Vikram Sarabhai–A Scientist’s Scientist

I first met Vikram Sarabhai in 1966 soon after he had taken over as Head of the Department of Atomic Energy following the premature and unfortunate demise of Homi Bhabha. I had known earlier his wife, the famous Bharanatyam dancer, Mrinalini. From 1966 onwards I have been in close touch with the Sarabhai family, although Vikram himself passed away suddenly at Thiruvananthapuram in December 1971. He had spoken at the dedication of the Nuclear Research Laboratory at IARI and he left for Thiruvananthapuram the following day. Thus we lost two of our eminent scientists – Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai soon after the other.