Wikipedia:VideoWiki/Vikram Sarabhai

Introduction
Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai was an Indian scientist, physicist, astronomer, and the founder of Indian Space Research Organisation.

Personal life
Vikram Sarabhai was born on 12 August 1919 in Ahmedabad to Ambalal Sarabhai and his wife. His family, the Sarabhai family of India, were major industrialists committed to the Indian independence movement.



Career
Sarabhai led the Sarabhai family-owned business conglomerate. His interests varied from science to sports to statistics. He set up the Operations Research Group (ORG), the first market research organization in the country.

PRL
Known as the cradle of space sciences in India, the Physical Research Laboratory was founded in 1947 by Vikram Sarabhai. PRL had a modest beginning at his residence, with research on cosmic rays.

Research areas at PRL
The initial focus was research on cosmic rays and the properties of the upper atmosphere. Research areas were expanded to include theoretical physics and radio physics later with grants from the Atomic Energy Commission.







Notable establishments
Of the many institutes and organisations established or founded by Sarabhai, some notable ones include, Nehru Foundation for Development, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad Textile Industry's Research Association, Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, Electronics Corporation of India Limited, and Uranium Corporation of India Limited in Jharkhand.







Indian Space Research Organisation
In 1962, Indian National Committee for Space Research was established with Sarabhai being the first chairperson. This would later evolve and be named as the Indian Space Research Organisation.

First satellite
Sarabhai started a project for the fabrication and launch of an Indian satellite. As a result, the first Indian satellite Aryabhata, was put in orbit in 1975 from a Russian cosmodrome.



Distinguished positions
Sarabhai had held several notable positions across several national and international bodies relation to science. Some of them were;

Indian Science Congress
President of the Physics section, Indian Science Congress in 1962.



International Atomic Energy Agency
President of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency in 1970.

Atomic Energy Commission of India
Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India from 1966 to 1971.

United Nations conference
Vice-President of the fourth United Nations conference on 'Peaceful uses of Atomic Energy' in 1971.



Awards
He was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1966 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1972, posthumously, after his death in 1971.





Family
Vikram Sarabhai married the classical dancer Mrinalini in 1942. The couple had two children. His daughter Mallika gained prominence as an actress and activist, and his son Kartikeya too became an active person in science.







Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organization's lead facility for launch vehicle development located in Thiruvananthapuram, capital of Kerala state, was named in his memory.