Mr. Sudhakar Kashinath Bhalerao, one of the leading science popularisers of Nashik, is well known not only among students, but also in all layers of the society. His main area of science popularization is Astronomy and Astrophysics. 

Born in 1932, he graduated from highly reputed Christian College,   Indore in 1953. Being inspired by the principles of Christianity taught   by his Christian missionary teachers like Dr. Scott, Dr Mrs. Bryce and   Dr Embrees, a strong desire budded in his mind to be a teacher and an   educator of masses. So he did B.T. in 1956. He taught Science and   Geography in Pethe Vidyalaya of Nashik for 35 years and retired as Vice-Principal of the school. He   has been working very hard since over 40 years for public welfare and to uplift the masses in backward   areas in various novel ways. 

With the motivation for welfare of masses, he purchased his two inch telescope in 1962 and using it   aroused curiosity among children about astronomy. He has been arranging telescopic observations on   various occasions like transit of Mercury, eclipses, occultation and observations of the Moon, Sun, planets and comets. 

He is a hard core teacher and apart from teaching in school, he has authored a number of science related   books in the regional language - Marathi. His books are written in a very simple way so that science is   made easy to layman too. His efforts in this field have been commended by the State Government and   his books “Apali Sooryamala” (Our Solar System) and “Krutrim Upagraha Ani Avakash Vidnyan”   (Artificial Satellites and Space Science) have received State Awards in the years 1972 and 1979   respectively. His book “Dhoomaketuche Rahasya” (Mystery of Comets) published by National Book   Trust, has been translated in all Indian languages. 

He writes regularly for the science magazine “Science Today”. His articles on astronomy have been   published in “Astronomy” magazine of USA. His articles on science appear frequently in Marathi   magazines and newspapers like Maharashtra Times, Kirloskar, Manohar, Amrit, Vidnyan-Yug, Kesari,   Vasant, Navaneet Digest, Gaokari. His lectures on science related subjects have been broadcast on   Pune, Mumbai, Nagpur and Aurangabad Radio as well as Mumbai Doordarshan (T.V.). All these are   part of his mission to promote astronomy and instill scientific culture among children and laymen and to   establish scientific outlook. 

He has incredible enthusiasm and love for sky observation which he has been doing for the last thirty   years continuously. He also invites Nashikites to join him for the special events of astronomical   importance like total solar eclipse, sight of comet, occultation etc. His small terrace, equipped with 10   inch reflector telescope, and other two telescopes gets crowded on such occasions and he answers all   sorts of queries of, right from students to elderly persons, ceaselessly. 

He has collected around 2500 slides related to astronomy, which he uses for the lecture demonstration.   He has given impetus for holding science exhibitions and given series of lectures during the exhibitions.   Unless scientific culture is installed among children and laymen, eradication of superstitions and   misbelieves, especially amongst the illiterates in the villages of India, is impossible. Working towards this   aim, “Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti” - The Rationalist Society of India is one of the most active   societies in India. Mr. Bhalerao is an active worker of this Society. He writes and delivers lectures in   their programmes. 

Awards

He is a recipient of Honorary Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, London in 1979. He was   honored with National Science Awardof Rs. 50,000 by National Council for Technology and   Communications for science popularization among children and citation for his best efforts in the field in   1993. Government of India, Ministry of Education and Social Welfare has awarded him National Award   in public recognition of his valuable services to the community as a teacher of outstanding merit on   28.8.1978. He received M.B. Chiplonkar Memorial Award in 1992, “Bal Kumar Sahitya Sammelan   Puraskar” (Award for Children literature) in 1992. He received Scientific Temper Promotion Trust   Award in 1996 and Rationalist Foundation Award. 

He has established “Sky and Telescope Association” Nashik to continue his dedicated purposeful   activities for the society. This society was registered on 17.3.1993. 

He has a special love for study of comets. He considers “study of comets” as his life's mission. To   discover new comets and novae and to solve the mystery of the Wilson Effect he is scanning the skies   with his 10 inch telescope for long hours. 

He is an active lecturer on the Board of Extra Mural Studies, University of Poona and Bombay. He has   been working as an active member on various committees. 

Books authored

For Adults   in Marathi 
 

For Children in Marathi
 

Books in English