Jayant Vishnu Narlikar

Jayant Vishnu Narlikar

          

      He is known popularly as an astrophysicist, but he is also famous as the author of some science fiction works. Born in Maharashtra, he was honoured by the prestigious awards like Padma Vibhushan Padma Bhushan etc. He was educated from Banaras Hindu University. He later went to Cambridge for higher studies.

           

Narlikar returned to India to join the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (1972-1989) where under his charge the Theoretical Astrophysics Group acquired international standing. In 1988 he was invited by the University Grants Commission as Founder Director to set up the proposed Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA). Under his direction IUCAA has acquired a world-wide reputation as a centre for excellence in teaching and research in astronomy and astrophysics. He retired from this position in 2003. He is now Emeritus Professor at IUCAA.

During 1994–1997, he was the President of the Cosmology Commission of the International Astronomical Union. He was popular for his works in cosmology. Besides scientific papers and books and popular science literature, Narlikar has written science fiction, novels, and short stories in English, Hindi, and Marathi.

Science fiction works

YAKSHANCHI DENAGI (The Gift of the Yakshas) 1979

PRESHIT (The One Who Was Sent), 1983

ANTARALATALA BHASMASUR (Bhasmasur in Space) 1985

DHOOMKETU (The Comet) 1986

VAMAN PARAT NA ALA (Vaman did not return) 1986

THE RETURN OF VAMAN 1988

TROYNO GHODO (The Trojan Horse) 1987

AGANTUK (The guest) 1988

ANTARALATIL SPHOT (The Cosmic Explosion) 1992

TIME MACHINECHI KIMAYA (Miracle of the Time Machine) 1994

ABHAYARANYA (Sanctuary) 2002