The Cosmos in a Speck: Remembering Basavanna’s Ishta linga on Basava Jayanti

 

As we continue to celebrate Basava Jayanti on 29 April 2025, marking the 894th birth anniversary of Jagat Jyoti Basaveshvara, let me articulate my understanding of his revolutionary philosophy—the Ishta linga. This small, sacred black stone-like sacred article, worn close to the heart by every Lingayat, is far more than a symbol; it is a profound reminder that the entire cosmos resides within us, and we, in turn, are a speck of dust in the vast Brahmand. On this sacred occasion, it reminds me of how Basavanna’s vision of the Ishta linga connects the individual soul to the infinite, echoing truths that resonate with modern science and universal spirituality.

Basavanna, the 12th-century poet-philosopher and founder of the Veerashaiva-Lingayat tradition, redefined worship by giving his followers the Ishta linga—a personal Linga that embodies Shiva, the divine essence of existence. Unlike temple-bound sacred idols, the Ishta linga is portable, carried by devotees as a constant companion. Basavanna taught that this tiny sacred stone, which is always worn by the followers, holds the entire universe within it: “The Linga is the cosmos, the cosmos is the Linga; in it resides all creation.” By worshipping the Ishta linga, Lingayats, the followers of Basavanna, honour the infinite divine while recognizing their own speck of dust space which they occupy, within the cosmic tapestry—a humbling yet empowering realization.

This idea finds a striking parallel in modern science in the writing of the great Isaac Asimov. Isaac Asimov's book, "The Stars, Like Dust", explores the unending vastness of the expanse of space and the insignificance of humanity within this Brahmand, using the metaphor of humans being a "speck of dust" which was profoundly visualized in the philosophy of Basavanna. Basavanna’s Ishta linga philosophy captures this truth, reminding us that we are both insignificant specks and integral parts of the cosmic whole. When a Lingayat holds their Ishta linga, they are not just worshipping a symbol but connecting with the very forces that created galaxies, stars, and life itself. As Basavanna said, “My Linga is my companion; where I go, it follows,” making spirituality a living, breathing practice, unbound by temples or priests.

The Ishta linga is also a radical symbol of equality. In a society divided by caste and gender, Basavanna ensured that every Lingayat—man, woman, or child—received their own Ishta linga, declaring that the divine is accessible to all. This democratization of worship was revolutionary in the 12th century, as he wrote: “The Linga knows no caste, no creed; it is the breath of all.” By placing the cosmos in the hands of every devotee, Basavanna empowered them to see themselves as both divine and human, infinite yet finite.

The Ishta linga is central to Basavanna’s broader philosophy, including the Shat sthala (six stages of spiritual evolution), Ashta varna (eight protective disciplines), and Pancha chara (five ethical codes). Through daily rituals of cleansing and meditating on the Ishta linga, devotees progress toward Aikya—union with Shiva—while living ethically and serving others. This practice transforms worship into a way of life, aligning with Basavanna’s principles of Kayaka (work as worship) and Dasoha (selfless service).

As we reflect on Basavanna’s legacy this Basava Jayanti, the Ishta linga, which the followers of Lingayat worship daily in their hands, invites us to look within and beyond—to see the universe in a stone like Linga and ourselves in the stars. In a world often divided by differences, Basavanna’s vision reminds us of our shared cosmic origins and our potential for unity and compassion.

For those eager to explore more about Basavanna, I share my blog post from 2020, diving deeper into Basavanna’s life: https://khened.blogspot.com/2020/04/basava-jayanti-birth-anniversary-of.html.

Let us carry the Ishta linga in our hearts, not just as Lingayats but as seekers of truth, honoring the cosmos within and around us. Once again a  very Happy Basava Jayanti!

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Eulogy for K Kasturirangan: Visionary Leader in Space, Education and Conservation (1940-2025)

 

Dr Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, one of the few living scientists who worked in ISRO with the founder of Indian space program - Dr Vikram Sarabhai – a visionary and a versatile leader who headed ISRO for a decade and went beyond his space specialisation in contributing to the nation in the field of education and conservation, and the man who befittingly was conferred with all the three Padma awards ( Padma Shri-1982, Padma Bhushan-1992 and Padma Vibhushan-2000) passed away peacefully in his home in Bangalore on 25 April, 2025 at 10.43AM. He was 84. It is reported that arrangements are being made to provide an opportunity to the visitors to pay their last respect to the space scientist at the Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru, where his body will be kept on Sunday, 27 April between 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon.

The nation led by our Honourable President and many other distinguished citizens – Mr Kharge Congress President, senior scientists from ISRO and other institutions -  paid rich tributes to Kasturirangan on their tweeter handle X, hailing his profound contributions in the nation building not only in the field of space but also in many other fields - NEP 2020.  The PM wrote on his X “I am deeply saddened by the passing away of Dr K Kasturirangan, a towering figure in India’s scientific and educational journey…….” Dr Kasturirangan leaves behind an indelible mark on our nation, which deservingly honoured him with all the three Padma Awards – Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.

Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan navigated the Indian Space programme for 9 plus years’ (1994-2003) as the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Space Commission and Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Space, before laying down his office on August 27, 2003. It is to his credit that ISRO achieved near 100% success in the 29 space missions that were launched during his leadership of ISRO.

Under his leadership, Indian space program attained several major milestones including the successful launching and operationalisation of the India’s prestigious launch vehicles, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). It was during his time that ISRO witnessed the development and launching of some of the world’s best civilian remote sensing satellites, IRS-1C and 1D, and successful launch and benefits from new generation INSAT communication satellites and ocean observation satellites IRS-P3/P4 which benefitted the nation in ocean observations - warnings from cyclones etc. His efforts and those of his predecessors and successors have put India as a pre-eminent space-faring nation among the handful of six countries that have major space programmes. Today ISRO is a pride of the nation.

