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Prof. J.B. Majhi in conversation with Prof. Subrahmanyam

00:00:04

Yes, Dr. Majhi, welcome to this programme organized by the

00:00:09

Heritage Centre of IIT Madras.

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The main purpose of...is to show, to learn from you

00:00:15

the history of the Department of Physics,

00:00:18

after you joined in 1967.

00:00:21

So if you can, kindly brief us. Yeah.

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When you joined how the department was, with reference to its

00:00:29

programmes like Ph. D., M. Sc.

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and the type of research,

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and the people you have been interacting with.

00:00:37

Yeah, ok, good evening everybody.

00:00:42

So, as suggested by the Heritage Centre, I will briefly outline

00:00:48

my talk in three groups, before joining IIT,

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then in the IIT, activities

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and after leaving IIT, means after retirement, ok.

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So, I was born in Berhampur, a small town in Orissa,

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I think you also know that. Yes.

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My primary education, middle class, up to B. Sc., I was in Berhampur.

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So, I came to IIT straight from Berhampur to this place,

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it was really difficult for me, because when

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a person comes from a small place to a bigger city,

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you get a shock first,

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Yeah. so I heard that...

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Is it a shock of the language?

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Is it a shock of the culture, is it a shock of the food? Everything.

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I didn’t know Tamil. Ok.

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And also, the culture was little different,

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Ok. even the food habits are different.

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So...but I could adjust, in the short time, that’s ok. That’s good.

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Its ok...anyway, Berhampur I will tell a little bit ok.

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My childhood...see my father was a teacher,

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I come from a teacher family, my brother is a teacher,

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father is a teacher, I am a teacher, ok.

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So, my father used...he was the district teacher means,

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so what is that called I don’t know,

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he used to move from one place to another,

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wherever the district people ask him to go there, like that.

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So, my education, primary education was a problem,

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because every one year, two years, he used to go to a different place.

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So my uncle took the responsibility to educate me. Good.

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So my mother...mother’s brother,

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she nicely left with my uncle and

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went to...went my father wherever they goes to.

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So my education started with my uncle’s house,

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from primary school.

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The primary school was very close to our street only,

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I used to just walk down, ok,

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we are only four, five students at that time.

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It was a municipal school.

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So they were just starting.

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So I studied up to 3rd class,

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then I have to go to another middle

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school or something, where I have 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th.

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So that was a little away, maybe one kilometre away.

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That was a training school.

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So its a government school. Ok.

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So, I studied there up to 7th.

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Somehow I was studying well,

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so I got some fellowship also, after 7th there used to be a

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scholarship examination. Great.

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So. I got it, and of course, it was a meagre amount only,

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some...I don’t know, 15 or 20 rupees, but it was encouraging.

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In those days. In those days. Ok.

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And also I needed money at that time

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because my uncle also was a school teacher, and

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so that helped me to I think...motivated me to

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go to higher and higher classes. Good.

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Then after 7th I have to go to high school,

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high school is a missionary schoonl, is called Queen

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Queen Mission School.

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So there I studied from 8th to 11th, at that time

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11th was there, not 12th. Yeah. Ok.

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Somehow I got a first class in 11th, at that time

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first class means everybody used to come and...it was great.

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Here nowadays I see the marks people children get, above 90 only.

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Yeah. And, there if you get 60, it is a great thing.

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Those So that helped me to get another scholarship

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in the college education.

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So, because my uncle also was telling, "After high school

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I cannot teach you, I don’t have funds also."

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So I said, "I got scholarship,"

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"But anyway you...scholarship, you go to your place."

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So I went to my parents' place, that is another street only,

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its very...all in Berhampur only. Ok.

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So, somehow I managed to join the college.

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At that time, it was I. Sc. and B. Sc. Yes.

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2 years I. Sc. and 2 years B. Sc.

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I managed up to B. Sc. Very good.

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With a little struggling and all,

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and then after B. Sc., what to do?

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There was no M. Sc. in that Khallikote College, ok,

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it is a Khallikote college...is a big college,

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but at that time, there were no M. Sc. in Khallikote College.

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I have to go to...outside, either go to Utkal University, Ravenshaw College,

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or I have to come to IIT,

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I applied both the places,

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no at that time, I was having short of funds.

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So I said, "I will work for some time."

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I...same college, I joined as a demonstrator. Ok.

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For one year, collected some money.

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At that time the salary was I think 250 or something...anyway.

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250 rupees in those days is a big money. Its a good...good amount Yeah.

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So I collected some money to go for higher studies.

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So my uncle also agreed and my

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brother...elder brother who was also teacher. Ok.

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He said, "Ok, we will get some fund,

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I will also save give you some funds you can join M. Sc."

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So one year I was...the demonstrator

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to the Khallikote college, then...then I started thinking where to go. Ok.

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B. Sc...after B. Sc., I tried for a JEE IIT ok,

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but I failed, I couldn’t get it.

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At that time the question paper also was very tough.

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And there were. Even now it is tough.

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Very tough and there was drawing in that.

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Yes. So I didn’t know anything about drawing and all.

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So you have to write drawing, as well as the questions but

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anyway I am not very sorry, its ok,

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I tried once, I didn’t pass, then the other choice was also tried,

00:06:32

a Engineering College in Rourkela, that is REC,

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it was just starting.

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Ok, just went as far as my grades are concerned, it was ok.

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But they...at that time they have to have physical fitness also.

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Ok. I was lean and I was more lean.

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So I was disqualified on the physical...

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then I was So to say, you have been maintaining this physique,

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right from the beginning. I think you have seen me from...

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So, that was a little shock for me.

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So I could not be an engineer ok,

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then the other choice was to go for science, ok.

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So, to go for science, I have to do M. Sc.

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So either go to Ravenshaw, which is near Cuttack.

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Yeah, it is near to Cuttack, yes. it is Cuttack.

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Or you have to go to...[Indistinct Dialogue] or somewhere ok.

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So I think at that time only Ravenshaw College was there,

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Khallikote College, then there was another Parlakhemundi College,

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these three colleges were there.

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But Khallikote...as I said, there was no M. Sc.,

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so I applied to...at that time I see this advertisement from IIT.

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IIT Madras. They are starting M. Sc., my...I was in the second batch, M. Sc.

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B. Tech. was there '59,

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but M. Sc. started only in...I joined '63, '62 they started.

00:07:48

Very good. So already one batch was studying.

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So I applied...I got the admission in both the places,

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but then I had to decide where to go.

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So my friend said IIT is the bigger institute,

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anyway you are going out of your native...

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native place, you have to spend

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wherever you go, you have to stay in a hostel,

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almost it may come in the...financially, it may be same

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whether you stay in Madras or in...

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So, I was...hesitant, where to go, finally

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I decided, ok let me go to IIT Madras

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and But, one question,

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at that time IIT Kharagpur also...is much nearer to you.

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Kharagpur. Did you try?

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I...I didn’t know whether there is a M. Sc. there or something. Ok.

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I don’t know, at that time. So.

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so IIT Madras... But, this I...this I saw in the newspaper and just applied.

00:08:36

Ok. My friends also asked...advised me to apply just like that.

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So it is 1963. '63 that was.

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You came from. So at that time there was no entrance test for M. Sc.

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Ok, just walking. Luckily maybe...maybe this marks,

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B. Sc. marks they called me, for a simple interview like that,

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Ok. before admission they

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they want to chit chat and say you are fit or not.

00:09:01

Ok.

00:09:01

So I somehow...I managed. Who was the chairman of the department at that time?

00:09:05

At that time, Professor Ramasastry was the HOD. Ramasastry. Ramasastry was there. Ok.

00:09:10

He was the HOD, he joined from beginning, '50...'59. He was coming from IIT Kharagpur at that time.

00:09:14

He came from IIT Kharagpur. Yes.

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And then Ramaseshan also, he had joined. Ramaseshan who...

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Professor who came from Institute of Science. Later on went back to

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He came from Institute of Science Bangalore.

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But, he stayed for only one or two years and went off as it... and went back to National Aeronautical Laboratories.

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So from beginning, Ramasastry was there,

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and he became my guide also, afterwards Ph. D. guide. Ph. D. guide. Exactly, yes.

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So, they were there, somehow I could manage.

00:09:40

So how was your days in M. Sc. in IIT Madras?

