VS Arunachalam, a distinguished scientist who played a pivotal role in Indias nuclear programme and served as the head of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has passed away at the age of 87. Arunachalam had been undergoing treatment for pneumonia and Parkinsons disease in California.During his tenure as the chief of DRDO and scientific adviser to the defence minister from 1982 to 1992, Arunachalam was instrumental in transforming DRDO from a modest projects organisation into a multifaceted entity, overseeing intricate and advanced projects. He spearheaded significant initiatives, including the development of the Light Combat Aircraft and the Main Battle Tank Arjun.VK Saraswat, a former head of DRDO and currently a member of the government think tank NITI Aayog, said, “He was one of the most inspiring leaders at the DRDO. It was under him that the DRDO transformed from a small projects organisation to a multi-mission organisation, planning and executing complex and sophisticated projects. Many of the most important programmes, including the Light Combat Aircraft and Main Battle Tank Arjun started under his leadership. He had a long-term vision and great leadership qualities.”Arunachalam, with a background in physics, delved into material sciences. He began his journey at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Mumbai, later moving to the National Aeronautical Laboratory in Bengaluru, and ultimately taking the helm at the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory at a young age. His contributions were recognised with the Bhatnagar Prize in 1980.Arunachalam was appointed the head of DRDO in his mid-forties. When he was appointed the secretary of Department of Defence Research & Development, he was succeeded in his DRDO role by APJ Abdul Kalam.“That was a momentous period in the DRDOs history. Visionaries like Arunachalam and Kalam, and many others working together. This was the building phase of the organisation. Arunachalam was a moderniser. At that time, DRDOs infrastructure was not that great. He built new infrastructure in the labs and upgraded the existing ones, even insisting on getting the guest houses upgraded. He was persuasive and could get the support of the political leaders for DRDOs project. He worked with so many PMs and defence ministers and commanded the respect of all. He also had a very good rapport with then army chief General K Sunderjee and ensured that the armed forces accepted the DRDO technologies and products,” Saraswat said.Arunachalams leadership left an indelible mark on DRDOs infrastructure and capabilities. Arunachalams strategic thinking extended to his advocacy for the weaponisation of Indias nuclear programme. He was a proponent of aligning effective delivery systems with nuclear capabilities.Prime Minister Modi expresses sorry about passing of Padma Vibhushan VS ArunachalamAlthough VS Arunachalam was not present during Indias nuclear tests in 1998, the groundwork for integrating missiles and nuclear systems was laid during his tenure at DRDO. He transitioned to academia, continuing to contribute to the discourse on Indias nuclear programme. His passion for research, strong leadership, and commitment to Indias security capabilities earned him admiration and respect.He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1985 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1990 for his scientific contributions, which also earned him the DRDOs lifetime achievement award in 2015.Dr. V.S. Arunachalams passing away leaves a major void in scientific community and the strategic world. He was greatly admired for his knowledge, passion for research and rich contribution towards strengthening Indias security capabilities. Condolences to his family and well…— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 17, 2023Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, writing on his official X handle, “Dr. V.S. Arunachalams passing away leaves a major void in scientific community and the strategic world. He was greatly admired for his knowledge, passion for research and rich contribution towards strengthening Indias security capabilities. Condolences to his family and well wishers. Om Shanti.”
