Pm Modi Commemorates 100th Birthday Of Vikram Sarabhai, Takes To Twitter To Pay Him Tribute

India on Monday commemorated the 100th birth anniversary of award-winning physicist, industrialist and innovator Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai.

To mark the centenary of the Father of India’s Space Programme, Prime Minister Modi took to Twitter to put out a thoughtful tweet in his honour:

Paying his respect to the honourable scientists and founding father of  ISRO, PM Modi said that his centenary has come at a point when India is gearing up to venture into space and land on Moon through its second mission to moon, Chandrayaan- 2.

READ: Did You Know? The Lander Of Chandrayaan-2 Is Named 'Vikram' After Late Dr. Vikram Sarabhai: Everything You Need To Know

Hailing Dr Sarabhai's legacy, Modi specified that it was important to know the story of the man whose efforts ensured India made rapid strides in space science and technology.

Quoting Sarabhai, the Prime Minister said "Vikram Sarabhai always used to say that as a nation we should not be behind in the areas if science and technology, be it space or nuclear technology we are using it for the people today"

Vikram Sarabhai was born in Ahmedabad in the year 1919. He pursued his higher studies abroad and upon his return, 28-year-old Vikram founded the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad on November 11, 1947.

He also established the Indian National Committee for Space Research in 1962, which later came to be known as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He also dreamed of having an Indian satellite in space which was realized when the Aryabhata went into orbit in 1975.

He believed in the concept that science and technology can be used as the levers of development. He was also one of the key players in convincing the Indian government of the importance of having a space program.

Last month, ISRO launched its lunar mission with the Chandrayaan-2, in which the Vikram lander is scheduled to touch down on the lunar surface on September 7.

READ: Google Doodle Honours The Father Of India's Space Programme Dr. Vikram Sarabhai On His 100th Birth Anniversary