00:09:43

So, a little bit I want to say about my journey from Berhampur to Chennai. That’s good.

00:09:47

Ok. Because, I was new and I didn’t know anybody in Chennai, no language,

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so luckily there was one friend who was studying AMIE.

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So there, at that time, lot of Oria people used to come from...studying AMIE,

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there were no engineering colleges,

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now plenty of engineering colleges are there

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In Orissa, some seats are even vacant.

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But at that time, only very few engineering...Rourkela, Burla,

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and maybe one more like that.

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So, many people used to come to...Oria people come to study AMIE

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that’s a...you know, that is a...

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engineering college, now its not very popular.

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So, one fellow was there, his name was

00:10:25

again Aditya Kumar Pattnaik,

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your son’s name. Ok.

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So I knew only him, he also used to encourage me.

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He said, "You come to Madras, I will take care of you."

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Because I can’t come straight to IIT, I don’t know where the IIT is,

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from station how to come,

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and the language problem, he said, "You come,

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I will pick you up from station, I will take to my room."

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He was already established there. Ok.

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And I will bring next day to IIT and put you... Wonderful.

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and that was a very good gesture for me,

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and there was another friend, who was doing...what is that, Chromepet,

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there was...he was doing after B. Sc. you know,

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I stayed in Berhampur for one more year.

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He joined the Chromepet...that what is that

00:11:10

There is one Madras Institute of Technology, MIT. MIT

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He joined as a...he also told me

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you..."When you come to Chennai, you come to my..."

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But Chromepet is quite far from that,

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so I preferred to meet this man, Aditya,

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he...luckily what happened, at that time there was only two trains,

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one is that Madras Mail Yes.

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The famous Madras Mail. Another is a...I think Coromandel was there and I don’t know

00:11:34

No, Coromandel was not there. Not there, and there was...one the Express was there.

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So, I took the Mail.

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That was a very popular Mail and is a good...

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I don’t know how I came, maybe second class somewhere

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ordinary compartment or something like that.

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Those days we never had reservation.

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So, I could manage to come.

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But when I got down in station,

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he was missing, I was looking for him.

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That was very difficult for me.

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But, he gave me instruction, "Suppose I can’t come,"

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you...he has given me address,

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its very near, he was in Vepery somewhere.

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Vepery Two-three kilometre.

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"You take a rikshaw, come there,

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and I will, in case I can’t come to station."

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So, it happened

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so, because this is the Mail, reaches Chennai in...early mornings.

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Around 4 o’ clock. 4 o’ clock.

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So I don’t expect him to come also, it happens sometimes.

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So, I stayed in the... I would like to say one thing,

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Mail is the only one which has not changed

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even after the Second World War, Yeah.

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till today. Very reliable.

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The time of its arrival in Chennai. Yeah.

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The time of its departure. Yes, very very reliable.

00:12:41

Great. Even now also I prefer to go by Mail.

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Yes. Because Mail reaches Berhampur in a proper time.

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In the evening, but Coromandel...midnight both way, Yes.

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this way and that way, it is in midnight,

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I prefer to go So you reached Central, and then?

00:12:56

Central...and I was looking for him, then I said, "It is still dark, what to do."

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So I stayed for some time in the station, Till it is getting.

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then I took...I become a little brave,

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let me start my journey, at that time, you know these rikshaw walas...

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even that auto was not available that time, ordinary rikshaw. Only rikshaw.

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Rikshaw, and even hand pulling...people pulling,

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So, I took I think cycle rikshaw something, yeah,

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I...I didn’t know how to communicate with that rikshaw fellow.

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I showed that address, that is written in... He speaks only Telugu and Tamil

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That was written in English,

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so he couldn’t understand.

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But I said...Vepery means...he said, "Ok, I will take you, don’t worry,"

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the house number was there. I reached there,

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he was anxiously waiting for me.

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Very good. So, he took a referral and then,

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he brought to...to IIT and then joined.

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So that was something interesting, I...

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so that gave me some braveness that...

00:13:53

So two years passed after your M. Sc.? Yeah.

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You passed out, Then I... and who were the teachers

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who were teaching you at that time, 1963?

00:13:59

So I...they put me in Godavari Hostel. Godavari.

00:14:02

Godavari, because at that time only Krishna, Cauvery

00:14:05

was there, and Godavari was just

00:14:06

newly coming Godavari and... Ok, so it was a new hostel for you.

00:14:09

New hostel. I still remember the room number 109 something. 109.

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And it happens that later I became Assistant Warden of the same hostel.

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Its a very nice thing to do.

00:14:20

So, M. Sc. I...two years, ok.

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Yeah, but who were the teachers with you? Yeah.

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So, let me see. Ramasastry was there.

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Ramasastry was teaching us

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solid state physics and semiconductor physics.

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And Professor Srinivasan also might be there.

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R. Srinivsan. R. Srinivasan. Is the quantum mechanics...

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were very good teachers, great teachers.

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Swaminathan also might be there.

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Swaminathan was teaching some...mathematical physics. Yes.

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And . Ramanamurthi was there teaching Ramanamurthi X-rays

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X-ray and solid state physics. And who were the other old teachers?

00:14:52

Ramaji Rao, classical mechanics. Yes.

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And, then pagdi man what is his name?

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Ramabhadran. Ramabhadran.

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Electromagnetic theory and relativity, it was nice,

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all the teachers were very devoted, and I really like the teaching. Ok.

00:15:10

One thing I want to say was...Professor R. Srinivasan,

00:15:14

he will just come with a chalk,

00:15:16

he will start exactly in time, suppose 10 to 11, exactly he will come,

00:15:22

start immediately, and when he finishes the class,

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he finishes the topic, he finishes the chalk and goes.

00:15:30

I was wondering how he adjusting all this thing, wonderful teacher

00:15:34

He was one of the great teachers. and great teacher.

00:15:37

Ok that...so that...and Ramasastry is different type, he will come last class only.

00:15:44

That is 11 to 12, ok, and we don’t know when he will end,

00:15:49

that is another interesting thing.

00:15:51

He will come, slowly he will come, slowly he will start,

00:15:55

but he sometimes, he comes without preparation with things and teaches,

00:16:00

but whatever he teaches you remember,

00:16:02

is a from his practice I mean

00:16:04

These are all the great teachers. Practical things he is more of a practical nature.

00:16:07

So, I really learnt how to do practical experiment from him,

00:16:10

that I have to be understand. Ok.

00:16:13

And, we don’t know, we can’t say,

00:16:15

"Sir time is up" and because it was a difficult things,

00:16:19

so sometimes so it goes up to 1 o’ clock, we miss our lunch.

00:16:24

So again you have to come for the lab,

00:16:26

so it was...that is a peculiar thing.

00:16:28

And, Ramaji Rao, you know, he used to talk philosophy,

00:16:33

someone immediately he will stop,

00:16:34

he will talk something philosophy, and again

00:16:37

come down and do something.

00:16:39

So that is another peculiar, you know

00:16:40

and Ramabhadran is typical you know...

00:16:42

Yeah, Ramabhadran. He was there when you came?

00:16:45

I was there...he was there, all these people were there

00:16:47

when I was there...except He is a very traditional teaching.

00:16:51

He is very principled and disciplined, like that

00:16:56

So, the yeah then X-ray is a our Ram...what is that? Ramanamurthi.

00:17:02

Ramanamurthi "Arre baba," he will say very nicely,

00:17:07

he says he always tell about his village and all you see

00:17:11

"I came from very hard work, you should work hard." Yeah, he is one example.

00:17:14

He used to teach us X-ray as well as experimental techniques.

00:17:19

Experimental techniques. Techniques ok.

00:17:20

Ok. So like that, I had a very good teacher in M. Sc. ok,

00:17:25

any other thing I forgot to you ok. You you you you I think you have you completed M. Sc.

00:17:29

by '65. '65, '63 to '65. '65

00:17:34

Ok, in the hostel life, you know it was... You were there in Godavari

00:17:38

and... Godavari,

00:17:39

it used to have its own mess. So I told no,

00:17:41

initially I had a little problem about the food habits.

00:17:44

Because, here everything is sour no, they give

00:17:48

what is that...curd and all, everything they.

00:17:50

So, I...I slowly I had to adjust...

