Pune: Eminent Scientist, renowned astronomer and Radio-Astronomy pioneer Prof. Govind Swarup passed away yesterday at a private hospital in Pune. He was 91.

Widely acknowledged as the ‘doyen of Indian Radio Astronomy,’ he leaves behind his wife, a son, a daughter and a host of students, relatives and friends.

Last rites were performed at Pune this morning.

Prof. Govind Swarup was known not only for his many important research contributions in several areas of Astronomy and Astrophysics, but was also known for his outstanding achievements in building ingenious, innovative and powerful observational facilities for front-line research in radio astronomy. 

He was the key Scientist behind the concept, design and installation of the Ooty Radio Telescope and the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) near Pune. Under his leadership, a strong group in Radio Astrophysics was built at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, considered as one of the best in the world.

He was honoured by the Indian Government with the Padma Shri in 1973. His other honours and prizes include the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar prize in 1972 and the Grote Reber Medal in 2007. He was a fellow of many distinguished academies, notably as a Fellow of the Royal Society of London, the Royal Astronomical Society, London, and had served as the President of Astronomical Society of India during 1975-77.

Mysore Astronomical Society has condoled the death of Prof. Govind Swarup.