Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 4 : ISRO Chairman S Somanath, in an interview on Saturday, emphasized the commonality of facing challenges on the path to achieving top positions within an organization. He mentioned that his upcoming autobiography, titled “Nilavu Kudicha Simhangal” (which can be loosely translated as “Lions that drank the moonlight”), discusses some of the difficulties he encountered during his extensive career at the space agency. However, he clarified that his accounts in the book were not directed at any specific individual.
Responding to reports suggesting critical remarks about his predecessor, K Sivan, Somanath stressed that individuals in key roles often encounter various challenges, including those related to organizational positions, which are experiences shared by many. He sought to highlight the competitive nature of vying for significant posts without targeting anyone personally.
Somanath acknowledged that he addressed the issue of clarity surrounding the announcement of the failure of the Chandrayaan-2 mission in his book. He noted that during the mission’s landing phase, there was a lack of transparency regarding the communication failure and the likelihood of a crash landing. He expressed the belief that it is essential to honestly communicate what occurred in such situations to enhance transparency within the organization.
The ISRO Chairman reiterated that his autobiography aims to inspire individuals striving to overcome challenges and obstacles in their journey to success, rather than serving as a critique of anyone. The book is anticipated to be available to the public in the near future.