00:17:52

You also might have had a problem with your timing

00:17:54

because, in Berhampur and Orissa,

00:17:56

you ate lunch around...I mean you eat dinner around

00:17:59

That’s another interesting thing. 11’ o clock in the evening.

00:18:01

Here you have to eat at 6 o’ clock to 7 o’ clock. At 7.

00:18:04

Which is not even your evening tea time. So I am not hungry at all.

00:18:07

So I have to wait at least 8 o’ clock,

00:18:09

by the time, things will be over.

00:18:12

So they say "If you come late, you have to ask for late dinner."

00:18:18

Late meals. ok late meals. Yeah, yeah.

00:18:20

So sometimes I have to say force..."Ok put me for late meals, ok."

00:18:25

And they will put in the plate and cover with another plate

00:18:28

they will write your Room number. Name.

00:18:30

oh Room number right.

00:18:31

Room number because this room number

00:18:33

is more important than name I think. Ok.

00:18:35

So I sometimes...I miss that also,

00:18:37

when I open the top, you have...nothing will be there.

00:18:40

Somebody else might have come later and taken that food also,

00:18:43

and sometimes maybe your rice and sambar will be there.

00:18:47

No... Let me ask you one question,

00:18:48

How much used to be the mess bill per month in those days?

00:18:52

Those days it was very cheap maybe.

00:18:54

Maybe. Maybe about 20, 25, 30 rupees?

00:18:56

May be 30, 40 rupees like that. 30, 40 rupees.

00:18:59

But that also was too much for us.

00:19:02

Yeah, but so to say, the rupee value. But still get food was good,

00:19:04

Yeah. slowly I liked it, because it was nice.

00:19:09

So, another...there used to be a mess committee also.

00:19:12

Student. So 1965, you completed your Masters. Yes.

00:19:17

Then what did you do?

00:19:18

Because you had all the summer vacation. Yes

00:19:21

You went home. so went home.

00:19:22

Then I wanted to apply for research.

00:19:26

In between I got lot of three, four months' gap, ok.

00:19:31

So, I finished in June or July no.

00:19:35

1965, it should be July.

00:19:38

July.

00:19:39

then August, September, October,

00:19:42

the research scholar too was in October something,

00:19:46

so what will I do these three months?

00:19:48

I thought if suppose I don’t get Ph. D.,

00:19:52

I mean research fellowship, what will I do?

00:19:55

So let me join some local college here.

00:19:58

I joined again Khallikote College as a Lecturer.

00:20:00

Khallikote College, the place where you have been doing your... Yeah.

00:20:03

They were happy to take me.

00:20:05

Because I was student there. Ok.

00:20:07

So...but I told them, "Suppose I get fellowship, I may go."

00:20:13

So you have been truthful right through your career,

00:20:16

right through your life. Yeah yeah.

00:20:18

You did not hide any information.

00:20:20

No no. Very nice, ok.

00:20:23

So, so after 3 months, no, I had to leave that college.

00:20:29

Then I got this fellowship, ok.

00:20:33

Then the... How much was the fellowship in 1965?

00:20:36

250 or something 250 rupees, huge money.

00:20:39

And during my M. Sc. also, I got that small fellowship. Fellowship.

00:20:43

They used to be merit come means Yes.

00:20:46

so I was I was really lucky, to get some small fellowship everywhere,

00:20:50

so that I could continue my education. Very nice.

00:20:53

Ok that’s one good thing, ok.

00:20:56

So somehow I got the scholarship here,

00:20:59

so I had to leave that...

00:21:01

so I got a little problem with the administrators,

00:21:04

they say, "You can’t leave like this,

00:21:06

without giving what is prior

00:21:09

information," what is that...of notice that you will be leaving.

00:21:12

So but luckily, the...the Chairman of that,

00:21:17

he was a very kind man...my...they are known to my family.

00:21:21

So my brother, and my...my father’s brother,

00:21:27

they went to the Chairman...[Inaudible Dialogue]

00:21:29

So, you could come out and... I could come out.

00:21:31

Joined in 1965 October in IIT Madras as a Research Scholar. As a Research Scholar.

00:21:36

So With whom did you get registered?

00:21:37

I registered with Professor Ramasastry. Ramasastry.

00:21:40

So I was there at '65 to '67 as the Research Scholar, As the Research Scholar

00:21:45

at that time the other small...what is that...

00:21:52

what is that...available for joining as STA. Yeah,

00:21:56

some scheme was there, because, There was a opening scheme. the department is still

00:21:59

wanted some technical people, Ok.

00:22:01

and Ramasastry said, "Why don’t you join as a senior. As a senior technical assistant.

00:22:05

And do your...continue your Ph. D., ok.

00:22:08

So that way, I joined 1967. '67, I joined.

00:22:12

You joined as a Senior Technical Assistant. A Research Scholar...as a Research Scholar.

00:22:15

No, '65 as a Research Scholar. No no '65 as a Research Scholar

00:22:17

'65 to '67 as a Ph. D. Research Scholar,

00:22:20

'67. After '67, I joined the staff.

00:22:22

Senior Technical Assistant.

00:22:24

So my Ph. D. work became delayed now

00:22:27

because I have to do other work also, ok.

00:22:30

What was the assignment given to you as a STA? Assignment at that time,

00:22:33

see, suddenly Professor Ramasastry gave me a class

00:22:37

to teach M. Sc. Chemistry people ok,

00:22:40

some Physics they have, ok. Ok.

00:22:43

That’s a...maybe that’s a...just like we had, when I studied M. Sc.,

00:22:47

we had a course in Mathematics,

00:22:49

Professor Achuthan used to take. Ok.

00:22:52

Like that there used to be

00:22:54

Interdisciplinary subjects. Interdisciplinary subjects,

00:22:55

that’s a good thing actually.

00:22:57

So I enjoyed that teaching, without much experience Teaching Physics to the Chemistry people.

00:23:01

Chemistry people. Masters.

00:23:02

Some of my students still, I see, they are

00:23:05

teachers in Central School. Ok.

00:23:07

So we still...whenever I see... Great.

00:23:10

So that’s a good thing, ok.

00:23:12

So like that I finished my M. Sc., then two years of research,

00:23:16

and then...then started STA, then after that

00:23:21

You became Lecturer in 1977. I got...'77

00:23:24

because at that time, unless you have Ph. D., you don’t get a

00:23:28

Lecturer post. Ok.

00:23:29

So I had to wait, and because I had to do this teaching and

00:23:33

lab work, my work also got delayed.

00:23:37

And you know Ram sir is the task master,

00:23:39

he won’t...unless you do a perfect job,

00:23:42

he won’t accept it. Yes.

00:23:44

So its ok. How many faculty were there in those days?

00:23:47

When you joined as a...as a...as a staff.

00:23:49

Staff, I told already my teachers Yeah.

00:23:52

they are there, and then, later on who came...

00:23:57

Y. S. Rao might have joined.

00:23:59

Professor Y. V. G. S. Murthi was there. Y. V. G. S. Murthi.

00:24:01

Professor Gopalam was there. Gopalam.

00:24:03

They joined very early, Professor... And S. B. S. Sastry.

00:24:06

Professor S. B. S. Sastry. Maha Seshsayee Maha Seshsayee also...that yes

00:24:10

Around that time. He joined little later.

00:24:12

Yeah. Yes K. V. Reddy.

00:24:14

K. V. Reddy was there from the beginning

00:24:16

And '77 means it should be K. V. S. Rama Rao.

00:24:19

K. V. S. Rama Rao, yeah joined little later, Must be very fresh.

00:24:22

Yeah yeah, then our Y. Syamasundara Rao.

00:24:25

Y. S. Rao, Syamasundara Rao. Y. S. Rao, they are...Acharyulu

00:24:28

B. S. V. S. R. Acharyulu B. S. V. Acharyulu...

00:24:30

There were... How about B. Subrahmanyam?

00:24:33

B. Subrahmanyam also came bit late,

00:24:35

but he was also there for very long time. So, to say...

00:24:38

Yeah By 1977, the department is more or less

00:24:42

formed with these people, to run the department as well as the...

00:24:45

Really, I should say, they have sacrificed their thing

00:24:48

for the department. Ok.

00:24:51

I don’t say the younger generation are not doing,

00:24:52

they are also, but in the beginning, when there are no infrastructure...

