110 Years On: Remembering Henry Moseley — The Brilliant Scientist Lost to War

 

 

War is the single most idiosyncratic, disgusting beastly human greed for conquest, which if not controlled can lead to disastrous consequences as evidenced in the two World Wars. One of those millions of soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in service of their motherland, during the World War I, was the genetically gifted genius scientist, Henry Moseley.

Today, 10 August, 2025, marks 110 years since the death of one of science’s brightest young stars — Henry Gwyn Jeffreys Moseley. On this day in 1915, at just 27 years old, Moseley was killed by a sniper’s bullet in the trenches of Gallipoli during the First World War. His life, though brief, left an indelible mark on modern science — and his death stands as a poignant reminder of war casualties. Among the tens of millions of WWI casualties - Indian soldiers included - the ‘single most costly death of the war’ - in the words of Isaac Asimov - was that of a genetically gifted genius scientist, Henry Moseley.

Moseley’s contributions (Moseley’s Law) in the development of the modern periodic table is now legendary. In his untimely death aged 27, not just England but the whole of humanity was robbed of Moseley’s genius scientific contributions. His death is all the more poignant for what he might have achieved, had it not been for the WW1. In just 40 months of his scientific research career, Moseley laid out the basis for the modern periodic table, predicted the elements that would fill in the gaps and showed that x-rays could be a supreme analytical tool.

Henry Gwyn Jeffreys Moseley was born on 23 November 1887 in Weymouth, Dorset, into a distinguished lineage of scientists and scholars. His father, Henry Nottidge Moseley (1844–1891), was a celebrated naturalist who participated in the HMS Challenger expedition (1872–1876), authored Notes of a Naturalist on the Challenger, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1879. Henry Nottidge himself was the son of a notable mathematician, Harry Moseley. On his mother’s side, Henry Moseley’s maternal grandfather was John Gwyn Jeffreys, a prominent biologist and conchologist, reinforcing a familial culture steeped in natural science. This intellectual heritage provided young Henry with early exposure to inquiry, field observations, and scholarly rigour. Harry, as a child, exhibited great interest in science and with his sister, painstakingly surveyed surrounding countryside to catalogue as much of the native flora and fauna as he could find. His childhood interest in science clearly foretold what great future of scientific research lies ahead.

 Education and Early Scientific Work

Moseley excelled academically in his school. A King's Scholarship led him to Eton, where he distinguished himself in mathematics and physics, before enrolling at Trinity College, Oxford in 1906, earning his BA in 1910. Following graduation, he joined Ernest Rutherford's laboratory at Manchester as a demonstrator and researcher. Rutherford’s lab was a “nursery of genius,” fostering future Nobel laureates. Under Rutherford's mentorship, Moseley explored radioactivity and then turned his focus to the nature of X-rays.

The Scientific Breakthrough: Moseley’s Law & the Modern Periodic Table

Since Mendeleev’s time, the Periodic Table (1869) relied on the concept of atomic weight. Mendeleev had examined the chemical properties of each element, and grouped those with similar properties together. However, in a few notable cases – such as that of argon and potassium – Mendeleev had to break the sequence of atomic weight to keep similar properties in the same groups. These ‘pair reversals’ raised questions on the principle of using atomic weight as the basis of the periodic table. It was not until the arrival of Moseley on the scientific scene that this problem was scientifically and rationally solved. 

Between 1913 and 1914, Moseley published pioneering papers titled The High-Frequency Spectra of the Elements in Philosophical Magazine. He employed X-ray spectroscopy to map characteristic X-ray frequencies across elements, discovering a linear relation between the square root of frequency and atomic number—a relationship now known as Moseley’s law. This provided the first empirical basis for ordering the periodic table by atomic number, which revealed gaps hinting at undiscovered elements, and resolved uncertainties such as rare-earth element placement.

Moseley law proved (what Bohr and others had suspected) that the frequency of x-rays is proportional to the atomic charge. The elements could now be ordered according to atomic number and the mystery of the ‘pair reversals’ was solved thus leading to the “Modern Periodic Table”.  the basis of which is based on the atomic number and not the atomic weight. This paved the way for seeing the gaps in the periodic table, where elements of a certain atomic number were missing. Peers immediately recognized the import of this discovery. Robert Millikan deemed Moseley’s work “one of the dozen most brilliant … in the history of science,” and it became central to early atomic models. In the process Moseley had laid the groundwork for a vast treasure hunt, which were to be discovered much later by the chemists after more than 30 years of searching for the missing elements his method had predicted.

Enlistment of Moseley in WWI and Death at Gallipoli

With the outbreak of World War, I, despite urging from his advisor Rutherford to remain in research, Moseley enlisted and joined the Royal Engineers. It was on 10 August 1915, as a Second Lieutenant and signals officer, he was killed by a sniper’s bullet in the battle of Gallipoli, while sending a message on 10 August 1915—just shy of his 28th birthday.

Moseley was touring Australia for a meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, with his mother, when the news of the declaration of war reached Australia. Moseley felt it was his duty to join his soldier brethren’s to fight for his country. He did not heed to the advice of his mother, Henry Rutherford, friends and family who tried persuading him to change his mind. Unfortunately, Moseley’s patriotism prevailed and Moseley left Australia on a ship for San Francisco from where he caught the first train to New York. From there he went home to England and enlisted his name in the British Army and obtained a commission as lieutenant in the Royal Engineers. He was posted to Gallipoli to join ANZAC for the Gallipoli campaign.

It was during the curation of the “Cricket Connects: India Australia” exhibition that I had the honour to research about the historic connect that Indians shared with the Australians, particularly during the Battle of Gallipoli in WWI, where the Indian soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder as team ANZAC (Australia New Zealand Army Corps) with the Ottoman forces. It was during this research that I studied about involvement of Moseley in this battle. Second Lieutenant and signals officer Henry Moseley was part of ANZAC. While the battle itself was a defeat for the ANZAC, the ANZAC were relentless in their heroic gallantry and displayed incredible valour, courage and endurance in the most hostile environment in which this battle was fought.

