🌌 A Visionary’s Farewell: Dr. K. Kasturirangan Cremated with Full State Honours

🧭 Thematic Focus:

Science and Technology | Environmental Policy | National Service

🌟 Introductory Glimpse:

India bid farewell to one of its greatest visionaries, Dr. K. Kasturirangan — former ISRO Chairman, architect of modern space missions, environmental steward, and education reformer — who was cremated with full state honours on April 27, 2025. His life, marked by service across science, policy, and public life, leaves an enduring legacy.

🛤️ Key Highlights:

• Dr. K. Kasturirangan (1940–2025) passed away on April 25 in Bengaluru at the age of 84.
• Former ISRO Chairman (1994–2003), he oversaw India’s advances in satellite technology and global space recognition.
• Architect of India’s National Education Policy (NEP) and a visionary in science governance.
• Conferred with Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan for his contributions.
• Cremated with full state honours; dignitaries including the Prime Minister, Union Ministers, and eminent scientists paid tribute.
• Remembered for his role in Western Ghats conservation policy, chairing the Kasturirangan Committee on ecological balance.

📜 GS Paper Mapping:

• GS Paper 2: Governance | Education and Environmental Policy
• GS Paper 3: Science and Technology | Environment Conservation | Space Achievements

🧠 Concept Explainer: Dr. K. Kasturirangan’s Dual Legacy — Space and Environment

🚀 In Space:

• As ISRO Chairman, he led major satellite launches, strengthened India’s space-based resources, and expanded India’s global space footprint.
• Laid foundations for missions that later culminated in India’s Mars and Moon missions.

🌱 In Environment:

• Chaired the High-Level Working Group (HLWG) on the Western Ghats post-2011, proposing a balanced model of conservation and cultural preservation.
• Divided the Ghats into Natural Landscapes (strict ESA protection) and Cultural Landscapes (human habitation respected).
• His Kasturirangan Report (2013) remains a living document in India’s complex debate on development versus environment.

🌟 In Short:
Dr. Kasturirangan taught India to reach for the stars — while never forgetting the forests beneath its feet.

🪄 A Thought Spark — by IAS Monk:

“When a mind measures galaxies and a heart guards the roots of the Earth, humanity glimpses its finest reflection.”