Born on October 24, 1940, in Ernakulum, Kerala, Dr. Kasturirangan hailed from a family that valued education deeply. His paternal grandfather ensured a strong educational foundation for his family, and his father, a chemistry graduate, worked as a senior accountant with the then Tata Airlines - later it became Indian Airlines. Unfortunately, Kasturirangan lost his mother when he was very young and therefore his father left him in the care of his maternal grandparents in Kerala. Kasturirangan, studied at the Sree Rama Varma High School in Ernakulum. At the age of 10, Kasturirangan lost his grandfather compelling his father to take him to Bombay (now Mumbai).

In Bombay Kasturirangan studied at the South Indian Education Society High School in Matunga. It was here that he fell in love with science. He later pursued a BSc Honours in Physics (1961) and an MSc in Physics with specialisation in electronics (1963), which he completed from Mumbai University. He then moved to PRL Ahmedabad as a research scholar to take up his research under Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the founder of space program in India, who had also founded the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad. It was during this period that Kasturirangan dreamed of being a part of the team of Dr Sarabhai to achieve his vision for India to adopt space technology for nation development. Kasturirangan obtained his PhD in Experimental High Energy Astronomy under the guidance of Dr Sarabhai from the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad in 1971. This was the beginning of his stellar career in space research, which was to last for nearly four decades. From his initial days in ISRO, Dr Kasturirangan was involved in the satellite division and was part of the team led by Dr UR Rao that went into building the Aryabhata, the first Indian satellite. He later worked for many years at the ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), Bangalore, as the Deputy Director and Director of the Centre before becoming the Chairman of ISRO in 1994.  

One interesting anecdote stands out when we describe the tenure of Dr. Kasturirangan as the Chairman of ISRO. ISRO had a near-100% success in all its programs by way of 29 successful missions (of satellites and launch vehicles), including four commercial/foreign satellites launched under his leadership. It is to be noted that Kasturirangan took on the mantle of the Chairman ISRO in 1994 from the legendary UR Rao, who along with his predecessors, Prof Dhawan and Dr Sarabhai, had laid an extraordinarily strong foundation for ISRO, including creating a culture that was destined to stand out for excellence and that too at frugal cost.

Unfortunately, when Kasturirangan took charge of the Chairman ISRO in 1994, ISRO was passing through testing times. The maiden launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV D1), which was attempted in September 1993 – PSLV is now a giant workhorse for ISRO – during Prof. Rao’s tenure, had failed. There were also other challenges of making advanced remote sensing satellites (IRS) and more importantly an unprecedented espionage charge on ISRO scientists, which he had to address. One of the first success that he faced was the successful launch of the PSLV D2 on 15 October 1994, within few months of his becoming the Chairman. However, there were serious challenges to be faced.

Just a month after the success of PSLV D2, Sankaralingam Nambi Narayanan, one of the top scientists of ISRO, and four others, including two Maldivian women, were arrested by the Kerala Police in November 1994. They were arrested under the Official Secrets Act on the serious charges of espionage and spying for Pakistan. Nambi Narayanan was taken in to custody and remained there for nearly 50 days. This news with plenty of masala – Bollywood style – had made national headline resulting in demoralising ISRO scientists and others who worked so passionately for ISRO.  

In the early 1990s Nambi Narayanan was one of ISROs top scientists who was working on the critical cryogenics technology. India was negotiating with the Soviet Union and the United States for access to cryogenics technology, which uses low temperatures to store fuel in a liquid state. After many negotiations India had agreed to buy this technology from the Soviet Union. Unfortunately, due to the disintegration of the USSR, politics played spoilsport and the Russians backed out from the agreement to provide cryogenic technology to India.  Therefore, Nambirajan and his team, working on this technology, were very important for ISRO. Allegation of espionage and arrest of Nambirajan came as a major blow, not just on the morale of the scientists but also on Kasturirangan who had just taken over the mantle of ISRO.

Addressing this issue was of paramount importance to Dr Kasturirangan not only to boost the sagging morale of ISRO but also to re-establish the impeccable integrity image of ISRO. This matter, of utmost sensitivity, was handled by Dr. Kasturirangan in his “characteristic quiet way” of handling of such stressful issues. My engineering class mate - a friend cum relative - Dr Amaresh Khened, former Director ISRO, who had joined ISRO in 1991 in the satellite centre of ISRO, which Dr Kasturirangan was heading, used to speak about his style of handling matters.

Dr Kasturirangan, it is said, worked quietly on this sensitive issue and obtained all the details which he could muster and went about conducting his own reviews and inquiry on the case. Once he was convinced that there was no - so called - spying or espionage that had taken place, and the charges made against ISRO scientists were false and frivolous, he approached the office of the Prime Minister and spoke to late Mr P.V. Narasimha Rao, the then PM, and convinced him to involve CBI in the matter to probe the case. Based on the findings of CBI, the case filed by the Kerala Police of espionage against ISRO scientists, with their own so called evidences, was dismissed by a local court in Kerala in 1996 and Nambi Narayanan and others accused in the episode were declared innocent.

However, it is a different matter that the case took a political turn and the Kerala Government went in appeal and the case went on for many more years – decades - until the Supreme Court gave its conclusive judgment of innocence of Nambi Narayan and all others from ISRO from the allegations. The Supreme Court went a step further in ordering for compensation to Narayanan and instructing the Government to initiate probe against the Kerala Police officers who had made these false allegations and had ruined the careers of Narayan and others. The sensitivity with which this case was handled in the initial stages by Kasturirangan who sought for the investigation by CBI helped ISRO redeem its pride with the exemplary judgment of the Supreme Court.

Perhaps it was this testing time that Dr Kasturirangan faced in the beginning of his career as the head of ISRO that made him cautious, which showed up in 100% successful results. Although the number of space missions were just 29 in his tenure, it is noteworthy that all of these missions were successful, notwithstanding the reality that space missions are rid with risks and complications.

Dr Kasturirangan, spent most of his time with ISRO with the Satellite Centre (ISAC) in Bangalore, before becoming the Chairman ISRO. This was befitting considering his educational background of being an astrophysicist, with specialization in high-energy X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy, as well as optical astronomy. Moreover, he was always interested in the vision of his mentor that space applications should benefit grassroots development which he knew would be possible through satellites.  This helped ISRO to pioneering research on cosmic X-ray sources, celestial gamma-rays, and their atmospheric effects. Dr Rangan’s early work included “determining the spectrum of diffused cosmic X-rays and studying the spectral behaviour of celestial sources like ScoX-1 and CygX-1.”  

At ISRO, Dr Kasturirangan began his career as a physicist and rose to become the Director of the ISRO Satellite Centre (1990–1994), where he oversaw the development of advanced spacecraft such as the Indian National Satellite (INSAT-2) and Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (IRS-1A and 1B). He also served as the Project Director for India’s first experimental earth observation satellites, Bhaskara-I and II, and later directed the operational IRS-1A.

Dr. Kasturirangan steered ISRO to remarkable milestones with the successful launch of the PSLV and GSLV, which helped India to be among the elite spacefaring nations. During his time as the Chairman, with early learnings from design and launch of satellite and launch vehicles success and failures, he led ISRO in the development of world-class civilian satellites like IRS-1C and 1D, advanced INSAT communication satellites, and ocean observation satellites IRS-P3 and P4. His vision also laid the groundwork for India’s planetary exploration, defining the Chandrayaan-1 mission, which marked India’s entry into lunar exploration. Dr. Kasturirangan’s emphasis on remote sensing and spatial technologies revolutionized applications in agriculture, disaster management, and resource mapping, benefiting both India and the global community.

Even after he stepped down from ISRO in 2003, Dr Kasturirangan remained ever active in mantling diverse responsibilities in the nation building exercises and assignments that came his way. He served a full term – 2003-09 - as a Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and also as a member of the Planning Commission (Niti Ayog). Dr Kasturirangan served as the head of a committee tasked with creating the National Education Policy 2020 for India.  Later in September 2021, he was appointed as the head of a 12-member steering committee which was responsible for developing a new National Curriculum Framework (NCF), post the NEP 2020. Dr Kasturirangan is the recipient of several Honorary Doctorate from as many as 27 universities. He is fellow of all the Science and Engineering academies in India. He has also served as the Chairman of the Governing Body of several premier academic and research institutions in India. He also served as the Society Member of the National Council of Science Museums, my parent organisation. The list is too long to be quoted.  

The New Education Policy (NEP2020) is hailed as revolutionary. NEP 2020 was drafted by a committee which was chaired by Dr Kasturirangan. NEP introduced transformative reforms like the 5+3+3+4 structure and flexible examinations, cross disciplinary study, mother tongue and regional languages as medium of instructions, multidisciplinary and holistic education, National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, multiple entry and exit options in higher education, integration of vocational, education and skilling from early grades, shift away from rote learning towards experiential and critical thinking based learning which also included mandatory visit to real life experiences from visits to museums, science centres and historical places etc. As a museum professional I am certain that learning from visit to museums and historical sites helps in critical thinking and it also benefits the museums in increased visitors. The NEP draft was driven by his belief in the need for diverse, interdisciplinary education.

His environmental stewardship shone through his role as Chairman of the Western Ghats Biodiversity Report, a critical effort to preserve one of India’s ecological treasures, following the pioneering work of Professor Madhav Godbole committee. This report, though not fully adopted, highlighted his foresight in balancing development with conservation.

Dr. Kasturirangan’s contributions were recognized with numerous accolades. He was honoured with India’s highest civilian awards: the Padma Shri (1982), Padma Bhushan (1992), and Padma Vibhushan (2000). Internationally, he received the Brock Medal (2004) from the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, the Allan D Emil Memorial Award (2004), and the Theodore von Karman Award (2007) from the International Academy of Astronautics. He was also conferred the title of Officer of the Légion d’Honneur by France. Nationally, his awards included the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in Engineering, the Aryabhata Award (2003), the Asutosh Mookerjee Memorial Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council, among many others. He published over 200 papers in astronomy, space science, and applications, and edited six books, leaving a rich intellectual legacy.

I have had a limited association with Dr Kasturirangan. I first wrote to him in early 2001, for seeking the guidance, support and mentorship of ISRO for the development of a gallery “Hall of Aerospace, which we were developing at the Nehru Science Centre. We received outstanding support from ISRO in the development of this gallery which was opened in December 2003. His support reflected his commitment to science communication and public engagement.

Nehru Science Centre with support and collaboration with ISRO and the National Centre for Science Communicators organised two major birth centenary conferences in memory of Dr Sarabhai and Prof Satish Dhawan. I had the privilege of sharing the stage as one of the invited speakers with Dr. Kasturirangan, Prof Jyotsna Dhawan, daughter of Prof Satish Dhawan and Dr Pramod Kale, former Director Space Application Centre, during the centenary tribute to Prof. Satish Dhawan at the Nehru Science Centre, an event that showcased his extraordinary humility and wisdom.