00:24:56

Yeah, when you say no infrastructure

00:24:59

what is...what was available at that time?

00:25:02

For example, let me tell about our group,

00:25:05

Yes. Yes. small group, Semiconductor.

00:25:07

Yes. So when I started with Ramasastry,

00:25:10

we didn’t have any material at all,

00:25:14

he got some few samples, from abroad

00:25:18

when he visited what is that University of... Illinois. Illinois.

00:25:22

Where Professor Bardin was working.

00:25:24

Bardin...that is another interesting thing, He had been there for about a couple of months. yeah couple of months.

00:25:28

and, so he, when he...he when he visited his lab,

00:25:31

they were in Bell Labs no, Bardin was working in Bell Lab,

00:25:34

but he was also teaching in the Illinois. Illinois.

00:25:37

So he met him and had discussion. By that time Bardin already was a Nobel laureate.

00:25:41

Nobel laureate. 1977.

00:25:44

Yeah yeah he...he came no, he came to... He is already.

00:25:46

When did he '73 he visit '73 he visited our

00:25:49

visit our department, because Ramasastry

00:25:52

was known to him, and they arranged a Special Convocation.

00:25:55

And also, we had a small conference like thing...

00:25:58

He was awarded the Honoris...Doc...Causa Honoris...

00:26:02

Yeah, in '73. By IIT Madras.

00:26:05

IIT Madras, that’s a great thing to meet a Nobel laureate.

00:26:08

He is a double Nobel laureate, if I remember Yeah, yeah he

00:26:10

He got two Nobel prizes. One for the semi conductor,

00:26:13

One for the invention of transistor, the other for the super conductors. I think

00:26:17

Super conductor, yes so that’s

00:26:19

So you had a chance to meet a wonderful man in semiconductors.

00:26:22

Bardin. Yes that’s really great to see him and discuss with him.

00:26:25

Dr. Bardin. Yeah he was very nice gentleman

00:26:28

and we had a good time.

00:26:31

So that is one...

00:26:31

By the time you finished your Doctorate, 1977 Don’t know

00:26:34

I finished only '76, Ok.

00:26:37

but I was in almost in the verge of...

00:26:40

he visited the department. Visited, yeah.

00:26:42

So, that was How much time did he spend in the department?

00:26:45

I mean with us, in IIT.

00:26:48

Maybe a week or something, I don’t About a week.

00:26:50

exactly...Ramasastry forced him

00:26:53

to visit our department meet all the faculty

00:26:55

and I think he gave a talk also.

00:26:58

This...his experience and all,

00:27:00

how they invented the transistor. Yes.

00:27:02

It is very interesting.

00:27:04

So here, he also told, see

00:27:07

you will not have a very high, I mean what is that

00:27:10

always...for infrastructure and

00:27:13

very good instruments to discover something,

00:27:16

but he say no no we did in a very humble way,

00:27:19

you might have seen the picture no, of the Yes.

00:27:23

transistor invention, how crude it looks. Yes.

00:27:25

So so could do, if...if you have will, you can do something.

00:27:29

So...that so, that’s a good thing actually.

00:27:33

Very good. That’s not necessary always you should have a

00:27:36

big infrastructure to do something.

00:27:40

What do you find? You...you have supernnuated in 2002.

00:27:43

1973 to 2002 is almost about 20, say 30 years.

00:27:51

Yeah, I spent nearly...yeah 30...30. Yeah 30 years.

00:27:54

more than 30 years, yeah. In the 30 years, the...the...the

00:27:57

the whole science has changed,

00:27:58

now infrastructure is more important than the ideas. Yeah yeah

00:28:01

now of course, without infrastructure you can’t do anything, yeah.

00:28:05

And, so what you have to do is, when you are doing research,

00:28:08

there was not much infrastructure.

00:28:10

We have to build our own equipment, ok

00:28:13

small-scale, for example What was available in the department at that time?

00:28:16

An X-ray diffractometer?

00:28:18

X-ray was there and, Because with Ramanamurthy.

00:28:21

Ramasastry bought some good oscilloscopes,

00:28:23

HP oscilloscope, which was...I used for my field of experiment.

00:28:27

Therefore one thing. There used to be one...Czochralski Crystal Puller.

00:28:33

If I remember correctly the silicon That was silicon,

00:28:36

but it didn’t work really actually You didn't use it, ok.

00:28:38

It was the...I don’t know,

00:28:41

they didn’t send a good equipment,

00:28:43

because its useful for research, that is a fabrication for... Its actually a pilot plant.

00:28:48

It is for industry that is used.

00:28:50

Yes. See we can’t use the industrial unit,

00:28:52

we don’t have so much of material to put that. Exactly.

00:28:54

So that was a waste actually,

00:28:56

planning I would say it was not good. Ok.

00:28:58

They should have got a smaller one.

00:29:00

But there used to be Professor Koch,

00:29:02

who...who has come all the way from Germany

00:29:03

with all this equipment. Yeah yeah yeah.

00:29:05

How was your interaction with him?

00:29:07

So, he taught us also semiconductor in the class.

00:29:10

We can...see in M. Sc. we had three specialization,

00:29:14

one is X-ray, semiconductor physics and microwave

00:29:18

So I took Microwave used to be taken care by Professor

00:29:20

Shobhanadri. Shobhanadri, yeah I forgot to mention,

00:29:22

he's also from beginning, Shobhanadri. I think he and Professor

00:29:26

Ramasastry, R. Srinivasan joined almost at the same time.

00:29:29

Same time I think Its around the same time.

00:29:30

Yeah, same time.

00:29:32

So, he used to take also electronics lab.

00:29:36

Our Shobhanadri. Wonderful.

00:29:39

And, it was good. What was your research topic?

00:29:42

My research topic is actually mine thing was

00:29:46

field effector and semiconductor.

00:29:48

Ok.

00:29:49

Mostly whatever samples are

00:29:51

available were brought by Professor Ramasastry.

00:29:53

Few silicon wafers, few germanium wafers

00:29:57

I used to cut and...with the diamond curve,

00:29:59

I used to take the help of glass flowing section.

00:30:02

Glass flowing. They used to cut glass.

00:30:04

So the silicon crystals also can be cut by glass.

00:30:07

So that also technique I learn, how to cut this...

00:30:10

putting a scale and putting that...

00:30:12

it was a nice experience, to...in earlier days.

00:30:16

So I used to cut this,

00:30:17

then I have to do simple oxidation.

00:30:19

You might have seen some of our, what is that?

00:30:22

Oxidation furnaces.

00:30:23

furnace built by us,

00:30:25

that is quartz tube, of about two, three inches.

00:30:29

We had a good glass...glass flowing section. In those days.

00:30:32

Who is that person, who is a foreman? Venugopal.

00:30:35

Venugopal, before that. Before that is

00:30:37

Kumaraswamy. Kumaraswamy.

00:30:39

Kumaraswamy, they really helped us.

00:30:41

So, I still feel such facilities are required.

00:30:44

See now when I visited some time back,

00:30:47

it was almost in a...nothing is going on there in

00:30:51

that glass building section. Yeah, but people are going to advance.

00:30:54

Since its No no see it was

00:30:57

It was catering to Chemical Engineering,

00:30:59

Yeah. Chemistry and Physics.

00:31:01

So now, I don’t know how people do... Yeah, coming back to your Ph. D. thesis

00:31:05

you have attended the convocation for receiving your degree.

00:31:09

Yeah yeah. You remember the great man who awarded the degree to you?

00:31:12

Tell us a few words about. Yeah yeah yeah, M. Sc., M. Sc. at that time,

00:31:17

who came, yeah great that Raman, Not M. Sc.

00:31:21

C. V. Raman came for my M. Sc. degree M. Sc., C. V. Raman.

00:31:24

I...I actually I finished in '65,

00:31:27

but, the convocation was in '66.

00:31:29

Ok.

00:31:29

So I got my paper, why it happened is, that '65 batch,

00:31:34

they preponed the...their degree.

00:31:38

Ok. I don’t know at the time some war was there no.

00:31:40

Ok yeah, there was a war So they wanted the engineers to come

00:31:43

fast and help the army and all.

00:31:45

So that was the thing.

00:31:46

So, all those who finished in '65,

00:31:50

M. Sc., they were...the degree was available in '66. Awarded in '66

00:31:55

that was a And you are lucky to have Professor...

