Jayant Narlikar

Jayant Vishnu Narlikar (1938 - 2025) was a remarkable Indian astrophysicist and author who certainly left his mark on both the scientific and literary worlds. 

He was born into an academic family in Kolhapur. Narlikar's intellectual prowess was evident early on. Following in his mathematician and theoretical physicist father's footsteps, he studied at Banaras Hindu University before heading to the prestigious Cambridge University. At Cambridge, he became a member of Fitzwilliam College, just like his father. He was quite the academic star, completing his mathematical tripos in 1959 and earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics, notably as a Senior Wrangler. This degree was later converted to an Oxbridge MA in 1964 without further study.

After earning his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1963 under the guidance of Fred Hoyle at Cambridge, Narlikar became a founding member of Hoyle's Institute of Theoretical Astronomy. He was known for his research into alternative cosmological models, sometimes voicing his dissatisfaction with the standard Big Bang model.

With Fred Hoyle, he proposed the Hoyle–Narlikar theory of gravity, a conformal gravity model that aimed to be consistent with Mach's principle.

Beyond his profound scientific work, Narlikar was a passionate communicator of science, making complex ideas accessible to a broader audience. He publicly criticised pseudoscience, advocating for evidence-based thinking. His dedication earned him the Kalinga Prize from UNESCO in 1996. You might even recall him making an appearance on Carl Sagan's famous TV show, Cosmos: A Personal Voyage, in the late 1980s. He also served as the chairperson for the National Council of Educational Research and Training's committee, responsible for developing science and mathematics textbooks.

Narlikar was not just a physicist but also a gifted storyteller. He penned numerous scientific papers and books, popular science literature, and even science fiction novels and short stories. He wrote in English, Hindi, and Marathi, showcasing his versatile literary talent. 

Narlikar created the pseudonym Narayan Vinayak Jagtap or NVJ, the reverse of his initials, JVN, to write Krushna Vivar (Black Hole), which would win first prize at the 1974 edition of the Marathi Vidnyan Parishad.

His autobiography in Marathi, Chaar Nagarantale Maze Vishwa, even won him a Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014.  

In his personal life, Narlikar was married to Mangala Narlikar, a mathematics researcher and professor, with whom he had three daughters: Geeta, Girija, and Leelavati. 


Narlikar's contributions were widely recognised. He received many national and international awards, including:

  • India's second-highest civilian honour, the Padma Vibhushan, in 2004.
  • The Padma Bhushan in 1965, when he was 26, the youngest at that time to be bestowed this honour.
  • The Maharashtra Bhushan Award in 2010.
  • The Smith's Prize in 1962 and the Adams Prize in 1967 during his time at Cambridge.
  • The Bhatnagar Award in 1978.
  • The Prix Jules Janssen from the French Astronomical Society.
Jayant Narlikar was truly a polymath, bridging the worlds of cutting-edge astrophysics, public education, and imaginative storytelling. His legacy continues to inspire those who look to the stars and seek to understand the universe around us.