The Battle of Sari Bair: August Offensive

The Gallipoli Campaign had devolved into a fierce stalemate by mid-1915. In early August, the Allies (Ottoman) launched the August Offensive—a collective push to seize the Sari Bair ridge and break the deadlock by capturing high ground suffocating ANZAC positions. Heavy fighting occurred from 6 August onward, including costly diversionary attacks at Lone Pine, The Nek, and Suvla Bay landings. Initial gains—such as temporary Allied holds on Chunuk Bair and Hill Q—were nullified by Ottoman counterattacks.

The Battle of Sari Bair ended in Ottoman victory and Allied withdrawal. Tactical errors, supply issues, miscommunication, and contested terrain undermined the offensive. At Hill 60, the final major assault from 21 to 29 August, Allied forces again failed to link Suvla and ANZAC positions, suffering heavy casualties throughout. It was during this fight that Moseley was killed on 10 August, 1915.

The archival record of Moseley’s short but luminous career—his notebooks, spectral plots, university correspondence, and battlefield telegrams—illustrate not just personal tragedy but the societal cost of war. His death triggered reflection in British scientific circles, prompting arguments that scientific talent should be shielded from frontline service. This influenced later policies in WWII, where scientists were mobilized for strategic innovation (e.g., radar, medicine, code-breaking) rather than combat.

Henry G. J. Moseley’s lineage, work, and death embody both profound creative promise and wartime sacrifice. His early demise at Gallipoli, during one of WWI’s defining failures, serves as a poignant “never again”—a plea that scientific genius should be protected, not lost. Moseley did not die in vain; his legacy endures in the atomic number, the modern periodic table, and our collective memory of what was—and what peace must preserve.

 

Eightieth Year of the Nagasaki Bombing - Never Again

 

Hiroshima Nagasaki : Never Again

Today, August 9, 2025, marks the 80th year of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, a sombre milestone in human history. On August 9, 1945, three days after the “Little Boy” uranium bomb devastated the city of Hiroshima, the United States dropped their second atom bomb, a plutonium-based atomic bomb, codenamed “Fat Man,” on Nagasaki. This catastrophic event, alongside the Hiroshima bombing, hastened the end of World War II but left an indelible scar on humanity, prompting a global resolve to prevent such a tragedy from recurring. As we commemorate this anniversary, it is time to reflect on the details of the Nagasaki bombing, the specifics of the “Fat Man” bomb, the experiences of those involved, and the broader implications for the world order.

The Nagasaki Bombing and the “Fat Man”

On August 9, 1945, at 11:02 a.m., the B-29 bomber Bockscar, piloted by Major Charles W. Sweeney, dropped the “Fat Man” bomb over Nagasaki. The bomb, a plutonium-239 implosion-type device, had a yield of approximately 21 kilotons of TNT, slightly more powerful than the 15-kiloton “Little Boy” used on Hiroshima. Unlike Hiroshima, where the bomb detonated almost directly above the city centre, “Fat Man” exploded 1,650 feet above the Urakami Valley, a secondary target after cloud cover obscured the primary target, Kokura. The hilly terrain of Nagasaki partially contained the blast, but the devastation was still immense.

The “Fat Man” bomb was 10.7 feet long, 5 feet in diameter, and weighed around 9210 Kg. Its complex implosion design, developed under the Manhattan Project, required precise engineering to compress the plutonium core and trigger a nuclear chain reaction. The bomb’s detonation instantly killed an estimated 35,000–40,000 people, with total deaths reaching approximately 74,000 by the end of 1945 due to injuries, burns, and radiation poisoning. The Urakami Valley, an industrial area was obliterated, including the Urakami Cathedral, a symbol of Nagasaki’s Christian community.

Nagasaki’s unique geography and the bomb’s off-target detonation mitigated some of the destruction compared to Hiroshima’s flatter terrain. However, the human toll was staggering. Survivors, known as hibakusha, faced severe burns, radiation sickness, and long-term health effects like cancer and leukemia. Artifacts from the bombing—melted glass, charred clothing, and stopped clocks—bear witness to the instantaneous horror, much like those preserved from Hiroshima.

Japan’s Surrender

The Nagasaki bombing, combined with Hiroshima’s destruction and the Soviet Union’s declaration of war on Japan on August 8, 1945, compelled Japan’s leadership to surrender. On August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s capitulation in a radio broadcast, the first time most Japanese citizens heard his voice. The formal surrender was signed on September 2, 1945, aboard the USS Missouri, officially ending World War II. The dual atomic bombings demonstrated the unprecedented destructive power of nuclear weapons, forcing Japan to confront the reality of total defeat and influencing its decision to surrender unconditionally.

The Pilot: Charles W. Sweeney

Major Charles W. Sweeney, a 25-year-old pilot, commanded Bockscar during the Nagasaki mission. Unlike Colonel Paul Tibbets, who piloted the Enola Gay for the Hiroshima bombing and expressed no regret, Sweeney’s reflections reveal a more complex emotional response. In his 1997 memoir, War’s End: An Eyewitness Account of America’s Last Atomic Mission, Sweeney described the mission as a military necessity to end the war and save lives by avoiding a prolonged invasion of Japan. However, he also expressed unease about the human cost. Sweeney noted the challenges of the Nagasaki mission, including mechanical issues with Bockscar and the need to divert to the secondary target due to weather conditions. After the war, he defended the bombings but acknowledged the haunting images of destruction, particularly the suffering of civilians. Sweeney’s experience underscores the moral weight carried by those who executed such missions, even as they believed in their strategic necessity.

J. Robert Oppenheimer and the Manhattan Project

J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientific director of the Manhattan Project, oversaw the development of both “Little Boy” and “Fat Man” at Los Alamos, New Mexico. The Nagasaki bombing, as the second use of a nuclear weapon, deepened Oppenheimer’s growing unease about the destructive power he had helped unleash. After witnessing the first successful test of a plutonium bomb (the “Gadget”) at Trinity in July 1945, Oppenheimer famously quoted the Bhagavad Gita: “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki solidified his concerns about the ethical implications of nuclear weapons.

By 1947, Oppenheimer became an advocate for international control of nuclear arms, opposing the development of the more powerful hydrogen bomb. His vocal stance against nuclear proliferation led to his 1954 security clearance hearing, where he was accused of disloyalty during the McCarthy era, a fallout of his efforts to curb the nuclear arms race. The Nagasaki bombing, in particular, reinforced Oppenheimer’s belief that humanity must avoid future nuclear conflicts, shaping his later career as a cautionary voice in the nuclear age.

