From shadows to the stars

'The stars are not meant to remain hidden forever.'

A star named Bibha. In 2019, the International Astronomical Union renamed a star in the constellation Leo (HD 86081) as 'Bibha'.

The name means 'beam of light': the very picture the chapter used for her at the start. Now she is truly a star in the sky. The metaphor has become a fact.

In 2020, the Government of India set up a chair professorship in her name.

Both honours came after her death in 1991. That is the chapter's quiet point: recognition often comes late.

Today. Women at ISRO 'are no longer participants but leaders in missions that make global headlines.'

Dr Ritu Karidhal Srivastava, called the 'Rocket Woman of India', played a key role in the Mars Orbiter Mission and in Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3.

Over 50 women worked on Chandrayaan-3, building autonomous (self-running) systems for the spacecraft and managing key operations. 'Their success is built upon the shoulders of pioneers like Bibha Chowdhuri.'

Not finished yet. The chapter does not pretend all barriers are gone: 'The journey… has been long and arduous (hard), but it is also inspiring. The struggles Chowdhuri faced are a stark reminder of how far we've come — and how much further we have to go.'

The ending. 'As the stars of Indian science shine brighter, Bibha Chowdhuri, the beacon — "beam of light", will always guide the way.' A beacon is a light that guides people. The woman whose name was whispered is now a light others steer by.