Dr. Kasturirangan’s life was a testament to selfless service, blending scientific innovation, educational reform, and environmental advocacy. As Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, a member of the Rajya Sabha (2003–2009), and a member of the Planning Commission, he continued to shape India’s future with his visionary leadership. As we bid farewell to Dr. Kasturirangan, we celebrate a true architect of modern India—a scientist, educationist, and patriot whose legacy will inspire generations.

Rest in peace, sir, and thank you for your extraordinary contributions to nation-building.

Images Credit : Courtesy Wikipedia, Nehru Science Centre and Google search images 

PS: I wish to credit my senior in school Sangappa Kori Sir, who is one of the regular readers of my blogs who compelled – avoiding using the term ragged, most common with Ajeets, alumni of SSBJ - me to pen my tribute. Thanks Kori Sir and I hope I have come up to your expectation.

A Tribute to Max Planck on His 167th Birth Anniversary: Architect of the Quantum Age

 

Max Planck, a visionary German physicist whose revolutionary quantum theory laid the foundation for modern physics and transformed our world, was born on this day, 23 April, in 1858, and today we mark his 167^th birth anniversary. Interestingly, the AI of Facebook reminded me of one of my Facebook posts that I had written on 14 December 2023, to commemorate a historic day when the groundbreaking Quantum Theory was firmly established by Max Planck in 1900. Here is the link to this post on my Blog, which has motivated me to add on to the blog and pen this article

 https://khened.blogspot.com/2023/12/december-14-max-plancks-quantum-theory.html

It is befitting that we pay a special tribute to Max Planck on his birthday this year, 2025, since the year 2025 is special, for it is commemorated as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ), marking 100 years of the development of quantum mechanics. In 1925, quantum mechanics was formally developed by Werner Heisenberg, Max Born, and Pascual Jordan. Heisenberg, building on earlier work, published his "Umdeutung" paper in 1925, reinterpreting quantum theory. Born and Jordan then collaborated with Heisenberg to develop matrix mechanics, a complete and consistent mathematical framework for quantum mechanics. Recognizing the importance of quantum science and demand from several scientific bodies from across the world, on June 7, 2024, the United Nations proclaimed 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ). According to the proclamation, a year-long, worldwide initiative will “be observed through activities at all levels aimed at increasing public awareness of the importance of quantum science and applications.”

I am therefore honoured to be reminded by AI of Facebook about my post, which has motivated me to pen this article as a contribution to IYQ to honour not only Planck’s scientific genius but also his resilience through profound personal tragedies during the World Wars and the enduring legacy of the Max Planck Society, which continues to advance science in his name. This tribute reflects on Planck’s monumental contributions and the indomitable spirit that defined his life.

A Scholar Born Ahead of His Time

Max Planck was born into a distinguished academic family on 23 April 1858 in Kiel, Germany. His father was a professor of law, and intellectual inquiry was deeply rooted in the Planck household. A gifted child, Planck excelled in music and mathematics. Despite early uncertainty between pursuing music or science, he chose physics—a field that he was destined to reshape permanently. Planck enrolled at the University of Munich at the age of 16 and later attended the University of Berlin, where he studied under some of the finest minds of the time, including Gustav Kirchhoff, known famously to engineers for Kirchhoff’s laws governing electrical circuits. Gustav Robert Kirchhoff, a German physicist, formulated these laws in 1845. These laws, specifically Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL) and Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL), are fundamental to circuit analysis.  The formative years of Planck were shaped by his scientific ethos: rigorous, methodical, and grounded in deep philosophical inquiry.

By the age of 21, Planck earned his doctorate with a thesis on the second law of thermodynamics—a contemporary subject of great importance during those days, which would remain central to his later work. He became a professor at Kiel and then at Berlin, where he mentored and collaborated with the great physicists of the time, including the legendary Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr.

A Personal Life Marked by War and Tragedy

While his professional life soared with scientific triumphs, Planck’s personal life was marred by profound tragedy with personal losses. During World War I, His first wife, Marie Merck, died in 1909. He lost two sons, Karl and Ernst, who perished in combat during World War I, and his daughter died in childbirth. The devastation continued in World War II when his son Erwin was executed by the Nazis in 1945 for his alleged involvement in the July 20 plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. These tragedies, compounded by the destruction of his home in Berlin during Allied bombings, tested Planck’s resilience. Yet, even in the face of such adversity, he remained committed to science, embodying a spirit of perseverance that continues to inspire.

Planck’s experiences during the wars also shaped his humanistic outlook. As a prominent scientist in Germany, he navigated the moral complexities of working under the Nazi regime, advocating for scientific integrity and protecting Jewish colleagues where possible. His ability to endure personal and societal turmoil while advancing human knowledge underscores the depth of his character.

The Birth of Quantum Mechanics

Max Planck’s journey to scientific immortality began with a problem that confounded classical physics: the blackbody radiation spectrum. In the late 19th century, classical theories, grounded in Newtonian determinism, failed to explain why heated objects emitted energy in specific patterns. Planck, a professor at the University of Berlin, tackled this enigma with bold innovation. On October 19, 1900, he presented preliminary ideas about quantized energy—energy emitted or absorbed in discrete packets, or “quanta”—to the German Physical Society. Initially calling it a “lucky guess,” Planck refined his hypothesis and, on December 14, 1900, delivered a comprehensive quantum theory before the same society in Berlin. This historic moment, attended by distinguished physicists, marked the birth of quantum mechanics.

