Discover the inspiring journey of Dr. K Sivan, from early rejections to leading ISRO.
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Triumph Over Rejections
Former ISRO chief Dr. K Sivan recently shared an enlightening revelation.
In a conversation with students during the ninth convocation of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Goa, he disclosed that he initially faced rejection at ISRO.
He amusingly recalled how he was once told to “get lost” when he approached ISRO’s satellite center for a job after completing his master’s. “Because I did not get a job in the satellite center, I got a job in the rocket center,” he remarked.
Dr. Sivan’s initial dream was to become a school teacher.
However, fate had different plans, and he eventually became the chairman of ISRO.
Along his journey, he faced skepticism when he took up the project director role for the “four-time failed” GSLV project—instead of accolades, friends and colleagues sympathized with his decision.
However, he turned the tables, making the GSLV project a resounding success.
Key Lessons from Dr. Sivan
Dr. Sivan attributes his success to an important life lesson.
“If something is denied for you, something bigger and better is waiting for you,” he believes.
He also highlighted the significance of learning from failures, referring to the Chandrayaan-2 mission.
While it was initially deemed a failure, ISRO swiftly defined Chandrayaan-3.
The success of Chandrayaan-3, landing on the Moon’s South Pole, made history on August 23, 2023.
Who is Dr. K Sivan?
Born in 1957 to a mango farmer in Kanyakumari’s Tarakkanvilai village, Dr. Sivan was the first in his family to graduate.
He received his bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the Madras University of Technology in 1980.
His educational journey led him to pursue further studies and join ISRO, where he contributed significantly to various missions.
India’s Prowess in Space: From the Eyes of the New ISRO Chairman
A Leap in Space Technology: Chandrayaan-3
ISRO Chairman S Somanath emphasized India’s monumental achievements in space technology.
Following the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the lunar South Pole, experts from NASA-JPL visited ISRO.
They were astounded by the technological advancements and even inquired about potential collaborations.
Somanath reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to opening the space sector to private players.
With emerging companies like Agnikul and Skyroot, India is steadily reinforcing its position in the space domain.
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