At 78, Ex-ISRO Staffer Ranks Third in TG ECET

Hyderabad: Twarakavi Chengal Prasad, 78, a former employee of the civil construction wing of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has secured third rank in the TG ECET for Working Professionals, his family said. They said he studied for more than 12 hours a day for about two months before the examination.

Prasad spent three and a half decades with ISRO, contributing to the construction of launch pads, observatories and technical buildings used in India’s space missions.

He said he had completed a diploma in civil engineering before joining ISRO at 21 and was among its earliest employees. He recalled working alongside scientists including Vikram Sarabhai, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Satish Dhawan, and the long hours spent at Sriharikota during rocket launches and satellite missions.

After taking voluntary retirement, Prasad worked with construction companies in Delhi, Nepal and Hyderabad. He continued working until the Covid-19 lockdown. Since then, he has pursued an interest in technology and studied the Vedas.

Prasad, who lives in Nacharam, has three children. His family said he had always been eager to learn new things. “He has always been an inspiration to us. His dedication and commitment always surprise us,” his granddaughter Dr Ananya said.