Planck’s 1901 paper, published in Annalen der Physik under the title “On the Law of the Energy Distribution in the Normal Spectrum,” formalized his theory. By proposing that energy was quantized rather than continuous, Planck challenged centuries-old assumptions of classical physics. This radical departure introduced a probabilistic worldview, where particle behaviour at atomic and subatomic levels defied predictability. His work resolved the blackbody radiation puzzle and earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918 “for his discovery of energy quanta.”

A Scientific Revolution

Planck’s quantum theory catalysed a scientific revolution, inspiring pioneers like Niels Bohr, Werner Heisenberg, Erwin Schrödinger, and Paul Dirac to explore the microscopic world. Bohr’s atomic model, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, and Schrödinger’s wave mechanics built on Planck’s foundation, shaping modern physics. Even Albert Einstein, initially sceptical of quantum mechanics’ probabilistic nature, used Planck’s quanta to explain the photoelectric effect, earning the 1921 Nobel Prize. The Einstein-Bohr debates, sparked by Planck’s work, remain legendary, underscoring the profound shift from classical to quantum paradigms.

Beyond physics, Planck’s ideas transformed technology. His quantum principles underpinned the development of semiconductors, leading to the invention of the transistor and integrated circuits. These innovations, pioneered by companies like Fairchild Semiconductor and Intel, fuelled Silicon Valley’s rise and the digital age. From microprocessors to smartphones, Planck’s legacy powers modern devices. Fiber-optic communications, lasers, and emerging quantum computing technologies also owe their existence to his work, enabling the interconnected, data-driven world of today.

The Max Planck Society: A Living Legacy

In Planck’s honour, the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science, founded in 1948, stands as a testament to his enduring influence. Headquartered in Munich, the society operates over 80 research institutes worldwide, fostering cutting-edge discoveries in physics, biology, chemistry, and beyond. The Max Planck Society has been a beacon of scientific excellence, with numerous affiliated scientists receiving Nobel Prizes. Notably, in 2023, the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, and Anne L’Huillier for their work on attosecond pulses of light, with Krausz’s contributions tied to the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics. This achievement, among others, reflects the society’s commitment to advancing Planck’s quantum legacy.

The Max Planck Society’s work aligns with the goals of the International Year of Quantum Mechanics in 2025, which celebrates a century since the formulation of matrix mechanics by Heisenberg and Schrödinger’s wave mechanics, both rooted in Planck’s quantum theory. UNESCO and global scientific organizations have endorsed this initiative to highlight quantum mechanics’ role in addressing modern challenges, from quantum computing to sustainable energy. Recent coverage in The Guardian and Nature notes that the society is hosting symposia, exhibitions, and public lectures in 2025 to honour Planck, emphasizing his contributions to science and society.

The International Year of Quantum Mechanics

The designation of 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Mechanics underscores the relevance of Planck’s work. Quantum technologies, from cryptography to medical imaging, are poised to revolutionize the 21st century. Planck’s quantum principles enable quantum computers to tackle complex problems, enhance secure communications, and drive innovations in artificial intelligence. His legacy resonates in every quantum leap, from laboratory breakthroughs to practical applications that shape our future.

Moore’s Law, Its Limits, and the Quantum Leap Forward

Since the 1960s, Moore’s Law—coined by Gordon Moore—predicted that the number of transistors on a chip would double approximately every two years, exponentially increasing computing power. This empirical observation has powered the semiconductor industry and the digital revolution for decades. However, as transistor sizes approach atomic scales, physical limits to miniaturization are being reached. The laws of classical physics can no longer sustain further shrinkage, and quantum effects, once considered noise, become dominant.

This is where quantum computing steps in—not as a mere extension of Moore’s Law but as a paradigm shift. Harnessing the principles of superposition, entanglement, and quantum tunnelling, quantum computers offer the promise of solving problems beyond the reach of even the most powerful classical supercomputers. Incidentally, Moore’s law has just completed its 50 years, and on this occasion, I paid my tribute on my blog, whose link is given below

https://khened.blogspot.com/2023/03/eulogy-for-gordon-moore.html

 

Recent breakthroughs—such as IBM’s Condor processor, Google’s Sycamore, and research by companies like D-Wave, Intel, Rigetti, and others—are pointing toward practical, scalable quantum computing. In 2024–2025, researchers have made strides in quantum error correction, photonic qubits, and cryogenic chip integration, potentially heralding a new age of post-silicon computing. Planck’s world of quantized energy, once confined to academic papers, is now embedded in our pursuit of quantum supremacy, quantum networks, and even quantum AI, paving the way for next-generation chip design that transcends the limits of Moore’s Law.

Planck’s Eternal Legacy

Planck, touched by his tragic losses, was not a flamboyant showman of science; he was a humble scholar, moved by the quiet pursuit of truth. Yet, his ideas sparked a chain reaction that continues to shape our lives, from the birth of the digital age to the dawn of the quantum era. Therefore, it is no wonder that institutions worldwide bear his name—the Max Planck Society remains a powerhouse of fundamental research. The units that describe the universe’s smallest scales—Planck time, Planck length, Planck energy—are universal constants of nature. And his influence is embedded in every laser, semiconductor, transistor, and qubit that defines our modern world.

In Closing: The Architect of the Quantum World

In 2025, as we stand at the convergence of classical limits and quantum possibilities, we owe a timeless debt to Max Planck—a man who believed in the truth of equations, even when they defied everything he knew. His journey—from Kiel to Berlin, from blackbody radiation to the bedrock of modern physics—is not just the story of a scientist, but of science itself: forever curious, sometimes reluctant, but always transformative.

