Prof. M.A. Veluswamy in conversation with Prof. M.S. Shunmugam

On behalf of Heritage Centre

let me welcome Professor Veluswami

for this programme Oral History

and welcome professor.

Thank you Professor Shunmugam.

You you joined this-

since you are one of the senior most

professor’s of this institute.

When you joined this institute

where was this institute located?

Was it in this present campus

or it was in a different campus?

The campus on record belong to the institution

but it was not possible at that time to do any

office or classes anything, so,

it started in the CLRI building adjacent.

our Director’s Office, Register’s office.

the entire administrative offices

were all in CLRI auditorium.

And the stage was given to the faculty.

There is a faculty room

that is how it was started.

The inauguration if I remember,

I understand that the inauguration stone was 31st July of 1959

but I was in the campus on where the inauguration took place

on 17th August 1959 maybe

that was again a formal inauguration, I do not know.

That was done by Professor L. S. Chandrakant

who was the special officer to Government of India

very specifically for IIT Madras

who happened to be the elder brother

of L. S. Srinath who happened to be the Director later.

Right sir you are do you remember the

interview in which you were selected

because you you are working elsewhere-

Yeah. before coming here. Right.

If I memory goes right.

Right. You are in the state government.

Yeah. At that time. Ok. I will.

Can you tell how you now came up. Came ok. Yeah.

Immediately after my B.E.

in those days before even you get the degree the

offer of appointment was available.

But B.E. you did in PSG College of Technology.

PSG College of Technology. Right sir.

Because in those days.

I belonged to Salem district old Salem district.

Right. I was put in Kakinada.

My parents were not willing to send me to Kakinada.

So,I joined

PSG College of Technology that was the first college in the country

as a private college. Right.

Almost it started in 59.

It started in 51.

51 ok right. It is actually

first batch entered in 51.

they graduated in the year 1955.

Right sir.

I belong to the second batch.

Entered into 52 then graduated in the year 1956.

Earlier I was a student in Loyola College in intermediate.

Intermediate. Loyola College of-

Loyola College. of Nungambakkam Chennai. Chennai.

ok right right. Nungambakkam.

There it was only intermediate in those day.

there wasn’t anything like PUC or plus 2 or any such thing.

That was the system continued

ever since the British started that way.

Somehow still I feel that system is far better

it is that my opinion

because if you. Right want me to

to give opinion. Things, things change right anyway yeah.

After that I joined PSG College of Technology.

graduated in the year 1956.

Then when we were writing the final exam

the offer of appointment when the government PWD came

because I was a mechanical engineering.

I mean I I just did the

work in mechanical engineering discipline

So, there wasn’t any Department

for Mechanical Engineering in those days.

Civil engineering and electrical engineering

had their own departments for work.

There were only 3 branches available at that time:

civil, mechanical, electrical engineering.

So, mechanical engineers

didn’t have any department from the government

for them to have the employment

So, PWD or electrical department

depending upon their necessities,

they absorbed them.

So, I was given a job in

civil engineering background in PWD.

I was posted in public health area.

I was posted in Sivakasi in Ramnad district

where the flood came

like what we found in Kanyakumari now.

It was a very very bad flood

which made a lot of damages.

Even the actor and actresses like

Gemini Ganesan and Savitri were

not known whether they were alive or not even

in Rameshwaram.

There was a bad condition. Is it Ariyalur-

something to do with Ariyalur. Right. Train accident. Right.

Around that time. Right. right

So, 55. 55

So, 56 is my graduation so, I was posted.

Earlier, there were some

people the Revenue Department

who took care of that sort of thing.

So, there was no technical person

was available I was the first technical person

employed in public health engineering.

Our main work was in the rural villages.

the scheme was it is

called a Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Scheme.

There the protected water supply

should be given to the village people

instead of making their own vessels to go into the-

directly to the well and then take it

and make the water to be infected,

the water the well should be covered.

Water should be pumped to the overhead tank

and from the overhead tank.

Through the distributed pipes.

the water should be taken in the taps

that is how the scheme was.

I did about 450 such works.

In the district of Ramanathapuram,

at that time Ramanathapuram

that got split into many districts now.

But. So, that was the period

from 1959 sorry 56 to 59.

59, 3 years almost

3 years 3 years. You worked in. 3 years.

And then the- Then,

I I I enjoyed the work

simply because of the fact

a lot of learning was there.

