Some Lesser Known Facts About Nambi Narayanan

• In 1966, he became a part of ISRO.

• During the early 1970s, his invention of liquid fuel rocket technology anticipated the future demand for India’s ISRO civilian space programs, which would require engines powered by liquid fuel.

• Supported by his successor U.R. Rao and the then chairman of ISRO Satish Dhawan, Nambi constructed the triumphant 600-kg thrust engine, which eventually led to the advancement of liquid propellant motors.

• He was given the responsibility of overseeing the cryogenics division, which involved managing the behavior and production of materials under low temperature conditions.

• Having collaborated with distinguished Indian scientists such as Satish Dhawan, Vikram Sarabhai, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, U.R. Rao, and others, he dedicated 35 years of his career to serving ISRO.

• The false accusations tormented and agitated him to such an extent that he made a bold threat to the Intelligence Bureau Officers, vowing to hold them accountable. During an interview, he disclosed that one of the officers responded by stating, “Sir, we are merely fulfilling our duties. If your allegations are indeed proven true and you are found innocent, you have our consent to chastise us by slapping us with your slippers.”

• Nambi Narayanan, along with another scientist D Sasikumaran, faced allegations of selling ISRO secrets for a substantial sum. As part of the ISRO espionage case probe, Nambi Narayanan was apprehended for further investigation.

• During that period, Nambi did not receive support from ISRO as Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan (the chairman of ISRO at the time) explained that “ISRO could not intervene in a legal matter.”

• The CBI dismissed all charges against him in 1996.

• The Supreme Court of India acquitted him in 1998.

• Having been acquitted, Nambi sought restitution from the State for the hardships he endured. Furthermore, he insisted on holding the Kerala Police Officers and Intelligence Bureau Officers responsible for unjustly accusing him.

• During his introspection, Nambi disclosed that he experienced both mental and physical abuse, including being forcefully struck on his neck, torso, and head. Additionally, he was subjected to standing for an exhausting duration of 30 hours, eventually leading to his collapse.

• In 2012, the High Court directed the state of Kerala to pay ₹10 lakhs to Nambi. However, Nambi had to engage in another legal battle because the Kerala Government failed to comply with the High Court’s order.

• Two Maldivian women, Mariam Rasheeda and Fauzia Hassan, were apprehended in connection with the ISRO espionage case, as revealed in Nambi Narayanan’s autobiography, ‘Ormakalude Bhramanapatham’, released on 23 October 2017. The book also exposed the repeated tortures endured by Narayanan and five others, including D. Sasikumaran, ISRO’s contractor S.K. Sharma, a Russian space agency official K. Chandrasekhar, in the early 1990s.
• In 2018, the Supreme Court, under the leadership of then Chief Justice ‘Dipak Misra’, acknowledged the damage caused to Nambi’s reputation and stated that compensation should be paid by those involved in the investigation. The state will be required to recover the compensation from their assets, even if it means selling their houses. Our main focus is on ensuring that his reputation, which was tarnished by this judgment, is now restored.

• Nambi disclosed that his reputation in society had taken a hit amidst the case. People saw him as a traitorous spy who had betrayed his country. In an interview, he shared the distressing experiences his family had to endure. Their home became a gathering place for those who wished to burn effigies of him, hurl insults, and chant slogans. The impact on his family was devastating; his children became restless and rebellious, while his wife sank into a deep depression and withdrew from social interactions. He recalled a particularly cruel incident when his wife was forced to exit an autorickshaw because the driver refused to continue the journey upon discovering her identity. Nambi expressed that the presence of rain during that moment made it all the more painful.

• For twenty years, Nambi tirelessly fought for justice. The bench, under the leadership of former Chief Justice ‘Dipak Misra,’ deemed it appropriate for the state of Kerala to provide him with a compensation of ₹75 lakhs.

• The film Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, based on the life of Nambi Narayanan, had R. Madhavan signed on to portray Nambi’s character in 2018. It was subsequently released in theaters on 1st July 2022.

• Nambi Narayanan was bestowed with the Padma Bhushan in 2019, which is India’s third highest civilian recognition, by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind. The Padma Bhushan was presented to Nambi Narayanan by Ram Nath Kovind.