By R Manikandan
Kanyakumari: ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan during his maiden visit to his hometown on Sunday after assuming charge spoke exclusively to ETV Bharat, detailing the path he tread upon in India's space agency and navigating the indigenous development of cryogenic rocket engine sans technological support from spacefaring nations.
The third son of Tamil Nadu to helm ISRO and second from Kanyakumari district was accorded a police guard of honour at the Nagercoil Government Guest House. Fellow ISRO officers and district administration's representatives welcomed Narayanan with bouquets. Several other dignitaries also met and congratulated him. He came here to participate in the felicitation ceremony to be held in his native village Mela Kattuvilai Sunday(Feb. 2, 2025).
Narayanan was born to Perumal and Thangammal in a village called Mela Kattuvilai in Kanyakumari district in 1964. He studied at a government school and joined ISRO as a technician in 1984, gradually progressed and decorated many high positions. Narayanan's rise to ISRO's top post from a very humble background will remain as an inspiration to students and youth.
During his visit, ISRO Chairman Narayanan spoke to ETV Bharat. Here are the excerpts from the interview...
Question: From being a farmer's son to helm India's space agency, ETV Bharat congratulates you. What is your message to students?
Answer:I had my schooling from a government school in a village. After school, I enrolled in a diploma course. Later, I joined ISRO. Yesterday(Feb. 1,2025), I have completed 41 years of service in ISRO. Many scientists like me come from ordinary families. It doesn't matter to which village we belong to; it does not matter which school we study in, what matters is how we study.
For the youth who wants to succeed, studies alone won't help them make it. They should also grow up with a good heart that is inclined to serve others always. There is no substitute for hard work and work is essential. We should work with a broad mind and do things which matter for the people of our country.
Q: Job opportunities in ISRO... How should youth prepare to get into ISRO?
A: It is not necessary to work only in ISRO. There are many jobs for youths in various private companies affiliated with ISRO(and in space sector). Various private companies manufacture satellite engines, etc. Young people should also take advantage of such jobs. We also welcome the youth to join ISRO and its allied agencies directly. If not, one can join other companies which are working in this sector.
Q: Having had a long experience in ISRO, what do you consider to be your greatest achievement in your work?
A: I cannot limit it to any one such specific achievement. And no one individual gets to credit of ISRO's achievements. Every milestone we achieve is the success of our collective effort. ISRO has 20,000 employees. I see ISRO's achievements as being owned by all of them.
Since 1962*, we have developed six types of rockets. We have prepared 131 satellites using different technologies and in different ways. All these cannot be attributed to be the success of an individual. It is the collective success of all 20,000 employees of ISRO. We undertake challenging tasks every day. We designed a small rocket 40 years ago. At that time, it was considered a huge feat. When we were working on the propulsion of engines that employed cryogenic engine technology, even a small spark in a small test was considered a major feat for us.
Q: Foreign countries did not share cryogenic engine technology with India, yet India was able to develop it indigenously? Your take on this...
A: No foreign country was willing to share cryogenic rocket engine technology with us. In this technology, the rocket engine will operate with the combustion of liquid hydrogen and oxygen, as its main fuel. The denial of cryogenic engine technology by other (spacefaring) nations forced us towards developing our own tech. We started the (indigenous) cryogenic engine project in 1995. All of us as scientists worked together in this project to develop the required technology. The design and development work was carried out in Thiruvananthapuram centre. We tested it in (Odisha's) Mahendragiri.
The end result is that we have successfully developed a high end technology indigenously which these (spacefaring) countries refused to teach us. It is a matter of pride for all of us that India has joined the elite club of spacefaring countries has their own cryogenic rocket engine technology. By the grace of God, I got the opportunity to work on a project to develop our cryogenic engine technology.
Q: Can you tell us which of the projects that you have worked on is close to your heart?
A: When 'Chandrayaan-2' failed, a national level committee was formed. I was asked to lead the committee(which went into the reasons for hard landing and recommended necessary improvements). Altogether, the committee had given hundreds of suggestions on what to be done in 30 days to ensure proper landing. As desired, the next lunar mission landed on the moon. India joined the club of countries that have soft-landed on the lunar surface. 'Chandrayaan-3' was a success, in terms all mission objectives.
Even if there is a failure, we will not consider it as a failure. We will deem it as a new experience. Just as if you have talent, talented people will respect you, today all countries respect India.
Also, I was the project director on the 'Mark 3'# project for 7 years. That project had given me heart-felt satisfaction.
Q: You are the third person from Tamil Nadu and second from Kanyakumari district to hold the top post of ISRO chief...
A: Don't divide the people who have been holding the post of ISRO chief in terms of the geography of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu here or Kerala. This is our Indian space program. It is a big programme on which Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi has evinced a keen interest. At ISRO, we value talent. It doesn't matter which region you belong to or come from. I studied at an ordinary village. If I have been selected to hold the post of ISRO chief, it is in recognition of my talent( and has no bearing on the geography I come from).
Q: What is the status of the work of setting up the ISRO center in Kulasekarapatnam?
A: The work of setting up the ISRO's (second spaceport) center in Kulasekarapatnam(also known as Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport), Thoothukudi district, is in full swing. Rockets from here will lift-off in the next two years.
- * Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was launched in 1962 and is the predecessor of ISRO.
- # Mark-3 or LVM3, a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III or Mk III, is a heavy lift launch vehicle of ISRO to achieve a 4000 kg spacecraft launching capability to GTO (Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit) in a cost effective manner, according to the space agency's documents.
(Editor's note: This story has been edited and republished to add byline and some details regarding the topics dealt with in the interview.)
