Ormakalude Bhramanapadham

Ormakalude Bhramanapadham

Autobiography of Nambi Narayanan
Author	Nambi Narayanan, Prajesh Sen
Original title	ഓർമകളുടെ ഭ്രമണപഥം
Cover artist	Lebison Gopi
Language	Malayalam
Genre	Autobiography
Published	26 October 2017
Publisher	Current Books, Thrissur
Publication place	India
Awards	Best Seller in Malayalam 2018

Ormakalude Bhramanapadham (Malayalam: ഓർമകളുടെ ഭ്രമണപഥം) is the autobiography of Nambi Narayanan, former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist and the Padma Bhushan awardee.[1] After his education at Princeton University in chemical rocket propulsion he was invited by United States to join NASA, but he decided to serve the nation and joined ISRO^[citation needed]. He came to India with expertise in liquid propulsion at a time when Indian rocketry was still solely dependent on solid propellants.

He was closely associated with Vikram Sarabhai, APJ, Satish Dhawan and U. R. Rao. As a senior official at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), he was in-charge of the cryogenics division. In 1994, he was falsely charged with espionage and arrested.[2]

Written by journalist turned filmmaker Prajesh Sen,[3] the book also presents the story of Nambi Narayanan’s life.[4] The book untangles the scientific quest and his preliminary efforts in emerging the country's homegrown cryogenic technology that drives India's space technology today.[5]

The espionage case in 1994

The book Ormakalude bhramanapadham probes into the ISRO spy case. It was purported that Nambi Narayanan and other scientists had sold defense secrets to two Maldivian agents.[6] In 1996, the CBI dismissed the case, and in 1998 the Supreme Court acquitted Nambi Narayanan and others.[7]

Publication

It was published by Current Books Thrissur. The book was released by Shashi Tharoor on 26 October 2017. In his speech, Shashi Tharoor mentioned that the "Nation owes an apology to Nambi Narayanan" [8] “He chose to work for ISRO though he was invited by NASA after his education at Princeton University. Maybe he would have risen to the post of ISRO chairman for his meritorious service, but he now survives to reveal a moving tale which is a warning to the dedicated few,” Tharoor said

The preface for this book was written by T. N. Seshan.

English translation

The book was published in English by the name "The orbit of memories" in the end of 2018.[9]

References

1. "Former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan awarded Padma Bhushan". The News Minute. 25 January 2019.
2. "Nambi Narayanan: The fake spy scandal that blew up a rocket scientist's career". BBC News. 27 January 2020.
3. "Isro scientist Nambi Narayanan implicated in fake spy case to get Rs 1.3 crore from Kerala govt". India Today. 27 December 2019.
4. "Nambi Narayanan pens book on experience in jail". The Hindu. 25 September 2018.
5. "Here's the real story of Isro 'spy' case that rocked the nation in 1990s". Business standard. 17 September 2018.
6. "Who is Nambi Narayanan?". Indian Express. 15 September 2018.
7. "Here's the real story of Isro 'spy' case that rocked the nation in 1990s". Business standard. 17 September 2018.
8. "'Nation owes an apology to Nambi Narayanan'". Times of India. 27 October 2017.
9. "3-MIN READ ISRO Spy Case May Have Been CIA Plot to Sabotage India's Cryogenic Progress: Former Scientist". News 18. 27 October 2017.