Every Monday, India’s well-known industrialist Anand Mahindra shares a short post on social media that many people look forward to. He calls it Monday Motivation, and his messages range from lessons in life to stories of people doing remarkable work. On one recent Monday, he posted about someone few people outside scientific circles know by name, but whose work affects the lives of millions of air travellers every year. That person is Dr Shubha V Iyengar, an Indian aerospace scientist whose invention helps planes land safely in low visibility conditions.In his post on X, Mr Anand Mahindra said he was “fascinated by Dr Shubha V Iyengar because she literally helps planes land through fog”. He contrasted her real-world impact with the common struggles people face “moving through metaphorical fog” in their own lives. His message quickly caught attention because it was not just about inspiration but about recognising a quiet giant in Indian science whose work keeps aircraft and passengers safe during difficult weather.The tweet drew readers’ curiosity about who Dr Shubha is, how her innovation works, and why her story stood out to a business leader with millions of followers. Her accomplishment is special not only because it was technically difficult, but also because it had a real effect on Indian aviation in some of the most challenging weather conditions for aviation
Dr Shubha V Iyengar: From science student to aviation innovator
Dr Iyengar had a strong background in physics and electronics when she started her journey. She did well in school early on and then went on to get more education in her field. Later, she worked at CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bengaluru, which is one of India’s best places to do aerospace research.At NAL, she worked on sensor systems and measuring tools for aviation, especially when the weather was bad. India’s winter fog, monsoon rain and dust storms make certain airports especially difficult environments for aircraft operations. Pilots and air traffic controllers depend on accurate, real-time information on visibility to make landing decisions.During her decades at the lab, Dr Shubha and her team developed an indigenous visibility measuring system, later named Drishti. This system checks the visibility of the runway and gives real-time information about how far ahead pilots can see when they are landing or approaching. Air traffic controllers and pilots get the data right away so they can make changes or land safely.
What Drishti does and why it is important
India used to rely on expensive visibility instruments that weren’t always the best fit for Indian weather conditions before Drishti was put to use. Drishti changed that by being made to meet the needs of Indian runways and weather, and it could even work in thick fog and quickly changing conditions.The system uses two light beams that cross the runway and measures how much light moves between them. The clearer the beam, the easier it is to see. When fog or dust gets in the way of the beams, the readings show that you can’t see as well. This gives pilots and air traffic controllers a clear runway visual range (RVR) number that they can use to make decisions.Drishti’s real-time data lets aviation teams know that the weather is safe for flying. This helps keep flights on time and stops them from being canceled. It helps with planning and keeps things running smoothly when bad weather cancels flights.
Recognition and national impact
Dr Shubha has been recognized nationally for her work, including the Padma Shri, which is one of India’s highest civilian awards. The award praised not only her technical innovation but also how useful it was in a field as important as aviation safety.Mr Anand Mahindra liked her story because it was about more than just her own success. It shows a commitment to fixing a real problem that affects millions of people. The fact that her work literally helps aircraft touch down safely when nature seems most hostile makes her example powerful to people across different walks of life.In this one post, Mr Anand Mahindra introduced many of his followers to a scientist whose contributions quietly underpin everyday life for so many travellers. People talked more about how important it is to support scientific research that helps society in real ways because of the attention her work got.
Inspiration drawn from quiet excellence
Anand Mahindra’s motivation post did not frame Dr Shubha as a celebrity or a headline figure. Instead, he pointed to her focused work, her technical excellence, and her contribution to public safety as reasons for admiration. This is especially true now that fame is more often linked to success than to real change.The message was clear to readers and followers: important contributions don’t always come from loud platforms or public attention. Sometimes, they come from years of careful planning, testing, and making things better. The people who are most affected are the ones whose lives are directly affected, like passengers who land in thick fog or aviation teams that have to make important decisions with confidence.This is true because Dr. Shubha V Iyengar went from being a scientist in a research lab to being a well-known person in India, where she is one of the most followed business leaders. Mr. Mahindra chose her as his Monday Motivation to honor not only new ideas, but also the purpose and effect that change has on people’s lives every week.
