Personal Information

Full Name: Jayant Vishnu Narlikar

Nickname: No public nickname found

Country/State: India

Date of Birth: 1938-07-19

Languages Known: Marathi, English, Hindi

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Food Habit: Vegetarian

Religion: Hinduism

Hobbies: Writing popular science, science fiction, astronomy outreach, reading

Education

School: Banaras Hindu University School, Varanasi

College: Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

Degrees Obtained: BSc in Mathematics PhD in Astrophysics

Physical Stats

Height: 165 cm

Weight: 75 kg

Family Information

Parents: Father: Vishnu Vasudev Narlikar Mother: Sumati Narlikar

Siblings: Not publicly available

Marital Status: married

Wife: Mangala Narlikar

Children:

Career

Current Position: Astrophysicist, Cosmologist, Science Communicator Founder Director (Former) of IUCAA

Skills:

Net Worth: Not Publicly Disclosed

Awards & Achievements: Padma Bhushan Padma Vibhushan Bhatnagar Award UNESCO Kalinga Prize Founder of IUCAA, Pune Co-developer of the Hoyle–Narlikar theory of gravitation

Biography Details

Jayant Vishnu Narlikar was one of India’s most respected astrophysicists and cosmologists. Educated at Banaras Hindu University and later at the University of Cambridge, he worked closely with Sir Fred Hoyle and became internationally known for the Hoyle–Narlikar theory, which offered an alternative perspective to the Big Bang theory.

Beyond research, he played a pivotal role in building India’s astronomy ecosystem. As the founding director of IUCAA in Pune, he helped nurture generations of Indian astronomers and physicists. Narlikar was equally admired for his ability to explain complex scientific ideas in simple language through books, lectures, and science fiction in Marathi and English.

He passed away in May 2023, leaving behind a lasting legacy in Indian science, education, and public understanding of astronomy.

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