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A. Sivathanu Pillai

{{short description|Indian scientist (born 1947)}}

{{Use British English|date=April 2012}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}

{{Infobox scientist

| name = A Sivathanu Pillai

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|07|15|df=y}}

| birth_place = Nagercoil, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India

| fields = Nuclear physics
Aerospace engineering
Electrical engineering

| occupation = Nuclear physicist
Rocket scientist
Administrator

| alma_mater = Thiagarajar College of Engineering (B.E.)
University of Pune (PhD)

| known_for = Known as Father of Brahmos Aerospace{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/PDATOI/articleshow/12014023.cms|title=NITT's four-day fest gets underway|date=24 February 2012|access-date=24 February 2012}}

| spouse = Seetha Sivathanu Pillai

| children = 1

| workplaces = Defence Research and Development Organisation

| awards = {{ubl|Padma Shri (2002)|Padma Bhushan (2013)|Order of Friendship (2014)}}

| footnotes =

}}

A Sivathanu Pillai is an Indian scientist who formerly served as Honorary Distinguished Professor{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/for-trip-to-mars-nasa-wants-to-ride-with-isro-1281975|title=For Trip To Mars, NASA Wants To Ride With ISRO|date=28 February 2015|access-date=30 April 2016}} at Indian Space Research Organisation (2015–2018){{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/time-for-india-to-join-global-space-rule-framing-to-avoid-npt-like-mistake-say-experts-116022800113_1.html|title=Time for India to join global space rule framing to avoid NPT like mistake, say experts|date=28 February 2015|access-date=30 April 2016}} and an honorary professor at IIT Delhi in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (2015–2016){{cite news|url=http://mech.iitd.ac.in/content/dr-sivathanu-pillai|title=Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai, IIT Delhi|publisher=Indian Institute of Technology Delhi|date=21 April 2015|access-date=21 April 2015}} and a visiting professor at Indian Institute of Science (2014–2015).

He is the President of Project Management Associates{{cite news|url=http://pma-india.org/dr-a-sivathanu-pillai/|title=National Managing Committee (2015–2018) of the PMA India|publisher=Project Management Associates|date=21 April 2015|access-date=21 April 2015|archive-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411124013/http://www.pma-india.org/dr-a-sivathanu-pillai/|url-status=dead}} and is the former chairperson of the board of governors of the National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra.{{cite news|url=http://www.nitkkr.ac.in/pagesUI/homePage.jsf?pageEvent=46&page=content&language=2|title=Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai, Chairperson Board of Governors|publisher=National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra|date=17 September 2013|access-date=17 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521040721/http://www.nitkkr.ac.in/pagesUI/homePage.jsf?pageEvent=46&page=content&language=2|archive-date=21 May 2014|url-status=dead}}

He formerly served as Chief Controller of Research and Development from year 1996 to 2014 and held the rank of "Distinguished Scientist" from year 1999 to 2014 at the Defence Research and Development Organisation at the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of India.{{cite news|url=http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/English/index.jsp?pg=chiefcontrollers-pillai.jsp|title=Profile, DRDO India: Sivathanu Pillai|publisher=DRDO, Ministry of Defence of Government of India|date=4 June 2011|access-date=4 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721163124/http://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/English/index.jsp?pg=chiefcontrollers-pillai.jsp|archive-date=21 July 2011|url-status=dead}} He is also the founder-CEO and managing director of the BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited.{{cite news|url=http://www.brahmos.com/people.php?id=2|title=Profile, Brahmos India: Sivathanu Pillai|publisher=BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited|date=4 June 2011|access-date=4 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708091225/http://www.brahmos.com/people.php?id=2|archive-date=8 July 2011|url-status=dead}}

He also previously served as Vice President of International Project Management Association{{cite news|url=http://www.asapm.org/asapmag/resources/PR_IPMA_ExBo_Remits11_2010.pdf|title=The Executive Board members of the International Project Management Association — Remits for year 2011 and 2012|publisher=International Project Management Association|date=31 July 2011|access-date=4 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523041746/http://www.asapm.org/asapmag/resources/PR_IPMA_ExBo_Remits11_2010.pdf|archive-date=23 May 2013|url-status=dead}} and as Special Secretary representing India in the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation.

