Box MS-006 Box 2

This collection consists of the papers of T.S.G. Sastry, a scientist who made significant contributions to the field of space research in India. Sastry was also one of the earliest PhD students at the Physics Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, working under Vikram Sarabhai.

This collection consists of the papers of T.S.G. Sastry, a scientist who made significant contributions to the field of space research in India. Sastry was also one of the earliest PhD students at the Physics Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, working under Vikram Sarabhai.

This collection consists of the papers of T.S.G. Sastry, a scientist who made significant contributions to the field of space research in India. Sastry was also one of the earliest PhD students at the Physics Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, working under Vikram Sarabhai.

From Fanselau requesting for two copies of Sastry's paper titled "Night Time ionospheric currents in the region of the equatorial electrojet". Final letter contains copy of final paper sent to Fanselau along with his response.

From Fanselau confirming publication of Sastry's paper in "Gerlands Beiträge zur Geophysik" instead of the French journal "Annales de géophysique".

From John Nisbet, Director of Ionosphere Research Laboratory, noting Sastry's attendance at the conference.

Letter from KR Ramanathan, Director of PRL, notifying Sastry of his appointment as Junior Research Assistant, on the research scheme entitled "A study of variation of positively and negatively charged mesons by magnetic splitting of the hard components of cosmic radiation". Letter contains handwritten annotations by Sastry with dates of his various positions at PRL.

Postcard from K.Ray, Assistant Director of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, informing Sastry of his registration under the National Register of Scientific and Technical Personnel.

Letter from Anderson, University of California, Berkeley, to Sastry mentioning a grant to prepare scientific payloads for the use of space vehicles and the requirement of personnel qualified in engineering, also mentions Bhavsar's recommendation.

To P. D. Bhavsar, University of Minnesota, thanking Bhavsar fo his help in applying for Anderson's fellowship; requests for advice on application before submission, Sastry makes brief mention of depressing times post his Ph.D.

To Anderson, offering his services to the research project and outlining qualifications and experience.

Offering another copy of experiences and qualifications, mentions possible start dates and usefulness of experience gained in high altitude research at PRL .

In response to Sastry's letter on January 15, provides feedback on application to Anderson, mentions Anderson seeking recommendation from Venkatesan, Bhavsar also mentions that he initially considered Singh Ahluwalia for Sastry's fellowship.

Provides an official acceptance to Sastry for the position of Junior Research Physicist at the Cosmic Ray Group at Berkeley, also provides detail on salary, income tax for non-US citizens and provisions of travel funds. File also includes copy of the same letter.

Congratulates Sastry for his acceptance, advises Sastry to bring his family to Berkeley and prepare their passports; provides details about his own children's education in the U.S.

Letter of recommendation for Sastry, outlining his skills, experience and expertise.

Letter of acceptance of the offer and position at Anderson's group.

Letter regarding formalities and paperwork to be completed prior to arrival.

Letter from Allen C. Blaisdell, Foreign Service Officer to Wilma Keenleyside, Department of Physics, regarding "Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status for Sastry", tax deductions and health insurance. File also contains a short slip with a note from the Secretary to the Foreign Officer to Sastry regarding the same letter being forwarded to him.

To Anderson, informing him that he will be travelling without his family and will be residing at International House, and the non-availability of the Fulbright Travel Grant.

To Sastry, informing him of an upward adjustment in salary to compensate him for travel.

Requesting Sastry to provide date and time of arrival and offering assistance for travel

Informing him of his upcoming attendance at the Kyoto Conference, Chitnis' return to PRL and his leadership of the telemetry receiving station with NASA assistance, also mentions the visit of Dessler and Chandrashekar.

Offering Sastry a position at Cahill's group at University of New Hampshire who are working on rocket magnetometer instrumentation; explains the agreement between INCOSPAR and NASA covering the experiments by Cahill and the inclusion of a member of PRL in Cahill's group.

Informs Sarabhai of his interest in taking up a position in Cahill's group, requests to return to Berkeley for a few months to analyse OGO data.

Informing Sastry of the impossibility of returning to Berkeley to analyse OGO data, offers 1620 computer at PRL for data analysis; outlines details of salary offered by PRL as Research Associate during Sastry's time at New Hampshire.

Asks Sarabhai to provide him with the salary equivalent of Research Fellow, mentions that non availability of information regarding remuneration at New Hampshire is adding to difficulty of making a decision. The handwritten letter seems to continue on additional sheets but these are missing.

Handwritten draft of a letter from Sastry, mentions inconsistency and confusion with regards to information provided by Sarabhai and Cahill, expresses the need for a salary from Cahill equivalent to Berkeley and for PRL to cover any difference if it arises, mentions the urgency of the appointment.

Asks Cahill to cable if Sastry is acceptable for Magnetometer projects and if Pathan and Kale can arrive at Goddard Space Flight Centre for DOVAP training.

