For nearly a century, a single sound has resonated through the diverse landscapes of India. Long before the era of glowing screens and instant notifications, there was a wooden box that brought the world to our doorsteps. This is the saga of All India Radio (AIR) — known to millions as Akashvani. 

The Early Crackle: A Spark in the Air (1920s) 

The story of radio in India did not begin with a government decree, but with a crackle of curiosity. In June 1923, the Radio Club of Bombay made history by transmitting the first-ever broadcast in the country. Within months, enthusiasts in Calcutta and Madras followed suit, forming their own clubs to experiment with this ‘wireless’ magic. 

By July 1927, the Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC), a private venture, was inaugurated by the Viceroy, Lord Irwin. IBC set up two stations: 7BY in Bombay and 7CA in Calcutta. These stations were ambitious, featuring live music and news. However, with only about 3,000 radio licenses in the entire country, the company could not sustain itself and went into liquidation in 1930. The airwaves were nearly silenced, but the people’s hunger for news had already been ignited.  

From Service to Signature (1930–1936) 

When the private IBC failed, the British government stepped in to prevent the medium from dying. On April 1, 1930, the Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS) was formed under the Department of Industries and Labour. This was the beginning of public broadcasting in India. 

The real transformation came in 1935 when Lionel Fielden, a senior producer from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), was appointed as India’s first Controller of Broadcasting. He was a visionary who believed that ‘broadcasting’ should belong to the people. On June 8, 1936, the ISBS was renamed All India Radio (AIR) — a name Fielden championed because it felt more national and inclusive. 

Shortly after, in 1936, the station’s soul was found. Walter Kaufmann, a Jewish refugee from Europe who became the Director of Music at AIR Bombay, composed the iconic Signature Tune. He used a blend of the violin, cello, and tanpura, basing the melody on the morning Raga Shivaranjani. To this day, those eight seconds of music are among the most recognised sounds in Indian history. 

The Secret Airwaves of Freedom 

During World War II and the height of British colonial rule, AIR was a controlled mouthpiece for the Raj. News was heavily censored to keep the Indian public away from the “seditious” calls for independence. But the freedom fighters were clever. 

During the Quit India Movement of 1942, a 22-year-old student named Usha Mehta and her comrades started the Congress Radio. Broadcasting on 42.34 metres from secret locations across Bombay, they moved their equipment frequently to escape the police. Their broadcasts began with the defiant words: “This is the Congress Radio calling on 42.34 metres from somewhere in India”.

They played patriotic songs, shared news of arrests, and gave instructions to protesters that the official AIR would never dare to mention. Though the operators were eventually arrested, the “Ghost Radio” of 1942 proved that the airwaves could be used as a powerful weapon for liberty.  

1947: A Witness to Destiny 

At the dawn of independence, AIR was a modest network with only six stations — Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Lucknow, and Tiruchirappalli. Yet its reach was monumental. Under the leadership of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Minister for Information and Broadcasting, the radio became the primary tool for weaving a fragmented nation together. 

On the night of August 14, 1947, millions huddled around their sets to hear Jawaharlal Nehru’s ‘Tryst with Destiny’. But in the months that followed, AIR did something even more critical: it became the ‘Search and Rescue’ frequency of the nation. During the Partition, a special unit was set up to broadcast messages for missing persons, helping thousands of separated families find one another across the newly formed borders.  

Akashvani: The Voice from the Sky 

While ‘All India Radio’ was the official name, the term ‘Akashvani’ — a Sanskrit word meaning ‘Voice from the Sky’ came later. It was first used in the context of radio by Rabindranath Tagore in 1938 for the inauguration of the Calcutta shortwave service. In 1956, it was officially adopted as the national name for the broadcaster. It signalled a new era where radio was a tool for nation-building, education, and cultural pride. Akashavani became the world’s largest patron of Indian classical music, organising the ‘Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan’ to ensure that the heritage of maestros like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Bismillah Khan reached every village home. 

