Eknath Chitnis: The ISRO Pioneer Who Mentored Kalam and Shaped India's Space Program

Professor Eknath Vasant Chitnis was a key figure in the early development of India's space research program. Working alongside Vikram Sarabhai, he helped lay the foundational framework for what would become ISRO. Chitnis was instrumental in selecting Thumba as the site for India's first rocket launches. He also identified APJ Abdul Kalam's potential early on and brought him into the organization. His contributions extended to expanding satellite television connectivity to remote and underserved communities across India.