The Week India – July 21, 2019

JULY 21, 2019 • THE WEEK 29

turned into domain that remained a centre of ex-
cellence,” he said.
Sarabhai swore by research and development.
“In Ahmedabad, when he thought that the textile
industry was not doing the type of research that
was required, he set up ATIRA (Ahmedabad Textile
Industry’s Research Association),” said Kartikeya.
While a lot is known about Sarabhai as an educa-
tionist and scientist, not much is known about him
as an industrialist. In the 1940s, the Sarabhais, a
well-off family, ventured into the pharmaceuticals
sector in Baroda. “He collaborated with the world’s
best pharmaceutical companies like Squibb and
Geigy. It was the largest pharma company in India
for several decades,” said Kartikeya.
“He wanted to see India on the path of devel-

opment. He spoke about leapfrogging

[other nations]. He wanted India to

develop but not imitate. He wanted

[to make sure] that the same mistakes

made during the Industrial Revolu-

tion would not be repeated,” he said.

Sarabhai felt that some things are best

done through industry, some through

NGOs, some through institutions and

some through governments.

After his appointment as chair-

man of Atomic Energy Commission,

Sarabhai had to leave his business

interests. The Sarabhai family’s busi-

nesses are now looked after by Mohal

and Samvit, Kartikeya’s sons.

Born to liberal parents, Sarlaben and Ambalal, Sarab-

hai wanted every child to have the same educational

opportunities that he got. So he set up the Communi-

ty Science Centre in Ahmedabad, which was renamed

after him posthumously. Dr B.S. Bhatia, director, says

the institution seeks to popularise science among chil-

dren. Bhatia, whose association with Sarabhai dates

back to his ISRO days, said that Sarabhai started PRL

because of his own interest in cosmic rays. He was wit-

ness to how Sarabhai visualised the space programme.

“He would draw your thoughts from you, pull you into

a discussion and think of the bigger picture,” he said.

Like Joshi, Bhatia too found Sarabhai to be a simple

person. When Bhatia landed a job in ISRO, he had to

meet Sarabhai. “A fresh IIM-Ahmedabad graduate, I

went wearing suit and tie, briefcase in hand. I saw a

person wearing kurta-pyjama. He got up and folded his

hands. What do I do with it? I also folded my hands,”

said Bhatia.

Maria Montessori, Mahatma Gandhi and Ra-

bindranath Tagore had great influence on the the way

Sarabhai was brought up, and their core values re-

flected in the way he did things. “If you needed help,

he would come and sit with you but not help you. He

would get you to do the work,” said Kartikeya.

Kartikeya said that he and his sister, Mallika Sarab-

hai, were Vikram Sarabhai’s biological children, but

there were many students who were close to him. And,

his vision has been passed on from his students to the

next generation.

HE HAD THIS ABILITY TO

CONNECT A PROBLEM

WITH TECHNOLOGY, BRING

THINGS TOGETHER TO

SOLVE SOMETHING AND

FIND THE RIGHT QUALITY

IN PERSONS.

Kartikeya Sarabhai, director,
Centre for Environment Education

RIGHT STEP FORWARD

Vikram Sarabhai, seen with German

ambassador Gunter Diehl, signs an

agreement on the peaceful use of

atomic energy and space research

CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION