Jayant Narlikar, Indian astrophysicist who questioned Big Bang theory, dies.

Dr. Narlikar’s Contributions

• He was a prolific writer and science populariser, renowned for his work on the “steady state” model of the universe.

• Despite the dominance of the Big Bang theory, Dr. Narlikar remained a vocal critic, adapting and refining the steady state view throughout his career.

Awards and Recognition

• Dr. Narlikar was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1965 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2004.

• He received the UNESCO Kalinga Prize for the popularisation of science in 1996 and the prestigious Prix Jules Janssen from the French Astronomical Society in 2004.

Literary Contributions

• His science-fiction story Dhoomaketu was adapted into a film, and his autobiography Chaar Nagarantale Maze Vishwa was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Prize.

Key Influences

• Dr. Narlikar was frequently featured in science programs on television in the 1990s, credited with Carl Sagan’s outreach work and the fiction of Sir Fred, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, and Ray Bradbury.