envisaged , though as a distant dream . I took up the position of Director , Aerospace Dynamics and Design Group , so that I could configure the forthcoming launch vehicles and technology development .
The existing VSSC infrastructure was inadequate to handle the size and weight of the future launch vehicle systems and the implementation of all these projects was going to require highly specialized facilities . New sites were identified for the expanded activities of VSSC , at Vattiyoorkavu and Valiamala . Dr Srinivasan drew up a detailed plan of the facilities . Meanwhile , I carried out an analysis of the application of SLV-3 and its variants with Sivathanu Pillai , and compared the existing launch vehicles of the world for missile applications . We established that the SLV-3 solid rocket systems would meet the national requirements of payload delivery vehicles for short and intermediate ranges ( 4000 km ). We contended that the development of one additional solid booster of 1.8 m diameter with 36 tonnes of propellant along with SLV-3 subsystems would meet the ICBM requirement ( above 5000 km for a 1000 kg payload ). This proposal was , however , never considered . It nevertheless paved the way for the formulation of the Re-entry Experiment ( REX ) which , much later on , became Agni .
The next SLV-3 flight , SLV3-D1 , took off on 31 May 1981 . I witnessed this flight from the visitors ’ gallery . This was the first time I witnessed a launch from outside the Control Centre . The unpalatable truth I had to face was that by becoming the focus of media attention , I had aroused envy among some of my senior colleagues , all of whom had equally contributed to the success of SLV-3 . Was I hurt at the coldness of the new environment ? Perhaps yes , but I was willing to accept what I couldn ’ t change .
I have never lived off the profits of others ’ minds . My life , in keeping with my nature , has never been that of a ruthless achiever . The SLV-3 was made not by force and manipulation , but through consistent collective effort . Then why this sense of bitterness ? Was it peculiar to the VSSC top level or a universal reality ? As a scientist , I was trained to reason out reality . In science , reality is that which exists . And because this bitterness was real , I had to reason it out . But can these things be reasoned out ?
Were my post-SLV experiences leading me into a critical situation ? Yes and no . Yes , because the glory of SLV-3 had not gone to everyone who deserved it — but hardly anything could have been done about that . No , because a situation can be considered critical for a person only when realisation of the internal necessity becomes impossible . And that certainly was not the case . In fact , the concept of conflict is built upon this basic idea . In retrospect , I can only say that I was fully aware of a great need for actualization and renewal .
In January 1981 , I was invited by Dr Bhagiratha Rao of the High Altitude Laboratory ( now the Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory ( DEAL )), Dehra Dun to give a lecture on the SLV-3 . The renowned nuclear scientist , Prof . Raja Ramanna , whom I had always admired , and who was then the Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister , presided over the gathering . He spoke on India ’ s efforts in generating nuclear energy and the challenge in conducting the first nuclear test for peaceful purposes . As I had been so closely involved with SLV-3 , it was natural that I was soon in full spate about it . Later , Prof . Raja Ramanna invited me for a private meeting over tea .
The first thing that struck me when I met Prof . Ramanna was his genuine pleasure at meeting me . There was an