Ex-Isro chief its alumnus, city college set for a ‘moonwalk’

Ludhiana: When the entire nation will be glued to TV sets to watch the possible landing attempt by Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon on August 23, professors, students and alumni of a Ludhiana-based government college, named after a renowned alumnus who played a key role in India’s space programme, will be over the moon, brimming with pride and excitement. The college is named after Dr Satish Chandra Dhawan, who studied in the institute in late 1930s and went on to become the chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro). Chandrayaan-3 was launched from SC Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota on July 14. Talking to TOI, Tanvir Likhari, principal of SCD Government College, said, “We are proud of his achievements. Dr S C Dhawan laid the foundation of the space centre.”Former principal of the college Dharam Singh Sandhu said, “Satish Chandra was a student of FSC in 1934 when his father Devi Dyal was posted as a sessions judge in Ludhiana. One of the principals, Rajinder Verma, had mentioned highly about Dhawan in the annual college magazine ‘Satluj’ in 1980.”He added, “Chandrayan-3 is the biggest achievement not only for India, but for the world too. Satish’s legacy was followed by scientists, including the likes of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam. The space missions had been launched successfully under his leadership and we feel proud of it. It is a proud moment for SCD Government College and its staff and students.”Excited with the development, the alumni demanded installation of a prototype of Chandrayaan-3 in the college and sought funds from the central and state governments to support science disciplines to encourage research and innovation in the institute.Brij Bhushan Goyal, organising secretary, alumni association of SCD Government College, said, “It is a matter of pride that the very first satellite ‘Rohini’ was successfully launched on July 18, 1980 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The year coincided with the diamond jubilee of our college too. Dhawan may not have visited our college due to his research obligations in the later years, the college was proud to be named after him.”Former head of physics department Deepak Chopra said, “Dhawan will be remembered as an accomplished scientist, an astute institution builder, a great teacher and a person who inspired people.”