V Balasubramanian - Session 01

OH-002-30-1

V Balasubramanian talks about being born in Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) and having had a childhood shaped by his father’s railway job, requiring frequent relocations across South India. His early education spanned multiple schools, transitioning from Tamil to Malayalam medium. Influenced by his maternal grandfather, an electrical engineer, and his uncle, he developed a deep interest in physics. His academic journey led him to Government Victoria College, Palghat, where he pursued physics before joining the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay [now Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)].

He shares that his career took shape at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) under Govind Swarup, where he played a crucial role in constructing the Ooty Radio Telescope (ORT). He details the technical innovations and challenges of building the 540-meter-long telescope, which became instrumental in pulsar studies and interplanetary scintillation research. Balasubramanian also talks about focussing on low-loss transmission lines, contributing to the development of the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT), and digital processing.

He emphasises different collaborations over the years and the importance of indigenous technological development. Reflecting on his career, he expresses pride in his team’s ability to overcome financial and technical limitations, highlighting their impact on global astronomy.

He also offers advice to aspiring radio astronomers, and discusses post-retirement interests in reading and history.

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:00:27) Early life and education

(00:13:29) Hobbies growing up

(00:16:02) Developing an interest in physics and joining Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)

(00:20:40) Identification of 3C 273 quasar, the Ooty Radio Telescope (ORT) and lunar occultation

(00:26:43) Training school of the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay [later called Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)] and joining the radio astronomy group at TIFR

(00:33:45) Building the ORT

(00:42:13) Discoveries, collaborations and V. Balasubramanian and others’ roles

(00:46:37) Imports required and the development of domestic manufacturing capabilities

(00:54:02) Evolution of ORT and structural failure in 1971

(00:59:34) Comparison of ORT to other telescopes

(01:01:19) Technological advancements and collaborations with other institutes

(01:09:58) Rebuilding and improving ORT and discoveries made using ORT

(01:16:59) Evolution and building of Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT)

(01:26:59) Very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) and coming up with ideas in informal settings

(01:32:36) Challenges and solutions during construction and development of ORT: “teething troubles”

(01:43:44) Need for different expertise and specialised tools and components

(01:48:35) Advice for a young scientist keen to start a career in radio astronomy today

(01:51:05) Regrets, limitations and the team at TIFR

(01:53:54) Retirement and interest in reading and history

(01:58:13) Winding up the session

2024-06-19

Oral History: History of Science

V Balasubramanian

V Balasubramanian - Session 01