Thanu Padmanabhan

Indian theoretical physicist (1957–2021)
Person human Q2409133
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Thanu Padmanabhan was a physicist, astronomer, and university teacher born on March 10, 1957, in Thiruvananthapuram[1]. He worked in the field of theoretical physics and cosmology[2]. His education included studies at University College Thiruvananthapuram, the University of Kerala, and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.

He was employed by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research from 1980 to 1992[3][4]. Subsequently, he worked for the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics in 1992[3][4]. He died on September 17, 2021, in Pune[5]. The cause of his death was a myocardial infarction[5].

Thanu Padmanabhan

Summary

Thanu Padmanabhan is a human[1]. His place of birth was Thiruvananthapuram[2]. He was born on March 10, 1957[3]. He died in Pune[4]. He died on September 17, 2021[5]. He worked as a physicist[6], astronomer[7], and university teacher[8]. He has Wikipedia articles in 8 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[9]

Key Facts

  • Thanu Padmanabhan was born in Thiruvananthapuram[2].
  • Thanu Padmanabhan passed away in Pune[4].
  • Thanu Padmanabhan was born on March 10, 1957[3].
  • Thanu Padmanabhan died on September 17, 2021[5].
  • Thanu Padmanabhan held citizenship in India[10].
  • Malayalam was Thanu Padmanabhan's native language[11].
  • Thanu Padmanabhan's professions included physicist[6].
  • Thanu Padmanabhan worked as an astronomer[7].
  • Thanu Padmanabhan worked as a university teacher[8].
  • Thanu Padmanabhan's field of work was theoretical physics[12].
  • Thanu Padmanabhan's field of work was cosmology[13].
  • Among Thanu Padmanabhan's employers was Tata Institute of Fundamental Research[14].
  • Among Thanu Padmanabhan's employers was Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics[15].
  • Thanu Padmanabhan was educated at University College Thiruvananthapuram[16].
  • Thanu Padmanabhan's education included a stint at University of Kerala[17].
  • Thanu Padmanabhan's education included a stint at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research[18].
  • Thanu Padmanabhan's doctoral advisor was Jayant Vishnu Narlikar[19].
  • Thanu Padmanabhan received the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology[20].
  • Thanu Padmanabhan received the G.D. Birla Award for Scientific Research[21].
  • Thanu Padmanabhan received the Padma Shri in science & engineering[22].
  • Thanu Padmanabhan received the Infosys Prize[23].
  • Thanu Padmanabhan received the TWAS Prize for Physics[24].
  • Thanu Padmanabhan was a member of International Astronomical Union[25].
  • Thanu Padmanabhan is recorded as male[26].
  • Thanu Padmanabhan's instance of is recorded as human[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Born in Thiruvananthapuram[2], Thanu Padmanabhan… he was born on March 10, 1957[3]. Malayalam was his native language[11].

Education

Educated at University College Thiruvananthapuram[16], a college[28], in India[29], founded in 1834[30], headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram[31]; University of Kerala[17], a state public university[32], in India[33], founded in 1937[34]; and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research[18], a research institute[35], in India[36], founded in 1945[37], headquartered in Mumbai[38]. Thanu Padmanabhan's doctoral advisor was Jayant Vishnu Narlikar[19].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include physicist[6], astronomer[7], and university teacher[8]. Fields of work include theoretical physics[12], a branch of physics[39] and cosmology[13], a branch of astronomy[40]. Employers include Tata Institute of Fundamental Research[14], a research institute[41], in India[42], founded in 1945[43], headquartered in Mumbai[44] and Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics[15], a research institute[45], in India[46], founded in 1988[47], headquartered in Pune[48].

Recognition

Awards received include Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology[20], a science award[49], in India[50], founded in 1958[51]; G.D. Birla Award for Scientific Research[21], an award[52], in India[53]; Padma Shri in science & engineering[22], an award[54], in India[55]; Infosys Prize[23], a science award[56], in India[57], founded in 2008[58]; and TWAS Prize for Physics[24].

Death and Burial

Thanu Padmanabhan died on September 17, 2021[5]. He died in Pune[4]. The cause of death was myocardial infarction[59].

Why It Matters

Thanu Padmanabhan has Wikipedia articles in 8 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[9] He is known by 6 alternative names across languages and contexts.[60]

FAQs

Where was Thanu Padmanabhan born?

Thanu Padmanabhan was born in Thiruvananthapuram[2].

Where did Thanu Padmanabhan die?

Thanu Padmanabhan passed away in Pune[4].

What did Thanu Padmanabhan do for work?

Thanu Padmanabhan worked as physicist[6], astronomer[7], and university teacher[8].

Where did Thanu Padmanabhan go to school?

Thanu Padmanabhan was educated at University College Thiruvananthapuram[16], University of Kerala[17], and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research[18].

What awards did Thanu Padmanabhan receive?

Honors received include Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology[20], G.D. Birla Award for Scientific Research[21], Padma Shri in science & engineering[22], and Infosys Prize[23].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] . wikidata.org.
  2. [4] . wikidata.org.
  3. [26] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  4. [10] . wikidata.org.
  5. [27] . BnF authorities. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  6. [16] . wikidata.org.
  7. [17] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  8. [18] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  9. [12] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  10. [13] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  11. [11] . wikidata.org.
  12. [6] . wikidata.org.
  13. [7] . wikidata.org.
  14. [8] . wikidata.org.
  15. [14] . ORCID Registry. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  16. [15] . ORCID Public Data File 2023. Retrieved . pub.orcid.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  17. [20] . wikidata.org.
  18. [21] . wikidata.org.
  19. [22] . wikidata.org.
  20. [23] . wikidata.org.
  21. [24] . wikidata.org.
  22. [19] . wikidata.org.
  23. [25] . wikidata.org.
  24. [59] . onmanorama.com. onmanorama.com. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  25. [3] . SNAC. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  26. [5] . onmanorama.com. onmanorama.com. Provenance: wikidata.org.

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [28] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [29] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [30] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [31] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [32] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [33] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [34] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [35] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [36] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [37] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [38] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [39] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [40] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [41] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [42] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  16. [43] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  17. [44] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  18. [45] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  19. [46] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  20. [47] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  21. [48] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  22. [49] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  23. [50] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  24. [51] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  25. [52] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  26. [53] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  27. [54] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  28. [55] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  29. [56] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  30. [57] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  31. [58] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

  1. [1] . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [9] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  2. [60] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

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APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Thanu Padmanabhan. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/thanu-padmanabhan
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BibTeX @misc{4ortxyz_thanu-padmanabhan_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Thanu Padmanabhan}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/thanu-padmanabhan}, note = {Accessed: 2026-04-10}}
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Edit History

Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

  1. 6w ago · Pigsonthewing · 2026-06-14 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Employer
    Cause of death myocardial infarction
    Languages spoken, written or signed English, Malayalam
    Place of birth Thiruvananthapuram
    + 23 other properties edited (see Wikidata diff for full list)
    "/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ [[Property:P14528]]: 30471, [[:toollabs:quickstatements/#/batch/259666|batch #259666]]"
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