In a poignant blend of astronomy and remembrance, young scientists from a government school in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district are spearheading a unique celestial tribute. They plan to name an asteroid after seven children who lost their lives in a tragic school building collapse in Piplodi, Jhalawar, in July 2025.
From Classroom Tragedy to Cosmic Memorial
The devastating incident at Piplodi not only claimed seven young lives but also left 27 other students severely injured. Now, students mentored at the Mahatma Gandhi Government School in Pachpahar, Jhalawar, are ensuring those young souls are remembered far beyond their village. Their proposal is to name one of four asteroids they discovered between 2020 and 2021 after the deceased children.
The asteroids, discovered as part of the IASC–NASA Asteroid Search Campaign, have now completed a full orbit around the Sun and have been assigned permanent international numbers. This scientific milestone confirms their orbits are fully established and verified, making them eligible for official naming. The discovery was made by students Sugandha Kumari, Komal Kunwar, Harshita Dangi, and Sanjay Kumar from Govt Senior Secondary School, Unhel, who are now pursuing higher studies.
The Naming Process and a Meaningful Acronym
Dr. Divyendu Sen, who guided the students and is now posted at Mahatma Gandhi Govt School, Pachpahar, revealed the emotional reasoning behind the move. The students have expressed in writing their wish to propose a name for one of the asteroids, specifically 2021 DB5, to honor the Piplodi victims.
The proposed name is PRAMISHKA, an acronym formed from the initials of the seven children: Payal (13), Priyanka (12), Meena (12), Harish (11), Kundan (10), Kanha (7), and Satish (8). Dr. Sen stated that other acronyms are also under consideration before a final decision is made.
"The students told me that science becomes meaningful only when it touches lives," Dr. Sen told TOI. "By sending this name to space, we want their memory to orbit the Sun forever. For us, this is not only astronomy; this is remembrance with love and dignity."
Scientific Legacy and Official Steps
Dr. Sen emphasized the permanent scientific significance of an asteroid name. Once approved by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the name becomes a permanent part of scientific literature, as these celestial bodies exist in the solar system for millions of years.
The team is following official channels meticulously. They have already sought and received a verbal nod from the Jhalawar district education department. Chief District Education Officer (CDEO) Ram Singh Meena endorsed the idea, calling it a true tribute and an inspiring message about the commitment of government school students and their mentors to science and space exploration.
This initiative stems from a successful student science program that has seen over 100 participants discover 12 main-belt asteroids so far. Three of the four asteroids from the 2020-21 campaign have received permanent numbers from Pan-STARRS. While one is reserved for a survey organization, the remaining three are available for naming by their discoverers, paving the way for the heartfelt proposal for PRAMISHKA to journey through the cosmos.