Informs Cahill of Sastry's appointment being finalized, mentions separate letter to Mr. Frutkin, informing him of the arrival of electronics group at Washington, and the presence of Prakasa Rao and Kale at Goddard for DOVAP training and Mr. Ramakrishna Rao and Mr. Aravamudan at Wallops.

Agrees to provide Sastry with salary of a Research Fellow during his stay at New Hampshire post discussions with K.R Ramanathan, provides details of allowance, notes that Sastry should be prepared to be posted to Thumba post return.

Asks Sastry to confirm his appointment with Cahill and with PRL as a fellow. Also included in the folder is a cable with the same message sent to Sastry on 26th of December.

Handwritten draft of letter, accepting the conditions of his appointment, thanks Sarabhai and Ramanathan for fair hearing.

States that he in agreement with his views regarding the appointment of a physicist in Durham under INCOSPAR, requests letter of appointment, requests for a salary equivalent to $750.

Clarifies Sastry's initial confusion about terms of appointment and addresses his concerns about taking up a position in Cahill's lab.

Apologises for the delay in response to the Space Physics Seminar, notes that it is beyond Sastry's assignment if he were to get involved in Cahill's satellite experiments, in addition to electrojet experiments, expresses "disappointment" at the lack of payload availability for subsidiary experiments as indicated earlier, mentions upcoming visit to M.I.T and possibility of meeting Cahill; copy of letter sent to Sastry.

From Dean of College of Technology, University of New Hampshire, requests Sastry to complete attached application for employment form

Notifies Sastry of his appointment as Research Associate in Physics effective from February 1 to June 30, 1963.

Informs Sastry that the first part of the process of releasing him from the University of California's Exchange Visitor programme has been completed, asks forms to be sent to the Office of Immigration and Naturalization, advises him that he is not eligible for an extension of Exchange Visitor status and requests him to apply for transfer from the P-I-352 programme to the P-I-70 programme.

Undated handwritten draft. The letter seems to be a response to a previous Sarabhai's letter which notes that he will be sending Sarabhai a comprehensive list of parts following his return from Wallops, and confirms his intention to returning to PRL post his stay in Cahill's lab.

Folder contains three letters attached together, includes letter from Sarabhai asking him for a letter of components at the earliest to prepare for firings in 1964 and mentions that PRL will issue a certificate stating Sastry's leave period from 14th June, 1961 to 13th March, 1963. The letter from B.N Sreenivasiah also includes certificate of leave without absence and mentions leave without pay to be from 11-6-61 to 12-3-63.

Letter mentions a list of list of components enclosed (not attached to letter), notes that a payload will consist of magnetometer circuitry, aspect sensor, densitometer and an electron probe, also mentions the usefulness of a Helmholtz coil system and a new data reduction system.

Provides details of progress made with magnetometer rocket experiment at UNH and Sastry's progress with his training. Also enquires about progress with launching site and Thumba, and notes Sastry's return to Thumba with Sastry's group, recommends Sastry for independent research in magnetic investigations of ionospheric currents by rocket magnetometers; copy sent to Sastry.

Folder contains three letters attached together, includes letter from Sarabhai asking him for a letter of components at the earliest to prepare for firings in 1964 and mentions that PRL will issue a certificate stating Sastry's leave period from 14th June, 1961 to 13th March, 1963. The letter from B. N. Sreenivasiah also includes certificate of leave without absence and mentions leave without pay to be from 11-6-61 to 12-3-63.

From Embassy, notes that there is not necessary requirement for an Indian national returning the United States to have vaccination against cholera and smallpox but recommends having them before departure. Attached to the letter is a sheet with income tax details containing annotations.

Notes Hall's letter of 28th May and 18 September, requests Sastry to reply to Hall and explain that they intend to have their own telemetry with Centaure; sheet mentions that this extract has been forwarded to Sastry for necessary action on October 12, 1964.

Response to J. R. U. page's previous letter, apologizes for delay in responding due to travel from Thumba, notes that Sarabhai's consent is necessary for him to accept the fellowship, and notes the need for additional time to await Sarabhai's return from the United States.

Letter mentions the ESRO fellowship, notes previous in-person conversation in Ahmedabad where Sastry had not agreed to INCOSPAR conditions of leaving PRL to work at SSTC at Thumba for a lower salary; notes that Sarabhai's reactions to queries "were not encouraging" and asks Sarabhai to provide a final decision on the matter.

To the Assistant Controller of Foreign Exchange, RBI, requesting for foreign exchange of $250 for Sastry's visit to Goddard Space Flight Centre, University of New Hampshire, Imperial College, London, and Service D'Aeronomie in France to learn techniques related to Rubidium magnetometers and seek collaborations of scientists working on the same.

Thanks Miss Wiltison for cheque of $144, provides address of accommodation in London and Ahmedabad, and requests for the cheque to reach him in London for use abroad.