The Fallout on the World Order

The Nagasaki bombing, alongside Hiroshima, fundamentally altered the global order. The demonstrated power of nuclear weapons ushered in the Cold War, defined by a nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union. The bombings established the U.S. as the preeminent global superpower but also introduced a new era of existential fear. The creation of NATO, the Warsaw Pact, and subsequent nuclear proliferation by countries like the Soviet Union (1949), the UK (1952), and others stemmed from the strategic lessons of 1945.

The bombings also spurred international efforts to control nuclear weapons. The United Nations, founded in 1945, prioritized non-proliferation, leading to treaties like the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968 and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1996. However, India refused to sign these treaties citing its national strategic interests. The bombings’ legacy continues to shape global security policies, with nuclear arsenals serving as deterrents while raising the specter of mutually assured destruction.

Reflections on the 80th Anniversary

Reflecting on the 80th anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing, the lessons remain stark. The “Hiroshima-Nagasaki Never Again” exhibition, which I coordinated in 1998 at the National Science Centre, Delhi, vividly captured the horrors of nuclear devastation. The Nagasaki panels, like those for Hiroshima, displayed melted artefacts, survivor testimonies, and images of the Urakami Valley’s destruction, reinforcing the human cost of nuclear warfare. Keeping the national policy in mind, I decided to exclude panels critical of India’s stance on the NPT and CTBT from the exhibition. During the 75^th year of Hiroshima bombing, I had posted a detailed blog where I have narrated in detail about the exhibition and the National Science Centre, featuring on the editorial page. This exhibition helped me in understanding the delicate balance that we have to play as curators, balancing the decision between national interests and global disarmament efforts.

Nagasaki, like Hiroshima, has rebuilt itself into a vibrant, modern city, yet the scars of 1945 endure. The Nagasaki Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum stand as reminders of the tragedy, urging humanity to prioritize peace. The experiences of Sweeney and Oppenheimer highlight the personal and ethical dilemmas faced by those involved in the bombings, while the global fallout reshaped international relations.

As we mark this 80th anniversary, let us renew our commitment to ensuring that nuclear energy serves humanity’s progress—through medicine, energy, and research—rather than its destruction. May Nagasaki’s suffering, alongside Hiroshima’s, remain a solemn warning: never again.

Images : Courtesy Wikipaedia and National Science Centre Delhi

 

Birth Centenary of Dr MS Swaminathan (7 August 2025): Father of the Green Revolution

 

7 August 2025 marks the birth centenary of Dr. Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan - popularly referred to as MS Swaminathan – an agriculture scientist of international eminence, who is befittingly referred to as the father of the Green Revolution in India. His exemplary works were marked by his unwavering commitment to addressing and solving the ‘ship to mouth’ existential challenges of the Independent India which was suffering from hunger and poverty. Unfortunately, Dr Swaminathan passed away in his native town, Chennai, on 28 September 2023, less than two years shy of his birth centenary. Dr Swaminathan lived a complete life dedicated to helping the nation, more particularly the farming and agriculture community. It is therefore no wonder that while paying tribute to Swaminathan on his demise, the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, called him the “Kisan Vigyanik”, a farmer scientist.

 To understand the impact of the contributions of Dr. Swaminathan, it is pertinent to look at the lives lost due to starvation in the 1943 Bengal famine. An estimated 3 million people lost their lives during the infamous Bengal famine, which is attributed to the insensitivity of Winston Churchill, his policy and his administration. Things were no different in the 18^th and 19th centuries either, when we were under the colonial rule. In the famine that struck South India in 1877 millions of lives were lost. Records reveal that in the districts of Bellary, Kurnool, and Cuddapah, the loss of lives from this famine - in one year - was reported to be between 21 to 27 percent of the population of these districts. This was also true for other districts in the South. At the end of 1876, according to British maintained records, Salem District had a population of 2,129,850 people. In a report that highlighted the impact of the 1877 famine, it says “On the 14th of March, 1878, the population of the district of Salem was reduced to 1,559,876”. More than one-fourth of the people – nearly six lac people - perished due to the 1877 famine. A similar number of loss of lives were reported from the districts of Mysore.

There are records that suggest that famine struck India from almost the beginning of British colonial rule. In 1770, over one million people died of starvation in Bengal, just 13 years after Robert Clive’s seizure of the region, following the Battle of Plassey. India witnessed famines at regular intervals thereafter and the most devastating ones were in 1783-84, 1791-92, 1837-38, 1860-61, 1876-78, 1896-97, and 1899-1900. Over 30 million Indians are estimated to have died during famines from the late-1700s to the mid-1900s. Add to this another 3 million people who perished during the 1943 Bengal famine. It is in this context that the scientific agricultural research works and contributions of Dr MS Swaminathan stand out. Of course, he was duly supported by the political class and also received administrative support in alleviating hunger and poverty and deaths from this inhuman situation. It is heartening to note that post our independence, notwithstanding the increase in our population, courtesy the contributions of scientists like Dr. Swaminathan and others who ushered in the Green Revolution in India, India has not faced any loss of lives even when we have faced deficit rainfalls and draughts. The Green Revolution changed Indian agriculture for good, transforming India from being a country with a begging bowl – Ship to Mouth existence under schemes like PL 480- to a net food exporter nation. And for this, we need to credit Dr M S Swaminathan - and all those who helped him - the man whose singular mission, to rid the nation of its hunger, helped India in reaching this stage.

The colossal loss of lives during the 1943 Bengal famine, just four years before we attained our Independence, and the past experience of India losing millions of lives due to famine, had created a sense of despair and frustration among some nay-sayers whether India would be able to survive independently, once the British leave the country. The first and major challenge before the nation would be to aim to achieve a balance between the human population and the production of food grains and other agricultural commodities, which could feed them. In order to alleviate hunger, India, post its independence, had to rely heavily on food aid to meet its population’s nutritional needs. Leading the food aid to India was the United States. The Public Law 480 (famously known as PL 480) scheme, commonly known as “Food for Peace,” marked a pivotal chapter in India’s history. This American initiative, established in 1954, aimed to provide food aid to countries in need, with India being a significant beneficiary of the PL 480. The import of wheat from the USA under the PL 480 scheme played a crucial role in shaping India’s food security, agricultural policies, and economic growth. India relied heavily on this scheme under which ship loads of excess wheat from US were exported by ship to India and this period was referred to as a period of ship to mouth existence. During this period, India was at the mercy of US for feeding a hungry nation, post our tryst with destiny. 

