel headed by Kasturirangan presented the draft NEP in 2019 to then Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank'. The policy approved in 2020 brought with it landmark reforms like the 5+3+3+4 curriculum structure, focusing on foundational learning, vocational training, and multidisciplinary pedagogy. It advocated for teaching in the mother tongue or local languages up to at least Grade 5, lightening the curriculum load to promote critical thinking, and proposed the establishment of a National Education Commission to monitor policy implementation.

Dr. Kasturirangan was once more tasked with chairing a 12-member steering committee to formulate the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) according to NEP 2020 in 2021. The committee had four of the most important frameworks school education, teacher education, early childhood education, and adult education. The panel's suggestions had in mind a robust and visionary education system that incorporated the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and prioritized experiential and socio-emotional learning. The committee also promoted the professionalization of teaching, with teachers being treated as a cadre on par with engineers and scientists, with an interdisciplinary perspective that combines science, technology, and the humanities.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who collaborated closely with Dr. Kasturirangan in the drafting of NEP 2020, posted an emotional tribute on social media platform X, previously Twitter. His passing is not just a deeply personal one for the international scientific and academic communities, but for me, an intensely personal one," the minister stated. "He was much more than just a mentor to me he was a beacon, a fount of wisdom, compassion, and unobtrusive strength.". His role as the chief architect of the National Education Policy 2020 is a permanent reminder of his farsightedness, a revolutionary legacy for future generations.

Dr. Kasturirangan also had major public service assignments in his career. He was a member of the Rajya Sabha nominated from 2003 to 2009 and was a member of the erstwhile Planning Commission of India. He added value to national strategies in the areas of science, technology, and education during his time. As Chairman of the Karnataka Knowledge Commission, he advocated the concept of harnessing innovation and digital resources to improve education and envisioned knowledge cities and more effective public-private partnerships.

In academia, he served in some of the most prestigious institutions, such as Chancellor of Central University of Rajasthan and NIIT University, and Director of National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore, between 2004 and 2009. These appointments were a testimony to his lifetime commitment to cultivating talent and creating world-class research.

The scientific community has never forgotten Dr. Kasturirangan as a visionary who harmonized the worlds of science and policy with uncommon beauty. His humility, leadership, and committed efforts commanded respect from generations of scientists, teachers, and policymakers. His profound knowledge of the Indian education system and his passion to make it inclusive and competitive internationally will continue to be an inspiration for future reforms.

India has lost not only a scientist or a policymaker, but a nation-builder. Dr. K. Kasturirangan's legacy will be remembered in the rockets that reach the sky, the students who gain from educational reforms, and the national policies that continue to guide a modern India. As the nation says goodbye to a legend, his vision for a knowledge-based, inclusive, and progressive India is more relevant than ever.

Om Shanti.