Prof Nambi Narayanan
Prof Nambi Narayanan - Guardian of India’s Space Legacy
Engaging, impactful, and truly motivational. Nambi Narayanan knows how to connect with every listener.
Sanjay Kumar Jha
Pharma SectorWatch Prof Nambi Narayanan Deliver Impactful Motivational Sessions
kerala
english, tamil
3+ years
alternate thinking, innovation, leadership, space technology, research ethics
About Nambi Narayanan
Nambi Narayanan is more than a scientist, he is a symbol of India’s scientific courage, grit, and the unshakeable belief that truth eventually prevails. As the father of India’s liquid propulsion technology, his pioneering work in the 1970s and 80s laid the essential foundation for PSLV and GSLV, rockets that today carry India’s satellites, lunar missions, and interplanetary ambitions. An alumnus of Princeton University, Nambi revolutionized India’s propulsion science under the mentorship of Prof. Luigi Crocco, introducing advanced liquid and cryogenic engine concepts at a time when India had limited exposure to global aerospace technologies.
In the past two years, 2024 and 2025, Nambi Narayanan has continued to inspire India’s scientific and ethical discourse. He has been invited to deliver keynote sessions at various national institutions, including programs celebrating the success of Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and India’s newly announced human spaceflight advancements. His perspectives on scientific integrity, research ethics, and resilience are widely sought after by corporates, universities, and leadership forums. His autobiography Ready to Fire, and the critically acclaimed biopic Rocketry: The Nambi Effect continue to spark conversations about accountability and the strength of the human spirit, with renewed attention in 2024 as academic institutions added the film to ethics and leadership curricula.
Despite enduring one of India’s most controversial wrongful prosecutions, Nambi Narayanan stands today as an inspiration for young researchers. His Padma Bhushan (2019), Supreme Court-ordered compensation, and continued advocacy for scientific freedom cement his place as one of India’s most respected voices in space research and moral leadership. Book Nambi Narayanan as a motivational speaker for your next event.
Nambi Narayanan is more than a scientist, he is a symbol of India’s scientific courage, grit, and the unshakeable belief that truth eventually prevails. As the father of India’s liquid propulsion technology, his pioneering work in the 1970s and 80s laid the essential foundation for PSLV and GSLV, rockets that today carry India’s satellites, lunar missions, and interplanetary ambitions. An alumnus of Princeton University, Nambi revolutionized India’s propulsion science under the mentorship of Prof. Luigi Crocco, introducing advanced liquid and cryogenic engine concepts at a time when India had limited exposure to global aerospace technologies.
In the past two years, 2024 and 2025, Nambi Narayanan has continued to inspire India’s scientific and ethical discourse. He has been invited to deliver keynote sessions at various national institutions, including programs celebrating the success of Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and India’s newly announced human spaceflight advancements. His perspectives on scientific integrity, research ethics, and resilience are widely sought after by corporates, universities, and leadership forums. His autobiography Ready to Fire, and the critically acclaimed biopic Rocketry: The Nambi Effect continue to spark conversations about accountability and the strength of the human spirit, with renewed attention in 2024 as academic institutions added the film to ethics and leadership curricula.
Despite enduring one of India’s most controversial wrongful prosecutions, Nambi Narayanan stands today as an inspiration for young researchers. His Padma Bhushan (2019), Supreme Court-ordered compensation, and continued advocacy for scientific freedom cement his place as one of India’s most respected voices in space research and moral leadership. Book Nambi Narayanan as a motivational speaker for your next event.
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Career Highlights and Achievements of Prof Nambi Narayanan
Pioneer of Liquid Fuel Technology
Instrumental in introducing liquid fuel propulsion at ISRO
Advanced Studies at Princeton University
Studied propellant dynamics under renowned rocket scientist Prof. Luigi Crocco
Padma Bhushan
Conferred with India’s third-highest achievement award
Inspiration for Biopic “Rocketry”
His life & struggles were depicted in the acclaimed biopic Rocketry: The Nambi Effect
Author of Memoir
Authored of Ready to Fire: How India and I Survived the ISRO Spy Case
Legacy in Indian Space Program
His propulsion innovations remain central to India’s space missions
Head of Cryogenic Engine Development
Led India’s indigenous cryogenic engine program in the early 1990s
Senior Role at ISRO
Served ISRO for decades as a key scientist, innovator, and leader
Supreme Court Compensation
Granted ₹50 lakh by Supreme Court as compensation for wrongful prosecution in espionage case
Why Prof Nambi Narayanan ?
Nambi Narayanan isn’t just a rocket scientist—he’s a national icon whose life story mirrors the trajectory of modern India: built from scratch, launched against odds, and soaring despite storms.
Wrongfully arrested in the 1994 ISRO espionage case and later vindicated, his journey reveals how truth can triumph over institutional failure—making him one of the most powerful voices on resilience and justice.
Corporate Wisdom from a National Hero With research roots in Princeton and leadership in India’s cryogenic propulsion, he speaks not just of theory but of indigenous innovation, perseverance, and how science must serve the people, not just the textbooks.
Nambi addresses innovation under adversity, ethical leadership, space self-reliance, and public resilience—all grounded in lived experience. Prof Nambi Narayanan presence leaves audiences not just motivated, but awakened to deeper responsibilities.
From TEDx to IIMs and Cannes (for the Rocketry biopic), Nambi Narayanan's talks resonate with scientists, students, and leaders alike—delivering sincerity, substance, and strength in every word.
Snapshots of Prof Nambi Narayanan
Showcasing some prominent images and videos of Prof Nambi Narayanan including our previous events and other endeavors.