00:31:57

Dr. Sir C. V. Raman C. V. Raman, C. V. Raman.

00:31:59

And for my M. Sc., M. S. Swaminathan...

00:32:03

and Ph. D., the chief guest was M. S. Swaminathan

00:32:07

Who is the Director...what is that.

00:32:10

Agricultural scientist. Agricultural scientist.

00:32:12

M. S. Swaminathan. He has come.

00:32:13

Later on he became our Chairman, Board of the Governors as well So like that

00:32:17

And, my...our Director was this...what is Sengupto.

00:32:21

Sengupto. So I have seen Sengupto.

00:32:23

Then second was...what is that Ramachandran.

00:32:26

Arcot Ramachandran. Arcot Ramachandran.

00:32:28

He was a great man. So they were there.

00:32:30

So you had excellent time in those days.

00:32:32

Yeah, very good.

00:32:34

So when I got my M. Sc. degree, Professor Sengupto was there,

00:32:37

when I got Ph. D., Pandalai was there.

00:32:40

So, So, we have seen your research career.

00:32:44

Yeah. How about your teaching career.

00:32:45

Teaching, I taught some courses to B. Tech.,

00:32:50

and some to M. Sc.

00:32:53

So...since my voice was low,

00:32:56

they preferred...I preferred to take a M. Sc.

00:33:00

class because the number is less, than I can talk

00:33:02

You are always calm and quiet. Yes yes.

00:33:04

So...so because if I take B. Tech., I have to have

00:33:07

mic and all those things.

00:33:08

But B. Tech. in those days used to be about 300 students.

00:33:13

So that was very big, that...our Physics, what is that...theatre.

00:33:16

Physics Lecture Theatre Theatre! That was too big for me.

00:33:19

Ok. So, so then I preferred to have M. Sc. and M. Tech.,

00:33:23

some students and some Ph. D. course also I took.

00:33:28

At that time we used to have some course for Ph. D. students you know.

00:33:31

Yeah. Just to...like that

00:33:34

and semiconductor part I used to take, Now,

00:33:36

we have seen your teaching career,

00:33:39

now tell us something about your research in guiding Ph. Ds.,

00:33:44

handling projects. Yeah yeah.

00:33:47

So, I guided of course, I didn’t have many students.

00:33:50

My first student who joined, he...what is his name?

00:33:54

C. P. Sridhar you might have seen,

00:33:56

he joined somewhere in

00:33:57

Sridhar is working with IBM for sometime.

00:34:01

Not that Sridhar

00:34:02

This is the senior Sridhar, yeah. Earlier who joined in the...

00:34:05

Senior Sridhar was working for a company who is now distributing

00:34:11

some of the equipments. Equipments.

00:34:12

Semiconductor equipments. I know that. Lasers and all the Yes, yes optical instruments.

00:34:16

So, I was very unfortunate, after two years he got a job.

00:34:21

Then he asked me politely, "Sir, I am

00:34:25

financially little difficult, whether I will go for the job

00:34:29

or I will continue for my Ph. D.?"

00:34:31

I said, "Ph. D. we don’t know when it will end,

00:34:34

So, if you are getting a job with a good salary, go."

00:34:37

But my colleagues, they said, "Don’t leave him, your first student."

00:34:42

I said, "No no, he is requesting,

00:34:45

he he is not...he needs immediately some financial things," I left him.

00:34:49

So right from the beginning you are an excellent teacher and research. So, he...he did only 2 years research.

00:34:52

And so he only took...took some course work and...

00:34:55

but whenever he comes to Chennai, he meets me. Good.

00:34:57

He remembers, "I did a mistake,

00:34:59

I didn’t do my Ph. D."

00:35:01

So, its alright,

00:35:04

but he's financially ok, he, I think in a good post

00:35:07

in the...that was the first student.

00:35:09

Second was our, Krishna Rao.

00:35:11

Krishna Rao who is working as a Lecturer.

00:35:14

By this time he must have been Professor in

00:35:16

somewhere in Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh.

00:35:18

he also, after Ph. D., he went as post-doctoral to Belgium.

00:35:22

I thought he will do a good job somewhere,

00:35:24

he will settle there, or go to America.

00:35:27

But poor fellow, he was homesick, I think.

00:35:28

He came back to his Andhra,

00:35:30

he joined some college there, and I think he there continued. Once

00:35:33

he came I think Your third student is again Sridhar.

00:35:35

He is another Sridhar, he did on amorphous semiconductor.

00:35:39

It is...it was a new for me also, I had a project

00:35:42

DSD with the another Ramachandran, no...

00:35:45

Ramachandran of CSD, that is...

00:35:48

So we had a project. Yeah.

00:35:50

So. A part of Electrical Engineering.

00:35:51

So, we built some equipment and he did some work in that,

00:35:54

he...he that was the third.

00:35:57

He is presently working in United States, for I think Global Foundries.

00:36:01

Good, good, and here students are well off, I think. Yeah,

00:36:04

after that Because, you also help them.

00:36:06

See something interesting is my students and his students,

00:36:09

it is...we take care of each other.

00:36:12

Whenever he is...out of station, I will take care of...including

00:36:15

that Ph. D. viva, and you took care of I think somebody, my student.

00:36:19

Yes. Maybe Binny or somebody.

00:36:21

It was in 1983, we joined together. So we had a very good...in...

00:36:25

semiconductor...although is a small lab, we had a very good

00:36:28

cooperation with our colleagues, as well as our students.

00:36:31

They were very faithful and doing whatever you say.

00:36:34

Your fourth student is Paul Binny.

00:36:37

Paul Binny yeah. Paul Binny is now with Bangalore,

00:36:40

running his own He also did the silicon, he did the interface,

00:36:44

silicon...silicon dias interface. Yes, he is the man of oxidation,

00:36:46

high pressure oxidation. Oxidation,

00:36:48

we developed that equipment... I know, I remember that.

00:36:50

So that was the...some of the equipment

00:36:52

we used to develop, whatever possible

00:36:54

for example, we wanted to study CV characteristic,

00:36:57

at different frequencies,

00:36:58

I didn’t get a ready-made equipment for that CV meter.

00:37:01

CV meter they will say only 1 frequency or 1 and 10, like that.

00:37:05

Yes. Because, that is used for just testing some capacitor.

00:37:08

But we went into the continuous variation. Yes.

00:37:11

So we have to build our own capacitor...they did it nicely.

00:37:14

It worked, but I don’t know what happened after that, nobody was there.

00:37:18

So, that was the one. Your sixth student is...is Suresh.

00:37:23

Suresh, fifth...fifth.

00:37:25

I did some with...collaboration with Chemistry,

00:37:28

and the material science yeah what is that.

00:37:31

CSD. CSD.

00:37:34

With Dr. Y. R. Dr. Y. R., I did something.

00:37:37

That is another thing, another good friend,

00:37:39

he because, I am...most of my work was electronics nature.

00:37:43

So some of the devices, I made in the CSD.

00:37:47

Dr. Y. R. helped me.

00:37:49

So we had a mutually You also had a good interaction with Professor Raina.

00:37:53

Raina also was there.

00:37:54

And, you also had a good interaction with

00:37:57

Who were the Chairman? Achuthan of Electric.

00:38:00

And Bhat. K. N. Bhat. K. N. Bhat. K. N. Bhat of Electrical.

00:38:03

Yeah, so, it was good to make some simple devices,

00:38:08

in the like...we...they had a clean room and all those things,

00:38:11

we didn’t have.

00:38:12

So maybe you can develop a clean room here,

00:38:15

so that people can do some device work, ok. Yes.

00:38:19

So that was then.

00:38:21

So these five student then some two, three collabrate

00:38:24

with the what is the material science who was incharge earlier? Subba Rao.

00:38:29

Subba Rao was there first.

00:38:31

First? He started collaboration,

00:38:32

he was doing some electrochemical something.

00:38:35

Electrochemical He asked me whether you could help in Physics part of it,

00:38:37

I said, "Ok, I can help."

00:38:39

So they you...students used to come and discuss me and all,

00:38:42

he was doing at that time, high temperature superconductors. High temperature superconductivity.

00:38:47

Then I used to ask him what is the temperature today?

00:38:49

We used to have fun.

00:38:51

So then he left for Karaikudi.