Early life and education

Apathukatha Sivathanu Pillai was born in Nagercoil in Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu on 15 July 1947. He completed his schooling at D.V.D. Higher Secondary School, Nagercoil,. He earned his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Thiagarajar College of Engineering in 1969.{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/APJ-Abdul-Kalam-tried-to-merge-ISRO-and-DRDO-Sivathanu-Pillai/articleshow/53460266.cms |title=Archive: APJ Abdul Kalam tried to merge ISRO and DRDO - Sivathanu Pillai |access-date=6 November 2016 |work=The Times of India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106161003/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/APJ-Abdul-Kalam-tried-to-merge-ISRO-and-DRDO-Sivathanu-Pillai/articleshow/53460266.cms |archive-date=6 November 2016}}

In 1991, he attended the six-week Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. He then earned PhD in Technology Management from Savitribai Phule Pune University in 1996.{{cite news|url=http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/pub/nl/may02/padmashri.htm|title=Sivathanu Pillai conferred Padma Shri|publisher=DRDO, Ministry of Defence of Government of India|date=May 2002|access-date=30 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314041321/http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/pub/nl/may02/padmashri.htm|archive-date=14 March 2012|url-status=dead}} Pillai is a close and personal friend{{cite news|url=http://www.aspillai.com/news.php?nid=7|title=President Kalam gets museum in his honour|date=7 July 2007|access-date=14 June 2012}}{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} of Former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam

Career

File:The CEO & MD, Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai introducing a model missile to the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh at BrahMos Complex in New Delhi on June 28, 2006.jpg Manmohan Singh at BrahMos Complex in New Delhi.]]

File:The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Bhushan Award to Dr. Apathukatha Sivathanu Pillai, at an Investiture Ceremony-II, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on April 20, 2013.jpg President of India Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Bhushan Sivathanu Pillai at an Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi.]]

=Academia=

Pillai currently serves as honorary distinguished professor at Indian Space Research Organisation and an honorary professor at IIT Delhi in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and a visiting professor at Indian Institute of Science.

He also formerly served as the chairperson of the board of governors of the National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra.

=ISRO and DRDO=

Pillai joined the Defence Research and Development Service and has four decades of experience in ISRO and DRDO and has worked with Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan and APJ Abdul Kalam.{{cite news|url=http://english.manoramaonline.com/news/science-technology/india-space-programme-visionary-a-sivathanu-pillai-brahmos.html|title=India's space programme needs a visionary: Sivathanu Pillai|work=Malayala Manorama|location=India|date=31 January 2016|access-date=3 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202193456/http://english.manoramaonline.com/news/science-technology/india-space-programme-visionary-a-sivathanu-pillai-brahmos.html|archive-date=2 February 2016|url-status=dead}}

He joined DRDO in 1986 and was the Programme Director of IGMDP under the leadership of A. P. J. Kalam. He contributed to the successful development of SLV III as a core team member and to the evolution of PSLV configuration for ISRO.{{cite web|url=http://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/decoding-the-missile-man.html |title=Archive: Decoding the Missile Man by Sivathanu Pillai |access-date=6 November 2016 |publisher=The Week |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106162552/http://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/decoding-the-missile-man.html |archive-date=6 November 2016}}

=Brahmos Aerospace=

In August 2007 he was given a third extension of his retirement date by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.{{cite news|url=http://www.sunday-guardian.com/news/drdo-disowns-chief-controller-says-he-is-retired|title=DRDO disowns chief controller, says he is retired|work=The Sunday Guardian|date=17 November 2012|access-date=17 September 2013|archive-date=10 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210184557/http://www.sunday-guardian.com/news/drdo-disowns-chief-controller-says-he-is-retired|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/antony-prevails-over-drdo-gets-brahmos-chie/207765/|title=A Sivathanu Pillai: Extension as DRDO chief tenure extended|work=The Indian Express |date=31 July 2007|access-date=4 June 2011}}{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_fight-to-retain-indias-leading-missile-scientist_1112683|title=Fight to retain India's leading missile scientist|work=Daily News and Analysis |location=India|date=31 July 2007|access-date=4 June 2011}}

Pillai is regarded as the Father of BRAHMOS,{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130512/edit.htm#3|title=PROFILE — BrahMos aerospace his baby|work=The Tribune |date= 5 December 2013|access-date=17 July 2014}} the joint venture between India and Russia to design, develop, produce and market the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos and he is the chief executive and managing director of BrahMos Aerospace. In 2007, under his leadership as CEO of Brahmos Aerospace, the company bought Kerala Hitech Industries Limited. It has been then converted into Brahmos Aerospace Trivandrum Limited, the second missile making unit of BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited for a world-class missile facility with system integration and testing.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article1977991.ece|title=Missile man of India Sivathanu Pillai describes BrahMos plans|work=The Hindu|date=31 December 2007|access-date=28 February 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article1962270.ece|title=BrahMos takes over KELTEC|work=The Hindu|date=6 December 2007|access-date=28 February 2012}}

