Expert: Jayendra Upadhye - 4/5/2008

Question
Sir,
I have just passed my 10th exams and I intend to go in for astrophysics, not merely from the research point of view.If I wish to join ISRO or such organisations,is IIT then advisable for me after 12th?

Answer
Hi Rigel,
You need to be very sharp in maths and physics!
Do not make a mis-judgement in over enthusiasm or false dreams.

It is one thing to "want badly to become someone", and quite another "to be that some one".

Judge yourself impartially about your skills, and if possible talk to someone from the IISC / ISRO about how one works there, what avenues are there for cutting edge astrophysics etc.

India's contribution has been quite insignificant in astrophysics, except such known names as Jayant Narlikar & Subrahmanian Chandrasekhar. But they had to work in association with foreign teams like Gold and Bondi who postulated the hypothesis of continuous creation of matter.(Narlikar's team)

If you are in Bombay, he may be available to corrspondence / actual meeting and you can then chart your course from there.
The TIFR used to be also active in astrophysics to my knowledge.
regards
Jayen