00:38:54

As a Director.

00:38:55

Afterwards, I don’t know what happened to that. Yeah,

00:38:58

he went to Singapore, then he came back,

00:39:00

now he is presently in Chennai in his own house.

00:39:02

Then after that who came, as an in charge?

00:39:05

Any student...who is it still there no.

00:39:08

I forgot...name.

00:39:10

Material Science Centre.

00:39:12

who was in charge? After Subba Rao,

00:39:16

I think it was the Chemistry people who took over.

00:39:19

This name I am not sure. Who is still there now

00:39:21

No, that that. You told me his name.

00:39:23

That is Subramaniam, S. Subramaniam of R. S. I. C.

00:39:26

No, that is different, that is R. S. I. C., your material were,

00:39:31

you were telling one person no,

00:39:32

This is a Ramachandran Rao and... Ramachandran before that Ramachandran Rao?

00:39:35

Before Ramachandran Rao, I don’t remember

00:39:37

because Subba Rao we had a very good interaction,

00:39:40

After that, I don’t know.

00:39:42

No, he...you were a good friend only.

00:39:45

Who? I don’t know.

00:39:47

Recollect, he was now he is shifted to Chemistry.

00:39:51

Varadaraju, Dr. Varadaraju. Varadaraju, he has some students,

00:39:54

Ok. interacted with me,

00:39:56

Dr. Varadaraju ok. Some one or two people,

00:39:58

they used to do by chemical methods. Ok.

00:40:00

I didn’t know any Chemistry

00:40:02

so I have to learn from them, and I only Physics part I helped them.

00:40:05

Yeah. ok, how to take some measurements,

00:40:08

how to study.

00:40:10

At the...around 1999,

00:40:12

preparatory course was introduced in IIT,

00:40:15

or maybe a little before that.

00:40:16

Have you taken any preparatory courses?

00:40:20

Preparatory means. Preparatory means these people will be appearing,

00:40:25

coming from the special category. Oh...this SC ST. SC ST.

00:40:30

I took some...I had tough time actually...

00:40:33

What was your experience in that?

00:40:34

I had a tough time because, we used to take the class

00:40:38

before they joined the Institute.

00:40:41

The actual program starts... And you have to take extra classes,

00:40:44

Yeah extra classes. still they are not able to get good marks,

00:40:48

then we were asked to explain why he is not getting...

00:40:51

why he is not getting pass and all that’s a real...

00:40:54

I don’t know how to solve that problem.

00:40:56

So we can only pity them, but how to give them marks

00:41:00

unless they don’t write.

00:41:03

So that is a problem also, I had a difficult You you you have handled some of the preparatory courses.

00:41:07

Preparatory course and I handled some tutorial classes Ok.

00:41:10

with our...what is that? He was our good teacher.

00:41:20

Tutorials for our colleagues.

00:41:23

V. Ramachandran? V. Ram...no no, Balakrishnan...

00:41:28

he was...I used to attend his class,

00:41:30

he is also very nice teacher wonderful. Wonderful teacher.

00:41:33

And then I used to help only the tutorial class, Ok.

00:41:36

to solve the problems and all.

00:41:38

And, coming to the...this this COSTED,

00:41:42

COSTED used to be their Committee of

00:41:44

Science and Technology in Developing Countries.

00:41:46

It was...the Chairman happened to be our Professor Radhakrishnan.

00:41:49

Radhakrishnan yeah, yeah. They used to organize quite a number of

00:41:53

Yeah, yeah. Yes, yes. conferences,

00:41:55

they used to support for faculty to go for conferences. Yes.

00:41:59

What was your participation in this COSTED you had? I had a good interaction with him,

00:42:04

he used to help me and

00:42:06

he also tried to send me some places, but I didn’t work, ok,

00:42:11

but I helped in some of the short term courses,

00:42:16

he used to conduct some courses. Yeah, he used to conduct a lot of short term courses.

00:42:19

asked me to give some lectures like that, I said ok.

00:42:22

I also arranged some short term course for teachers you know.

00:42:26

Science teachers and Engineering school, college teachers Exactly.

00:42:30

I...two, three courses I did.

00:42:32

FIP they called at that time. FIP.

00:42:34

QIP. Faculty Improvement Program, exactly.

00:42:37

QIP I conducted two, three courses like that,

00:42:41

and the another thing overall thing. Overall, you have spent how many years in the department?

00:42:47

1963, no. No, '67, '67 to

00:42:51

2002. 2002, how much?

00:42:53

35 years. 35 years I was there.

00:42:56

A full term. So I don’t have any grievances,

00:42:58

the another advantage I got is this beautiful campus.

00:43:01

No first let us see,

00:43:03

what is your impressions of your...of your career in the department,

00:43:08

you have spent 35 years? Yeah,

00:43:09

I have no regret although there are some

00:43:13

sometimes you feel little upset.

00:43:16

For example, I stayed the STA for 10 years.

00:43:19

So that...little, I wanted to go to Berhampur University, I also applied.

00:43:27

Then I didn’t go afterwards but,

00:43:31

but then I You became Professor in '95 or '96?

00:43:35

I...professor in '96, '96. Around that time, around that time.

00:43:38

I became Professor.

00:43:41

So because of the delay, I was a little unhappy,

00:43:43

but for my family and for children

00:43:46

since they get very nice atmosphere here for schools and all.

00:43:50

So all my children studied in K. V. IIT.

00:43:52

So coming to the campus life. Campus life

00:43:54

You must have really enjoyed the campus life. I enjoyed the campus.

00:43:57

Tell us something about your No no regret about this.

00:43:59

wonderful time One is...best thing I got is the good education for my children,

00:44:04

and good friends like you and all.

00:44:05

We are the...we are not only colleagues, but we are also family friends so. Yes.

00:44:10

So like that I got Y. S. family, your family, K. V. Reddy.

00:44:15

Yes. They were neighbours,

00:44:16

Yes. a beautiful thing, they were just neighbours.

00:44:19

No, you are nice to all of us,

00:44:20

so therefore we are all...[Indistinct Conversation]

00:44:22

Then they...like that many.

00:44:26

Is there any anecdote?

00:44:27

Any good incident, which you remember both in the department,

00:44:30

as well as in your family life staying in IIT Madras?

00:44:38

Some interesting incidents right? Yeah.

00:44:40

So when I got married you know,

00:44:42

So I married this...7th of December 1970.

00:44:48

You remember it very well. Yeah.

00:44:50

7th December 1970.

00:44:52

So, then I was in Berhampur for some time for marriage event,

00:44:56

I came to...again back to

00:45:00

Chennai. Department, on first of '71.

00:45:03

So, my wife also didn’t know any language in...

00:45:06

and at that time, the allotment of quarters were difficult. Quarters.

00:45:11

So first day we stayed in...I was at that time Assistant Warden.

00:45:15

So I said, "I can...we will adjust in that Assistant Warden room."

00:45:18

Godavari. She...she was a little scared, so many students all were there.

00:45:22

It looks odd, anyway the students were nice also.

00:45:26

Anyway, so we stayed one...one day only.

00:45:28

afterwards I shifted to what is Taramani Guest House. Taramani

00:45:32

Guest House. At that time they used to give

00:45:33

Taramani Guest House for first month, two months like that. Ok

00:45:38

now. So we stayed nearly two months there,

00:45:40

by the time I was looking for the quarters,

00:45:43

so, what happened is, at that time we did...a lot of time used to take

00:45:47

to get a quarter, even a small quarter. Ok.

00:45:50

So, somebody left for Germany,

00:45:53

So, D-type.

00:45:54

So, he is left for 6 months or so,

00:45:57

then we got hold of, our Prasad Rao helped...

00:46:00

told me that they will... T. A. Prasad Rao.

00:46:02

T. A. Prasad Rao, he...I forgot his name

00:46:04

he was a very nice gentleman. T. A. Prasad Rao.

00:46:06

But he joined in...oh he was working at that time

00:46:09

and rejoined the department in 19... yeah. He joined as a what, as a

00:46:12

pool officer or something.

00:46:13

It was after his Ph. D. from IIT Kanpur, he joined as a pool...

00:46:17

as a Research Associate or a pool officer. Yeah yeah.

00:46:19

So at that time, there was a quarter vacant, D-type.

