On Monday, after news broke of the death of renowned astrophysicist Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, author Manu Joseph shared a striking memory. Narlikar, known for questioning the Big Bang theory, once told him, “Chai took longer.” It was the second-most interesting tea-related analogy about the universe since Russell’s teapot, which sought to shift the burden of proof from atheists to theists.For Narlikar, it was his way of saying that the universe couldn’t have appeared all at once. The Big Bang theory, he felt, was too sudden, too convenient—and too close to the idea of a divine creation. He also pointed out that the theory had strong support from the Church: after all, it was first proposed by a Catholic priest, Georges Lemaître, and even endorsed by the Pope.That short sentence—“Chai took longer”—captured Narlikar’s entire approach. He didn’t reject mainstream science for the sake of being different. He rejected it when it didn’t make sense.
What Is the Big Bang Theory?
The Big Bang theory states that the entire universe began around 13.8 billion years ago from a single point that was extremely hot and dense. It then exploded outward and has been expanding ever since.Most scientists support this theory because it explains three important things:
- Galaxies are moving away from us – This means the universe is getting bigger over time.
- A faint glow fills the sky – Called the
Cosmic Microwave Background , this matches what we’d expect if the universe started out extremely hot. - The elements in the universe – Elements like hydrogen and helium exist in amounts that match what the Big Bang would produce.
With such strong evidence, the Big Bang theory became the most widely accepted explanation for how the universe began.
But Narlikar Had Doubts
To Jayant Narlikar, the Big Bang theory had some serious problems:
- It starts with a mystery – It claims everything came from one tiny point where the laws of science break down. To Narlikar, that’s not a scientific explanation. That’s just saying, “We don’t know.”
- It sounds too religious – The idea that the universe had a beginning, that something came from nothing, reminded him of creation stories from religion. He believed science should remain independent of such notions.
- It had to be fixed too much – Over time, scientists had to keep adding new ideas—like inflation, a super-fast early expansion—to explain why the universe looks the way it does. Narlikar saw these as clever patches, not clean explanations.
His Alternative: The Quasi-Steady State Theory
Narlikar worked with British scientist Fred Hoyle to develop a different theory called Quasi-Steady State Cosmology (QSSC).This model proposed that:
- The universe never began—it has always existed.
- It expands slowly over time, with new matter created in small bursts (like mini Big Bangs).
- It doesn’t require a singular point where physics breaks down.
- It doesn’t need any divine force or miracle.
Narlikar also had different ideas about the glow in the sky (the CMB). He suggested it could come from light scattered by cosmic dust—not necessarily from a single big explosion.
A Scientist Who Built, Not Just Criticised
Narlikar didn’t simply say “no” to the Big Bang. He offered detailed equations, conducted real research, and developed a full alternative theory. He believed science should always entertain competing ideas—because that’s how knowledge grows.Even though his model didn’t replace the Big Bang, it reminded scientists not to get too comfortable. Big questions still remain:
- What existed before the Big Bang?
- What is the universe really made of?
- Why do we keep discovering things that science didn’t predict?
His Universe Was Slower, Wiser
To Narlikar, the universe wasn’t something that suddenly appeared out of nowhere. It was something that slowly evolved, renewed itself, and followed the rules—no miracles required.His challenge to the Big Bang wasn’t about being contrarian. It was about defending the scientific spirit—to doubt, to question, and to always ask:What if there’s another explanation?Sometimes, even the universe needs to steep a little.Because chai takes longer.