In just two decades after independence, by 1968, with efforts and leadership of Dr Swaminathan, the mood of the nation from despair and diffident gave way to one of optimism and self confidence in relation to our agricultural potential. The efforts of Swaminathan proved our farmers ability to adapt and adopt new technologies, a phenomenon, which was christened in that year as Green Revolution'. This agricultural transformation brought about courtesy Swaminathan, helped India to strengthen its national sovereignty in many areas, including the capacity to remain nonaligned in our foreign policy. 

Dr MS Swaminathan led the mission towards attaining the Green Revolution and in this mission, he was admirably supported by the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Norman Borlaug, Union Agriculture Minister, C Subramaniam and other agriculture scientists. The unsung heroes of our Green Revolution were the Indian farmers, who listened and believed in the counsel of Indian scientists like Dr Swaminathan to paved the way for the Green Revolution, which transformed independent India. One of the most significant achievements of Dr. Swaminathan was the development of high-yielding dwarf variety wheat and rice crops that played a crucial role in increasing food production in India during the 1960s and 70s. 

The importance of the green revolution that India attained in the late sixties and seventies for nations sovereignty can be seen in one of the interviews of Dr Swaminathan. He said “Smt. Indira Gandhi was very supportive of the Indian agriculture initiatives so that she could let go of the PL 480 monkey on her back. Under Indira Gandhi’s leadership, India shifted its focus from heavy dependence on PL 480 food aid from US to a more self-reliant approach in agriculture. The successful achievement of the Green Revolution was instrumental in empowering India to become a more self-sufficient food producer and reducing its reliance on external assistance.

Interestingly, it was Swaminathan who knew that the dramatic increase in food production as a result of what was called the green revolution would most likely tempt farmers and others to exploit the benefits of modern agricultural practices and transform the much-appreciated green revolution in to a Greed Revolution, that would harm agriculture irreversibly. Swaminathan advocated a practice which would help the green revolution becoming an ever-green revolution with sustainable development in agriculture.

 Dr. Swaminathan’s dedication to agriculture extended beyond just increasing yields. He emphasized the importance of sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices. His concept of “evergreen revolution” focused on ensuring that agricultural growth was not achieved at the expense of the environment but rather in harmony with it. Throughout his career, he worked tirelessly to promote agricultural research and development, advocating for the needs of small and marginalized farmers. Beyond his scientific achievements, Dr. Swaminathan was a strong advocate for social justice and rural development. He recognized that improving the condition of farmers was essential for the overall development of India. His work extended to areas such as land reforms, rural education, and women’s empowerment, all of which were integral to his vision of a prosperous and equitable society.  MS Swaminathan was a strong advocate for sustainability in agriculture, recognizing its crucial role in addressing contemporary challenges. He and the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) have made significant contributions to advancing sustainable agriculture.

Dr. MS Swaminathan’s legacy goes beyond the numerous awards and honours he received, which include Indias highest civilian honours, the Bharat Ratna, which he received posthumously in 2024. He was also the recipient of the first World Food Prize Award, Albert Einstein World Science Award, Krishi Ratna award dedicated to the cause of agricultural sciences. Born on August, 7, 1925, in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, Swaminathan’s work laid the foundation for modern agricultural practices in India and inspired countless scientists, policymakers, and farmers to continue the quest for food security and sustainability. His passion for agriculture and his deep empathy for the farming community made him a revered figure in India and an inspiration to people around the world. As we remember Dr. MS Swaminathan, we acknowledge the indelible mark he has left on the world. His legacy will continue to guide us as we navigate the challenges of feeding a growing global population while safeguarding our environment.

Dr. Swaminathan’s life serves as a testament to the power of science, compassion, and dedication in shaping a better future for all. Today, as we celebrate the birth centenary of the legendary MS Swaminathan, let us hope and pray that his contributions to agriculture and humanity be celebrated and remembered for generations to come and may he continue to inspire millions of young Indians to contribute to nation-building.

The NASA-ISRO Partnership and the NISAR Mission

The NASA-ISRO Partnership and the NISAR Mission: A Leap Forward in Earth Observation and Global Resilience.

Yesterday evening, the skies above Sriharikota witnessed a triumphant moment as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite aboard the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark II F16 rocket with a precision that placed the satellite within 3 kilometers of its intended orbit—far surpassing the 20-kilometer margin. This magnificent launch marked a significant milestone in the storied partnership between ISRO and NASA, two space agencies representing the world’s largest and oldest democracies.

The successful launch of the GSLV Mark II rocket and the placement of NISAR satellite in its intended orbit, not only restored ISRO’s reputation after recent setbacks with the PSLV-C61/EOS-09 and NVS-02 missions but also reaffirmed the belief of ISRO founders in harvesting the applications of space for the benefit of humankind, more particularly Indians. It also strengthens the enduring collaboration between India and US that traces its roots to the visionary efforts of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, Dr. Homi Bhabha, and their contemporaries in ISRO and NASA in the 1960s and 1970s. The NISAR mission, a $1.5 billion endeavor, is poised to revolutionize Earth observation with its dual-frequency radar imaging, offering unprecedented insights into natural processes and aiding global efforts in disaster mitigation, climate monitoring, and sustainable development, which are now of extreme importance to the global community. Over the next three months, as NISAR transitions from deployment to full operational capability, it will usher in a new era of space applications, echoing the transformative impact of ISRO’s Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) program of 1975.

The Deployment Process of NISAR: A Three-Month Journey to Full Functionality

The successful launch of NISAR on July 30, 2025, marked the beginning of a meticulously planned deployment and commissioning process, expected to span approximately 90 days. This phase is critical to ensuring that the satellite, equipped with NASA’s L-band and ISRO’s S-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems, becomes fully operational and ready to deliver high-resolution, all-weather, day-and-night data. The deployment process can be broken down into several sub-phases, each designed to prepare the satellite for its ambitious scientific objectives.

