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Presidential Remarks by Former Ambassador T.P.Sreenivasan at the Sree Chithira Thirunal Memorial National Award Ceremony on 24 January 2020
Hon. Governor Shri.Arif Muhammad Khan,
Dr.K.Sivan, Chairman, ISRO,
Dr.G.Madhavan Nair, Former Chairman, ISRO,
Shri.Jacob Punnoose, Former State Police Chief,
Shri.T.Satheesh Kumar,
Smt. S. Pushpavally,
Dr. Soma Nathan and other distinguished members of the ISRO team,
Distinguished Guests,
Dear students of Sree Chithira Thirunal Residential Central School,
This is a moment of celebration for the Sree Chithira Thrunal Trust in many ways. Once again, we are celebrating the life of the Maharaja of Maharajas, Sree Chithira Thirunal, who laid the foundations of modern Kerala as we see it today, we are celebrating the opportunity to welcome Hon.Governor Shri.Arif Muhammad Khan for the first time to the Sree Chithira Thirunal Trust, we are celebrating the lifetime achievements of Dr. K.Sivan, who raised India’s space programme to new heightls and captured the imagination of the whole nation at a time when failure faced him on the fringe of final victory, teaching us once again that “sweet are the uses of adversity.” We are also celebrating not only the Indian Odyssey into space, but also the giant steps mankind has made on the moon at a moment when we ourselves are preparing to land Vyom Mitra on the moon.
It was our own immortal poet, K.Ayyappa Paniker, who grasped the immense implications of the first flight into space by Yuri Gagarin. He said the human imagination, which had created a whole world of gods and goddesses, Yakshas and Kinnaras proved to be an illusion when Gagarin surveyed the outer space. In his poem, ‘Hey Gagarin’, Paniker asked: “Hey Gagarin, gaganacharin, pthikanen vazhi vittumarin!” At the same time, he exhorted his fellow poets, “that stare in stupor”
“Grow new wings to catch up with Science
across the recesses of outer space.
The pioneers have unfurled their flags h UN on the heights;
break you your idols, and bless yourselves.”
As it happened, space encounters were part of my life and career since then. I was witness to many important milestones in man’s journey into space. In 1963, I saw the launching of miniscule rockets, which were transported to Thumba by bullock carts. I saw the live telecast of Armstrong stepping on the moon on black and white television in Tokyo in 1969. In 1975, I witnessed the launch of the “Aryabhata” satellite from the Soviet Union. I represented India in Miami, Florida, when Kalpana Chawla flew the Space Shuttle Columbia for the first time. In 1998, I handled the severe US sanctions against India, which had handicapped our space programme as we could not buy even a switch for use by ISRO. And finally, from 2001 to 2004, as Ambassador to the Outer Space Committee of the UN in Vienna, I worked with two Chairmen of ISRO, Dr.Kasturirangan and my contemporary in the University College, Dr.G.Madhavan Nai
Coming back to our hero of today, Dr.K.Sivan, I remember meeting him for the first time when he invited me to receive a gift on behalf of the Abdul Kalam Smriti at Dale View. Some whispers were heard there that he would be appointed Chairman of ISRO. The picture that came to mind at that time was a ‘New York Times’ cartoon, which appeared soon after Chandrayaan. It showed space scientists from the US, Russia and China huddling inside a luxurious glass house and toasting with champaigne and a half naked Indian farmer knocking at the door with a cow beside him.
Though the tone of the cartoon was derogatory, the New York Times was telling the world that India had crashed into the exclusive space club with the lowest budget in the world. I saw on Dr.Sivan’s face the same determination and sense of purpose of the Indian farmer depicted by the New York Times.
I am not competent to evaluate Dr.Sivan’s contribution to India’s space programme. But we all know that he reached the pinnacle of ISRO not because of his parentage, connections or political manipulation. That alone is enough to admire him and thank him on behalf of the nation. The award today in the name of Sree Chithira Thirunal, which is about to be presented by the Hon. Governor of Kerala reflects that admiration and gratitude.
Thank you.
