An era ends: ISRO visionary K Kasturirangan passes away

India bids farewell to one of its most revered scientists and education reformers, Dr. K. Kasturirangan, who passed away at his Bengaluru residence on Friday at 10:43 am. A towering figure in India’s space and academic landscape, Dr. Kasturirangan was 83. His mortal remains will be kept at the Raman Research Institute in Bengaluru on Sunday, April 27, between 10 am and noon, for the public to pay their last respects.

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An astrophysicist of global repute, Dr. Kasturirangan served as the chairman of ISRO, the Space Commission, and the Department of Space for over nine transformative years, guiding India’s space program to new heights. As Director of the ISRO Satellite Centre, he played a pivotal role in the development of INSAT-2, IRS-1A/1B, and India's first Earth observation satellites—Bhaskara I and II.

Under his visionary leadership, India achieved major milestones like the PSLV and GSLV launches. A recipient of the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan, his contributions extend beyond science. He was the intellectual architect behind India's National Education Policy, and served as Chancellor of JNU, Chairman of the Karnataka Knowledge Commission, a Rajya Sabha member, and part of the Planning Commission.

Dr. Kasturirangan's legacy is etched across the stars and the classrooms of tomorrow—a guiding light for generations to come.