Introduction: A Vision Beyond the Stars

Ritu Karidhal is one of the most well-known figures in Indian space research. She is regarded as the “Rocket Woman of India” because of her innovative contribution to India’s first interplanetary expedition, the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan). She is a representation of contemporary Indian engineering brilliance due to her composed leadership, technical accuracy, and unwavering commitment. Beyond the recognition, she inspires millions of others, particularly young women who want to pursue careers in STEM.

Academic Background: A Passion Rooted in Curiosity

Ritu’s adventure started in the culturally diverse city of Lucknow, where she watched the stars and read newspaper scientific articles that stoked her interest in space. Despite having few resources and no internet at the time, she used her curiosity and willpower to pursue her goal. After earning her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Physics from Lucknow University, she went on to IISc, Bangalore, one of India’s best universities, to obtain an M.Tech. in Aerospace Engineering. She became a prominent space scientist because of her commitment to her studies.

Early Days at ISRO: The Launch of a Stellar Career

In 1997, Ritu started working for the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), where she advanced through the ranks by planning missions and building and running satellites. In addition to her technical expertise, she was renowned from the start for her capacity for teamwork and strategic thinking. She eventually became well-known in India’s space program after assisting with the launch of several satellites.

Mars Orbiter Mission: A Defining Moment

Perhaps Ritu Karidhal’s employment as Mangalyaan’s Deputy Operations Director, which started in 2013, was the most important moment in her career. Her primary task was to design and implement the autonomous system, an essential element that ensured the spaceship could make decisions alone while traveling millions of kilometers from Earth.

The Mars mission was a historic milestone, making India the first country in the world to reach Mars on its maiden attempt and the first Asian nation to do so. The project was completed at a fraction of the cost of similar missions by other countries, highlighting the ingenuity and efficiency of ISRO. Ritu’s contributions were pivotal in achieving this success.

Expanding Horizons: Chandrayaan and Beyond

Ritu assumed much more responsibility after Mangalyaan. She was appointed Mission Director of India’s second lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2, where she oversaw the integration of complicated systems and managed several teams. Despite a partial failure of the mission’s lander, the orbiter is still operating effectively and gathering useful lunar data.

The ambitious Indian human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan, is one of the upcoming projects she is participating with. Her ongoing participation in mission leadership positions demonstrates her significant contribution to ISRO’s long-term goals.

Honours and Global Recognition

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam personally awarded Ritu with the ISRO Young Scientist Award, one of several honors she has won for her services to Indian space science. Global venues like Forbes, the BBC, and TEDx have featured her work, and she continues to motivate the upcoming generation of engineers and innovators.

More Than a Scientist: A Symbol of Possibility

Beyond her scientific accomplishments, Ritu Karidhal stands for something much more significant: the belief that anything is possible if one has the will and bravery to pursue it. She demonstrates that women can lead important missions and raise families without sacrificing either by juggling a hard work and family life. She is a role model for young Indians, particularly ladies who want to enter traditionally male-dominated areas, because of her modesty and brilliant intelligence.

Conclusion: The Sky is Not the Limit

The story of Ritu Karidhal is about more than just space flight; it’s about ambition, tenacity, and breaking down limits. Her journey, which began as a young girl stargazing in Lucknow and ended with her heading India’s most ambitious space missions, exemplifies the strength of knowledge-driven goals. As India prepares for its upcoming space missions, Ritu remains at the forefront, demonstrating that the sky is only the beginning and not the limit.

A Journey Rooted in Intuition and Craft

Celebrated Indian architect Sangeeta Merchant co-founded SPASM Design Architects, a Mumbai-based practice she and Sanjeev Panjabi founded in 1995. After graduating from the Mumbai Academy of Architecture, Merchant has over twenty years of experience creating architectural narratives that are both emotionally and materially honest. Instead of using gaudy adornment, her art relies on the power of constraint to create atmospheres that are both poetic and useful. Her contributions to redefining the Indian residential and contextual design language have been often acknowledged in magazines like Architectural Digest India’s AD100.

