Philographer’s tribute to astrophysicist comes into focus

Gaikwad first met Dr Narlikar in 1990 at one of his lectures. Over the years, they developed a close connection, and Gaikwad regularly visited him, gradually building his collection.

The collection includes signed photographs, notes, and some unique pieces.

One notable set consists of currency notes signed by Dr Narlikar, with serial numbers corresponding to his birthdate, 190738, representing July 19, 1938. Gaikwad has seven such notes, signed in both Marathi and English.

Another special item is autographed on images of Lord Ganesh, created from Hindi letters that spell out “Jayant Narlikar”. Gaikwad commissioned an artist to design these images and then had Dr Narlikar sign them. “He was genuinely impressed by the idea and praised the effort, along with his wife and family,” Gaikwad recalls.

The collection also includes photos of Dr Narlikar with prominent figures such as Anil Kakodkar, former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India; Ramesh Mashelkar, former Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research; and Govind Swarup, a pioneer in radio astronomy.

Gaikwad’s last autograph from Dr. Narlikar dates back to January 26, 2024, collected during a visit to his home.

Gaikwad says, “This collection is a quiet tribute to Dr. Narlikar’s life and work, preserving moments and memories of a great astrophysicist.”