Vividh Bharati  

By the mid-50s, Indian listeners were tuning into Radio Ceylon to hear film songs, which were then restricted on AIR. To bring the audience back, AIR launched ‘Vividh Bharati’ on October 3, 1957. It was an instant revolution. Programmes like Sangeet Sarita and Bhule Bisre Geet  became legendary. This era also gave us the most iconic voice in Indian radio history — Ameen Sayani. His show, Binaca Geetmala, became a weekly ritual for millions, proving that radio could be both a formal educator and a vibrant entertainer. 

AIR became the custodian of India’s soul, recording and preserving the masters of classical music and regional folklore that might otherwise have been lost to time. 

A Giant among the Airwaves 

As India faced wars in 1962, 1965, and 1971, the radio was the only source for verified news, silencing rumours and boosting national morale. In 1976, a major administrative shift occurred: the television wing was separated from AIR to become Doordarshan. As decades passed, Akashvani grew with the nation. Today, it stands as one of the largest public broadcasters in the world — broadcasting in 23 languages and over 100 dialects, reaching an incredible 99% of India’s population. 

Why we Listen Today 

On World Radio Day, we celebrate more than just technology. We celebrate the medium that remains the most democratic of all. In an era of flickering screens and fragile networks, the airwaves of Akashvani remain an unbroken thread. It has carried the voices of leaders, the songs of farmers, and the cheers of cricket fans for a hundred years. 

Akashvani remains true to its motto: Bahujana Hitaya Bahujana Sukhaya — For the welfare of many, for the happiness of many. An eternal narrator of our journey, Akashvani remains the voice that listens to India’s heart and speaks her truth. 

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When we think of our freedom struggle, we often imagine towering  leaders and seasoned revolutionaries. Yet, history tells another, equally powerful story of young boys and girls who, with hearts full of courage, stood up for their country. Across the world, in every movement for justice, children and youth have been the ones to carry the torch forward. Their energy, fearlessness, and unshakable belief in a better future have made them a vital part of every social and cultural change. 

India’s fight for independence was no different. In towns, villages, and cities, young people risked their lives for the dream of a free nation. They braved imprisonment, exile, and even death, often before they had lived half their lives. 

Baji Rout of Odisha was only twelve years old when he became the youngest known martyr of India’s freedom struggle. In 1938, during the Praja Mandal Movement against the feudal rulers and the British, police forces tried to cross the Brahmani river in search of protesters. Baji, who worked as a boatman, refused to ferry them across. His defiance angered the armed officers, and they ended his life on the spot. His sacrifice at such a tender age ignited a wave of protests and became a symbol of unflinching courage among the youth of India.  

Kartar Singh Sarabha was just nineteen when he became one of the key members of the Ghadar Party, which sought to overthrow British rule through armed revolt. His speeches and writings inspired many to join the cause. Arrested for his role in the Ghadar Conspiracy, he faced his trial with unwavering resolve and was executed at the age of nineteen and was thus immortalised as one of the youngest martyrs of the Independence movement. 

Then there was Saraswathi Rajamani, who was only sixteen when she joined the Indian National Army in the 1940s under Subhas Chandra Bose. Disguising herself as a boy to evade suspicion, she worked as a spy, gathering intelligence from behind enemy lines. Even when she was captured and interrogated, she refused to betray her comrades. 

These three are but a glimpse of the many young hearts, some remembered by name, others lost to time, who laid down their lives for the nation’s freedom. Countless children marched, carried messages, and braved danger, never to witness the sunrise of the independence they had dreamed of. Their courage, whether recorded in history or passed down in whispers, remains a quiet but enduring part of India’s story. 

Even as times have changed, the spirit of young changemakers has not. Around the world today, young people continue to be at the forefront of movements like speaking up for climate action, demanding social justice, protecting cultural heritage, and standing for equality. From streets filled with peaceful protests to voices amplified through social media, the younger generation is reshaping conversations and challenging systems with the same fearlessness that once drove India’s young freedom fighters. The tools may be different, but the courage, vision, idealism and hope for a better world remain the same.  

This Independence Day, as we honour the leaders who shaped our nation, let us bow in gratitude to the young heroes who dared to dream of freedom. In their courage, we see the boundless energy and hope that only youth can bring. They are the heartbeat of every movement for change, the promise of a brighter tomorrow, and the reminder that the spirit of freedom lives on most fiercely in the hearts of the young. 