Awards and honours

class="wikitable" border="1" style="font-size: 90%;"

! Year of Award or Honor !! Name of Award or Honor{{cite news|url=http://www.brahmos.com/download/Dr-Pillai-Profile.pdf|title=Official CV and full Profile: Sivathanu Pillai|publisher=Brahmos Aerospace, India|date=4 June 2011|access-date=4 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723152952/http://www.brahmos.com/download/Dr-Pillai-Profile.pdf|archive-date=23 July 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/pub/nl/2010/jul10.pdf|title=Sivathanu Pillai receives the Technology Leadership Award for year 2009 on May 26, 2010 from Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for his outstanding leadership in design, development, production and marketing of the BrahMos missile|publisher=DRDO, Ministry of Defence of Government of India|date=26 May 2010|access-date=25 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314040841/http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/pub/nl/2010/jul10.pdf|archive-date=14 March 2012|url-status=dead}} !! Awarding Organization

2014

| Lifetime Achievement Award{{cite news|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/After-Missions-to-Moon-and-Mars-World-Vies-to-Mine-Heavenly-Bodies/2014/10/15/article2478627.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019172622/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/After-Missions-to-Moon-and-Mars-World-Vies-to-Mine-Heavenly-Bodies/2014/10/15/article2478627.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 October 2014|title=After Missions to Moon and Mars, World Vies to Mine Heavenly Bodies|work=The New Indian Express |date=15 October 2014|access-date=15 October 2014}}

| Rotary International.

style="background:#efefef;"
2014

| Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/science/as-pillai-father-of-brahmos-gets-lal-bahadur-shastri-award/article6478452.ece|title=AS Pillai, father of BrahMos, gets Lal Bahadur Shastri Award|work=Business Line |date=8 October 2014|access-date=15 October 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/president-of-india-presented-the-lal-bahadur-shastri-national-award-2014-1412761510-1|title=President of India presented the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award 2014|date=7 October 2014|access-date=7 October 2014}}

| Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management.

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2014

| Order of Friendship{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/russia-honours-brahmos-chief-with-order-of-friendship-award-114022601148_1.html|title=Russia honours BrahMos chief with 'Order of Friendship' award|work=Business Standard |date=26 February 2014|access-date=3 March 2014}}

| President of Russia.

style="background:#efefef;"
2013

| Padma Bhushan{{cite news|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-04-19/news/38674467_1_brahmos-aerospace-sivathanu-pillai-guided-missile-development-programme|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142149/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-04-19/news/38674467_1_brahmos-aerospace-sivathanu-pillai-guided-missile-development-programme|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 August 2014|title=BrahMos chief A Sivathanu Pillai to be conferred Padma Bhushan|work=The Economic Times |date=19 April 2013|access-date=17 July 2014}}

| President of India.

style="background:#efefef;"
2009

| DRDO Technology Leadership Award

| Prime Minister of India.

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2009

| Level A certification of Project Directorship

| International Project Management Association (IPMA), Switzerland.

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2008

| Honorary Doctorate

| Thapar University, India.

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2007

| Honorary Doctorate

| Avinashilingam University, India.

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2006

| Honorary Doctorate

| Bharathiar University, India.

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2006

| Honorary Doctorate

| State Marine Technical University of St. Petersburg, Russia.

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2006

| Honorary Doctorate

| Andhra University, India.

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2006

| Raja Rammohan Puraskar Award

| Ministry of Defence.

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2005

| DRDO Performance Excellence Award

| Ministry of Defence.

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2005

| Honorary Doctorate

| Sathyabama University, India.

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2005

| Honorary Doctorate

| Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, India.

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2003

| The Order of the Peter the Great and the Academician of the university

| The Moscow University of Security, Defence and Law Enforcement, Russia.

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2003

| Award for dedicated service, co-operation, development and peace

| OISCA International, Japan.

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2002

| Padma Shri{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015 }}

| President of India.

style="background:#efefef;"
2001

| Dr. Davidson Frame Award

| University of Technology & Management, USA.

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1988

| DRDO Scientist of the year

| Ministry of Defence.

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Books, research papers and journals

Sivathanu Pillai is a published author and coauthor of several books, research papers and journals.

