BATHINDA: Moga town in Punjab will come alive with a chapter in history as it remembers noted physicist Narinder Singh Kapany on his birth centenary with a two-day tribute featuring scientific sessions and the setting up of a memorial gallery.Considered the father of fibre optics, Kapany is best known for coining and popularising the term ‘fibre optics’. He was born in Moga on October 31, 1926. The district administration has endeavoured to turn his birth centenary into an inspiration and a guiding light for future generations. To this end, the administration has lined up various activities, including science exhibitions for school students, on October 30 and 31.His life and achievements will be highlighted during the observance of the 100th birth anniversary of the noted physicist, who was posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2021, following his death at the age of 94 on December 4, 2020, in California, USA.Kapany rose to become one of the pioneers of modern fibre-optic communication through his groundbreaking work on transmitting images through optical fibres.Kapany taught at the University of California, Berkeley, as a professor. He also served as director of the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Development at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He was a visiting scholar in the physics department at Stanford University.Themed ‘Science Beyond Boundaries — From Light to Life, Earth to Space’, the celebrations aim to familiarise students with physics and science while covering various areas, including fibre optics, said Moga Deputy Commissioner Sagar Setia, who is spearheading the celebrations.During the two-day event, the Kapany Memorial Gallery, which will document his early life, links with Moga and scientific achievements, will be inaugurated, he said.The Dr Narinder Singh Kapany Young Innovator Award will also be presented.
