Salute to the Soldier Scientist of Mother India
IC – 6553 Lt Col Nilambar Pant, Retd
Chandrayaan – 3 was successfully launched On 14 Jul 2023 into the earth’s orbit. It is expected to land near the lunar South Pole region on 23 Aug 23. On this high note, I wish to share the success story of a Signals officer who rose to become an eminent space scientist.
IC-6553 Lt Col Nilambar Pant, Retd got commissioned in Signals in 1954. As Captain he did the OLT Course and was retained as instructor at the School of Signals, Mhow. He got married in 1962 and the newlyweds lived at a Dennis Road house. He was selected to attend the Microwave Radio Officer Course at US Army Signal Centre & School, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey in 1964.
He beat Capt RS Lobo’s record by scoring 99.20% marks, an all-time record for that training establishment. After doing one more military tenure, he was sent on deputation to Space Applications Centre Ahmedabad in 1965. His team was assigned the task of setting up of India’s first Experimental Satellite Communication Earth Station (ESCES) at Ahmedabad.
He held the assignments of Director, ESCES Ahmedabad and Chairman, Communication Area, Space Applications Centre of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Ahmedabad. After completing 20 years of Army service he opted for premature retirement in Sep 1974 but continued with ISRO on a permanent basis.
In 1977, he was appointed Director SHAR Centre of ISRO. Under his able guidance various facilities needed for satellite and launch vehicles were established on schedule which resulted in successful launching of SLV-3 and putting the three Rohini series of satellites in orbit. BHASKARA, ROHINI and APPLE Satellites were successfully operated on regular basis from SHAR Centre.
In 1985 he was posted as Director, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore which handled the three major satellite projects viz. IRS, SROSS and INSAT-2. He was also the Chairman of the INSAT-I Project Management board which oversaw the functioning of INSAT-1 programme.
In May 1990, he was appointed Deputy Chairman, ISRO and was deeply involved in many ongoing and future projects of ISRO in its different centres. He retired from government service on 31 Jul 1991. A Col Nilambar Pant, Retd is a Member of space Commission since 1 Jan 1989.
He was awarded Dr Vikram Sarabhai research Award in 1976 for his achievements in Electronics and Communications. Government of India conferred on him the prestigious Padma Shri in 1984 for his accomplishments n satellite communications.
This was conferred with Dr Biren Roy Space Award or 1985 by the Aeonautical Society of India. astronomical Society of India did him another honour by bestowing Aryabhata Award for 1995.
Col Pant was awarded Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Award for his contributions in the development of Science and Technology, which also carried a Gold Medal, during the 92nd Indian Science Congress held in 2005.
He was awarded Excellence in Performance Award for 2006 by ISRO in recognition of his exemplary contribution towards the success of India’s space programme.
His son Dr Kamal Pant is a scientist at the IR CAT, Indore. Col Pant was residing with him during 2015 when Dr APJ Abdul Kalam who was here to preside over the SODE-100 convocation called on him, his close associate.
Lt Col N Pant flanked by Dr APJ Abdul Koltun and Comdt MOTE at his Indore residence
Unfortunately, we lost this great soldier scientist in 2020 when he breathed his last at Indore. The Corps is proud of this Sparrow who rose to become such an eminent scientist.
INDIAN ARMY CORPS OF SIGNAL