Being a mechanical engineer,

I had the opportunity to select

the machineries for pumping chlorinator.

How to give tender

and then how to choose the machine,

such opportunities were available

so, I enjoyed that.

You must have been very thorough with the-

Yeah. procedures.

Right. More than anything-

Right.

and besides. How- how it occurred that you came to IIT?

I will tell you. Yeah.

Cogently if I tell you. Right sir. It would be. Right. Understand.

So, how to design the foundation,

how to even choose the soil

for getting the foundation

for the overhead tank pump house and all that was my job.

So, you prepare the estimate,

get it sanctioned

execute it yourself.

It is the enjoyment was your own estimate.

you finally, see that

it is working that was a joy.

So, that made me to continue

without even worrying about going elsewhere.

So, in during that period.

I had some difficulties in the sense

there was an interference from the revenue department.

They were technically interfering.

One example I will try to give if-

if you think it is necessary. Yeah, please please sir.

There was a village where in

we had to put about 2 HP motor

for pumping water to the overhead tank from the well

and the Panchayath Board President who was

a very qualified person he asked me

would this be alright sir? I said yes.

Then, he said, can we do that?

I told him there is a 3 HP motor available, English make

which has already been bought by my predecessors

so, the government regulation is to install that first

before buying elsewhere because

government contributed to that cost

and besides that was a higher horse power.

The power is more,

it was cheaper

because the money has to be divided.

25 percent by the villagers,

25 percent by the state government

and 50 percent by the government.

So, the 2HP motor was

costlier than the existing 3HP motor.

So, we erected

and everybody was happy.

Then later on

some villagers induced the

Panchayat Board President and he said

it was wrongly installed

because the consumption of electricity will be more

because it is 3 HP motor.

I explained to him it is not.

Then, this was challenged

and then, there was a Sub-Collector

who said I am a Physics honors man, don’t tell me.

I was very much angry.

I was very young

and somebody challenged when all these things are there.

I was interested in learning.

So, I said if Physics honors can manage.

My job is unnecessarily given here.

Then, immediately I wrote to the chief engineer saying that

this is what has happened

so, I would like to

make me go you kindly make me go elsewhere.

I like to learn,

because I was just about 23 years 24 years old.

Then, this was known to the Collector.

He he knew what exactly was the difficulty.

C. V. R. Panikar

and then, he interfered and pacified me.

But that started me

to think of leaving the department.

There was also another incidence.

There was a certificate holder engineer,

a work was very well be

doing it for 2 years.

After the completion of the work

it was beautiful, there was

any problem at all.

He inspected

and then said that it is a colossal waste

which pricked me a lot.

Then please ask the villagers was any problem?

Villagers were very happy

that was a diesel engine run pump

because there wasn't any electricity there at that time.

So, I asked him why is that colossal waste.

Then he said I am an executive engineer

say do what I say.

With the certificate asserted holder- Holder yeah.

He he was- became executive engineer. By promotion came. Ok.

So, these were such a some other things

which made me to feel that I cannot grow there.

So, I felt that earliest opportunity is better to go.

So, I had already applied for Bhilai Steel Plant.

At that time

he steel plants were very popular.

I was asked to come for an interview at Delhi

for making me to go to Russia.

Then, when I went there

the department did not give me the permission

to leave the department.

But orally they said if you want to attend the interview,

please attend.

So, I attended.

Everybody was even filling up the

forms for passport and all that.

I was a alone fellow,

was very much disappointed because

I was not even interviewed

simply because they didn’t carry the letter from the

department permission. No objection. No normally they expect

no objection certificate. Right.

So, I came all the way

from Delhi to Chennai

with a very big disappointment.

Straight went to the PWD office,

told them this is what is my future

going to be barred

could you not help me?

He said if that is the case

we will give you the permission.

You can again appear

next time whenever an interview takes place.

So, the permission letter was given

but no such interview immediately was taking place.

So, while they were preparing that letter of permission

I came to Engineering College Guindy

just because I had time.

I met that in the morning met the officer in the morning

and they said that you collect it in the evening.

So, during that time

being a bachelor didn’t have any other work

and Chennai was not this big at that time

So, I just came to College of Engineering in Guindy.

There there was an advertisement

we are going to start post-graduate course

in Internal Combustion Engineering.

So, that attracted me because

when I was working there in the Rural Water Supply Scheme

there were lot of internal combustion engineering

problems I faced

Particularly vibrations and

the life of engine and all that.

