Jayant Narlikar Age, Wiki and Bio

Quick Info

Profession	Astrophysicist
Nationality	Indian
Date of Birth	19/07/1938
Age	86 years (died on 20, May, 2025)
Birthplace	Kolhapur, Kolhapur State, British India (now Maharashtra, India)
Date of Death	20/05/2025

Bio/Wiki

Full Name	Jayant Vishnu Narlikar
Name Earned	Father of Indian Cosmology
Famous for	Quasi-steady State Cosmology Hoyle-Narlikar Theory of Gravity

Physical Stats & More

Eye Color	Black
Hair Color	Salt & Pepper

Educational Qualification(s)

Degrees	Bachelor of Science from Banaras Hindu University (1957) Bachelor of Arts in Mathematical Tripos from Cambridge University (1959) Doctor of Philosophy from Cambridge University (1963) Master's degree in Astronomy and Astrophysics from King's College, Cambridge University (1964)
School	Central Hindu College (now Central Hindu Boys School), Varanasi
Colleges/Universities	Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh Cambridge University, England

Personal Life

Religion	Hinduism
Hometown	Banaras (now Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh), India

Relationships & More

Marital Status	Widower
Marriage Date	1966

Family

Father	Vishnu Vasudev Narlikar (mathematician, theoretical physicist)
Mother	Sumati Narlikar (a scholar of Sanskrit)
Siblings	Anant Vishnu Narlikar (scientist)
Spouse	Mangala Narlikar (Indian mathematician; died 2023)
Children	3 Daughters: Geeta Jayant Narlikar, Girija Narlikar, Leelavati Narlikar

Career

Fields	Physics Astronomy Writer
Institutions	Cambridge University, England Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA)
Achievements	1960: Tyson Medal for Astronomy 1962: Smith's Prize 1965: Padma Bhushan 1967: Adams Prize 1981: Bhushan by FIE Foundation, Ichalkaranji 1989: Atmaram Award by Central Hindi Directorate 1990: Indira Gandhi Award of the Indian National Science Academy 1996: Kalinga Prize by UNESCO 2004: Padma Vibhushan 2004: Prix Jules Janssen 2010: Maharashtra Bhushan 2014: Sahitya Akademi Award Bhatnagar Award M.P. Birla Award Prix Jules Janssen of the Société astronomique de France (French Astronomical Society)

Social Media

Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/drjayantnarlikar/

Some Lesser Known Facts

Jayant Narlikar was deeply influenced by his mathematician father, who held a prestigious position at Banaras Hindu University.
He was proficient in North Indian language and embraced Marathi culture due to his upbringing.
At Cambridge University, he earned recognition as a Senior Wrangler, highlighting his top mathematics skills.
He not only excelled academically but also participated in sports, initially playing badminton before switching to tennis.
During his Ph.D. under Fred Hoyle, he began exploring theoretical cosmology.
After completing his studies, he joined Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai, where he led a theoretical astrophysics group.
His passion for science communication led him to write books and articles aimed at the public, significantly popularizing science.
Jayant Narlikar participated in the acclaimed PBS series 'Cosmos: A Personal Voyage' with Carl Sagan.
He was instrumental in founding the World Cultural Council in 1981 and directed the prestigious Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) from its inception.
Throughout his career, he studied various cosmological aspects, including Mach's principle and quantum cosmology.
Jayant challenged conventional cosmological views by developing the Hoyle-Narlikar theory of gravity that focused on interactions between particles across the universe.
His collaborations included working alongside notable scientists who questioned the Big Bang theory, exploring alternative models of the universe.
He contributed to significant research, including the development of microorganisms from atmospheric samples collected at high altitudes.
As a member of the Royal Astronomical Society, he actively engaged in the scientific community.
An influential figure, he served on the jury for the Infosys Prize in Physical Sciences in 2009 and presided over the 94th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan.
In addition to scientific literature, he authored science fiction and novels in multiple languages, including works like 'The Lighter Side of Gravity' and 'An Introduction to Cosmology.'
Narlikar also played a pivotal role in defining science education in India through his leadership on an NCERT committee that developed math and science textbooks.