Bengaluru, NFAPost: In an unprecedented move, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, India, is set to witness a book launch just hours before the highly anticipated Chandrayaan-3 moon mission takes off next week. Authored by acclaimed filmmaker and writer Vinod Mankara, the book titled “Prism: The Ancestral Abode of Rainbow” is poised to become the first book ever released from a rocket launchpad worldwide.
Vinod Mankara, known for his national award-winning film “Yanam,” a science-Sanskrit documentary on India’s historic Mars Orbiter Mission ‘Mangalyaan,’ has compiled a collection of 50 essays in Malayalam for his latest book. “Prism” covers a wide range of scientific topics, including space science, astronomy, biology, anthropology, and mathematics.
ISRO Chairman S Somanath will officially launch the book by handing it over to S Unnikrishnan Nair, the Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), on the night of July 12. The foreword of the 167-page book was written by Somanath himself, in which he lauds the marvels of science and highlights the blend of aesthetics and poetry present in “Prism.”
According to Somanath, the book’s presentation and language captivated his attention. He believes that the poetic portrayal of space and other scientific concepts will inspire and attract people, as science has always been an area of interest and fascination for society. The ISRO Chairman believes that “Prism” has the potential to forge a closer bond between common people and the beauty of science.
Somanath emphasizes that science encompasses an aesthetic and spiritual aspect, which should not be conveyed in a monotonous manner. He commends Mankara’s writing style for simplifying complex scientific principles into an amusing and understandable language accessible to all. The ISRO Chairman also highlights the importance of such works in generating public interest and awareness in the field of science.
Vinod Mankara expresses his gratitude to ISRO and Chairman Somanath for the opportunity to launch his ninth book. As a prolific author and filmmaker, Mankara has published eight books and written hundreds of articles on various topics. He considers it a momentous occasion that his ninth book is dedicated solely to science and will be released at the launchpad of the historic Chandrayaan-3 rocket.
Published by Lipi Books, based in Kozhikode, “Prism” is a compilation of fascinating articles encompassing diverse topics such as the James Webb Space Telescope, dark sky tourism, black hole confirmation, and the pioneering space journey of Laika, the dog. Vinod Mankara, a recipient of national and state awards, has an illustrious career with six films and 685 documentaries to his credit, including “Chandranu Nere Choonduviral,” which focuses on Chandrayaan-1, and “VSSC@60,” commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