Launch and Initial Orbit Stabilization (Days 1–10)

Following its precise injection into a 743-kilometer Sun-synchronous polar orbit, NISAR’s immediate post-launch phase involves stabilizing the spacecraft and confirming its health. Mission controllers from ISRO’s Telemetry Tracking and Command Network in Bengaluru and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have already confirmed full signal acquisition, indicating that the satellite is functioning as expected. During this period, the satellite’s solar arrays are deployed to power its systems, and initial checks are conducted on the spacecraft’s mainframe elements, including its attitude control systems, thermal regulation, and communication subsystems. These checks ensure that NISAR is correctly oriented and stable in its dawn-to-dusk orbit, which allows it to maintain consistent solar illumination for power generation.

Antenna Deployment (Days 10–20)

A critical milestone in NISAR’s deployment is the unfurling of its 12-meter mesh reflector antenna, the largest radar antenna ever deployed in space. Mounted on a 9-meter deployable boom, this antenna is essential for the satellite’s dual-frequency SAR operations. The deployment process, scheduled to begin around the 10th day post-launch, is a complex, multi-stage operation that requires precise coordination to extend the boom and unfurl the gold-plated mesh reflector, which resembles a giant beach umbrella. This step is crucial for enabling NISAR’s SweepSAR technology, which allows the satellite to image a 242-kilometer swath with 5–10-meter resolution. Engineers at ISRO and NASA will monitor the deployment closely, ensuring that the antenna is correctly positioned and structurally sound.

Commissioning and Instrument Calibration (Days 20–90)

The commissioning phase, spanning the first 90 days, is dedicated to preparing NISAR for its science operations. This phase is divided into sub-phases, including initial engineering checks, payload activation, and instrument calibration. The L-band (24 cm wavelength) and S-band (9 cm wavelength) radar systems, provided by NASA and ISRO respectively, will undergo rigorous testing to ensure they operate harmoniously. Calibration will involve the use of ground-based corner reflectors, such as those hosted by the National Centre of Geodesy at IIT-Kanpur and IIT-Patna, to fine-tune the radar’s accuracy during the in-orbit checkout phase. These reflectors help validate the satellite’s ability to detect minute surface deformations as small as a centimeter. Additionally, JPL’s engineering payload and instrument checkout will confirm the functionality of the high-rate communication subsystem, GPS receivers, solid-state recorder, and payload data subsystem. By the end of this phase, expected around late October 2025, NISAR will be ready to commence its primary science mission, systematically mapping Earth’s land and ice surfaces every 12 days.

The Legacy of ISRO-NASA Collaboration: From SITE to NISAR

The NISAR mission is a testament to the deep and enduring partnership between ISRO and NASA, a collaboration that began in the 1960s under the leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the founding father of India’s space program, and Dr. Homi Bhabha, a pioneer in India’s scientific community. Their vision for leveraging space technology for societal benefit laid the groundwork for one of ISRO’s most transformative initiatives: the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) of 1975. This program, executed under the leadership of Prof. Satish Dhawan and with contributions from Dr. E.V. Chitnis, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday, used NASA’s ATS-6 satellite to broadcast educational and health programs to 2,400 villages across India. The SITE program, often hailed as the “TV revolution,” brought knowledge on agriculture, health, and education to remote communities, demonstrating the power of space technology to bridge developmental gaps.

The NISAR mission builds on this legacy of international cooperation and societal impact. Unlike SITE, which relied on a borrowed satellite, NISAR is a true 50/50 partnership, with NASA contributing the L-band radar, radar reflector antenna, and critical subsystems, while ISRO provides the S-band radar, spacecraft bus, and launch services via the GSLV-F16. This collaboration, forged across 13 time zones and a decade of effort, showcases the technical and diplomatic synergy between two spacefaring nations. The mission’s open-data policy, which will make NISAR’s data publicly accessible within 1–2 days of observation and in near real-time for disaster response, echoes the democratizing spirit of SITE, ensuring that the benefits of advanced Earth observation reach developing nations and global communities.

NISAR’s Global Impact: Revolutionizing Disaster Mitigation and Beyond

Once fully operational in late October 2025, NISAR will transform how the world monitors and responds to natural processes and hazards. Its dual-frequency SAR, capable of penetrating vegetation (L-band) and detecting surface changes (S-band), will provide high-resolution, all-weather imagery, making it a game-changer in several domains:

Disaster Management and Mitigation

NISAR’s ability to detect surface deformations as small as a centimeter will enable early warning systems for natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. For instance, by monitoring fault lines, NISAR can identify areas of slow movement or locked faults, providing insights into potential seismic risks. Its all-weather imaging capability ensures that data remains available during cloud cover or darkness, critical for assessing flood zones or storm impacts. The satellite’s near real-time data will empower disaster response teams to act swiftly, potentially saving lives and reducing economic losses. For example, in the aftermath of the magnitude-8.8 earthquake off Russia’s Far East coast on July 30, 2025, NISAR’s data could have aided in mapping affected areas, even under adverse weather conditions.

Climate Monitoring and Environmental Stewardship

NISAR will provide critical data on climate change impacts, particularly in the cryosphere. Its left-facing instruments will study the Antarctic ice sheet, tracking melting and growth patterns to refine models of sea-level rise. The satellite will also monitor glaciers, permafrost, and sea ice, contributing to a better understanding of the carbon cycle and climate dynamics. By mapping wetlands and forests, NISAR will assess ecosystem disturbances and support biodiversity conservation efforts.

Agriculture and Resource Management

NISAR’s data will enhance agricultural productivity by monitoring soil moisture, crop growth, and land use changes. Farmers and policymakers can use this information to optimize irrigation, assess crop health, and plan sustainable agricultural practices. The satellite’s ability to map surface water resources will also aid in water management, particularly in water-scarce regions.

Infrastructure and Urban Planning

By detecting subtle land movements, NISAR will help assess the integrity of critical infrastructure such as levees, dams, and aqueducts. This capability is vital for preventing failures that could lead to catastrophic consequences. Urban planners can use NISAR’s data to monitor ground subsidence and ensure resilient city development.