So, that was also challenged by

some other people who were above me.

So, that attracted me.

I immediately was willing to join the course

and I forgot about the Bhilai Steel Plant.

I decided

not to go to Bhilai Steel Plant even if

there is an interview that is going to come later.

So, fortunately I was given admission

Professor A. P. Jambulingam was the

professor in charge of the Internal Combustion Engineering

and that was very much well monitored by

our Professor Ramachandran

who happened to be in

Indian Institute of Science at that time.

So, that was a very happy thing.

We did not know

later that he himself would become a Director to us.

So, it was a very well monitored course.

I attended, I was the first batch student.

There is a gentleman called-

there was a gentleman called Professor Ramani

who happened to be my classmate.

Later on he became also a colleague of mine.

We both attended interview

at that time in Vice Chancellor’s office.

The interview normally used to

take place only in the Vice Chancellor’s office where

Professor Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar was the Vice Chancellor.

He happened to be the Chairman of this institute also,

That is how Professor Sengupto was a member.

Professor Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar was the Chairman.

So, we got the interview.

first interview was for the Department of Applied Mechanics.

There wasn’t any

faculty at all. So, after completing the

IC engine programme to-

No first there there were series of interviews.

A few interviews taken place of each department. But you are still pursuing

your post-graduate programme in IC engines.

No. I was by that time-

ok before even

I had a career, I forgot to mention that.

Immediately after the PWD, I joined the

Internal Internal Engineering Department,

Internal engineering. Combustion internal- Internal engineering

PG. But then, I was a student.

Full time since by that time

I resigned the PWD. It used to be a 2-year programme?

2-year programme. 2-year programme.

During the time.

while I was about to write the dissertation

I was recruited

in Regional Engineering College, Warangal.

Oh. As a lecturer.

So, Professor Jambulingam felt happy

that you please accept it.

Then he got the permission

that I could join the college later

after I finished my dissertation.

The college also accepted after all

when a person gets a degree it is good to the college.

So, after finishing the course,

I joined

Warangal Regional Engineering College

in the Department of Mechanical Engineering as a lecturer,

then I was very happy there.

People cooperated,

excellent institution.

Then, about 6 months later,

during the period of 6 months,

I was feeling a little uneasy simply because

what is the further development for me.

That was a newly started college,

there wasn’t any programme further.

So, I wasn’t sure

whether it is good for me to continue there.

So, I met the principal.

The principal felt sorry that I I should not leave the

institution immediately because

you just joined only 6 months back.

then I met Professor C. V. R. Murty

who happened to be the Director of Technical Education.

I told him whose son only

died in a aeroplane crash.

Who was at at Adyar.

You might have probably recollected.

A very nice gentleman and he said

well, if you don't mind

you would like to resign

because we can’t forward your application

to apply elsewhere if you want to go.

I I resigned.

Then I was jobless for about a month till

an the interview was given for we arrange for IIT Madras.

So, I stayed in Chennai.

The interview was at Vice Chancellor’s office Chennai.

Professor Ramani who happened to my classmate

and I we both applied

and Professor Ramani applied to the

Department of Mechanical Engineering

whereas, I applied to both applied mechanics

and mechanical engineering on the fear

I was jobless

because Professor Ramani had a job already in MIT.

So, he didn’t mind

only restricting himself to mechanical engineering.

So, I didnt want to take a risk

So, I applied to both the departments.

The first trip- interview was

for the Applied Mechanics Department

on on one particular day.

Then, the interview was over.

I didn’t know the results and all that.

Professor Natarajan was the Registrar at that time.

R. Natarajan who passed away recently.

Then, I came out

there wasn’t any news about the selection or so.

Next day was the

interview for the Department of Mechanical Engineering lecturer.

Both Ramani and myself applied.

I mean went off for the interview.

We were only praying that both of us should be taken

because we both were very dear colleagues.

We didn’t want to miss each other.

So, both attended the interview,

for a long time we did not know the results.

Then, I went home to the village.

One fine morning, I

got the letter saying that you are selected

the applied mechanics.

The second day when I went for the

interview for the mechanical engineering,

Ramani was interviewed.

When I went inside

there were some sort of talk within the members.

Then there wasn't any question asked at all for me

during the mechanical engineering interview.

I was sent out.

So, I decided that I was not qualified.

I was not selected.

So, with a disappointment instead of

remaining at Chennai,

I went to my village.