As we celebrate Planck’s 167th birth anniversary, let us reflect on his contributions and the promise of quantum mechanics. December 14, 1900, marked the “cosmic birth” of quantum mechanics, but April 23, 2025, honours the man who made it possible. It is believed that in the years and decades ahead, quantum technologies are destined to bring about transformational changes. Let us therefore draw inspiration from Planck’s legacy of discovery and resilience. In eternal tribute to Max Planck, the architect of the quantum age, we salute a legacy that transcends time and transforms our world.

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19 April 2025: Commemorating the Golden Jubilee of Aryabhata: India’s First Step into the Space

Today, April 19, 2025, India celebrates the 50th anniversary of a monumental milestone in its scientific journey—the launch of the Aryabhata, India’s first satellite. Named after the 5th-century Indian mathematician and astronomer, Aryabhata satellite was more than a technological triumph; it was a bold declaration of India’s aspirations in the global space, a dream which the founding father of Indian space program, Dr Vikram Sarabhai had dreamt. Launched on April 19, 1975, from the Kapustin Yar rocket launch station (cosmodrome) in the Soviet Union, Aryabhata marked India’s entry into the elite club of space-faring nations. This article commemorates the historic achievement, reflecting on its origins, the geopolitical context, the visionary leadership, and the enduring legacy that continues to inspire India’s space odyssey, as ISRO continues to scale new heights. 

The Genesis of a Dream 

The story of Indian space program including Aryabhata is rooted in the vision of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space program. Sarabhai dreamed of harnessing space technology for national development, envisioning satellites for communication, remote sensing, and scientific exploration. Aryabhata was one of three ambitious projects Sarabhai championed, alongside rocket development – space launch vehicle (SLV) and Satellite Instruction Television Experiment (SITE) program. 

In the late 1960s, as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) took shape, Dr Sarabhai had tasked a young scientist, Prof. Udupi Ramachandra Rao, with leading the satellite program. Rao, who had worked on NASA projects, brought expertise and ambition to the task, setting the stage for a remarkable endeavour. This was a time when the geopolitical relation between the two communist nations and the erstwhile comrades - China and USSR - had gone very sour due to their intractable ideological differences between Marxism & Leninism. The two leaders of China and Soviet Union, Mao Zedong and Nikita Khrushchev were strong advocates of two different forms of communism. Mao Zedong denounced the communism practiced by USSR and blamed Khrushchev as practitioner of the work of revisionist traitors. It was this animosity between the two warring comrades that, in a way, helped India launch its first satellite - Aryabhata. 

Initially, ISRO had plans to design a 100-kg satellite for launch on an American Scout rocket, which was seen as a reliable and affordable option. However, the Cold War’s geopolitical currents reshaped the project’s trajectory. In 1971, India’s ambassador in Moscow, DP Dhar, relayed an offer from the Soviet Academy of Sciences to launch an Indian satellite for free. The Soviet Union, wary of India’s potential collaboration with the United States and eager to outshine its rival, China, saw an opportunity to strengthen ties with India while scoring a propaganda victory against China. 

On 24th of April, 1970 the People’s Republic of China became the fifth nation to successfully place a satellite in to earth’s orbit. The Chinese satellite was flown purely for propaganda purpose, using a tune generator to play the 'East is Red' patriotic anthem. The Chinese satellite weighed 173 kilograms. The Chinese propaganda and their rejoicing of the success of their satellite launch and pretending to rub shoulders with the Soviet Union (USSR) prompted the USSR to nudge the Indian Ambassador Mr DP Dhar to inform Mrs Indira Gandhi of the intent of USSR to support India launch an Indian satellite.

India was still in its infancy stage in space technology, when the Russians offered to piggy back an Indian satellite on their rocket. By then Prof UR Rao (who later went on to become the satellite man of India) had already started preparing a consolidated plan for the launch of Indian satellite. Unfortunately, Dr Sarabhai died prematurely on 31st December 1971. However, at the behest of Prof MGK Menon, who was then the Director TIFR - who was also tasked to temporarily take additional charge of the Indian Space Research Origination – Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi invited Prof Satish Dhawan, who was on a sabbatical to Caltech from IISc, to return back to India and mantle the role of head of ISRO. Mrs Gandhi even agreed to the two conditions put forth by Prof Dhawan that he will continue to be the Director of IISc and will hold additional charge of ISRO and that the headquarters of ISRO is to be located in Bangalore. Mrs Gandhi agreed to the conditions of Prof Dhawan. 

The Russian condition to India was clear: The Indian satellite had to outweigh China’s Dong Fang Hong I, launched in 1970 at 173 kg, to ensure the Soviets could claim superiority in supporting a developing nation’s space ambitions. This geopolitical manoeuvre, born of Cold War rivalries between the USSR and China, transformed Aryabhata into a 360-kg spacecraft, a testament to both scientific ingenuity and strategic diplomacy. 

The Making of Aryabhata 

The development of Aryabhata was a saga of resilience and resourcefulness. With a budget of Rs. 3 crore approved by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, ISRO set up operations in Peenya, an industrial area on the outskirts of Bangalore. Four asbestos-roofed sheds, each 5,000 square feet, were transformed into sophisticated laboratories, complete with a clean room, thermovac chamber, and electronics facilities. Under the leadership of Prof. U.R. Rao, a 150-member team of young engineers and scientists, many fresh graduates, worked tirelessly to build a satellite from scratch. The choice of Bangalore, supported by Karnataka’s Industries Secretary Satish Chandran, leveraged the city’s proximity to industries like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, fostering a conducive environment for innovation. 

