Jayant Vishnu Narlikar was one of India’s most important astrophysicists. He passed away in May 2025 at the age of 87. His death marks the end of an era in Indian science. Narlikar was not only a brilliant scientist but also a bold thinker who was never afraid to question popular ideas. He worked on important theories about the universe, most famously the Hoyle–Narlikar theory. He also built great institutions in India and helped train many young scientists. Narlikar strongly believed that science should be open, fearless, and made available to everyone.

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About Jayant Narlikar

Jayant Narlikar was born in 1938. He studied in India and later went to Cambridge University in the UK, where he worked under the famous astrophysicist Fred Hoyle. He soon became well known for his deep knowledge of cosmology—the science of how the universe works.

Even when many scientists accepted the Big Bang theory, Narlikar kept exploring other ideas, especially the steady state theory. He was not afraid to challenge the mainstream, and he did so with strong scientific arguments.

Later in life, he came back to India and helped establish the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune. He was also known for his love of teaching, writing science fiction, and popularising science among students.

Key Contributions of Jayant Narlikar

Some of the key contributions made by Narlikar to Science include the following:

1. Hoyle–Narlikar Theory of Gravity

One of his most famous contributions was the theory of gravity he developed with Fred Hoyle. It tried to offer an alternative to Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. This theory is known as conformal gravity and is discussed in detail below.

2. Support for the Steady State Theory

Narlikar supported the steady state theory of the universe. This theory says that the universe has no beginning and no end—it always looked the same over time. This was different from the Big Bang theory, which says that the universe began from a single point and is still expanding.

3. Work on Cosmological Redshifts

He also studied cosmological redshift, a phenomenon where light from distant stars shifts towards the red part of the spectrum. While most scientists believed redshift happened due to the expansion of the universe, Narlikar looked for other possible explanations.

4. Institution Building

He helped build IUCAA, a leading institution for astronomy research in India. Many of his students became well-known scientists themselves.

5. Science Education and Popularisation

Narlikar also wrote science fiction and books in both English and Marathi. He worked to spread scientific thinking and fought against superstition. For example, he would eat during solar eclipses to prove that there was nothing dangerous about it.

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The Hoyle–Narlikar theory of gravity, developed in the 1960s, is a mathematical model that explains how gravity works in a universe that does not have a beginning or end. Unlike Einstein’s theory, which works with a Big Bang model, the Hoyle–Narlikar theory fits better with the steady state model of the universe.

This theory is a kind of conformal theory. In simple terms, it tries to explain gravity in a way that works at both very large and very small scales.

Key Components of the Hoyle–Narlikar Theory of Gravity

Applications of the Hoyle–Narlikar Theory of Gravity

Some of the key applications of the Narlikar theory of gravitation include the following:

• Cosmological Models: Offers an alternative to the Big Bang model of the universe.
• Explaining Redshifts: Proposes new ways to look at redshift data that do not rely on an expanding universe.
• Quantum Gravity: The theory was ahead of its time in trying to merge quantum physics with gravity.
• Scientific Debate: Encouraged discussions and alternative thinking in the scientific community, which is important for progress.

Challenges to the Hoyle–Narlikar Theory

While the Hoyle–Narlikar theory was mathematically strong, it faced many challenges:

• Lack of Evidence: Over time, more and more observational data supported the Big Bang theory, such as the discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation.
• Minority View: Most scientists now accept the Big Bang model. This made it harder for steady state theories to gain wide acceptance.
• Ignored by Mainstream: Since it was ahead of its time, the theory was not widely adopted and was sometimes even dismissed.
• New Data Clashes: Recent data from the James Webb Space Telescope show anomalies, but they have not yet provided clear support for steady state theories.

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Narlikar’s Legacy in Science and Society

• Built Strong Institutions: His work at IUCAA gave India a world-class centre for astronomy.
• Inspired Generations: Scientists like Thanu Padmanabhan and Ajit Kembhavi were his students.
• Fought Pseudoscience: He was vocal against astrology, superstition, and fake science.
• Promoted Science Fiction: His writings helped make science fun and interesting for students.

Conclusion

Jayant Narlikar was a scientist who dared to think differently. He was not afraid to question the most accepted ideas in science. Even when the world moved in one direction, he stood firm in his beliefs if he thought they had merit. His work reminds us that science is not about following trends but about asking tough questions and looking for answers. His life teaches us that being ahead of time may not always bring fame, but it does bring lasting impact.

His contributions to cosmology, education, institution-building, and science communication will continue to guide and inspire future generations of Indian scientists. Jayant Narlikar truly was the North Star of Indian astrophysics.

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