I was thinking of

making some sort of entrepreneurship

or something like that of that kind.

So, I didn’t want to idle

because being young

I was interested to know what should I do.

So, when that was the thought

all of a sudden there was a turning point.

The appointment order straight away came.

Then later on I asked Professor Natarajan,

why is that that

I was not interviewed on the next day in mechanical engineering?

He smiled and told

we had selected you already in the

applied- Department of Applied Mechanics in the previous day. Yeah.

We did not want to have the confusion.

we did not want you to have the choice.

We wanted to have the choice ourselves.

So, that is what he- Was Professor- told me.

Ramani selected for mechanical?

Professor Ramani was selected.

I was also happy because

both of us being classmates we came to the institution.

The same grade.

And he went to the internal combustion engineering because

we both studied industrial combustion engineering

in the same college. PG.

So, I joined Department of Applied Mechanics.

he joined the Mechanical Engineering Department

in the industrial-

in Internal Combustion Engineering Laboratory. Yes.

It is very interesting sir because

I graduated from College of Engineering, Guindy.

And did my Master’s in PSG College of Technology. I see reverse-

Exactly reverse of- Ok.

what you have gone through. Right.

Right. It is very interesting. Right right.

Then, when when you joined applied mechanics- Yeah.

I was I became a faculty member and- Was the building-

was the building here in this campus. Nothing.

Oh. There wasn’t training at all.

And Professor Kraus called me.

Can we have a look at Professor Kraus.

Can you have the photograph of Kraus

and- Yeah sure. Probably you can identify him. Sure. sure.

Because not many people will be able to identify him, Yeah.

He looked more like De Gaulle of France. Right.

Professor. No. he is not here. No.

Yeah. That is Professor Kraus the tallest person.

Ok on the left.

Left most. On to my left, left most left most

and can you at the rightmost is professor?

I think this is Mr. Venkataraman.

I am not sure about that. Right sir.

He is minister; Minister of Industrialization industrial.

This is Professor Sengupto

and professor and Professor Kraus.

Sengupto was our former Director;

he was the first Director. First Director; first Director.

And he, L. S. was the-

was not called the Director but was called as Special Officer.

Special Officer.

He took care of all the works of the Director,

Registrar. Do you remembers where from Professor Sengupto came?

Sengupto was VJTI of Bombay Bombay IIT.

Nice sir you are able to recollect and all. Right right.

So, anything you want to say about you know-

Professor Kraus. Nothing.

I think probably they must be having some discussion there.

No. no.

He was the Chairman of the institution, Professor Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar

and it is his effort

which made us to come to this campus. Right.

Originally,

he was very much interested in

trying to make this campus go to Bangalore.

But it is not only his efforts

it is the effort of Mr. C. Subramaniam

who happened to be the Minister of Education at that time.

If I- And if I am, if I am correct. The the-

Kamaraj was the Chief Minister. Kamaraj was the Chief Minister

and C. Subramaniam was the Education Minister.

Kakkan no sir. It is the effort of Kakkan also was there.

But he was in a different portfolio.

So, these two people were very particular

to choose Madras should be the place.

At the time there wasn’t any Chennai.

It was only Madras. Madras.

Madras should be the place for starting the institution,

IIT Madras.

because they were arguing

in South, there wasn’t any institution.

Bangalore already

Indian Institute of Science is there.

Science is there. Why do you want to take it again there.

So, the pressure

with both Mr. Kamaraj and C. Subramaniam

was very heavy and

they immediately said

there wasn’t any problem for the land because

the Raj Bhavan. Yeah, the Governor’s palace

has quite a lot of land unused.

So, that could be the place where it could be started

and moreover

this should be developed as an education centre

because Guindy Engineering College was already there.

So, if this is also going to be here

it would be a very good gesture because

education centre would be at this particular place like they

argued, and nobody could deny that.

So, it started.

That is how it was on 30th;

31st July 1959,

it foundation stone was officially made.

But formally

it was on 17th August 1959

at CLRI complex

which I happened to attend

if I remember that will correctly the date.

Sir, when you joined- I was a student at that time.

in Guindy Engineering College.

I was fascinated the way in which

we- the there was going to be a

thought of starting at a higher institution.

So, I came to attend the

the foundation ceremony.

So, I was a student at that time.

I never imagined that I would be a faculty later,

2 years later.

So, after I completed

the internal combustion engineering course I

went to Warangal I told you.

