Samarth Bharat Parva - Smt. TK Anuradha

Smt. TK Anuradha remains a revered scientist in ISRO, celebrated for her exceptional career as a scientist. Even after retirement, her dedication to the country's space research became evident during the Chandrayaan mission.

Back in 1969, when Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon, Anuradha, a schoolgirl at the time, dreamed of doing something in space. Though young, her unwavering fascination with space often led her to discuss this passion with family. In time, that childhood dream materialized, and Anuradha joined the prestigious organization ISRO.

Her most notable achievement came as the Project Director of the GSAT-12 satellite at ISRO. Anuradha successfully navigated GSAT-12 to its final orbit, orchestrating crucial operations from the control facility in Hassan. Notably, it marked the pioneering feat of an all-women team from ISRO, led by TK Anuradha.

Growing up in Bangalore, Anuradha enjoyed a supportive family environment. Her father, a Sanskrit professor, and her mother, a homemaker. She had four sisters and was always inspired by her mother, who nurtured her right from childhood. Her mother always encouraged her to advance in any field and succeed in competitive exams. TK Anuradha's elder sister took up medical field and two younger sisters took up engineering field.

After primary education in Bangalore, Anuradha pursued electronic engineering at Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, Nagpur. Fueled by a childhood fascination with science and aspirations in space exploration, she took admission in electronics. Upon completing college, Anuradha turned down an opportunity to study Master of Science at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and joined the Space Agency.

Marriage introduced Anuradha to a family equally passionate about electronics. Her husband served as General Manager at Bharat Electronics. Her daughters, one a computer science engineer in the US and the other in electronic engineering, reflect her family's shared enthusiasm. In an interview, she advises, "Don't think there is a limit to what you can do. If you want to do something, start creating an environment conducive to it."

Starting at the Satellite Center in Bangalore, Anuradha's first job involved satellite testing under the mentorship of Prof. U.R. Rao. Her journey continued as Chairperson of the Agency from 1984 to 1994, contributing significantly to electronic equipment development for satellites.

Specializing in communication satellites, she played pivotal roles in GSAT-12 and GSAT-10 launches. Recognized as one of the senior-most women scientists at ISRO since 1982, she received the prestigious 2012 ASI-ISRO Team Award for her outstanding contributions. Anuradha's passion for space exploration remains unparalleled, and we wish her continued success in future endeavors.

- Sarvesh Fadnavis,  courtesy : https://sarveshfadnavis.blogspot.com