ALTAR OF SPACE SCIENCE

(How a small Catholic Church in a coastal village helped India’s Space Programme to take off)

 

On 21st November 1962, the FIRST Rocket, blasted off from TERLS (Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station) signalling the beginning of India’s Space Programme.

 

The rocket systems were assembled and integrated inside the St. Mary Magdalene Church, in Thumba. This Church was literally the Birth Place of India’s Space Programme. 

 

ISRO Website mentions that the scientists worked inside the Church, which served as the “First Laboratory for Indian Space Research” 

 

Thumba was a small fishing village near Trivandrum. The village had a small Church in the name of Saint Mary Magdalene. This church was originally established by Saint Francis Xavier four centuries ago in 1544 in a thatched shed. (The permanent structure was built much later. The Church was under the Catholic Diocese of Trivandrum). 

 

It was destined to play an important role in the early days of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) 

 

In early nineties, inspired by the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, two leading scientists of India Dr. Homi Bhaba, and Dr. Vikram Sarabhai were looking for a suitable area for establishing the Rocket Launching Station and they had zeroed in the sleepy fishing village of Thumba. 

 

The total area was more than 600 acres, in which, the Church Land was 90 acres. That included the St. Mary Magdalene Church, Bishop’s residence, a Primary School and the Cemetery. The entire land has to be acquired, and they could not avoid the church land including the church. 

Moreover, there were 183 families of fishermen (who also happened to be the parishioners of the church). They have to be displaced and rehabilitated somewhere else without disrupting their way of living. It could involve a massive exodus.

 

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai believed Thumba was the most appropriate location and wanted to acquire the land at any cost. But everything depended upon the Catholic Church, Head of the Diocese (the Bishop) and most importantly the simple Parishioners. 

 

Dr. Sarabhai discussed the matter with his scientific team (which included Dr. A.P.J Abdula Kalam) and they had decided to meet the Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Peter Bernard Pereira. On a Saturday they met the bishop and he advised the team to attend, next day, the Sunday Mass (Church Service), and they could talk to the parishioners, about this matter.

 

What happened on that historic Sunday is written in detail by Dr. Kalam in his well-known book “Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power within India” 

 

The bishop addressed the people “My Children, I have a famous scientist, Vikram, with me who wants our Church for the work of Space science and research. Science seeks truth that enriches human life. Both science and spirituality seek prosperity in mind and body of humanity”. 

 

He explained in detail the requirement of the scientists and asked his parishioners, “Can we give them, God’s Abode for a scientific Mission?”.

 

The implications were: The villagers need to be relocated, the heritage church built by Saint Francis Xavier had to be given up, they needed to build another Church, their children’s schooling might disrupt, etc. 

 

But in spite of all these problems, the congregation agreed.

 

It was almost a sacrificial decision by a religious institution to provide the ALTAR for the scientific research in the interest of the humanity and the Nation.

 

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and his team were emotionally moved by the decision of the bishop, Rev. Peter Bernard Pereira and his flock. The scientists took a firm decision that they would Never Demolish the Church even though worship might not take place there.

 

Once they could cease using the Church for scientific purposes, they had decided to convert it into a MUSEUM in 1985 dedicated to the History and Achievements of Space Research in India.

CONQUERING ANTARCTICA

Indira Gandhi-100 birth anniversary

 

Remembering a vision, followed by a secret mission and an achievement scientifically and politically. 

 

Project "Dhakshin Gangothri" was a special mission conceived by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to set up research stations in Antarctica. Apart from scientic development this secret mission had other goals also. After India's successful nuclear test, Indiraji wanted to show the world, India as a growing power in Science and technology.

After the world war, the industrialised nations had a significant interest in Antarctica on three major fronts, political, economic and military. These countries had signed an exclusive treaty with US, Russia, Japan,and other industrialized nations as members. They had also decided not to allow any more members in this club. India tried to join the Antartctic treaty but could not succeed in the UN general assembly.

Indira Gandhi took a defiant stand and had decided that the immense possibility of scientific advantage and potential of mining in Antarctica were something India could not afford to miss out. Showing scant regard for this exclusive treaty by the politically powerful nations, India started its own effort to stamp its authority in the continent of Antarctica.

 

The project for Antarctic Expedition code named by Indiraji herself as "Dakshin Gangotri" was started with a top secret study. The project was stopped by the opposition government

after her defeat in 1977. She restarted it when she came back to power in 1980. She kept this project under her own direct control. She directed the scientists to make a blueprint for establishing a permanent station in Antarctica. Only three people other than her knew the entire secret plan of Operation Dakshin Gangotri.

