Meet Dr. Prahlada Ramarao, the unsung hero behind India’s missile shield, Akash. While the recent successful interception of Pakistan’s missiles by Akash may have gone unnoticed by many, it was the result of years of hard work and dedication by Indian scientists, with Dr. Ramarao at the forefront.
At 78 years old, Dr. Ramarao has dedicated 15 years of his life to developing Akash, a missile shield that can track 64 targets simultaneously and reach speeds of 2,500 km/h. When he saw Akash in action, he described it as feeling like his “baby had come alive.”
Dr. Ramarao’s journey from a young engineering student at IISc Bangalore to India’s missile maestro is truly inspiring. When Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam needed someone to lead the Akash project, he chose Ramarao, making him the youngest Project Director ever. Dr. Ramarao has also worked with both ISRO and DRDO, leading many important projects.
In recognition of his contributions, Dr. Ramarao was awarded the Padma Shri in 2015. But beyond the accolades, Dr. Ramarao is a true hero, along with every other scientist who has worked tirelessly to protect our nation.
If you are proud of our scientists who work silently to protect our nation, comment ‘Jai Hind’ and share this post to spread awareness about our real heroes like Dr. Prahlada Ramarao.
