Live World Cup Cricket : Spare a thought for Vikram Sarabhai, the visionary who laid the foundation for making this a reality.

Live World Cup Cricket : Spare a thought for Vikram Sarabhai, the visionary who laid the foundation for making this a reality. 

The whole of India was united in hailing the spectacular victory that Kohli’s men in Blue achieved in yesterday’s match against Australia. The victory was that much more sweeter, since Australia had deprived India of yet another possible World Cup victory in 2015, by defeating India in the semifinal’s. Tens of millions of people across India were glued to their TV sets, on Sunday, watching live their cricketing heroes beat the Australians at the Oval. Scores of articles have been written on India’s victory by experts in the field including several legends and hundreds and thousands of gossips and discussions have happened in most offices, homes and on the social media platforms and therefore, I dare not write a word more on this. 

My post is on the TV revolution in India and the space technology, which has made possible every Indian watch and enjoy the cricket matches live. While the whole of India is praising, rightly so, Kohli and his team for the spectacular victory, please do spare a thought or two for the visionary scientist, Dr Vikram Sarabhai - whose centenary we are celebrating this year - the father of Indian Space Programme (ISRO), who laid the foundation for the space programme in India, which in turn ushered in the TV revolution.
India was two decades late in commencing the TV broadcast, which was introduced in India for the first time on September 15, 1959, in Delhi. However, the first television service of the world was started by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in 1936. The TV broadcasts in India expanded to include educational programmes for school children and it was 13 years later, in 1972, that India’s second television station was opened in Bombay, followed by stations in Amritsar and Srinagar and Madras, Calcutta and Lucknow. TV in India was more of a figment of imagination for majority of Indians, particularly for our rural population. The efficacy of this new found media for creating awareness on the stressing societal needs was soon realised by Dr Vikram Sarabhai, who said “There are some who question the relevance of space activities in a developing nation. To us, there is no ambiguity of purpose. We do not have the fantasy of competing with the economically advanced nations in the exploration of the moon or the planets or manned space-flight. But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to the real problems of man and society."

Vikram Sarabhai, a man of passion for science and its benefits to human society, was appointed the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission in May 1966, after the sudden death of Homi Bhabha in an air crash. Sarabhai envisaged harnessing the power of space science to find solutions to the problems India was facing in the field of communication, meteorology, and education. Sarabhai used his stature to connect with NASA, leader in space science, to start the first experiment of commencing TV programs in rural villages in India and the result was the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE). The SITE, program was launched in 1975 and became the first major India-US partnership in space, which has grown from strength to strength, notwithstanding the cold era period and the sanctions that India endured. SITE was India’s first attempt to use technology for education through TV broadcasts. Courtesy the success of the SITE, India began launch of communications satellites beginning with the INSAT 1 and also brought about a revolution in establishing Low Power Transmitting TV stations from 1982, which helped India in taking giant leaps in the field of mass communication particularly the TV transmission. There has never been a looking back.

True to Sarabhai’s vision Indian Space programme has come a very long way from the humble beginning of the launch of our first launch vehicle - SLV- and the satellite Aryabhatta, to the current era in which ISRO creates, builds and launches gigantic rockets, including the most successful PSLV - the work horse- which carry Indian and international payloads, satellites, and complex spacecraft not just for our country but also for several other countries. Projects like the Chandrayaan, Mars Orbit Mission, built at frugal costs, not only exemplify Indian excellence in Space but also kindle an outstanding sense of Indianness among the people. Today, courtesy Sarabhai’s vision and the initial success of SITE and the Indian Space programme, we have 900 plus television channels including the Star Sports channel, which is beaming live the WORLD CUP cricket matches to us from England and several of these TV channels operate on Indian satellites, which include the INSAT 4A, GSAT 10 and GSAT 17. 

So next time when Kohli or Dhoni hoists a Six or Bumrah takes a wicket, do cheer for the Indian team but don’t forget to remember Sarabhai, who helped us in watching the cricket matches live from the comforts of our home. 

May India win the 2019 World Cup and let this win be a befitting tribute to the father of Indian Space Program, Dr Vikram Sarabhai. Jai Hind.