BENGALURU: The ‘Kasturirangan Magic’ Isro boasts of wasn’t confined to rockets and satellites. It radiated far beyond the walls of Isro centres, echoing through the halls of Parliament, university campuses, environmental summits, and even the atomic energy corridors.
Kasturirangan, one of India’s most decorated scientists, left an indelible imprint on national projects that shaped the country’s science, education and policy landscapes. Long after he stepped down as chairman of Isro, his influence only widened in scope.
In Dec 2007, tension hung in the air as the Rajya Sabha prepared to debate the contentious Indo-US nuclear deal or 123 Agreement. Kasturirangan, serving as a nominated member, had already developed a reputation that transcended political divides. “You may speak for as long as you need,” the Congress floor coordinator had told him earlier that day, recognising the weight his words would carry in the critical debate.
For 29 minutes, Kasturirangan addressed the chamber, articulating with precision and clarity why the nuclear deal would serve India’s long-term interests. He spoke of energy security, India’s vast thorium deposits, and the visionary three-phase nuclear programme conceptualised by Homi Bhabha decades earlier.
The then Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, who had staked significant political capital on this agreement, waved in appreciation when Kasturirangan finished —a rare gesture from the typically reserved statesman.
That evening, as Kasturirangan dined with fellow MPs, his mobile phone rang. It was nearly 10pm. “Dr Kasturirangan,” came the unmistakable voice of the PM. “I wanted to personally thank you for your brilliant speech today.”
For academics & environment
Equally transformative was his role in drafting India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. As chairman of the NEP committee, he championed a holistic, learner-centric vision that reimagined Indian education from the ground up — ushering in multidisciplinary learning, mother tongue instruction in early years, and an emphasis on critical thinking.
This was not his first tryst with academic reforms. As chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, and later the Central University of Rajasthan, he brought the weight of experience to bear on institutional governance.
Environmental conservation too found a champion in Kasturirangan. He led the high-level working group that crafted a strategy to protect the fragile ecology of the Western Ghats, a move that sparked dialogue across ministries and states. As the chair of the Karnataka Knowledge Commission, he helped design policies to bridge scientific research and societal development, especially in the state he had made home.
His tenure in the Planning Commission saw a surge in national investment in science and technology, with Kasturirangan pushing for mega science projects, international collaboration, and innovation in energy and environment. From guiding space archaeology projects at Nias (National Institute of Advanced Studies) to serving the Atomic Energy Commission, he was a perennial architect behind the scenes.
In every role, what stood out was not just his versatility, but his ability to quietly align ambition with pragmatism. The stars may have been his laboratory, but his legacy was built here on Earth.
