Jayant Narlikar was an Indian astrophysicist known for his contributions to cosmology. He developed the Hoyle-Narlikar theory of gravity, which provided an alternative to Einstein’s theory of relativity. He was also a science communicator and writer.
Jayant Narlikar Profile
Full Name: Jayant Vishnu Narlikar
Date of Birth: July 19, 1938
Place of Birth: Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India
Date of Death: May 20, 2025
Age at Death: 86 years
Nationality: Indian
Education: Graduate
Marital Status: was Married with Children
Profession: Astrophysicist
Early Life
Jayant Narlikar was born on July 19, 1938, in Kolhapur, India. He grew up in an academic family. His father, Vishnu Vasudev Narlikar, was a mathematician and theoretical physicist. His mother, Sumati Narlikar, was a scholar of Sanskrit. His maternal uncle, V. S. Huzurbazar, was a statistician.
Next, Jayant Narlikar attended Central Hindu College in Varanasi for his schooling. Then, he pursued a Bachelor of Science degree at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1957. After that, he moved to Cambridge University, where he studied mathematics and became a Senior Wrangler, a prestigious academic title.
Age
Jayant Narlikar lived for 86 years. He passed away on May 20, 2025, in Pune, India.
Parents and Family
Jayant Narlikar’s father, Vishnu Vasudev Narlikar, was a professor and head of the Mathematics Department at Banaras Hindu University. His mother, Sumati Narlikar, was a scholar of Sanskrit. His wife, Mangala Narlikar, was a mathematician and professor. She passed away in 2023.
Jayant Narlikar had three daughters: Geeta, Girija, and Leelavati. Geeta is a biomedical researcher at the University of California, San Francisco. Girija works as a Director of Engineering at Google. Leelavati is a faculty member at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune.
Career
Jayant Narlikar started his research career as a doctoral student under Fred Hoyle at Cambridge University. He earned his PhD in 1963 and later obtained a master’s degree in astronomy and astrophysics.
Next, he became a postdoctoral fellow at King’s College, Cambridge. Then, in 1966, he helped establish the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy in Cambridge. After that, he returned to India in 1972 and joined the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai. He led the theoretical astrophysics group there.
In 1988, Jayant Narlikar became the founding director of the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune. He worked to promote astronomy and astrophysics research in India. He also served as president of the International Astronomical Union commission for cosmology from 1994 to 1997.
Jayant Narlikar was a science communicator. He wrote textbooks on cosmology, popular science books, and science fiction novels. He also worked on alternative cosmology theories, including the quasi-steady state cosmology.
FAQs
What was Jayant Narlikar known for?
Jayant Narlikar was known for his Hoyle-Narlikar theory of gravity, his contributions to alternative cosmology, and his work as a science communicator.
Where was Jayant Narlikar born?
He was born in Kolhapur, India, on July 19, 1938.
What was Jayant Narlikar’s educational background?
He studied at Banaras Hindu University and Cambridge University, where he earned degrees in mathematics, astronomy, and astrophysics.
What awards did Jayant Narlikar receive?
He received several awards, including:
- Padma Bhushan (1965)
- Adams Prize (1967)
- Kalinga Prize (1996)
- Padma Vibhushan (2004)
- Prix Jules Janssen (2004)
- Maharashtra Bhushan (2010)
- Sahitya Akademi Award (2014)
When did Jayant Narlikar pass away?
He passed away on May 20, 2025, at the age of 86.
Jayant Narlikar’s contributions to cosmology and science communication made him a respected figure in the scientific community. His work continues to inspire researchers and students worldwide.