Scientist receives MP Birla Memorial Award at planetarium that ignited passion for the cosmos 5 decades go
Times of India | 13 March 2026
KOLKATA: The MP Birla Planetarium (MPBP) on Friday conferred the MP Birla Memorial Award on Yashwant Gupta, director of the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics at TIFR Pune.
Receiving the award, Gupta recounted how a visit to the Birla Planetarium in the 1970s, when he was in high school, opened his eyes to the wonders of the universe, ignited a lifelong passion for the cosmos, and planted the seeds of curiosity that guided his journey since.
"To now stand on this stage receiving an award named after the man who made such transformative institutions possible is nothing short of poetic and is deeply moving for me... I accept this award not just for myself, but for all who gaze upward and dream and hope that this moment, inspired by MP Birla's vision, motivates the next generation of youngsters, like the ones who are seated here in the auditorium today, to become leading scientists of tomorrow," said Gupta.
The function, initially scheduled 3 months ago, was cancelled after Gupta was unable to reach Kolkata due to the IndiGo Airlines operational meltdown. Gupta's flight from Pune was among 5,000 flights that were cancelled. Attempts to rebook him on an alternative flight proved futile.
The biennial award is being held after a gap of 6 years following the Covid disruption. Instituted in 1993, it was last given to Prof Thanu Padmanabhan in 2019. Among the past recipients of the award are Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, Govind Swarup, K Kasturirangan and APJ Abdul Kalam. The award was not given in 2015 and 2017 as the planetarium was then undergoing renovation.
SK Daga, honorary secretary of MP Birla Institute of Fundamental Research, said, “Prof Gupta’s decision to advancing our understanding of the universe truly embodies the spirit of the MP Birla Memorial Award.”
“His research has not only opened new avenues for scientific inquiry but has also provided solutions that will benefit the advancement of human knowledge. We are thrilled to present him with this well-deserved recognition,” said MP Birla Planetarium curator S Datta.