Global Accessibility and Societal Benefits

NISAR’s open-data policy will democratize access to high-resolution Earth observation data, benefiting developing nations that lack advanced satellite systems. This accessibility will support global research, policy-making, and disaster preparedness, aligning with India’s vision of being a “Vishwa Bandhu” (global partner) as articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Jitendra Singh.

A Beacon of Hope Amidst Global Challenges

The successful launch of NISAR comes at a time of geopolitical and economic uncertainty, notably with the announcement of 25% tariffs on India by U.S. President Donald Trump. Amid this gloom, the NISAR mission stands as a symbol of hope, showcasing the power of collaboration between the world’s oldest and largest democracies. The mission’s success underscores the resilience of the U.S.-India partnership, which has weathered challenges to deliver cutting-edge science for global benefit. As ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan noted, NISAR will generate a “tremendous amount of data” daily, serving decision-makers, scientists, and disaster managers worldwide. This echoes the vision of Dr. Sarabhai, who saw space as a tool for uniting humanity through shared knowledge and progress.

Conclusion

The NISAR mission, launched on July 30, 2025, marks a historic milestone in the ISRO-NASA partnership, building on the legacy of pioneers like Dr. Sarabhai, Dr. Bhabha, Prof. Dhawan, and Dr. Chitnis. Over the next three months, as NISAR completes its deployment and commissioning phases, it will transition into a powerful tool for observing Earth’s complex processes. By providing high-resolution, all-weather data, NISAR will revolutionize disaster mitigation, climate monitoring, agriculture, and infrastructure management, benefiting not only India and the United States but also the global community. As the satellite begins beaming images in late October 2025, it will carry forward the spirit of the 1975 SITE program, using space technology to address humanity’s most pressing challenges. In an era of global uncertainties, NISAR stands as a testament to what two democracies can achieve when united by a shared commitment to science and the collective good.

 

Operation Faith - When Science Stood Up to Fear

Bhopal Gas Tragedy Comes to a Close - Time to Remember forgotten Operation Faith, When Science Stood Up to Fear

The hazardous chemical waste that was lying at the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy Union Carbide factory site, which witnessed the deadly MIC gas leak in December 1984, including pesticide residue has been disposed of through incineration at a facility in Pithampur.  The incineration process had begun with a trial run of 10 tonnes of incineration of the waste in February 2025 and this was part of a larger effort to safely dispose of the 377 tons of chemical toxic waste from the industrial disaster site in Bhopal. The waste was transported from the defunct Union Carbide factory in Bhopal to the TSDF (Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility) in Pithampur. After four decades on the orders of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, the toxic waste was transported - in twelve trucks - from the Union Carbide factory site in Bhopal to the incineration site in Pithampur, amid heavy security. The waste was lying at the site for 40 years after the tragedy that claimed the lives of more than 5,000 people and injured many more for life.

Most of the media - newspapers carried out the news of the finality of the incineration of the chemical toxic waste - including raising some questions on its environmental impact. However, sadly, there was not even a single report or media coverage which recalled a forgotten episode of Operation Faith, a scientific endeavour carried out by dedicated scientists, that saved many lives. Through this article I wish to recall Operation Faith and the contributions of the scientists who worked fearlessly, not caring for the safety of their lives, to study the accident site and diffuse a possible second leak which was waiting to happen.  

With the final lot of the toxic waste incineration completed, a sad chapter in the world’s largest industrial catastrophe, the Bhopal Gas Disaster, ended on 3 July at the TDSF in Pithampur of MP’s Dhār district. The last consignment of 19 tonnes of toxic waste-laden soil and 2.22 tonnes of packaging material, the remaining part of the 358 tonnes of toxic waste was completed on 3 July. It may be recalled that 377 tonnes of toxic waste was transported from UCIL Factory site in Bhopal to Pithampur in January 2025, on the orders of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The incineration of the waste was carried out in phases from January onwards under the watch of pollution control board experts monitored by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, with the last phase coming to an end early this month.

The enormity of the Bhopal gas tragedy can be fathomed from the global media headlines that this tragedy received. India Today front-paged this tragic incident covering it under the caption “City of Death” in their December 1984 issue. Time magazine titled their cover story “India’s Disaster—The Night of Death” in their December 14, 1984, issue. Incidentally, the Wall Street Journal, which is now in the news for its insensitive reporting of the Air India flight disaster that killed 262 people, was at its insensitive worst reportage of the Bhopal Gas tragedy. Reporting this worst global industrial disaster caused by the negligence of the Union Carbide management, a US company, The WSJ wrote “of those people killed, half would not have been alive today if it weren’t for that plant and the modern health standards made possible by wide use of pesticides.” Revealing its insensitivity to the thousands of people who had lost their lives.

It was past midnight on December 2, 1984, that nearly 30 of the 42 metric tonnes of Methyl Isocyanate (MIC), stored in one of the tanks - Tank E610 - of the UCIL Pesticide Plant, leaked and escaped into the atmosphere with great velocity. This deadly cloud of MIC gas took a heavy toll on the lives and livelihood of people in the area. Even today, the exact human death toll from the Bhopal gas tragedy is not known. However, it is estimated that more than 5000 people died within a few days of the gas leakage. Many more thousands of people were injured and maimed for life impacted by this tragedy, caused due to gross negligence of Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL). Finally, after 40 plus years of this human tragedy, the entire toxic waste from the UCIL site has finally been incinerated bringing about a symbolic closure to this unforgettable disaster.

The story of the Bhopal Gas tragedy will remain incomplete without remembering “Operation Faith’ under which, a group of scientists showed exemplary courage and commitment and put to use their scientific acumen to prevent a possible second catastrophe which was waiting to unfold had there not been a timely intervention by the group, who risked their lives to save the situation. Unfortunately, this extraordinary story of the bravery of the scientists from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), led by the visionary Dr. S. Varadarajan, under “Operation Faith”, is less known or almost completely forgotten.

When Science Stood Up to Fear

Not many youngsters today are aware of the Bhopal Gas tragedy and even less people know about Operation Faith. This operation was launched immediately after the disaster that unfolded with MIC leak in Bhopal in December 1984. The focus was shifted to managing the remaining MIC stored in the other tanks. "Operation Faith" was the name given to this mission after its completion and it involved the process of converting the stored MIC in other tanks into a pesticide, a process that involved safe transferring the MIC to a different part of the plant and safeguarding it from leakage.

