Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai

Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai (12 August 1919 – 30 December 1971) was an Indian scientist, physicist and astronomer. He came from the famous Sarabhai family of India who were major industrialists committed to the Indian independence movement. Vikram Sarabhai married the classical dancer Mrinalini in 1942. During his lifetime, he practiced Jainism. Known as the cradle of space sciences in India, the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) was founded in 1947 by Vikram Sarabhai. Most notable among the many institutes he helped set up are the Nehru Foundation for Development in Ahmedabad, the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA), the Ahmedabad Textile Industry's Research Association (ATIRA) and the CEPT. He was also the founder of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Along with his wife Mrinalini Sarabhai, he founded the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts. He was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1966 and the Padma Vibhushan (posthumously) in 1972.