Design Philosophy: Architecture as a Living Atmosphere

The basic concept of Merchant’s methodology is that architecture is about creating experiences rather than only creating structures. The experiential clarity, spatial fluidity, and ageability of SPASM’s creations are well-known. Merchant focuses on intuitive design techniques, where the materials, sunshine, and even the feel of the land all play a crucial role in the creative process. While embracing simplicity, her architecture never loses sight of elegance that is based on coziness and genuineness. Her structures, which range from handcrafted brick walls to basalt cliffs, react to both local and global sensibilities while maintaining a timeless elegance.

Signature Projects: Carving Meaning from Material

Under the direction of Sangeeta Merchant, the Brick Kiln House in Alibag, Maharashtra, is among the most famous projects. Blending form, memory, and soil, this home, which was built using locally produced bricks, reimagines the traditional kiln as a living area. The House Cast in Liquid Stone project in Khopoli is another outstanding example. Using local basalt, Merchant and her team created a home that feels like it was created from the natural surroundings. Large stone courtyards and a climate-responsive architecture that strikes a balance between security and tranquility are features of the Black Bastion House in Coimbatore, which takes inspiration from historic forts.

Another notable structure is Ahmedabad’s Secret Gardens House, which is arranged in a cross shape and covered in warm sandstone. Here, individual gardens are synchronized with light, wind, and space to create a breathing retreat. Her most recent building, the Parikrama House in Murud, which spans almost three acres and honors sacred geometry and ceremonial movement, demonstrates a deeper investigation into the circularity of life and architecture.

A Broader Voice in Sustainability and Cultural Dialogue

Sangeeta Merchant’s influence extends beyond private homes. Her work on public installations like “There Is No Planet B”, created for the STIR:ADFF Mumbai pavilion, speaks to her growing engagement with sustainability, climate, and cultural symbolism. Built from bamboo, jute, and clay tiles, the structure frames a sacred peepal tree and offers a contemporary reflection on India’s chaitya spaces. Through such projects, Merchant explores how design can become a language of protest, preservation, and planetary care.

Legacy and Influence

A quiet revolutionary who is redefining what it means to build in India today, Sangeeta Merchant is more than just an architect. Her art envelops, whispers, and draws you in rather than shouting. Every project is an active, living organism that respects the land it is on, the people who live there, and the materials that make it up. She continues to subvert conventions in design and luxury through SPASM Design Architects, creating environments that are both widely relatable and profoundly Indian.

Born in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on October 4, 1923, Urmila Eulie Saksena was raised abroad as the daughter of an Indian representative, attending schools in Australia, Karachi, Shimla, Kobe (Japan), and then New Jersey, USA. At the University of Sydney, she studied music and ceramics in addition to earning her Bachelor of Architecture in 1947.Her versatility and broad design taste were cultivated by her exposure to the world.

Chandigarh & Working with Corbusier

In 1951, Eulie returned to India to join Le Corbusier’s team in Chandigarh—the only Indian woman among the architects. Fluent in French, she acted as translator and liaison between Corbusier and Indian officials, including Prime Minister Nehru. Her work ranged from Capitol Complex drawings (High Court, Tower of Shadows), to designing residential units, educational institutions, and drafting meticulously detailed plans.

Design Philosophy & Notable Work

Eulie, a modernist at heart, placed a strong emphasis on practical elegance. She modified brise-soleil brick patterns, passive cooling, ventilation, and locally sourced materials in close collaboration with Pierre Jeanneret, all of which complemented Chandigarh’s climate. Among her accomplishments are scattered residential patterns, the Home Science College, and the renowned “Chandigarh Chair,” which she co-designed with Jeanneret.

Leadership & Legacy

Cultural Influence & Personal Touch

Eulie also shaped Chandigarh’s cultural sphere—co-founding the Alliance Française de Chandigarh, producing local theater, writing for The Tribune, and even joining public discussions on voluntary euthanasia. Known for her energetic pace and caring personality, she hosted memorable salons at her home in Sector 5.

Recognition & Passing

She was a fellow of the Indian Institute of Architects and the first female Indian fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects. She continued to work professionally after retiring in 1981 until her death on September 20, 1995, at the age of 71. Even though her legacy is no longer as well-known, her work is nevertheless praised for its elegance, inventiveness, and humanity in architectural circles, particularly in Chandigarh.