This mission was led by Dr Varadarajan, who in consultation with eminent chemist, Prof M M Sharma, put together a team of 16 members -  consisting of chemical engineers and related experts, Dr. L.K. Doraiswamy, N.R Ayyangar, C.S.P Iyer, A .A Khan, A.K. Lahiri, K.V. Muzamdar, R.A Mashelkar, R.B Mitra , O.G.B Nambiar, V.Ramachandran, V.D Sahasrabuddhe, S. Sivaram, M. Sriram, G. Thyagarajan and R.S. Venkataraman – to address this complicated issue.

The deadly MIC gas leak from the UCIL factory in Bhopal had created a havoc and in such tragic and dangerous circumstances there was not much support on the ground for the team. The Operation Faith team, therefore, had to work risking their lives at site. The first decision Dr Varadarajan took immediately on landing in Bhopal, was to physically inspect the site to study the residues still left in tank 610 from where the gas had leaked. During their inspection the team learnt about the imminent danger of the second tank E 611, which had around 40 tonnes of MIC stored in it, similar to the storage that tank E610 had. The team also realised that there was another tank, which too had MIC and posed a risk of leakage.

Site inspection not only helped the team to understand what may have gone wrong that led to the leakage of MIC from E610 tank, but they also realised that tank, E611, with a similar amount of MIC 40 tonnes, stored in it, lay ticking like a chemical time bomb. There was every chance that tank E 611 might undergo same runaway reaction as 610 from which deadly MIC had leaked. Dr Varadarajan and his team examined the residues still left in tank 610 to get an idea of what all could have happened to the MIC in tank 610 and why it leaked.

Once they fairly assessed the reasons for the leakage of the MIC, they set about engineering a mechanism to safely dispose the remaining MIC from tank 610 and take precautionary measures to safeguard leakage from 611, and finally try and dispose the MIC gas from that tank. There was another question that needed to be answered: what were the effects of the toxic MIC gas on the people around. How and why did the MIC cause death and damage, and how can such damage be countered or avoided. They shared their knowledge of the MIC and its impact with the health workers.

The team carefully studied the situation at ground and at lightning speed comprehended the chemistry and storage conditions of the MIC in the two tanks and thoughtfully provided engineering solution to mitigate leakage from tank E 611.  They realised that MIC boils at 80°C but evaporates at lower temperature. This showed that MIC gas is best stored under refrigerated conditions - below 10°C. Shockingly, this was not done at the factory by UCIL – cost cutting measures perhaps. They also realised that ultrapure MIC can be inert and that trace impurities can set up a chain reaction and one of them can produce a solid polymer. This solid polymer could clog up pipes through which MIC can be transferred from the storage tank. They adopted a process of converting 21 tons of MIC from tank 611 into a chemical called Sevin, at the rate of 3-4 tons daily. They commenced this operation on Sunday, December 16th, 1984 and ended six days later. This scientifically and technically validated operation carried out under Operation Faith saved what would definitely have led to a ‘Bhopal 2 tragedy'.

A Legacy Worth Remembering

As India formally closes the Bhopal Gas tragedy chapter after four decades, it is time for us to remember not only the villains, whose gross negligence led to this manmade disaster and learn lesson from this disaster, but also let us remember its heroes of Operation Faith - the scientists who walked into the danger zone when the ones who were responsible fled. They believed that truth, knowledge, and science could protect lives.

Science doesn’t just build rockets or invent vaccines. Sometimes, it walks into a poisoned factory, under threat of death, and quietly save people and the city.

Jai Vigyan.

The outstanding efforts of the team under “Operation Faith” has been documented in the exhaustive CSIR Report on Scientific Studies Related to Bhopal Toxic Gas Leakage (1985), which was submitted to Parliament. This report can now be accessed here: https://bhopalgasdisaster.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/csir-report-on-scientific-studies-december-1985.pdf

 

Maratha Military Landscapes (Forts) Find a Place on the World Stage

 

Maratha Military Landscapes (Forts) Find a Place on the World Stage — But the Journey to Global Heritage Has Just Begun.

The World Heritage Committee, in its 47^th session held at Paris on 11 July 2025, approved ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’, India’s official nomination for the year 2024-25 cycle, for inscription in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This welcome announcement has brought cheers across the country. This is all the more important, since this nomination was made last year, 2024, which marks the 350th anniversary of the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who was crowned King of the Marathas on June 6, 1674, at Raigad Fort. This event, known as Shivrajyabhishek Day, marks the formal beginning of the Maratha Empire and is considered a significant milestone in Indian history. It is therefore befitting that the ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’, that includes the Raigad Fort, where Shivaji Maharaj was coroneted, has been permanently etched in the annals of world history inscribed as World Heritage Site, 44^th for India.

Maratha Military Landscapes of India includes 12 forts: 11 from Maharashtra and 1 from Tamil Nadu (Gingee Fort). Raigad Fort, as the capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's empire, where Shivaji was coronated, is a prominent fort in this group. The others in the group include; Salher, Shivneri, Lohagad, Khanderi, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, and the Sindhudurg Fort From the military brilliance of the Marathas and the naval strategies of the Angres, to the layered colonial influences of the Portuguese, Dutch, and British, the Maratha forts in the Konkan area, which are a part of the Maratha Military Landscapes, tell stories embedded deep in India’s maritime and political history It is therefore a happy occasion for India and that finally the Maratha legacy has been recognized as a World Heritage site.

Even as the nation celebrates its 44tn entry into this world’s elite list of the UNESCO World Heritage list, yet, this proud recognition also begs a deeper question: Why has India, a cradle of five thousand plus years of recorded Civilisation, secured relatively fewer UNESCO World Heritage recognitions compared to its potential? This is evidenced from the maiden speech of Mrs Sudha Murthy in the Rajya Sabha. Sudha Murty in her maiden speech at Rajya Sabha on July 2, 2024, highlighted the need for greater recognition of India's archaeological sites and their potential for boosting tourism. She advocated for greater attention to promote domestic tourism and appreciate India's rich cultural heritage. She cited examples like the Bahubali statue at Shravanabelagola in Karnataka, the Lingaraja Temple, the Unakoti rock carvings in Tripura, and the Shivaji forts in Maharashtra (recognised this year) as worthy contenders for World Heritage status.