The satellite’s design was ambitious: a 26-sided polyhedron, 1.4 meters in diameter, covered with solar cells generating 46 watts of power, supported by a nickel-cadmium battery. Aryabhata carried three scientific payloads for X-ray astronomy, solar physics, and ionospheric studies, developed with contributions from institutions like the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and the Physical Research Laboratory. Despite procurement challenges, a team led by Rao sourced components from Europe and the US, bypassing bureaucratic hurdles to meet deadlines. 

Although the project faced setbacks, including the sudden death of Vikram Sarabhai in December 1971, which briefly halted progress. Prof. Satish Dhawan, who succeeded Sarabhai, provided steady leadership, while Prof. M.G.K. Menon, as interim chairman, secured government funding. A notable anecdote involves the satellite’s naming. In early 1975, the team proposed three names to Indira Gandhi: Aryabhata, honouring the ancient astronomer; Maitri, symbolizing Indo-Soviet friendship; and Jawahar, for obvious reasons to honour the founding PM of India. Mrs. Gandhi chose Aryabhata, a nod to India’s scientific heritage. 

The Launch and Its Impact 

On April 19, 1975, at 7:30 GMT, a Soviet Kosmos-3M rocket roared into the sky from Kapustin Yar, carrying Aryabhata into a low Earth orbit with a 50.7° inclination, an apogee of 619 km, and a perigee of 568 km. Thirty Indian scientists, including Rao and Dhawan, witnessed the historic moment. Just 30 minutes after launch, telemetry signals reached ground stations at Sriharikota, Bears Lake near Moscow, and a makeshift facility in Peenya, where a converted toilet served as a data receiving centre. The Indian team erupted in celebration, with Dhawan distributing sweets. 

Aryabhata’s scientific mission was partially successful. Its instruments recorded data from the X-ray source CygX1, conducted telemedicine trials, and transferred meteorological data, laying the groundwork for India’s INSAT program. However, a power failure on the fifth day forced the shutdown of its scientific payloads, limiting data collection. Despite this, Aryabhata achieved its primary objectives: demonstrating India’s ability to design, build, and operate a satellite, establishing ground infrastructure, and training a generation of space engineers. The satellite remained in orbit until February 10, 1992, a silent witness to India’s growing prowess. 

The launch was a national triumph, celebrated with a commemorative stamp issued within hours and an image of Aryabhata on the Rs. 2 currency note from 1976 to 1997. The Soviet Union also issued a stamp featuring Aryabhata, underscoring the Indo-Soviet collaboration. The New York Times quoted Indira Gandhi hailing the launch as “an important event in India’s efforts to harness the benefits of science,” while The Hindu’s headline on April 20, 1975, proclaimed, “India Enters Space Age.” 

 A Legacy That Soars 

Aryabhata’s launch was a turning point, propelling India into the ranks of space-faring nations as the 11th country and the second developing nation after China to orbit a satellite. It laid the foundation for ISRO’s subsequent achievements, including the Bhaskara, Rohini, INSAT, and Chandrayaan missions. Today, ISRO has built 131 satellites, with 55 currently in orbit, and has launched 433 satellites for 34 countries. The Peenya sheds evolved into the U.R. Rao Satellite Centre, a hub of innovation. Aryabhata’s legacy is not just technological but cultural, proving that a developing nation with limited resources could achieve greatness through ingenuity and determination. 

The Cold War context, with the Soviet Union’s strategic offer, underscores how global rivalries can catalyse scientific progress. Aryabhata was more than a satellite; it was a symbol of Indo-Soviet friendship and India’s resolve to carve its own path in the cosmos. As ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan noted, “From that humble beginning, we have grown to the highest levels of maturity in satellite technology.” 

Looking Forward 

As we commemorate Aryabhata’s golden jubilee, we honour the pioneers—Sarabhai, UR Rao, Dhawan, Dr Abdul Kalam and countless unsung engineers and scientists —who dared to dream big. Their legacy inspires ISRO’s current endeavours, from lunar exploration to reusable launch vehicles. The 50th anniversary of Aryabhata is an occasion to reflect on how far India has come and to recommit to pushing the boundaries of space exploration for the benefit of humanity. 

Aryabhata was India’s first imprint in space, a beacon of ambition that continues to light the way. Today, April 19, 2025, as we celebrate the 50th year of its launch let us celebrate not just the satellite, but the spirit of a nation which supported the daring dream of ISRO founders in those early days when India was passing through ship to mouth crisis to travel this far to be in the league of space faring nations of the world and to be rubbing shoulders with NASA.

 Images : Courtesy Wikipedia and ISRO   

19 April 2025: Sixty Years of Moore’s Law: A Prophetic Vision Still Shaping the Digital Future

"The future of integrated electronics is the future of electronics itself." — Gordon E. Moore, Electronics Magazine, 1965

On April 19, 1965, a relatively unassuming article published in Electronics magazine by Gordon E. Moore, then Director of R&D at Fairchild Semiconductor and later co-founder of Intel Corporation, would go on to transform the digital world. Titled “Cramming more components onto integrated circuits”, the article predicted that the number of transistors on a silicon chip would double approximately every year, leading to exponential growth in computing capabilities and a decline in cost per function. This idea — later dubbed Moore’s Law — has become one of the most influential forecasts in the history of semiconductor technology.

