New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu has posthumously conferred the Vigyan Ratna, India’s highest science award, on eminent astrophysicist Jayant Vishnu Narlikar. The award recognises his lifetime contribution to cosmology, scientific thinking, and the strengthening of India’s research institutions.

Born on July 19, 1938, in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, Jayant Narlikar grew up in a scholarly environment. His father, Vishnu Narlikar, was a respected mathematician. From a young age, Narlikar showed exceptional aptitude for science, which later shaped his path as one of India’s most original scientific thinkers.

At Cambridge University, Narlikar worked under renowned astrophysicist Fred Hoyle. Together, they developed the Hoyle–Narlikar theory, which linked gravitation with matter creation. Narlikar also became a strong voice for the Steady State theory, questioning the idea that the universe began with a single explosive event. His work stood out for its mathematical strength and fearless questioning of accepted ideas.

At a time when many scientists chose to stay abroad, Narlikar returned to India. He worked at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and later founded the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune. As its first director, he built IUCAA into a world-class centre that opened advanced research opportunities to students and teachers from Indian universities.

Narlikar firmly believed that science must be based on evidence, questioning, and open debate. He actively spoke against superstition and unscientific claims. Beyond academia, he wrote extensively in English and Marathi, using books, essays, and science fiction to explain complex ideas in simple language and inspire curiosity among young readers.

Over his career, Jayant Narlikar received several major honours, including the Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, and international scientific awards. He passed away on May 20, 2025, in Pune. The conferment of the Vigyan Ratna stands as a national tribute to a scientist who combined original research, institution building, and public service.

Jayant Narlikar’s life reflected intellectual independence and deep commitment to nation-building through science. By honouring him with the Vigyan Ratna, India has acknowledged not just his theories, but his belief that world-class science can be created, nurtured, and shared from within the country itself.