India launched its first Antarctic expedition in December 1981 from Goa, with a stop in Mauritius to pick up equipment and supplies (under the guise of a commercial cruise). The team consisted of 21 scientists from 7 research institutions. After 77 days India reached Antarctica to the total surprise of USA and other members of the treaty.

The New Scientist magazine wrote "Indians quietly invade Antarctica", (as India was not a signatory to the Antarctic Treaty of 1959).

New York Times reported "A scientific expedition from India has landed on the coast of East Antarctica. Its stated purpose was to perform oceanographic, seismic, climate and other scientific research. But the full details are not yet known"

All countries including the most powerful CIA were caught by surprise.

After 35 years and 30 expeditions, now India has two permanent Stations in Antarctica doing active research. India has become one of the members of the treaty and a stakeholder in Antarctica. Indira Gandhi's dream was successfully realised.

We can see some parallels with Nuclear test in the case of Antarctica project also. Both were executed secretly skillfully and successfully. Both the cases India was boldly acting against major political and economic powers. India could prove India's capability in Science and Technology and also its will and determination to do it against all global political odds.

This remain as one of the lasting contributions to modern India by India Gandhi.

 

MEMORY OF AN ACCIDENT

 

 

Friday, 13th October 2000, Twenty Years ago:

On that day, the Bypass Road from Trivandrum Technopark was not complete. Railway bridge work was indefinitely pending. The traffic was not yet formally opened. Street lights were not lit up. 

 

The time was nearly 8:00PM. It was pitch dark.

 

I was returning from my office in Technopark, after a long, tiring and disturbing day’s work.

I was driving my car slowly with maximum care, because it was very dark and the road was not fully traffic-ready and the terrain was not yet familiar. My car-stereo was softly playing Mehdi Hassan.

 

When I was nearing the junction before Venpalavattom, I suddenly heard a male voice desperately wailing loudly “അയ്യോ രക്ഷിക്കണേ!”.

 

Then I saw an Ambassador car with the headlights on and the bonnet was seriously damaged by hitting the road divider. I knew there was an accident. I stopped my car and I saw a young man running towards me with full of blood on his dress. He was in extreme state of shock and he could not coherently answer my questions. 

 

With him I went to the car and I was shocked to see two more persons. Another young man profusely bleeding on the upper part of his body. Then I heard a woman crying feebly from the back seat. Immediately I knew both of them were in a serious condition. The lady was a senior, with some head injury. The young man who approached me was in a comparatively better position.

 

One moment I thought what to do? I could call for ambulance or police. But I realized the Cell phone signal was very weak (almost nil being that area was newly developing and deserted, and the absence of mobile towers, and being early days of Mobile phones).

Then I realised, “It is an emergency. Time is critical, I have to take them to a hospital as soon as possible”.

 

With the help of the young man, with great difficulty we both somehow carried the woman to my car and the other man staggeringly followed behind.

 

The young man was crying “Please Sir, take us to a hospital Our mother is dying”.

He got into the front seat with me and the other two were accommodated in the rear seat. Then I got into the driving seat and gave the youngster my water bottle and asked him to give his mother, if needed.

 

Then I started the car, switched on all emergency lights, and stepped on the pedal, fully blowing the horn, and driving with maximum speed, as never before in my life, in the darkness.

 

After I reached the regular traffic zone, my job had become more difficult because of the busy traffic and driving through it. Once in a while I was also advising the sons to take care of their mother and don’t allow her to faint. She was continuously wailing because of the pain and the trauma.

 

They were from Murukkumpuzha and they were on their return journey from Trivandrum city. Their father was a business man.

 

On the way the young man requested (if possible) to take them to SUT Hospital.

I could heave a sigh of relief, when I reached the main entrance of SUT hospital. Seeing the speeding car some hospital staff ran to us with stretchers and within seconds they carried the two persons Mother and Elder son inside the Casualty of the hospital. Other person had only minor external injuries and he followed them.

 

The hospital staff and the security staff enquired me what happened. I explained to them.

They immediately told me that “Sir, you have done a great thing. You have saved the lives of them. Many people won’t do this”

 

“How could I leave them on the road in this condition without any assistance? This was the only thing I could do. I had no choice. If I had not done this it would haunt me all my life”

I telephoned their father and informed the details. Then I gave the young guy some money for any emergency and gave my business card, and advised him to call me if he needs any further help.

 

When I walked back to my car, I saw the rear seat was full of blood. My, fairly new Jacket, which was lying there on the seat, was soaked in blood.

 

Later I came to know from SUT hospital that the woman had to undergo a major surgery for head injury. Her elder son had some serious ribcage injuries and he was treated. Both of them survived.

 

I was exhausted when I reached home. That night before going to bed I thanked God for giving me that opportunity to save two lives.