Dr Manisha Yogesh Khaldkar

Service is a word with extensive meaning. Although all types of services are thoroughly deliberated upon. Still, we should equally stress on the service through which new directions for knowledge dissemination are made accessible to common human beings. Pacifying many types of curiosities, bringing forth revelations from its mysterious layers, developing new thinking and creativity, etc are dimensions related to this service.

Dr Manisha is an associate professor in chemistry and is also allied with satellite science. She has worked with 176 children trained for the Indian government’s nanosatellite ‘Swayam’ and has ensured its success. For the triumph of ‘Swayam’ apart from administrative work, she also worked in quality security. She maintains that her role was also to establish contact between ISRO scientists and researchers. Along with this, Dr Manisha was also given the responsibility of the Astronomy Club Faculty and the membership of the Gymkhana Working Committee. Seeing her multi-faceted personality, in 2016 she was presented with the ‘Innovative Teacher Award’ by the Centre for Education Development Administration (CEDA). In 2017, ‘Swayam’ was also awarded the Gandhian Young Technological Innovation (GYTI) award.

She has continuously sought to create awareness towards creativity and success through open talk among citizens and students. Dr Manisha relentlessly inspires the youth to read and learn.

She asserts that people can be interviewed and reporters can be studied for further brainstorming.

Along with directing M Phil and PhD research at Pune University, Dr Manisha is also vocal for women empowerment. She believes that as long as social equality and a sense of women empowerment aren’t awakened, only scientific development can do nothing. Dr Manisha has endless achievements under her name. She is working on the construction of novel parts installed in the CSAT2 satellite and the nanosatellite.

Today is the era of science and technology. Without such prosperity, we can’t persist in the developing mainstream. Nation’s dignity, security, information exchanges, production of new equipment etc. everything is possible only due to scientific and technical development.

Recognising Dr Manisha’s decisive efforts and special contribution to science and technology, the Sant Eshwer Foundation has awarded her with the ‘Sant Eshwer Sewa Samman’ for the year 2019. For the prosperity of the nation, this incentive is a step towards greater service.