Prof.Govind Swarup lecture

Prof. Govind Swarup is a radio astronomer and one of the pioneers of radio astronomy. He is known not only for his many important research contributions in several areas of astronomy and astrophysics, but also for his outstanding achievements in building ingenious, innovative and powerful observational facilities for front-line research in radio astronomy. He has been the key scientist behind concept, design and installation of the Ooty Radio Telescope (India) and the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) near Pune. Under his leadership, a strong group in radio astrophysics has been built at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research that is comparable to the best in the world.

In this photograph, Prof. Swarup is seen in a lecture room standing at his chair addressing the gathering. MGK Menon and JRD Tata are also seated in the panel next to him, respectively. MGK Menon was a physicist and policy maker from India. He had a prominent role in the development of science and technology in India over four decades. One of his most important contributions was nurturing the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, which his mentor Homi J. Bhabha founded in 1945. JRD Tata was a French-born Indian aviator, entrepreneur, chairman of Tata Group and the shareholder of Tata Sons.

The large blackboard behind them, prominent in the photograph, displays a diagram related to the concept of radio waves.