Going back in history, the World Heritage Convention was adopted by UNESCO in 1972, establishing a framework for identifying and preserving cultural and natural sites of outstanding universal value. The World Heritage Committee, formed by member states, meets annually to evaluate nominations from countries and to inscribe qualifying sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The first World Heritage Sites were inscribed in the year 1978 and the sites included Galápagos Islands (Ecuador of Darwin fame), Yellowstone (USA), and Aachen Cathedral (Germany), among others. India made its debut in the year 1983 with four of its entries Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Taj Mahal, and Agra Fort made it to this list. Since then, India has steadily added sites, reflecting its rich cultural, historical, and natural diversity. But then as Sudha Murthy pointed out in her maiden speech in Rajya Sabha is this pace adequate?

 

India has only 44 World Heritage Sites including the Maratha Forts (added this year), which is impressive, but modest in relation to its staggering breadth of history, architecture, and civilisational achievements. Unfortunately, there has not been priority attached to the World Heritage nominations from India. For decades, heritage nominations have not been duly recognized perhaps due to poorly compiled dossiers, lack of inter-departmental coordination, and an overall apathy toward global cultural diplomacy. The elaborate documentation, research and comparative analysis, and management frameworks that UNESCO demands for probable sites to be inscribed in the World Heritage Site, were not prepared with seriousness.

Fortunately, that tide has begun to turn — notably in the past decade, ever since there has been a discernible acceleration in India's efforts to secure heritage recognitions. While this may be seen as a welcome awakening, it also reflects a shift in how heritage is being positioned — increasingly as a soft power asset, a tool of nation branding, and occasionally, as a means to score electoral brownie points.

The recognition of the Maratha Forts is a case study in how things can be done right when intent meets planning. The objective was to get a World Heritage Listing inscription for the Maratha Forts to commemorate 350^th year of Coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja which has been admirably achieved. This nomination involved deep historical research, GIS-based documentation, careful selection of representative fort types (island, promontory, riverine, and headland), and a cohesive narrative linking India’s maritime past to global trade networks.

Interestingly, World Heritage Listing of some of India’s heritage sites have become integral to all Indians. They have been printed in ink and are circulated in pockets and wallets across the country. One of the article published recently in CSMVS Research Journal entitled “Banking on World Heritage” traces the fascinating history of Indian currency notes that feature World Heritage Sites. Following the demonetisation drive of 2016, the new series of Indian currency notes — from ₹10 to ₹2000 — began showcasing India’s World Heritage landmarks: The Konark Sun Temple (₹10), Ellora Caves (₹20), Rani ki Vav (₹100), Sanchi Stupa (₹200), Hampi (₹50), Red Fort (₹500), and Mangalyaan (₹2000 — a nod to technological heritage). This interesting design was not just an aesthetic choice; it was a subtle but powerful celebration of India’s tangible heritage.

The story doesn’t end with money. India Post, too, has long played its part in popularizing World Heritage Sites through evocative postal stamps. In doing so, both currency and philately have done what academic journals and policy briefs often cannot — they have made World Heritage recognitions accessible, visible, and even aspirational to the average citizen.

What makes the Maratha Forts Inscription in to the World Heritage List truly significant is that it is a serial nomination — a relatively recent strategy in UNESCO terms, where multiple sites are bundled together based on a unifying theme, geography, or cultural thread. This enables the inscription of a “cultural landscape” rather than isolated monuments.

This consideration also resonate with forts elsewhere in India still waiting for global attention: the Deccan strongholds of Bidar and Golconda, the forest forts of the Northeast, the Jain hilltop fortresses in central India. These too deserve to be stitched into a broader narrative of India’s fort heritage — but that will only happen if the same commitment shown in the Maratha Forts nomination is institutionalized and scaled up.

In fact, India is a civilizationally rich country with more than 5000 years of layered cultural heritage, and archaeological sites are being unearthed even today across the subcontinent — each with potential for global recognition. Interestingly, in the year 2017, to mark 70 years of India’s Independence, the London Science Museum organised a highly successful exhibition “Illuminating India: 500 Years of Science and Innovation” acknowledging India’s rich history and yours truly was honoured to be the Nodal Officer for this exhibition from India. There is therefore, a scope for many more UNESCO World Heritage listing possibilities for India.

Take, for example, the city of Bijapur where I studied as a cadet at Sainik School from class V to XI. Bijapur city is home to some of the best architectural marvels, which are astounding: the famed Gol Gumbaz inspired George Wittet, the architect who went on to design the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) in Mumbai, where I currently serve as Advisor. Or the Ibrahim Roza, a majestic “black beauty” of Indian architecture, which predates and even surpasses the Taj Mahal in its delicate proportions and harmonious design. There are several other historically significant sites and monuments from the Adil Shahi period, which collectively can perhaps make a cut.

Bijapur is but one of many overlooked treasure troves. There are many more such sites in India worthy of the UNESCO World Heritage tag — if only they were documented and proposed with the seriousness they merit. Unfortunately, no consolidated national campaign exists to survey, research, document, and submit proposals as per the standard UNESCO format. India has the cultural wealth, but not the machinery to fully capitalize on global heritage recognitions. It is therefore time that a concerted effort be made to strengthen this effort collectively. Perhaps the Ministry of Culture should earmark dedicated funds and assign a specialized heritage research body to undertake this task — systematically, strategically, and sustainably.

Beyond the UNESCO tag lies the deeper issue of how India views its heritage. Are our monuments merely tourist attractions or living cultural assets that inform our identity, policy, and future? Recognition on a global stage should not just be a badge of pride — it must also trigger investments in conservation, heritage education, and sustainable tourism that empowers local economies and safeguards the sites from over-commercialization.

If the forts of Maharashtra — long neglected, some crumbling under the weight of the elements — can now aspire for global protection and respect, it must give hope to every small archaeological mound, neglected palace, or silent rock carving in India.

We have seen our past embossed on our notes, postmarked on our letters, and now finally recognized by the world. It is time we also inscribe it — carefully, consciously, and collaboratively — into our future.

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