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Arati Saha was a swimming legend, who created history when she became the first Asian woman to swim across the English Channel, at the young age of 19. Read on to know more about her life. 

Childhood

Arati Saha was born in 1940 in Kolkata, West Bengal to a middle class family.  She was brought up by her father, as her mother had passed away when she was still a toddler. After her mother’s loss, her elder brother and younger sister were sent off to live in their maternal aunt and uncle’s house, while Arati was left to be brought up by her grandmother in North Calcutta. Panchugopal Saha, her father, would take little Arati along with him and his brother to the city’s popular bathing grounds – Champtala Ghat.

Almost immediately Panchugopal was able to recognise that his daughter had an inclination towards swimming, even at such an early age. He decided to enroll her for proper training at the Hatkhola Swimming Club. As luck would have it, India’s first Asian Games gold medalist, Sachin Nag noticed her one day. He too, immediately spotted her talent and decided to take her under his wing and began training her. After this, Arati dived right into her professional swimming career. 

Accolades

After starting training at just 4 years old, Arati won a gold medal for 110 yards freestyle at the Shailendra Memorial Swimming Competition of 1946, only a year later. With exemplary determination and discipline, she went on to win more than 22 state competitions in West Bengal over the next 6 years. Her game-changing recorded time for her laps allowed her to take part in the 1952 Olympics at the mere age of 12, but unfortunately she did not manage to win a stand on the podium. This did not stop her, but only encouraged her to go further. 

The Dream

As she was pushed harder and harder to train, she started to gain more confidence. She soon began to harbour a challenging dream — to attempt swimming the intimidating English Channel. Although a few women had attempted this before her, it was still a highly male dominated area at the time. Arati’s own participation is what changed this for future female swimmers.

Brojen Das, the English Channel’s first Asian finisher (not just once, but six times!) proposed Arati’s name to the organisers for the event that year. Even Mihir Sen, another accomplished English Channel finisher, encouraged this idea. With the motivation of many other supportive men and the financial aid of the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, and the then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, the English Channel dream began to take shape. 

In 1959, she attempted the feat for the first time but was unable to finish. She made her second attempt just one month later. This time, Arati came back and completed the entire length at the impressively young  age of 19. This won her not just a Padma Shri, but also a place in the history of swimming, as the first Asian woman to swim across the English Channel.

Arati passed away at the age of 54, unfortunately losing a battle to jaundice and encephalitis. The Government of India honoured her by releasing a postage stamp in her name. She is remembered not just as a swimmer, but as a woman who changed swimming for every Indian girl who dreamed of the same things she did.

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-By Srinidhi Murthy 

Early Life and Education 

Kadambini Ganguly was born on 18 July, 1861, in Bhagalpur, Bengal Presidency (present-day Bihar). She was the daughter of Braja Kishore Basu, a well-known champion of the Brahmo Samaj. He was the headmaster of Bhagalpur School and co-founded ‘Bhagalpur Mahila Samiti’ in 1863, the first women’s organisation in India. Kadambini received her early education at the Brahmo Eden Female School, which later merged with Bethune School in 1878. She and her classmate Chandramukhi Basu from Dehradun became the first two women graduates in British India when they graduated from Bethune College in 1882. 

Pursuing the Dream 

Kadambini married Dwarakanath Ganguly in 1883. Her husband supported Kadambini’s dream to pursue medicine. With his support, she became the first woman to be admitted to the Calcutta Medical College (CMC) in 1884. When she completed her studies at CMC, the then-principal Dr J.M. Coates awarded her a Graduate Medical College of Bengal (GMCB) diploma that allowed her to start a private practice as a doctor in 1886. Along with Anandibai Joshi (who studied at the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania in the United States), Ganguly became one of the first Indian women eligible to practice medicine in 1886. During this time, Kadambini’s achievements were praised by British nurse and social reformer Florence Nightingale, and British socialist Annie Besant. 

