17 Facts About India’s ‘Rocket Man’ K. Sivan A Farmer’s Son Who Became ISRO Chief

It is truly said that there is substitute for hardwork and hardwork coupled with persistent dedication can lead anyone to great heights of achievement. Indeed most of you must not have even heard about Kailasavadivoo Sivan before Chandrayaan’s-2 descent on the moon’s surface but Sivan created an history which will be acknowledged for the years to come by launching the most ambitious project to the moon.

Chandrayaan-2 showcasing India’s talent in space technology. Indeed Kailasavadivoo Sivan has made himself the role model of the youth and the upcoming generations would proudly acknowledge his significant contribution to India’s Space Program. Sivan was not born to greatness but rather he worked day in and day out to it. Sivan’s humble story can fill any individual’s heart with joy and pride.

Let’s have a closer look at life of K. Sivan and some lesser-known facts about the rocket man:

1. K. Sivan was born on 14 April 1957 in Mela Sarakkavillai near Nagercoil in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu state of India.

2. Sivan father was a farmer

His father name is Kailasa Vadivu and mother Chellam.

3. Completed his elementary schooling from Tamil Medium Government School.

And attained a B.Sc. degree from South Travancore College, Nagercoil. During his school days Sivan studied religiously and never went for any tuition or coaching classes.

4. First graduate from his family

Sivan graduated with a Bachelor’s of Engineering degree from Madras Institute of Technology in 1980. Sivan’s father had to sell about a quarter of an acre of his land to send Sivan to study at MIT(Madras Institute of Technology).

5. Later he went on to complete his masters in Aerospace Engineering from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in 1982.

6. Earned a doctoral degree in Aerospace Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay in 2006.

Kailasavadivoo Sivan is also a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering, the Aeronautical Society of India and the Systems Society of India.

7. K. Sivan joined ISRO in 1982 to participate on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) project.

He worked on the design and development of launch vehicles for Indian Space Research Organisation.

8. Sivan was appointed as the director of ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion System Centre on 2 July 2014.

9. K. Sivan is married to Malathi Sivan

Sivan wife is a homemaker, and they have two sons Siddharth and Sushanth.

10. On 1st June 2015 he became the director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).

11. It was the genius of Sivan which provided novel ideas for the stacking up of 104 satellites for ISRO which was launched in 2017.

12. Appointed as the chief of ISRO in January 2018

Sivan succeeded A.S Kiran Kumar assumed office on 15 January 2018. Under his chairmanship ISRO launched Chandrayaan-2, the second mission to the moon on 22 June 2019.

13. Sivan is prominently known for his significant contribution to the development of cryogenic engines for India’s space program.

14. Sivan also leaded the Indian National Satellite System(INSAT) Project

And also worked on the GSLV team and served as the director of the GSLV MKlll Project.

15. One of his notable contributions is Making the Mars Orbiter Mission Satellite fly atop the PSLVC-40 rocket.

16. Sivan has published a book titled “Integrated Design for Space Transportation System” in 2015.

17. K. Sivan is an award winning scientist with numerous awards and honours to his name

Received, Shri Hari Om Ashram Prerit Vikram Sarabhai Research Award (1999), ISRO Meri Award (2007), Dr. Biren Roy Space Science Award (2011), Distinguished Alumnus Award from Madras Institute of Technology, Alumni Association of Chennai (2013), Distinguished Alumnus Award from Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru (2015), Conferred Doctor of Science (Honoris causa) from Satyabhama University in Chennai (2014), Tamil Nadu government’s Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam Award (2019).