“It was around the time I had gotten out of school that the American and Russian Space programs were in full swing. They were highly competitive and always making headlines. The use of satellites and telecommunications was also beginning to boom. That’s when I knew I wanted to pursue science.
It was in 1980 that I first observed an eclipse. It was a spectacular total solar eclipse and we traveled all the way to Berhampur, Odisha to see it. We also coordinated with the metrological department to avoid cloud cover. But as luck would have had it, we couldn’t get clear vision due to the clouds.
In 1995, however, I got to witness the “Bailey’s Beads” or “Diamond Ring” effect I had only read in books so far, at the total Solar eclipse seen on Diwali day, from Rajasthan. It was an unforgettable experience.
Today, I saw the last eclipse of this decade! Here, in Hyderabad, we could only observe it partially. At about 10:45 am, the sun was most covered by the moon, nearly 70%! It looked magnificent! At the B M Birla Science Centre, where I am the Founder- Director, our team of scientists and astronomers use telescopes with solar filters to observe eclipses. They’re sites to behold! We also projected the view on a white screen for many other people to see. An eclipse is a sight for everyone to marvel at, as long as it’s done with the right precautionary equipment!”

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