Physicist and former ISRO chief MGK Menon passes away at 88

Distinguished physicist and former ISRO chief M.G.K. Menon passed away at his residence here on Tuesday. He was 88. Menon was ill for some time. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. Professor Menon, who was awarded with Padma Vibhushan, worked with noted scientists, including his mentor Homi Jehangir Bhabha, with whom he pioneered Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR). Menon had served as Union Minister of State for Science, Technology and Education in the V.P. Singh government. He became the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 1972, and was the Director of the TIFR at the age of 35 years. He is distinguished for investigations in the field of cosmic rays and particle physics. Menon was a member of the Planning Commission (1982-1989), Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister (1986-1989), Vice President, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) (1989-1990), and member Rajya Sabha during 1990-96. He was also a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society of London. IANS