From the small beginnings in the fishing village near Thumba in Kerala backwaters in the mid 1960’s to the world first landing on the South side of the lunar surface by Chandrayaan-3 in 2023, India’s Space journey is an amazing story. This technological achievement in modern science into the lesser known frontiers of space has been captured and narrated in a rivetting style by science journalist and author, Dinesh C. Sharma in his new book titled ‘ Space- The India Story’.
The book published by Bloomsbury was launched coinciding with the return to Earth of US astronaut Sunita Williams from the International Space Station (ISS). Daughter of an Indian origin father, Sunita Williams safe return garnered global attention as she was stuck for over 9 months after her 9 day space sojourn. Dinesh Sharma’s book devotes an entire chapter-Marathoner in Space, to the extraordinary astronaut.
The 240 page book is divided into two broad sections —The ISRO story and Indians in Space. The author has captured the essence of the phenomenal achievements of the India in space led by the scientists of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in the major portion of the work. Right from the background work by the leading scientists—Vikram Sarabhai, Homi Bhabha, K S Krishnan, A P Mitra and the political support letting India be part of the International Geophysical Year to the formation of ISRO during 1957-67 to the ambitious project of sending Indians into space, Dinesh has narrated the developments in a lucid manner.
As his is wont, Dinesh has depended on sound research from archival material, interviews and extensive reading of the works of ISRO scientists, the developments and his own reportage as a Science Journalist first with PTI and later for other publications. Interestingly, his coverage of the momentous occasion when Sqdr Leader Rakesh Sharma replied ‘Saare Jahan Se Accha’ from the Soyuz – T 11 spacecraft to the question from then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi on how India appeared from up there inspired him to take up the book project.
The book features Kalpana Chawla, the girl from Karnal in Haryana, who went on to become first woman of Indian origin and first Indian American astronaut to go to space in the ambitious Space Shuttle in 1997. Unfortunately, her brilliant career came to a tragic end in 2003 when the space shuttle blew up while returning. The chapter named A citizen of the Milky Way delves deep into her short and promising life.
The exciting missions to the Moon (Chandrayaan), Mars (Mangalyaan) and humans to space Gaganyaaan have also got the deserved attention in the book. Along with the developments related to technological capabilities in launch vehicles, satellite building and the Grand Vision for Space of ISRO in the decades to come, all based on continued innovation and frugal methods have been well presented by Dinesh.
India stands on the verge of transforming itself into a major space power building on its solid foundations. It’s is already in the exclusive club of US, Russia China, France etc in several aspects of space. The book makes for an interesting and informative read.
– M Somasekhar
Space: The India Story
Dinesh C. Sharma
Bloomsbury India
Price: ₹599: Pages: 242
ISBN-13 : 978-9361315459
