How does an automobile design engineer become a world-renowned cosmologist and a leader of one of India's most ambitious science projects?

In this episode of Intellectual Rigour, Mehul Desai sits down for an in-depth, two-hour conversation with Professor Tarun Souradeep, the Director of the Raman Research Institute and a key architect of the monumental LIGO-India project. This interview chronicles his remarkable and unconventional journey through science and leadership.

In this episode, you will learn about:

• The pivotal decision to leave a stable engineering career for the uncertainties of fundamental physics.
• The incredible inside story of how the LIGO-India project was approved against immense skepticism .
• His counter-intuitive advice on education, drawn from his time at IIT, on why chasing a "perfect 10" can be a mistake .
• The challenges and future of building world-class, curiosity-driven research in India .
• Profound lessons on mentorship, risk-taking, and the mindset required for a fulfilling life in science .

This conversation is a masterclass in perseverance and conviction, offering an inspiring look into the values and choices that shape a life at the frontiers of human knowledge.