00:46:23

He asked me, "Why don’t you

00:46:26

That’s good. take that things."

00:46:27

So we stayed for a few months there.

00:46:31

and then later I got the allotment.

00:46:34

After very small...that E1 type you know, the smallest.

00:46:37

Yeah smallest single room apartment.

00:46:40

That's not single bedroom single room apartment. Just a kitchen and a

00:46:43

Yeah. hall like...a small hall, and a bedroom like that,

00:46:47

its a single bedroom, yeah. Yes.

00:46:49

Somehow we managed

00:46:51

in that room also there are a lot of guests,

00:46:53

That too come from Berhampur and...

00:46:56

somehow my wife managed, it was a...

00:46:59

So, overall So when we join...came to that...Taramani Guest House,

00:47:05

so I used to come to the department, she was alone in the room.

00:47:09

So I was feeling, "Suppose somebody comes, what will I say?"

00:47:13

She don’t know language...language Yeah, language was a problem.

00:47:15

I told you say (In Tamil) "I don't know Tamil."

00:47:18

What is that called? Tamil...?

00:47:19

(In Tamil) I don't know Tamil.

00:47:21

So you tell that, he will go away.

00:47:23

So like that, we managed.

00:47:26

So some funny incident, then slowly,

00:47:28

but she learnt the language so fast. Fast.

00:47:31

My wife she talks very fluently. I know.

00:47:34

Whereas I have spent so many years,

00:47:36

still I don’t know proper Tamil!

00:47:38

This is one thing I share with you,

00:47:39

I...I...I spent 32 years, I can’t speak Tamil like you,

00:47:44

you and I are just the same. I don’t know how it happens.

00:47:46

It happened because we started speaking in Hindi and English.

00:47:50

yes. In the...in the...in the...in the department.

00:47:51

Yeah. So, that is the. Yes.

00:47:54

So, so. Coming back, what are your hobbies?

00:47:58

Hobby...in the schools I used to play cricket. This is a good question for me,

00:48:01

because I...I never asked you this question.

00:48:03

Yeah, yeah. I never noticed it.

00:48:04

Because, I think, they asked me to write hobby also

00:48:07

I...I felt what I will write?

00:48:09

In schools I used to play cricket Ok.

00:48:12

and then college also I played. Yeah, but in IIT.

00:48:15

No...in Berhampur, in Berhampur. Your hobby is to work...your hobby is to work

00:48:18

I suppose in the laboratory. Yes.

00:48:21

So in Khallikote college, I was in the college team,

00:48:25

we used to go to inter-college tournament like that,

00:48:28

but after I...coming to IIT, I left everything,

00:48:31

only research and teaching that’s all,

00:48:35

so called...ok No but you were instrumental

00:48:38

in making a few people, trained in giving good lectures.

00:48:43

I am one among them. Is it?

00:48:45

Yes. I don’t know.

00:48:47

Because you and Y. R.,

00:48:50

Dr. Y. R. used to ask me to give the lectures almost once a week,

00:48:53

we used to have a good program Yeah.

00:48:56

You were going for tea very

00:48:59

Yeah, tea. I should say I should say, religiously.

00:49:03

Religiously...yeah we, go for...morning. In the morning.

00:49:05

Yeah. Once we used to discuss, we can go...go to tea.

00:49:09

Yeah. Sometimes, I would meet you on the way, you never took tea I think.

00:49:13

I was not taking tea in those days. But we used to force you, "Come!"

00:49:15

Yeah you are forcing me. You discuss on the road, we will discuss something.

00:49:18

Yes, yes. Because we all are the same...semiconductor.

00:49:21

Yes. So we used to have a nice discussion.

00:49:24

So, like that. So, are you still continuing that habit of tea

00:49:27

in the morning, or stopped it?

00:49:28

Nowadays not much, so once in a while I take Not much.

00:49:31

take tea but, only morning I think take some tea. So.

00:49:36

Yeah. Not going out...canteen and all.

00:49:39

What do you want to tell the department

00:49:42

or the institute, about your 35 years of wonderful journey,

00:49:48

both in academics, as well as in your family life, in the campus?

00:49:52

What would you like to give a message to

00:49:54

the people? Message means...its...I think we are lucky to have

00:49:57

such a great Institute

00:49:59

we have social life, academic life both are...

00:50:06

Particularly, for the...our children no, it was a very good

00:50:09

place for their education and,

00:50:13

when my boy, my elder boy was studying,

00:50:17

his higher class. Jayanth Jayanth,

00:50:21

five of his friends got into JEE.

00:50:23

Yeah, Jayanth is one among the And he got a very good rank,

00:50:26

yeah in the top rankers my son got 6...16th rank he got.

00:50:29

Yeah, without any coach.

00:50:31

Without any coach, that is the That is the most important part.

00:50:33

that happened because of the environment in those days. Yeah yeah.

00:50:36

So, I don’t know, that’s good.

00:50:38

And, second boy also got into

00:50:41

Prashanth also got into JEE, Prashanth.

00:50:43

but he got Metallurgy, this fellow got Computer Science.

00:50:47

His rank was very low, he told me in that

00:50:50

don’t expect...like Jayanth.

00:50:52

He used to study so hard and all Jayanth is a real giant

00:50:56

So, he did a good job, and he also doing well in the abroad also Fantastic.

00:51:01

So he is there. So, how often do you visit your children in U. S. and in Europe?.

00:51:07

So, so my daughter is in Europe.

00:51:10

She’s in Europe. So we find convenient to go to Europe,

00:51:12

then America. Yeah hop in Europe and then hop in U. S.

00:51:15

So, sometimes we go to Europe, then stay for two weeks,

00:51:18

then go there, like that we will do, four-five times we have gone like that,

00:51:23

but now we are old no.

00:51:25

No, you are not old. So we find very difficult to

00:51:28

travel, particularly America...that from Dubai to that

00:51:31

place takes 15-16 hours.

00:51:33

Yes. Its really hard for me and

00:51:35

my wife says, "No no I will never go,

00:51:38

let them come, let the children come... Right

00:51:40

and see us," like that.

00:51:41

So that is another thing.

00:51:43

Ok. So you would like to say something more,

00:51:45

you have? Something I

00:51:46

We...did we cover the point?

00:51:48

[Indistinct Dialogue]

00:51:54

Ok, activities after retirement... After retirement, yeah yeah its interesting.

00:51:58

Because this you can always find out what I am doing.

00:52:00

Yeah, 2002 afterwards. After retirement

00:52:02

first, yeah towards the end of my thing no, I retired in 2002

00:52:09

June. When Professor V. R. K. Murthy was the Head of the Department.

00:52:12

I remember. June, so at that time,

00:52:15

I got letter from EGC you know,

00:52:17

To go as a expert committee,

00:52:20

to visit some universities to Ok.

00:52:22

what’s...what are the progress, what they want...know,

00:52:26

what are the drawbacks,

00:52:28

Ok. what are the merits...like that,

00:52:30

we go in a group. I was for the Physics,

00:52:33

there was somebody from Electronics

00:52:35

like that different...Chemistry, like that we visited Allahabad University,

00:52:38

as a team. At that time Professor Murli Manohar Joshi must be there.

00:52:43

2002. Maybe.

00:52:45

Yeah, he is working in the Allahabad University as a Professor in

00:52:48

Nuclear Physics Department. I could see,

00:52:51

interesting to see that Meghnad Saha was there, his equipment.

00:52:54

They were doing...were very excited,

00:52:57

see at that time they used to do lot of work.

00:53:00

Yes. It is a good university, good work is going on.

00:53:02

Allahabad is there top in the list.

00:53:03

Only thing...like any other university,

00:53:06

they also feel that funding is not

00:53:08

good like IITs you know.

00:53:10

So, they don’t...able to do

00:53:13

I mean, some work, the lack of funds. Ok.

00:53:16

So that was an interesting exp...

00:53:18

I mean experience for me to go like this.

00:53:21

2002 onwards. Onwards and

00:53:23

then the UPSC fellow they used to call,

00:53:25

they called several times to set questions for

00:53:28

IAS, IFS and all,

00:53:30

and then sometimes they say...they will send the

00:53:33

paper, that I didn’t like, because

00:53:35

500-600 papers, and they will give it you one week to

00:53:38

finish and give it back.

00:53:40

I said, "I can’t do now, I can set some questions

00:53:44

and come back," like, that.