Life in England 

With her husband’s unfailing support, Kadambini decided to further her medical studies in London. She arrived in London on March 23, 1893. In July, she received the Triple Diplomas, i.e., Licentiate of the College of Physicians, Edinburg (LRCP), Licentiate of the College of Surgeons, Glasgow (LRCS), and Licentiate of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, Dublin (LFPS), from the Scottish College after training in Dublin, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. She was the only woman among the 14 successful candidates who graduated that year. 

Medical Career 

When she returned from England, Kadambini joined Lady Dufferin Hospital in Kolkata as a senior doctor and started her career as a gynaecologist. Kadambini once correctly identified a pregnancy that had been misdiagnosed as an abdominal tumour. She not only corrected the initial misdiagnosis but also safely delivered the child. She later started her private practice. 

Social Worker 

Kadambini was involved in several social and freedom movements and was a champion of women’s rights and education. In 1908, she supported the Satyagraha movement and encouraged people to raise funds to support the cause. Ganguly was part of the first ever female delegation in the Fifth Session of the Indian National Congress, where women were invited to vote. In 1922, she visited Odisha and Bihar to help women miners. Until the day she died, she never refused to attend to any of her medical appointments. Kadambini Ganguly breathed her last on 7 October, 1923. She was truly a pathbreaker who proved to be an inspiration to many.  

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Bhanumati Rajopadhye (now Athaiya), was born in Kolhapur in the year 1929. She was one of the seven children of self-taught artist and photographer, Annasaheb Rajopadhye. As Bhanu watched her father work alongside different directors and filmmakers, it opened her eyes to the world of art and film. Bhanu was a driven young woman, who was lucky to have parents whose beliefs aligned with hers. Her mother, Shantabai, as Bhanu has said, gave her the “freedom to move to a big city in pursuit of my studies at a time when women did not have such opportunities”. Her father, despite his passing away when she was just 10 years old, was her biggest pillar of inspiration, as she called him “her guiding light” throughout her entire life and professional career. 

Around the age of 17, Bhanu moved to Mumbai to study painting at the JJ School of Art, but wound up being a little late for the admissions and was unable to attend that year. But, as fate intended, she decided to enroll at a private school, which led her to working at the magazine Fashion and Beauty as an illustrator, and then at Eve’s Weekly, which shifted her focus to fashion. Still managing to complete her initial goal, Bhanu graduated from the JJ School of Art in 1952, and became a part of  the newly formed Progressive Artists’ Group. In 1953, she contributed three artworks to the PAG show in Mumbai, being the only woman who held this honour. Soon, Bhanu realised her talents aligned more with fashion design, completely changing her line of work. 

Bhanu began designing clothes in a boutique, for a dazzling clientele of movie stars and socialites. In 1953, she began creating designs for films and her career skyrocketed when she was introduced to Indian actor and director, Raj Kapoor. This sparked a long-lasting partnership between the two, leading to memorable films  with iconic costumes, such as Mera Naam Joker (1970), Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978) and more. After the success of her initial projects, Bhanu became a sought-after designer. By the time colour entered the screens of India, she was ready to use her knowledge and take on the challenge of designing the now colour-enhanced costumes. 

Bhanu had a meticulous approach towards her designs. She handpicked every aspect of the costume she was designing, in order to stay true to the setting. For the movie Reshma Aur Shera (1971), Bhanu travelled to the location of the plot — Pochina, Rajasthan — and “collected detailed information on every aspect of life in that village in order to conceive the look of the costumes”. Bhanu always considered herself a “director’s designer”, who did not work for fame, but for the director’s vision and betterment of the film. She knew the difference between costume design and fashion design, when she stated, “Any costume designer needs to remember that they are not creating clothes for the market, but for the character.” 

Her big break arrived with the film Gandhi (1982). Richard Attenborough, the director of this film, said it took him seventeen years to set up the making of  Gandhi, but only fifteen minutes to decide that Bhanu Athaiya would be the right designer for it. After analysing all the available photographs and hunting for every detail possible, Bhanu produced costumes that displayed the struggle and culture of life of the times. Everything was so perfectly depicted, that it won her an Oscar! Her win was not supported by everyone. Some people complained that the actors were dressed in extremely simple costumes, making them look ordinary and sometimes even shabby. But others knew that the film was not meant to be a fashion show, but rather, the reality of the common man living through that dark stage in Indian history — Bhanu had nailed the brief. 

