BENGALURU – Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, the esteemed former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), was cremated with full state honors on Sunday, following his passing at his Bengaluru residence on April 25th at the age of 84.
“Dad was a huge source of inspiration for both my brother and myself, as well as a devoted and supportive father. Despite his busy schedule, he managed to strike a balance between work and family,” Rajesh Rangan told The New Indian Express. He also recounted, “My dad was the one who would step in whenever she needed us to do something, but my mother did the majority of the caregiving.”
Sanjay Rangan described his father as a demanding figure, particularly concerning education and future planning. “He had high expectations and was demanding, especially when it comes to schoolwork and future planning. He had a strong sense of tradition and was highly focused on his family. He recognized the value of education and anticipated that engineering will play a significant role in the future. He consistently kept up with the latest developments, particularly in the field of education. But more noteworthy than his career accomplishments were his contacts and the manner he cultivated them. His love for others was what really set him apart, and those relationships were his greatest strength,” he said.
Former ISRO employee and director of Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, BR Guruprasad, recalled Dr. Kasturirangan’s personal mentorship. “Dr. Kasturirangan, who was on the Planning Commission at the time, encouraged Guruprasad to get a PhD in 2009 and assured him that he would help him. Dr. Kasturirangan’s hectic schedule prevented Guruprasad from seeing him often, but he made sure he received the assistance he needed by directing him to the National Institute of Advanced Studies. Guruprasad said that “my doctorate is his doctorate” and that “I had his rock solid support until I defended my thesis.”