The 1956 Nobel prize winning works in Physics of William Shockley, John Bardeen and Walter Brattain at the Bell Labs "for their researches on semiconductors and their discovery of the transistor effect" led to the path breaking development of the wonder device, the transistor, a device that revolutionized electronics leading to the semiconductor industry. The Silicon Valley, Internet and the World Wide Web were technological triumphs of the late 20th Century. When this common architecture for digital information and communications became wedded to the broadband fixed and mobile networks, it brought together previously distinct communications markets for data, voice and broadcast content. This marriage allowed society to take full advantage of the technological benefits of new generation of computer architectures enabled by a very large array of cheap data storage and processors, which ushered us in to this modern world that is driven by path breaking technologies like the Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, 3D Printing and such other technologies that collectively are dubbed the IR4.0. Today as we celebrate the six decades of the prophetic vision of Gordon Moore, an attempt is made here to see how his vision has shaped the IT industry and its future.

Incidentally, I had published an article in Dream 2047, October 2006 issue, under the title “Gordon Moore, His Law and Integrated Circuits”, the link of the monthly magazine published by Vigyan Prasar, an autonomous organisation of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, is given below and my article can be found on page 35.  

 https://drive.google.com/drive/home

 

From Insight to Industry Doctrine

 

Moore’s prediction, based on just a handful of years of data from the nascent semiconductor industry, proved admirably accurate. Though he later revised the time frame to a doubling every two years, the essence of his vision — exponential progress through miniaturization — remained relevant. What’s more extraordinary is how this simple observation became a self-fulfilling prophecy, driving the semiconductor industry to adopt technology roadmaps and innovation cycles aligned with the pace Moore envisioned sixty years ago.

 

Moore’s Law catalysed decades of innovation. It enabled the proliferation of personal computers, smartphones, automated vehicles, and now, artificial intelligence. His forecast was made just four years after the development of the first planar integrated circuit by Robert Noyce, with whom Moore would go on to found Intel in 1968.

 

The Physics of Progress: Silicon and Beyond

 

Silicon, the backbone of modern electronics, is one of Earth’s most abundant elements, found widely in sand. It offered cost-effective scalability, and in the early decades, it was possible to follow Moore’s Law simply by shrinking transistor sizes. This led to the evolution from small-scale integration (SSI) to large-scale (LSI), very large-scale (VLSI), and eventually ultra-large-scale integration (ULSI) — packing billions of transistors into chips as small as fingernails.

 

Yet, as transistor dimensions approach the atomic scale (currently ~2 nanometres in leading-edge commercial chips), continuing this trend faces formidable challenges — quantum tunnelling, heat dissipation, and lithographic limitations. This has led to an industry-wide recognition that Moore’s Law is no longer a guarantee, but a goalpost that demands entirely new paradigms.

 

Rethinking Moore: Innovations That Keep the Vision Alive

 

The semiconductor industry is actively working to extend Moore’s Law, despite facing physical limits. Traditional scaling, where transistors shrink to nanometre scales, is becoming challenging due to silicon constraints and heat dissipation issues. However, research suggests solutions like advanced packaging (e.g., Intel’s RibbonFET and PowerVia with Intel 20A and 18A processes) and new materials (e.g., graphene, carbon nanotubes) are being explored. Intel aims for a trillion transistors on a package by 2030 (Intel’s Commitment to Moore’s Law), and the industry is adopting "More than Moore" strategies, integrating non-silicon technologies for enhanced functionality.

 

The semiconductor industry is trying to constantly push the boundaries by diversifying its approaches, which include among others;

 

1. Advanced Node Fabrication: Companies like TSMC, Intel, and Samsung are pushing sub-3nm nodes using EUV lithography and novel Gate-All-Around FETs to improve performance and energy efficiency.

 

2. Chiplet and 3D Integration: Instead of making one massive chip, companies are designing modular chiplets connected via high-speed interconnects, allowing scaling without shrinking.

 

3. Materials Innovation: Beyond silicon, compound semiconductors (e.g., GaN, SiC), 2D materials like graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), are being explored to create faster and more efficient transistors.

 

4. Photonic and Neuromorphic Computing: Integrating light-based data transmission and brain-inspired computing architectures is yielding advances in speed and efficiency.

 

Quantum Computing: The Next Paradigm Shift

 

As we commemorate 60 years of Moore’s Law today, the world also celebrates the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (2025). The timing is symbolic — we stand at a potential inflection point where quantum computing may redefine what “scaling” means.

 

Quantum computing doesn’t follow Moore’s Law per se, but it opens an entirely new dimension of parallelism and problem-solving. With qubits instead of bits, and superposition instead of binary logic, quantum systems can address complex problems in materials science, cryptography, and AI that are practically impossible for classical computers.

 

Companies like IBM, Google, and start-ups like Rigetti and IonQ are aggressively pursuing quantum processors with growing qubit counts and decreasing error rates. Meanwhile, quantum-classical hybrid systems are emerging as a bridge between current hardware and quantum futures.

 

India’s Semiconductor Aspirations and Global Momentum

 

India, too, is actively investing in the semiconductor ecosystem, with initiatives like the Semicon India Programme, the establishment of fab proposals, and research in quantum materials and spintronics. The global race to localize chip manufacturing and develop quantum capabilities is reshaping geopolitics and economic priorities.

 

A Legacy That Lives On

 

In 2006, as mentioned above, I had an opportunity to publish an article reflecting on Moore’s Law and its profound influence, whose link was shared. Today, two decades later, I remain in awe of how one man’s thought became a global technological doctrine. Moore’s Law is not just a law — it is a legacy, one that has empowered billions, connected continents, and continues to inspire.

 

As we enter a future defined by AI, quantum breakthroughs, and post-silicon paradigms, let us honour Gordon Moore — the visionary whose law continues to shape our digital destiny.