Hinjilicut: It was a memory down the lane for space scientist, Kailash Chandra Sahu, working at Space Telescope Science Institute (STSI) of National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) in the United States, who visited his natives after so many years.
Hailing from a backward Bellagam under Hinjili police limits in Ganjam district, Sahu’s journey from the tribal village to NASA has been an inspiring journey.
During his visit, Sahu paid a visit to his school, Swami Chidananda Saraswati Sishu Mandir and inspired the students with his experience. He narrated his journey and persuaded the students to work hard.
Lovingly known as ‘The Planet Hunter’, Kailash has discovered 16 new planets in a distant galaxy in 2006. Kailash and his team calculated the mass of a white dwarf star, named Stein 2051B.
According to sources, Sahu studied in the village school and went on to pursue IIT in Kharagpur. Later, he did his doctorate in astronomy from the Gujarat University in 1985 and joined the STSI in 1995. Now he lives in the US along with his family and visits his village every year.
Like ever year, he visited the village and took over some developmental works in the village. He aims to develop his village and make it a idle one. Sahu accredited his success to his villagers, teachers and family.
“Sahu was always a bright student. We knew he would do well in life,’’ said his elder brother Subash Chandra Sahu who is into farming and resides in Bellagam.
“Sahu visit the Swami Chidananda Saraswati Sishu Mandir every year. He mingles with the students and shares his experience and encourages them,” he said.
Manas Nayak, a student of Swami Chidananda Saraswati Sishu Mandir said Sahu’s love for his mother tongue Odia inspired them.
PNN