Media Release
Mangaluru, Nov 19: Early Learning Centre (ELC) and Centre for Advanced Learning (CFAL) will host a special talk on November 22 by author and journalist Amrita Shah, who will speak on the life and legacy of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the pioneering scientist widely regarded as the father of the Indian space programme. The session, titled ‘The Legacy of Vikram Sarabhai’, will be held from 6 pm to 7 pm at the TLC Café and is open to the public.
Dr Sarabhai, founder of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), played a decisive role in shaping India’s scientific institutions, including the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA). His belief that advanced technology must directly address societal needs continues to define India’s scientific outlook. His commitment to scientific progress rooted in public welfare is reflected in another well-known assertion: “We must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to the real problems of man and society.” Shah’s talk will draw on these ideas, offering insight into Sarabhai’s vision, personal journey, and the institutions he shaped.
Amrita Shah is the author of ‘Vikram Sarabhai: A Life’, considered one of the most detailed and sensitive biographies of the scientist.
Her body of work includes Ahmedabad: A City in the World and Telly-Guillotined, alongside contributions to The Indian Express, Time, Elle, and Debonair. A Fulbright Fellow, she has also taught at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
The event is part of Connected Wisdom – Living Stories, Living Systems, the month-long annual festival organised by ELC and the CFAL from November 14 to December 22. The festival brings together authors, folk artists, musicians, and professionals to explore the intersections of literature, science, art, heritage, and lived experience.
This year’s lineup includes Roopa Pai, Priya Muthukumar, Chandini Chhabra, Mamatha Rai, Nandita Jayaraj, Praveen Alva, Swati Bhat, Amrita Shah, Nester Fernandes, Janardhan Havanje, Latha Rao, among others. The festival features storytelling sessions, discussions, performances, and hands-on workshops curated for diverse age groups.
According to organisers, the theme emphasises the idea that stories shape worldviews, science and heritage preserve generational wisdom, and literature creates connections across time and place. The programme is open to all interested participants.