THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For space scientist Dr V Adimurthy, the Padma Shri Award has come calling at the successful conclusion of an extraordinary Sabarimala pilgrimage.Earlier this month, the 65-year-old dean of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) and former associate director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), cycled all the way from his Thiruvananthapuram home to Sabarimala.Quite well-known for his passion for cycling - he fell in love with the pursuit during his IIT-Kanpur days - Adimurthy said he completed the trip in 13-14 hours. The lone cyclist left on January 2 on his old Hercules and returned on the night of January 5. On day one, he cycled upto Pathanamthitta and stayed there. And the next day, he reached Sannidhanam. “Before I left, I got the tyres and tubes replaced. I told the man I was going to Sabarimala. So everything had to be in good condition,’’ he said. His wife Sandhya described the trip as a “big adventure.’’ Adimurthy, who hails from Rajahmundry, joined the ISRO in 1973 and has been living in Kerala for 33 years. During his VSSC days, he used to famously cycle to office daily, but now that is out of the question as he works at IIST which is at Valiyamala. “It will take five hours up and down on a bicycle. And there is too much work these days,’’ says Adimurthy, who represents India at the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC). He has been part of all major projects of the ISRO over the decades, including the Chandrayaan I. Adimurthy was informed about the Padma Sri Award on Wednesday afternoon. “I’m delighted. It’s not really my individual achievement. It’s a recognition of our (ISRO’s) team spirit. I only represent them,’’ he said.
Comments
0 comment