Even though this was the highest achievement of her career, Bhanu did not slow down. She continued to create beautiful costumes for some of India’s most respected films, such as Lagaan (2001), Lekin (1990) and others. In 2012, when she was informed that she had a brain tumour, Bhanu decided to send her Oscar back to Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles, for preservation. In 2020, Bhanu Athaiya passed away at the age of 91, leaving the world of cinema and costume forever changed. She is still remembered as the first Indian to win an Oscar, and a woman of incredible artistic vision. 

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Mukta Salve belonged to the Mang community of Maharashtra, one of the many lower caste communities which were subjected to the cruel practice of untouchability. She became a student at Savitribai and Jyotiba Phule’s school, where women of all communities were taught to read and write. At the age of 14, she wrote a scathing essay titled ‘About the grief of Mangs and Mahars’ wherein she questioned the discriminatory nature of the caste system in the Hindu religion. Her essay delved into the horrors faced by the community and the subhuman conditions they led their lives in. The essay is considered to be the first work of literature by a Dalit woman. Although it is her only work to be recovered, Mukta Salve continues to be an important voice of inspiration among Dalits and women.

Read about more such pathbreaking women in our comic Valiant Women, now available on the ACK Comics app, Kindle, Flipkart, and other major e-tailers. 

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On December 5, 1997, Kalpana Chawla returned from space and the world celebrated the successful flight of the first Indian woman in space. Here are some interesting facts about this woman who died living her dreams.

Kalpana chose her own name

Kalpana was the fourth child of Bansari Lal and Sanyogita, born on July 1, 1961. Fondly called Monto, the little girl spent her childhood in a joint family of sixteen members living under the same roof. When it was her time to start her education, Monto was given the option to choose her own name by the school principal. Monto chose the name Kalpana, the name which later became the pride of India.

She was interested in learning almost everything.

Kalpana loved writing poetry and participated in school dances. She played outdoor games like volleyball and adapted herself to the latest fashion. She learned Karate long enough to earn a black belt and loved reading books. In her later years, Kalpana spent her leisure time trying to learn the Indian classical dance, Bharatanatyam. She also loved to go biking on full moon nights.

The first girl in her college to take up aeronautical engineering

Kalpana took her family members by surprise when she announced that she was determined to earn her degree in Aeronautical Engineering at Punjab Engineering College. Apart from the college being away from Karnal, her hometown, there were no other girls enrolled in the Aeronautical Engineering course that year. Seeing her determination, Kalpana’s mother accompanied her to Chandigarh for her admission to show her support. Even at the time of admission, Kalpana refused to consider any course other than Aeronautical Engineering to the great surprise of the college principal.

She had a passion for flying

When she lived in Karnal, Kalpana and her brother often passed through the Flying Club of Karnal, and even had a one-time opportunity to be on a glider ride arranged by her father. This experience increased her love for flying. But due to her short height, she was able to fly only smaller planes. Eventually, she got a commercial pilot’s license for single-engine, double engine planes, and also an Instructor’s license.

She was among the twenty-three astronauts selected for NASA

Kalpana was not selected as an astronaut when she applied to NASA the first time. Her second attempt was fruitful and she was among the twenty-three people selected for training as an astronaut. It was a dream come true for Kalpana as she got the job for which there were around two thousand nine hundred applicants.

The first space journey 

On November 17, 1997, Kalpana started the journey of her first space mission as a mission specialist, who coordinated various activities of the shuttle. She was a part of a six-astronaut-crew that flew the Space Shuttle Columbia flight named STS-87.  The shuttle returned successfully on December 5. After the return, Kalpana commented that she felt like Alice in Wonderland.

Preparation for the second mission

Kalpana was selected again as a mission specialist and flight operator for STS-107. The mission was delayed for several months. It was an important mission as it was the twenty-eighth trip into space of the Space Shuttle Columbia. The astronauts had to complete eighty experiments as a part of the procedure. At the beginning of her journey, Kalpana had selected her favourite music for the flight and also took her school and college mementoes.