Telegram notes that subsistence allowance arrangements for Sastry are agreeable and visit with Schmerling has been arranged, asks Sastry to coordinate with Mr. Bissell.

Telegram sent to Sastry at Goddard Space Flight Centre, asks for complete report on visit to Paris to assist in planning of Bhavsar's tour.

Telegram notes that suitable DC-DC converters are not available, asks for an immediate Telex to be sent to Kale to keep material ready for three DC-DC converters for magnetometer shot.

Notes payment of $64 to Sastry in Indian rupees.

From Director of Goddard Space Flight Centre to Director of the Thumba Equatorial Launching Station, with enclosed copies of the Flight Requirements Plan for two Nike Apache Rocket experiments which were to be launched from Thumba during February - March 1970; Sastry's copy.

Informs of Sastry's promotion to the rank of Associate Professor at a salary of Rs. 1200 per month with effect from March 14, 1971.

Letter from Hariharan, member of NCST, inviting Sastry to accept membership of the subcommittee on Geomagnetism and Geoelectricity, for the purposes of preparing a Science and Technology plan for the country.

Sent to Sastry at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, notes first preference for Sastry's probes and second preference for NASA probes available at UCL, wishes well for preparations for rocket flights.

From Pal, Reader in Geophysics, Centre for Exploration Geophysics, Osmania University, noting his preparation for a report on Researches in Geomagnetism and Rock Magnetism for the National Committee on Science and Technology; requests Sastry as a "leading scientist engaged in this field" to provide comments on his line of research and major shortcomings in training.

From S. R. Thakore, Deputy Director of PRL, stating the number of days of earned leave for Sastry from 17 April, 1973 to 20 May, 1973.

Regarding switch from LIC to New India Assurance Co. Ltd for 24-hour risk insurance policy against accidental risk while handling experiments, requests Sastry to fill out necessary paperwork.

To Lal, Director of PRL, regarding assessment of B. H. Subbaraya's contributions. Attached to a letter is a report.

Memorandum issued by S. P. Pandya, Deputy Director of Physics, noting an incident with Y. L. Aggarwal and his inappropriate behaviour during a lecture. As Sastry was presenting the lecture, the memorandum requests Sastry to be present at an enquiry by the PRL Council of Management.

Letter outlines Mr. H. S. Mazumdar, Electronics Engineer, working under Sastry was given a long leave and transfer without knowledge or consent of Sastry.

Informs Obayashi of his appointment as a referee to evaluate a thesis entitled a "A Study of the Equatorial Electrojet" by S. Sampath, includes a copy of Obayashi's evaluation report and comments that recommends S. Sampath's thesis for the award of Ph.D, report includes handwritten annotations by Obayashi to Sastry.

Asks Sastry to arrange the date for the viva voce examination of S. Sampath.

From Rao, India Meteorological Office, strongly recommending S. Sampath to be awarded a Ph.D degree following his viva voce examination.

From A. Mani, Chairman of Editorial Board for Earth and Planetary Sciences, requesting for contributions of research papers for the Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences.

From P. D. Bhavsar, Chairman of Remote Sensing Area, requesting for an opinion on whether S. Sampath would be able to work within a multidisciplinary team of scientists as part of the Aerial Surveys, Ground Truth and Photo Interpretation Division (AGPD).

From Kurian, Administrative Officer, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, asking Sastry to be an Expert Member in the Departmental Promotion Committee.

From Rao, Professor of Physics, University of Kerala, inviting Sastry to present a review talk on Currents and Electric Fields in the Ionosphere by Rocket Techniques, for a workshop-seminar to be held at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, May 5-17, 1980

From Sastry, declining invitation for review talk on the grounds of poor health; he notes he is under observation in Ahmedabad. Also cites little help in preparing for talk due to departure of his student and poor functioning of PRL.

Requests for a year of sabbatical leave from January 1st, 1982. Notes that he will be working at the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism in Colaba, Bombay.

From Rastogi, Indian Institute of Geomagnetism to Daniel, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, noting the requirement of rockets for geomagnetism studies and experiments; mentions that with Sastry's expertise, IIG will be able to lend a developing country expertise in equatorial geomagnetic studies.

From Oyama, Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science, provides comments on Jain's paper and notes the need for magnetometers to conduct further experiments; copy of the letter sent to Sastry.

Informs Administrative Officer of start date on 25.12.81 with a copy of office order concerning grant of sabbatical leave.

To Tiwari, Scientist, ISRO; forwarding referees comments on project proposal "Investigations of Sq. currents over SHAR" that requests for three centaur rockets for experiment, mentions Sastry's and Sampath's publication, also mentions Sastry's participation in this proposal.

This collection consists of the papers of T.S.G. Sastry, a scientist who made significant contributions to the field of space research in India. Sastry was also one of the earliest PhD students at the Physics Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, working under Vikram Sarabhai.