00:53:45

So we used to go...also a team work.

00:53:48

Ok.

00:53:48

We go there, sit there, finish it in one week,

00:53:52

and come back, like that. Two-three times So, you were active even after that,

00:53:55

very good. I went for some time,

00:53:57

and then this Berhampur University they knew I retired,

00:54:00

they called me to come as a Visiting Professor.

00:54:03

Because, I was there...another thing, when I was here

00:54:07

I went on lien '93 to '95 at Berhampur University.

00:54:11

Yeah, I know that, yes. They started the Electronic Science Department.

00:54:14

They called me.

00:54:16

So, "Whether you can help us."

00:54:18

So I went there, because to go to your native place is interesting thing.

00:54:22

Yes.

00:54:23

You don’t...you don’t bother about the money and all. Nostalgic, ok.

00:54:26

You want to do something for the...your home town. Yes.

00:54:30

That spirit I went, but my wife was not happy,

00:54:33

because she used to be alone, and my...by the time

00:54:37

Jayanth and Prasanth they had already left. Left.

00:54:39

yes. So, she was finding it difficult, but somehow I

00:54:42

forced her, "You manage, I will go,

00:54:45

I will do something and come."

00:54:46

Ok. So that was an interesting period for me,

00:54:49

because you know the atmosphere, IIT and University

00:54:53

how much different it is. Yeah.

00:54:55

That too Berhampur University.

00:54:58

First thing I wanted to change the timing.

00:55:03

See they used to go at 11 o’ clock,

00:55:05

and come back at 3 o’ clock.

00:55:06

I said, "This kind of thing you cannot teach,

00:55:09

you cannot to improve your..."

00:55:10

I said, "You have to start like IIT 8 o’ clock,

00:55:15

and stay up to 4 o’ clock

00:55:17

at least," but they didn’t agree.

00:55:19

Why? Because most of the teachers

00:55:22

and student they used to stay in town. Ok.

00:55:24

They used to go to the camp...university campus. Yeah.

00:55:28

And, that is...buses are arranged.

00:55:30

That timing is fixed, nobody can change that driver,

00:55:33

that fellow will come like a maharaja, I will say.

00:55:36

"I will take come only 11 o’ clock and take

00:55:38

and bring you 3 o’ clock," like that. Its ok.

00:55:40

that was the constant...

00:55:41

I had to fight with the Vice Chancellor,

00:55:43

say if you want to study Electronics,

00:55:45

you should have a more timing and all.

00:55:48

Finally he agreed with lot of hesitation.

00:55:51

But some of the colleagues they didn’t like

00:55:53

because they have to come early now.

00:55:55

They were all staying in Berhampur.

00:55:58

So they said, "We we arranged a special bus for that."

00:56:01

The bus will go at 7 o’ clock...

00:56:03

So you tried to change the Berhampur University system. Change the...

00:56:06

system, but only that department,

00:56:08

I can’t do this whole...little bit I do,

00:56:11

then I changed the syllabus also.

00:56:14

I saw the old syllabus...that old

00:56:16

triode valve, all those things were there.

00:56:18

Now... I said "You change...

00:56:20

you change this."

00:56:21

So they cooperated all the colleagues, they came

00:56:23

and we changed all the subjects. Good.

00:56:28

So that was one good thing, I was happy

00:56:31

and, but some equipment like high vacuum unit, like that.

00:56:34

To do some work, experimental work you say.

00:56:37

And some instruments. Good.

00:56:39

Basic instruments in the limited facility,

00:56:41

that was one contribution.

00:56:43

Similarly, when I went to NIST the Engineering College,

00:56:47

still they are calling me,

00:56:48

I went as a Emeritus Person because after Berhampur University,

00:56:53

Berhampur University gave me as the Waiting

00:56:56

Professor, because that age limit is there.

00:56:58

Yes. Once you cross 70, you are not eligible.

00:56:59

Yeah, it is very difficult to get.

00:57:01

I said ok, I will stop now.

00:57:04

Then these people caught me, this NIST

00:57:07

National Institute of Science and Technology,

00:57:08

this is a Engineering College is a good Engineering College in Berhampur.

00:57:11

In Berhampur. Berhampur.

00:57:12

Being a private college, they can...they can ask you It is a private college.

00:57:15

Ok. And the Director was from USA.

00:57:16

So he has trained that, he knows the culture, how to deal

00:57:20

Ok ok. with the students and all.

00:57:21

He was very liberal.

00:57:23

So, he used to give freedom to students, as well as staff. Ok.

00:57:27

You do whatever useful for the students.

00:57:29

So that way I found...I gave some lectures,

00:57:32

but I said, "I can’t prepare at this age,

00:57:34

and give lecture, I can do as a consultant." So to lab...

00:57:40

some of the research lab we want to...because now,

00:57:42

even MHRD, are insisting that even in Engineering Colleges,

00:57:46

you have to develop some research also.

00:57:48

Yeah, it is mandate...its a mandate. Not only teaching and all.

00:57:50

If you want to get some funding a lot. Yes.

00:57:52

So they asked me "Whether you can help us?"

00:57:54

I said, "I whatever I know I can do." Fantastic.

00:57:57

Buy this thing...high vacuum we need,

00:58:00

buy one good furnace,

00:58:02

I took from here on...I took your help

00:58:05

everybody, where its available. Yes.

00:58:07

yes. And the furnace some readymade...not that

00:58:10

finding and all, we got a good furnace,

00:58:13

with a digital control and all.

00:58:15

Which can go up to 1400...

00:58:19

So right now you are still working with NIST? You don’t need...

00:58:22

They call me sometimes. Oh yeah.

00:58:24

Because that also is limited,

00:58:26

see the Emeritus Professor, you get only up to three years or something. Yes.

00:58:30

Two years, so they extend another year. Yes.

00:58:32

After that over, "I said ok goodbye,

00:58:35

whenever you need some help I will come." Great.

00:58:37

So still they are calling sometimes, when they have some

00:58:39

difficulty, or to...when I go there...go to my native place,

00:58:44

I’ll just visit them,

00:58:45

they ask some, "Give a seminar or something, I do like..."

00:58:49

So, finding a peaceful life in Pallikaranai in your own home?

00:58:53

Yeah, its ok.

00:58:55

And. That...luckily that’s called IIT colony.

00:58:57

IIT colony. So still some retired people are there.

00:59:00

So I don’t...I feel comfortable. Very nice.

00:59:02

Because our street, all the three Majhis are there.

00:59:06

Yeah yeah, there are three Majhis.

00:59:07

One Majhi is Electrical Electrical

00:59:09

Another Majhi is Mathematics You please catch hold of other Mahji, P. C. Majhee

00:59:13

who was a...first student of B. Tech.

00:59:17

He joined '59, ok.

00:59:19

So he will tell you the story how they...they...they were

00:59:23

they were staying Saidapet it...they used to come Yeah, yeah.

00:59:27

That I don’t know how it was.

00:59:29

Marvellous. But when I joined everything was ok,

00:59:30

BSB was there, department was full fledged.

00:59:33

So it was good.

00:59:35

So, I think I covered most of the things Yeah, I think we covered most of the things and

00:59:38

we should say thank... and then

00:59:39

other things of course, these things...I...what is that

00:59:45

I did some work for the...what is that

00:59:47

Pensioner’s Association, the Treasurer like that, Yeah.

00:59:50

is the different thing.

00:59:51

So you keep yourself active.

00:59:53

So sometimes they ask me to help...and ok.

00:59:57

So that’s all I think

00:59:58

and then another thing is...some social life was there,

01:00:02

we used to...mostly...students,

01:00:05

when I joined, very few students were there,

01:00:08

we used to have some picnic like that

01:00:10

because a beautiful campus.

01:00:11

Near that Durga temple you know,

01:00:13

Yeah. we used to cook, and the families they will come, get together,

01:00:17

they will cook and eat and go like that,

01:00:20

it was an another interesting thing.

01:00:22

So, at that time, students were also faithful. Yeah,

01:00:25

Very nice Majhi,

01:00:26

thank you very much for your time. Thank you very much, for your patience.

01:00:28

Yeah, thank you very much. Ok.

01:00:31

And also I thank the...your Heritage

01:00:34

for giving me this opportunity to talk to them, ok.