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The scientist’s family members said he was 100 years old and died of a heart attack in the morning. He was also ill for the last several days.
Architect of India’s space journey
Considered one of the architects of India’s space research efforts, Dr. Chitnis played a central role in shaping the early years of the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), which later evolved into the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
He served as Member Secretary of INCOSPAR and contributed to creating the blueprint for India’s first space programmer under the guidance of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space missions.
According to News18 Hindi, he was instrumental in identifying the site for India’s first rocket launch station at Thumba, Kerala, now known as Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS).
In the early 1960s, he surveyed the site and explained to Dr. Sarabhai about its strategic equatorial position, a decision that laid the groundwork for India’s future space endeavours.
Leadership and Innovation at ISRO
Between 1981 and 1985, Dr. Chitnis succeeded Professor Yashpal as the Director of the Space Applications Center (SAC) in Ahmedabad.
During his tenure, he pioneered projects in remote sensing, satellite communications and the INSAT programme, which significantly expanded the reach of television and telecommunications to remote villages in India, according to News18 Hindi.
Guru of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
Very few people know that Dr. Chitnis also played an important role in recognizing the talent of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
He reportedly personally reviewed Kalam’s résumé in 1962 and recommended him for the NASA training program, a move that influenced India’s aerospace trajectory and Kalam’s illustrious career as a scientist and later as President of India.
lifelong commitment to science
After retiring in 1989, Dr. Chitnis continued to contribute to science education by helping establish the Educational Multimedia Research Center (EMRC) at Savitribai Phule Pune University.
In recognition of his lifetime contribution, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1985, according to news agency PTI.
Dr. Chitnis is survived by his son Dr. Chetan Chitnis, a molecular biologist and Padma Shri awardee (2023), daughter-in-law and granddaughters.
India’s journey from Thumba to Mars is due to the vision and dedication of pioneers like Dr. Eknath Vasant Chitnis, who has been a true luminary whose legacy continues to inspire generations of scientists.