As 'Rocketry' Releases Today, A Look At The Real Story Of Nambi Narayanan And The Spy Scandal

Nambi Narayanan Story: Not many know the real story behind the case that Narayanan, a Padma Bhushan recipient, was falsely accused of. Here is a look at who Narayanan is and what he was accused of.

Former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan ( Image Source :PTI )

'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect', which is based on the life of former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan, has hit the theatres. The movie, which stars R Madhavan as the lead, chronicles Narayanan's achievements and dedication to the country's space mission as well as the spy scandal that came as the biggest professional setback to his career.

However, not many know the real story behind the case that Narayanan, a Padma Bhushan recipient, was falsely accused of. Here is a look at who Nambi Narayanan is, what he was accused of and how he managed to get justice.

Who Is Nambi Narayanan?

Nambi Narayanan is a former rocket scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Born in a Tamil Brahmin family in Nagercoil, Travancore, Narayanan had an interest in Mathematics from a very young age. Narayanan, who completed his engineering at the Thyagarajar College of Engineering, was inspired by Vikram Sarabhai, the then ISRO chairman.

Narayanan started his career in 1966 at ISRO as a technical assistant at the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station. He earned a NASA fellowship and was accepted into Princeton University in 1969. He completed his Master's program there in chemical rocket propulsion in a record 10 months, according to an IANS report.

Narayanan returned to the country with expertise in liquid propulsion engine technology at a time when the rocketry system in India was still solely dependent on solid propellants.

Nambi Narayanan’s Achievements

As the in-charge of the cryogenics division at ISRO, Narayanan introduced liquid-fuelled engine technology as early as in the 1970s, a revolutionary move. Liquid-fuelled engines are more fuel efficient and can lift heavier payloads. This was the same technology that later he was accused of selling.

Narayanan and his team, with French assistance, developed the Vikas engine. The French had originally named the engine 'Viking'. The liquid-fuelled Vikas engine is now the mainstay of all Indian rockets — PSLV, GSLV and GSLV Mark 3. The same Vikas engine was used by ISRO to launch the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) that took Chandrayaan to the Moon in 2008.

What Is The Spying Scandal Case?

The case dates back to October 1994, when the Kerala Police arrested one Mariam Rasheeda, a Maldivian national, in Thiruvananthapuram for overstaying in India. Subsequently, the police found out that she was in touch with ISRO space scientists who were suspected of having transferred cryogenic engine technology to Pakistan through her.

In November 1994, the police arrested Narayanan and then ISRO deputy director D Sasikumaran over allegations of transfer of certain confidential documents on India's space programme to foreign countries.

The case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) within 20 days of it being registered. Two years later, in 1996, the CBI filed its closure report, stating that spying allegations against Narayanan were unproven and false. The court admitted the closure report, leading to the discharge of Narayanan, who had spent nearly 50 days in jail by then.

Intelligence Bureau officer RB Sreekumar along with other officers of Kerala police were accused of falsely implicating Nambi Narayanan. Recently, RB Sreekumar, who also served as Gujarat Director General of Police, was arrested in the 2002 Gujarat riots case for allegedly giving false information.

Even though the espionage charges against Narayanan proved to be false, the case cost him his career and over two decades of his life.

In 2013, Narayanan moved the Supreme Court seeking justice and to expose the conspiracy to tarnish his name. 

In 2018, the Supreme Court awarded Rs 50 lakh compensation to Narayanan, saying he was "unnecessarily arrested and harassed" by the Kerala Police. The top court also set up a committee to look into Narayanan’s complaint against the police officers who framed him.

In 2019, he was conferred the Padma Bhushan. 

Narayanan Autobiography

In 2017, Narayanan published his autobiography, Ormakalude Bhramanapatham. In the book, Narayanan mentions the ISRO spy case in detail and narrates the way he was questioned and "ill-treated" by the Kerala Police and officials of the Intelligence Bureau after his arrest in 1994.