Read the complete life story of Kalpana in our title Kalpana Chawla. Now available on the ACK Comics App, Kindle, Flipkart, Amazon, and other major e-tailers. 

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October 12th marks the birth anniversary of Bengali poet and social worker, Kamini Roy.

Kamini was born in 1864 in the village of Basanda in present-day Bangladesh. Although a child prodigy in mathematics, she developed an interest in Sanskrit after spending many hours in her father’s library. Later, she joined Bethune School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree with Sanskrit Honours, becoming one of the first two female Honours graduate in British India, the other being eminent physician Kadambini Ganguly, who was three years her senior.

In 1889, Kamini Roy published her first collection of verses, Alo Chhaya, and went on to become a leading Bengali poet and social worker. In 1921, she fought hand-in-hand with Kumudini Basu, née  Mitra, and Mrinalini Sen for educational and voting rights for women. For her immense contributions to the betterment of women and society at large, the Calcutta University honoured her with the Jagattarini Gold Medal. She passed away in 1933 at her home in Hazaribagh in West Bengal.

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Indians have been playing cricket since the late 19th century. By 2006, India and the rest of the world were introduced to a brand-new format of cricket known as ‘twenty-twenty’ or T20 for short. It promised the audience more entertainment and power-packed matches that were reduced to 20 gripping overs instead of the more traditional formats of one-day internationals which consisted of 50 overs, or test matches that spanned over a few days. Indian audiences took to it like ducks to water, soon making India the largest consumers of the T20 format in the world! The Indian cricket team’s love for the format back to its very first season victory all the way back to 2007.

India’s first-ever T20

On December 1st, 2006, the Indian team marched into the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg to take on South Africa in this brand-new form of cricket. With no experience in the format and no specific strategy in place, India took its chances against the opponent. Under the captaincy of Virender Sehwag, the players led the team to a slow-paced yet decisive victory. This day also marks the first and the only international T20 match to be played by the legendary cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar.

The 2007 World Cup

With a new, young captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, taking over the reins of the team in the year 2007, India entered a glorious new era marked by massive victories and the revival of the Indian cricket team’s heydays. ICC launched its first edition of the international T20 world cup that year. The Men in Blue kickstarted the season by playing against newcomers Scotland. However, heavy rains wreaked havoc, bringing the match to an abrupt halt.

In the electrifying weeks that followed, India locked horns with different teams and won several matches. Amongst the most memorable ones was the match against Pakistan in 2007 in which legends such as Virendra Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Robin Uthappa swayed the team to a thrilling victory against the rival team!

It all finally boiled down to the play-offs when India was paired against Australia for the semi-finals. By now, the men in blue had gained a more definite hold on the format and had learnt the tricks of the trade. There was a tremendous shift in India’s playing form and its approach towards the game. With incredible bowling by Harbhajan Singh and Sreeshanth, the team secured its position in the grand finale!

The grand showdown!

Known for his calm persona, Captain Cool aka MS Dhoni led his team into the big final against Pakistan. On September 24th, 2007, India came face to face with the Pakistan team in Johannesburg in a stadium full of excited fans, hooked on the edges of their seats, witnessing the ultimate face-off between the two arch-rivals. India won the toss and chose to bat first and managed to gain a respectable score of 157 runs at the end of the 20 overs with a loss of 5 wickets.

Pakistan began on a rather dull note, losing several wickets in the initial few overs. Just when the Indian team thought victory was at hand, the game changed as Pakistani batsman Misbah-ul-Haq led a spirited comeback for his side. Soon, the game could go either way, and even a single wrong move by India could cost them the title.

