Eknath Vasant Chitnis

Last updated

Eknath Vasant Chitnis
Born
India
OccupationSpace scientist
Known for X-ray astronomy
Awards1985  Padma Bhushan

Eknath Vasant Chitnis is an Indian space scientist and a former member secretary at the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), [1] which evolved into the present-day Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). [2] He is also a former director of Space Applications Centre of ISRO and a former colleague of APJ Abdul Kalam, the erstwhile president of India. [3] The Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award, in 1985. [4]

It was EV Chitnis who helped Vikram Sarabhai choose location of Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station, which was result of a location hunt done by Chitnis from 1961. [5] It was Chitnis who recommended induction of A. P. J. Abdul Kalam into Indian space program after getting impressed by his resume and recommendation from H.G.S. Murthy (after interview by Murthy) by selecting him for the training under NASA. [6] [7]

In 2008, EV Chitnis was unanimously selected as the Chairman of Press Trust of India. [8]

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References

  1. "This man gave Dr Kalam his first project". India Today. 28 July 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  2. Pushpa M. Bhargava; Chandana Chakrabarti (2003). The Saga of Indian Science Since Independence: In a Nutshell. Universities Press. pp. 39–. ISBN   978-81-7371-435-1.
  3. "People's president started out with Isro giants". The Times of India. 29 July 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  4. "Padma Awards". Padma Awards. Government of India. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  5. "Remembering Vikram Sarabhai on his 100th birth anniversary: 'He treated everyone as an equal'". The Indian Express. 12 August 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  6. Pawar, Ashwini (29 July 2015). "I'm proud that I recommended him for ISRO: EV Chitnis". DNA India. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  7. Khelkar, Pankaj (28 July 2015). "This man gave Dr Kalam his first project". India Today. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  8. "Chitnis new PTI Chairman". outlookindia.com/. Retrieved 26 October 2020.