  • {{cite book |title=The Path Unexplored |publisher= Pentagon Press |year=2014 |isbn=9788182747906}}
  • {{cite book |title=Thoughts For Change — We Can Do It |publisher=Pentagon Press| year=2012 |isbn=9788182747074}}
  • {{cite book |title=Envisioning an empowered nation: technology for societal transformation |publisher=Tata McGraw-Hill Pub. Co. |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-07-053154-3}}
  • {{cite book |title=Technology Leadership – A Revolution in the Making: defining the future visionary leaders |isbn=9780070583283|last1=Sivathanu Pillai|first1=A.|year=2005|publisher=Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company }}
  • {{cite book |title=Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Engineering |publisher=World Scientific |year=2010 |isbn=978-981-4277-92-1}}
  • {{cite book |title=Ocean Warfare: The Technology Waves |publisher=Manas Publications |year=2006 |isbn=978-81-7049-239-9}}
  • {{cite book |title=Revolution in Leadership – Building Technology Competence |isbn=9788182745520|last1=Sivathanu Pillai|first1=A.|year=2011|publisher=Pentagon Press }}
  • {{cite book |title=Nanotechnology Engineering in Nano- and Bio-Medicine: Devices and Applications |isbn=9780470758632}}

References

{{Reflist}}

Further reading

  • {{Cite book|author=Sieff, Martin|date=2009|title=Shifting superpowers: the new and emerging relationship between the United States, China, and India|publisher=Cato Institute|isbn=978-1-935308-21-8|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/shiftingsuperpow0000sief}}
  • {{Cite book|author=Frankel, Francine R.|date=1995|title=Bridging the nonproliferation divide: the United States and India|publisher=University Press of America|isbn=978-0-8191-9943-0}}
  • {{Cite book|author=Kalam, A P J Abdul|date=2010|title=Ignited Minds : Unleashing the Power within India|publisher=Pearson Education India|isbn=978-81-317-2960-1}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20130921024108/http://www.aspillai.com/ Official Website]
  • {{cite web

| url = http://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/English/index.jsp?pg=chiefcontrollers-pillai.jsp

| title = Dr A Sivathanu Pillai : Official Biography

| publisher = Defence Research and Development Organisation, India

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140630122502/http://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/English/index.jsp?pg=chiefcontrollers-pillai.jsp

| archive-date = 30 June 2014 }}

  • {{cite web

| url = http://mech.iitd.ac.in/content/dr-sivathanu-pillai

| title = Dr A Sivathanu Pillai

| publisher = Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160401204059/http://mech.iitd.ac.in/content/dr-sivathanu-pillai

| archive-date = 1 April 2016}}

  • [http://www.brahmos.com/people.php?id=2 Pillars of BrahMos] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708091225/http://www.brahmos.com/people.php?id=2 |date=8 July 2011 }}

=Others=

  • [http://www.eetindia.co.in/ART_8800704532_1800007_NT_21514b59.HTM?jumpto=view_welcomead_1411635350263 India primes for growth in defence electronics]{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  • {{cite web

|url=http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/pub/nl/may02/padmashri.htm

|title=Padma Shri conferred on three DRDO scientists

|publisher=Defence Research and Development Organisation, India

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314041321/http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/pub/nl/may02/padmashri.htm

|archive-date=14 March 2012

|url-status=dead

|access-date=29 June 2011

}}

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20140725135316/http://archives.dailytimes.com.pk/national/26-Jul-2006/tipu-sultan-the-first-to-use-missile-technology Tipu Sultan the first to use missile technology]
  • [http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/article2938697.ece?homepage=true Humans will soon inhabit other planets: Sivathanu Pillai]
  • [http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article2743409.ece Hypersonic missiles to replace ballistic missiles]
  • [http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article700744.ece India should have its own computer operating system: Pillai]
  • [http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article1384231.ece Nanotechnology will change lives: Sivathanu Pillai]

{{s-start}}

{{s-bus}}

{{s-new|Organisation founded February 1998}}

{{s-ttl|title= CEO and MD of BrahMos Aerospace|years=1995–2014}}

{{s-aft | after = Sudhir Mishra}}

{{s-edu}}

{{s-bef | before = }}

{{s-ttl | title = Chairperson of the Board of Governors at National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra

| years = }}

{{s-aft | after = }}

{{s-end}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Science & Engineering}}

{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2010–19}}

{{Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pillai, A. Sivathanu}}

Category:Living people

Category:1947 births

Category:Tamil scientists

Category:Scientists from Tamil Nadu

Category:People from Kanyakumari district

Category:Savitribai Phule Pune University alumni

Category:Academic staff of IIT Delhi

Category:Academic staff of the Indian Institute of Science

Category:Indian Space Research Organisation people

Category:Indian chief executives

Category:People from Nagercoil

Category:Defence Research and Development Organisation

Category:English-language writers from India

Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in science & engineering

Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in science & engineering

Category:20th-century Indian engineers

Category:Indian electrical engineers

Category:Engineers from Tamil Nadu

Category:Businesspeople from Tamil Nadu