Interview with Narayan Bhargava, Founder and CMD, Narayan Bhargava Group

An exclusive interview with Narayan Bhargava, Founder and CMD, Narayan Bhargava Group

In the dynamic world of business and innovation, few visionaries stand out for their remarkable contributions to society. Mr. Narayan Bhargava, the distinguished Founder and CMD of the Narayan Bhargava Group, is one such luminary whose visionary leadership has left an indelible mark on the landscape of entrepreneurship.

With a commitment to excellence and a passion for societal advancement, Mr. Bhargava has steered his conglomerate towards pioneering initiatives that transcend boundaries. Among these groundbreaking ventures is the recently launched Kalpana Chawla Space Academy program, a testament to the group’s dedication to fostering scientific education and collaboration.

In collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), this program aims to inspire and nurture the next generation of space enthusiasts and scientists. Today, we have the privilege of delving into the insights and perspectives of Mr. Narayan Bhargava as he shares the journey behind this transformative initiative.

Can you share the inspiration behind founding the Kalpana Chawla Space Academy (KCSA)? What motivated you to establish an institution dedicated to space education?

Narayan Bhargava: Education is transformative and a great enabler for communities striving to break free from poverty or social discrimination. Through our foundation we have always focused on education and employability, where support required by the beneficiary is often for a longer term with a ripple effect on future generations. We focus on skill development, fund education through scholarships and create partnerships in new frontiers of education.

KCSA is inspired by great souls of Dr APJ Abdul Kalaam and Dr Kalpana Chawla. I had met Dr. Sanjay Pujary – a national awardee who received his award from Dr. A.P.J Adbul Kalam was advised or rather instructed by him to do something different to spread the scientific education across India.

I could resonate with Dr Kalaam’s vision and out rightly committed myself to the path shown by Dr. Kalaam and proposed the idea of establishing an institution which shall nurture students selected from across India at a young age to become world-class scientists for serving the India’s space sector. At KCSA – We call it ‘Nation Building and Transformation Mission’.

Who is the target audience for the Kalpana Chawla Space Academy? Is it open to students of all ages?

Target Audience:

• Students studying in 6^th standard as we induct students from 7^th standard onwards.

However, our secondary target audience is also important to us as they help us in our capacity building and continuous improvements and sourcing talent.

• Parents interested in furthering careers of their children in scientific domains.
• We also run programs outside of KCSA framework for students from other schools. We also have science on wheels to reach out children/schools of remote areas.
• Space Organizations such as ISRO with whom we can do our capacity building, develop and continuously update our curriculum with latest scientific knowledge and application and also ultimately place our students with them.
• Start-up ecosystem focused on Space for short-term projects and internships.

Kalpana Chawla is an inspirational figure in the space community. How does the academy commemorate her contributions, and how is her legacy integrated into the educational ethos of the institution?

Narayan Bhargava: The existence of our academy is dedicated to Kalpana Chawla. Her ingenious spirit of continuous learning and solving difficult problems is ingrained in our children. The Activity-based learning focused on problem solving and application of knowledge is part of our pedagogy and curriculum delivery.

What subjects and topics will be covered in the space education program?

Narayan Bhargava: Ours is the only long-term program (4 years extendable to 6 years) in India implemented for school education. The pedagogy adopted includes minimal classroom teaching with maximum focus on activity-based experiential to maximize learning outcomes built around hands-on training, fieldwork, projects for the application of knowledge and continuous improvement of skills along with visits to institutions of scientific importance.

Internships, seminars, quizzes, role plays, group work, debates and discussions, and creative activities such as drama and puppetry are embed in the curriculum for extracting maximum learning outcomes for students. The Kalpana Chawla Space Academy offers a comprehensive curriculum covering subjects like:

• 200+ Activity based science and math
• Astronomy
• Rocketry
• Robotics
• STEM
• Astro-physiology
• Remote sensing
• Environmental science and Bio-diversity
• Sanskrit
• Physical Education and Yoga

Space education often involves interdisciplinary learning. How does the academy approach curriculum development to ensure a holistic understanding of space-related subjects?

Narayan Bhargava: We are seeking support from ISRO to develop a concentric curriculum. We are developing curriculum subjects mentioned above covering 6 years till 12 th standard bifurcated in basic, intermediate and advanced levels. The curriculum shall have lesser chapters in the 10^th and 12^th standard due to board exams or other entrance exams that are pursued in parallel by the students.

The experts of various subjects are helping develop the curriculum. Also, guest faculty of national and international repute shall be delivering the curriculum. We also have regular visits scheduled for various institutions of scientific importance to provide exposure to students.

Internships shall be arranged to provide real world understanding of technology application to the students. Developing the skills of students focused on learning outcomes which make students capable of complex problem-solving and application of knowledge is important to us.

We also focus on yoga, physical training and Sanskrit language to improve spiritual and physical aspects of their personality.

Will there be any prominent guest speakers or experts involved in the program?

Narayan Bhargava: Yes. We will be announcing as and when we receive their confirmations. Currently, we are seeking support from ISRO for capacity building of KCSA.

Is the program affiliated with any space agencies or institutions, such as NASA or ISRO?

Narayan Bhargava: Currently there is no affiliation. However, we are seeking support from ISRO for development of our curriculum.

Given the global interest in space tourism and commercial space endeavours, how does the academy prepare students for emerging career opportunities in the private space sector?

Narayan Bhargava: Currently we have 4 year course till Xth standard as the school KCSA is attached to operate till Xth standard. However, we have applied to the state government for permission to start XII standard and already developed curriculum 6 years. We plan to have a long term career path for our students for their under graduate and post graduate programs through institutional tie-ups.

Application oriented learning develops clarity of concepts and solution oriented mind set to solve complex problems. The visits to various scientific institutions is broadening their scientific exposure and developing an exploratory mind set for a diverse knowledge domains. We also have embedded internship programs for industry exposure.

In the tapestry of visionary endeavors, the story of the Kalpana Chawla Space Academy program unfolds as a testament to the indomitable spirit of innovation and collaboration. Mr. Narayan Bhargava’s commitment to education and exploration has not only enriched the portfolio of the Narayan Bhargava Group but has also sown the seeds for a brighter, more scientifically enlightened future.

As we conclude this insightful interview with the Founder and CMD, we are left with a profound appreciation for the synergies created through the union of private enterprise and governmental agencies. The Kalpana Chawla Space Academy stands as a beacon, lighting the way for aspiring minds to reach for the stars, embodying the spirit of exploration that defines our shared human journey.

We extend our gratitude to Mr. Narayan Bhargava for his visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to pushing the boundaries of human achievement.

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