The Basant Sagar Foundation
For science, space and society.
Dexterity Global announces Basant Sagar's birthday as International Day of Dexterity
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The Basant Sagar Foundation is an international foundation dedicated to the service of science, space and society.
The Foundation was established on February 10, 2018 in honor of leading Indian mathematician and MIT Scientist Basant Sagar. Basant, who passed away on Nov 6, 2017, dedicated his life to the service of science, space and society and in the process inspired millions of young people and science leaders across the world.
“at a time when his classmates are learning about Mother Earth in Geography Classes, Basant is trespassing in outer space, looking for signs of life on Mars"
The Pioneer, 2003
"Basant's amazing legacy will live on through the lives and work of his family, friends, associates, and fellow researchers."
L. Rafael Reif
President, Massachusetts Institute of Technology- Basant Sagar's Life
An Indian mathematician and polymath who dedicated his entire life to the service of science, space and society and inspired millions of young people around the world.
Early Life
Raised in small towns and villages of Bihar for the most part of his life, Basant Sagar first went to school in Grade 8 at the age of 13. Basant broke huge economic, systemic and institutional barriers to achieve the greatest successes in science and technology and emerge as a hero to young people in India and across the world.
An extraordinary career at MIT
From 2007 and 2011, Basant had an extraordinary career at MIT. Basant did scholarly research used by the US Department of Defense, MIT, NASA and other prestigious organizations. He was the founder and managing editor of MIT’s prestigious Math Major Magazine, chaired the Undergraduate Math Association, served as the Director of the MIT Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (MIT SEDS) and was the founder of MIT Quidditch. Basant published researches and invented path-breaking technology in the fields of music, medicine and gaming.
From President Bush to President Obama
In 2007, Basant Sagar was invited to the People to People Leadership Summit under the patronage of the then US President George W Bush. In 2010, Sagar was invited by NASA administrator Charles F Bolden Jr to to the Kennedy Space Center, Florida to interact with US President Barack Obama on space policy.
A journey that inspires millions of young people around the world
Basant Sagar was the first scholar from current day Bihar and remains the only one so far to receive a full scholarship to pursue his undergraduate degree at MIT, Boston. A scientist, mathematician and polymath, Basant was a true visionary and was considered an absolute genius by some of the world’s leading mathematicians and scholars at MIT, Boston and around the world.
Basant, who self-taught himself higher level Math and Science, was only 14 when he was selected by NASA as a Student Scientist for its 2003 Mars Mission and received an honorary membership of the famed Planetary Society for the same. In 2003, talking about a 14 year old Sagar, India’s leading national daily The Pioneer wrote - “at a time when his classmates are learning about Mother Earth in Geography Classes, Basant is trespassing in outer space, looking for signs of life on Mars”. After completing high school from Patna, Basant became the first student ever from Bihar [and remains the only so far] to receive a full scholarship worth Rs. 4 crores to attend MIT Boston, the world’s most prestigious technology institute.
The Basant Sagar Foundation is steered by inspirational leaders and scientists around the world.