As spectators held on to their breath, the pressure in the stadium was palpable for both teams. In a move that was totally unexpected by the audience, Dhoni offered the last two overs to the relatively inexperienced Joginder Sharma instead of the seasoned Harbhajan Singh. Joginder’s third delivery got knocked out of the park for a massive sixer and the fear of losing was now looming large over the Indian team. While Pakistan had no wickets left to spare, they only needed six runs off four balls, and with Misbah in fine form, the Men in Green could smell victory. Gleaming with confidence, Misbah played it big on the next ball, but unfortunately, his shot landed straight into Sreesanth’s arms, setting up a jaw-dropping finish! Indian cricket fans all over roared in pride as the team lifted the very first T20 World Cup. The game was even more crucial for the team as they won against their arch-rivals and this was a match that was etched in the walls of the team’s history.

This was only a trailer for what was to follow. T20 became viral across India and the fans thronged the stadiums in thousands. The format began to breach every aspect of an Indian’s lifestyle and due to overwhelming demand, India launched its very own T20 league; the Indian Premier League or the IPL which has revolutionized the way Indian summers are experienced. With massive celebrity endorsements, overflowing stadiums and the collective roar of a nation, this format of cricket has become ingrained into India’s identity!

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On the afternoon of November 5th, 2013, scientists and astrophysicists from across the globe gathered around various computer screens. The atmosphere was tingling with nervousness and excitement. Within hours, India was about to launch its first interplanetary vessel, the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) satellite named Mangalyaan, into space. As the mission took off from India’s first launch-pad in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, the world watched on eagerly. In less than a year of its launch, the Mangalyaan mission set an iconic record in Indian history when it officially entered Mars’ orbit on the 24th of September, 2014. With this achievement, India became the only country in the world to successfully put a satellite into Mars’ orbit on its very first try.

This mission was initiated by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) headquartered in Bangalore and marked a historic moment for both the organization and the country for several reasons. As the satellite marks its sixth year orbiting the red planet today, let us retrace the journey of this mission.

The Dream Team

Shortly after the news of India’s success reached every corner of the world, there were several inquiries about the team behind India’s successful execution, with people pleased to know that several female scientists were an integral part of this mission! This mission was backed by a massive team of 500 people, with prominent scientists like Ritu Karidhal, Nandini Harinath, Anuradha TK, Moumita Dutta and Minal Rohit, coming to the forefront for the role they played in the success of the Mangalyaan mission.

India’s most efficient mission yet

The Mangalyaan Mission is considered to be one of the most cost-effective space projects in the world. ISRO’s space program gave birth to the world’s most efficient and cost-effective satellite when compared to the satellites launched by the US and other nations. The entire mission cost India just 74 million dollars while the American Mars Mission costs ten times as much! It is even believed that Mangalyaan’s entire budget was smaller than several Bollywood and Hollywood budgets too, making it an incredible feat that the ISRO managed to pull off! The ISRO continues to spearhead this project with rapid progress being made on the sequel mission, Mangalyaan II, expected to fast track the pace of India’s research on the red giant.

Home-grown technology

Mangalyaan’s cheap budget was also a direct result of using home-grown technology. Indian-made components and technology were given higher priority than foreign imports, which was yet another commendable milestone that India achieved through this mission.

Findings

As of June 19, 2017, the Mangalyaan completed 1000 Earth days around Mars, during which there have been several findings and probes that have become major turning points for India’s scientific and astronomical research. Apart from initiating research into the possibilities of life existing on the red planet, the satellite has sent back several terabytes of images from Mars. One of the main objectives of the mission was to study the Martian atmosphere which includes methane and CO2 using several sensors, and it is believed that the ISRO has managed to make a significant breakthrough in this study.

Blackouts and communication error

The initial build of Mangalyaan was projected to last for only six months, but it has taken the world by surprise after having completed over 5 full years in Mars’ orbit. The mission has also encountered several trouble points. The MOM went through a communication blackout between June 2, 2015, to July 2, 2015. However, the spacecraft emerged out of this blackout through successful auto control systems.

A historic MOMent for India

India happened to be the first Asian nation and the fourth globally to have sent a spacecraft to Mars and the very first country in the world to do so in its maiden attempt. This has undeniably landed India an important position amongst the global scientific and space research community. This space mission was so stellar that several other space organisations including NASA conducted an in-depth study into how India managed to achieve this feat at such low costs on its first try. It is believed that the images captured by the Mangalyaan were some of the best captures amongst the fifty other space missions by various countries.

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