Newton8217;s apple grows in Pune

PUNE, Sept 28: If there ever was a classic example of efforts and sheer optimism bearing fruit, this is it.When Dr. Jayant Narlikar, dire...

PUNE, Sept 28: If there ever was a classic example of efforts and sheer optimism bearing fruit, this is it.

When Dr. Jayant Narlikar, director, Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics IUCAA obtained three saplings grafted from the historic apple tree from Isaac Newton8217;s garden in the United Kingdom last year, and planted them at IUCAA in early 1997, experts were sceptical about the very survival of the trees.

A year down the road, not only have the three saplings grown and flourished but one of them has even begun to bear fruit, much to the scientists delight.Now, Pune is one of the few cities in the world, to have clones of the original Newton8217;s tree growing with the actual fruit to add to its honour.

The two apples that are the cynosure of all eyes at IUCAA were noticed by the scientists a fortnight ago. As the fruits grew in size, so did the excitement. 8220;Pune does not have a climate conducive to apples,8221; informs T Sahai, Senior Administrative Officer at IUCAA.8220;To ensure the mere survival of the three saplings we had to take special care. The main thing was to protect them from direct sunlight and heat. Also they needed to have the right amount of manure and water. Their branches were pruned regularly to ensure that there was no excess burden on the plant8221;.

The saplings were planted away from one another in varying conditions of shade and soil to study which conditions were most suitable for their growth. The winner appears to be not the sapling planted near Newton8217;s statue but the one next to Albert Einstein. Whether it is the law of gravity or the formula of E=MC2 that inspired the plants is irrelevant to the scientists, who are jubiliant at the success of a venture that was a shot in the dark.

The saplings were obtained by Dr Jayant Narlikar in 1997 after he tracked down the original tree, following a tip offered by a fellow scientist who was attending a conference with him in Australia. Dr Narlikar had shown a slide of IUCAA to his colleagues that depicted the statue of Isaac Newton beneath a banyan tree, peering quizzically at the plastic apple near its feet. Narlikar had commented,quot;Here is Newton trying to find an answer to a very complex problem. No, not the one concerning gravity but the more pertinent problem of how on earth could an apple have fallen from a banyan treequot;!

Narlikar spent months tracing and tapping his sources, locating the exact address, obtaining permission for saplings to finally getting the plants in hand.

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8220;I was on the verge of giving up when these saplings sent by the Brogdale Horticulture Trust of UK which has the licence to clone Newton8217;s tree arrived and it was amidst much enthusiasm that we planted them in IUCAA. Some experts were doubtful whether the trees would bear fruit. I am happy their doubts have been put to rest,8221; adds Narlikar.Whether the apples are going to turn out a deep red or green, be plucked when ripe or just be sat under, have to be decided upon. For now, it8217;s history in the making once again at IUCAA as the apples grow, oblivious to all the attention they are attracting.

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More