3rd - 4th November, 2025
Organized by
ICARD, Department of Physics, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan
in association with IUCAA, Pune
Other organizers:
ICARD, North Bengal University
ICARD, Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University
ICARD, Malda College
Prof. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar
19 July, 1938 – 20 May, 2025
Prof. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar (FNA, FASc, FTWAS), was an Indian astrophysicist who performed research on alternative cosmology. He wrote textbooks on cosmology, popular science books, science fiction novels and short stories. Narlikar studied at Banaras Hindu University and Cambridge University, where he obtained his Ph.D degree in 1963 working with Fred Hoyle. After postdoctoral work in Cambridge, in 1972 he was appointed a professor at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. In 1988, he became the first director of the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune.
Narlikar received many national and international awards and honorary doctorates. He was conferred Padma Bhushan in 1965. India's second-highest civilian honour, Padma Vibhushan, was awarded to him in 2004 for his research work. He received Maharashtra Bhushan Award for the year 2010. He was a recipient of Bhatnagar Award, M.P. Birla Award, and the Prix Jules Janssen of the Société astronomique de France (French Astronomical Society). He was an Associate of the Royal Astronomical Society of London, and a Fellow of the three Indian National Science Academies and the Third World Academy of Sciences. In 1960, he won the Tyson Medal for astronomy. During his doctoral studies at Cambridge, he won the Smith's Prize in 1962. Apart from his scientific research, Narlikar was well known as a communicator of science through his books, articles, and radio and television programmes. For these efforts, he was honoured in 1996 by UNESCO with the Kalinga Prize. He was featured on Carl Sagan's TV show Cosmos: A Personal Voyage in the late 1980s. He received the Indira Gandhi Award of the Indian National Science Academy in 1990. In 2014, he received a Sahitya Akademi Award for his autobiography in Marathi, Chaar Nagarantale Maze Vishwa.
Objectives of the event:
To honor the remarkable scientific legacy of Prof. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar by bringing together researchers, students, and science enthusiasts to engage in discussions on cutting-edge developments in Cosmology and Astrophysics.
To bring together leading experts from academic institutions across India to present and discuss recent advances in these fields; and
To engage and inspire local students to take an active interest in cosmology and astrophysics, encouraging them to pursue research and consider long-term academic careers in these areas.
The event seeks to provide a platform for students to interact with the leading experts from academic institutions across India regarding recent advances in the fields of Gravitation, Cosmology and Astrophysics. In parallel, it will provide an opportunity to the Ph.D. scholars and postdoctoral researchers to present their work, interact with senior scientists, and gain valuable feedback. A key goal of the conference is to inspire and engage local undergraduate and postgraduate students, encouraging them to consider pursuing research careers in these exciting areas of science. Through invited lectures, presentations and interactive sessions, the conference will foster meaningful exchanges between early-career researchers and established experts, paving the way for potential collaborations and mentorship. By covering a broad spectrum of theoretical and observational topics, the event also aims to promote interdisciplinary learning and communication. Ultimately, the conference aspires to cultivate a vibrant academic environment that celebrates scientific inquiry and honors the spirit of curiosity and collaboration exemplified by Prof. Narlikar.
Patrons:
Prof. Narayan Chandra Mandal, Principal, Siksha-Bhavana, Visva-Bharati
Prof. Ashis Bhattacharjee, HOD, Department of Physics, Visva-Bharati