New Delhi: Nigar Shaji, the Project Director at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), emerges as the driving force behind the successful Aditya L1 solar mission. Leading a dedicated team for eight years, Shaji’s relentless efforts have culminated in India’s first solar observatory.
With a gentle and smiling demeanor, 59-year-old Nigar Shaji joined ISRO in 1987, steadily climbing the ranks to become the project director of this pioneering solar mission. Previously the associate project director of Resourcesat-2A, Shaji is also the program director for all lower orbit and planetary missions. Born into a Muslim Tamil family in Sengottai, Tamil Nadu, she pursued her education at the Government College of Engineering, Tirunelveli, and earned an engineering degree in electronics and communications. Later, she completed her masters in electronics from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra.
Shaji’s father, Sheikh Meeran, a mathematics graduate turned farmer, served as her inspiration. In a recent media interview, Shaji credited her parents’ unwavering support for her success. Dismissing any notion of gender bias in ISRO, she emphasized the encouragement received from her seniors, enabling her to reach her current position. Shaji stated, “Being the team leader, many people now work under me. So, I groom the same way my seniors groomed me.”
Initiated in 2016, the Aditya L1 project faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, but Shaji and her team persisted, working on the solar observatory’s seven scientific instruments. Launched on September 2, 2023, Aditya-L1 successfully reached its destination, the halo orbit, allowing uninterrupted observation of the Sun.
As a key figure in several ISRO missions, Shaji has become a role model for women aspiring to pursue careers in space science. Her journey stands as a testament to dedication, resilience, and breaking barriers in the realm of space exploration.