Then, after Warangal simply because

of the general,

I mean generous attitude of Professor C. V. R. Murty,

I was a relieved.

Then I was appointed here.

then on my appointment.

First person whom I met was a Registrar

Professor R. Natarajan who handed over the appointment

officially even though it came in post.

Then immediately, he requested me

to meet Professor Kraus.

Professor Kraus.

He was the architect of the entire institution.

He only planned everything was planned

and in applied mechanics

he was very much concentrating on

Fluid Mechanics Laboratory because he had already

developed what sort of laboratory it should be and all that.

Whether any other person in applied mechanics

when you- when you joined sir?

You are the first person? I was the first member.

And then, all other?

Later on. Ok. Professor B. V. Rao and then, No.

after me joined Professor D. V. Reddy.

D. V. Reddy. Yes. He is- he is from which specialization?

D. V. Reddy was

he took his Ph.D. in Liverpool

and he directly joined here.

As I mean which lab? As assistant professor.

in which? At that time.

Ph.D.’s were very rare. Right sir.

but- So, he was a Ph.D. from abroad

and people felt that

he should be at least given an assistant professor’s post.

Yeah. So, he was an assistant professor.

I was a lecturer.

Right. So, we both were the

people who originally there-

there used to be. He belongs to fluid mechanics or- No.

He is a structural man.

Structural. Mechanics mechanics. Ok. He is a civil engineer.

Structural engineering background.

He did his Ph.D. in structural engineering. Very good.

Then, there used to be a joke everybody used to say

he had a car

and we both used to sit in the car, go for lunch and all that.

So, people used to make. The entire department is in the car.

So, Ok.

you two were there. There.

Very nice.

And Then, there was also a joke

which I don’t know whether it is connected here.

He took me to his house

and he secretly told me

saying my father is no more, my mother only is there.

So, I will pretend as if I am junior to you.

So, I would tell my mother.

So, keep quiet, don’t say anything.

Then, we went there.

Immediately he told his mother

that I was his boss.

Then, his mother began

making a very big show

saying my is a very nice person.

be careful.

don’t punish him all that.

Ok. Very innocent lady. So, the story was different.

Innocent lady.

So, that Professor D. V. Reddy was to enjoying.

So, after that he told clearly that I just made a fun.

So, It was like very enjoyable company

and then, later on one Mr. A. C. Gangadharan joined.

he was also a civil engineer.

He belonged to the same discipline as Professor D. V. Reddy.

Then, there wasn’t any mechanical engineering for quite some time.

Then, after Professor A. C. Gangadharan joined.

Professor Narasimha Muthy joined

and Professor Narasimha Murthy was interested in

fluid mechanic side.

Right. So, that's how he was recruited.

So, there was structural engineering side.

Fluid mechanics. Fluid mechanic side.

There wasn’t anything on the

mechanical engineering side accepting me.

Because the courses like theory of machines.

kinematics and dynamics of machinery vibrations.

Everything belonged at that time to applied mechanics.

So, there was a necessity for

certain mechanical engineering people to be there.

So, I happened to be the first fellow.

I was offering the courses like

theory machines, vibrations and all that.

During the time.

Professor Haug joined. H A U G.

He was recruited by Professor Kraus from Germany.

All the professors from Germany

were through Professor Kraus only.

On his recommendation only.

the Government of Germany would send.

So, he was sent here

to develop the laboratory

of Applied Mechanics Department.

He being a vibrations man,

so, he took some classes and all that

and we both were there originally that's all.

Then after some time

when the students move to the upper classes

more faculty were necessary.

Then B. V. A. Rao was recruited.

Along with me, Professor Chandrashekar Swamy also was recruited

which I forgot to tell you.

He joined much later.

I I joined

D. V. Reddy joined later.

A. C. Gangadharan third as a third person.

Narasimha Murthy was he joined as the fourth person.

Fifth person was Professor N. V. C. Swamy.

He- He was also director of our IIT for some. Later on;

later on. Later on. right sir. Right.

he he was doing his Ph.D.;

he was in the middle of the work.

So, the institution gave permission to him.

you were selected.

but join after you complete it.

Conditional offer. Conditional offer.

He was;

he was Professor Gundu Rao of IISC was the

guide for him.

He joined

and he was the first senior person in fluid mechanics because

assistant professor was the senior most position at that time.

Narasimha Murthy was a lecturer.

So, two people in the fluid mechanics

and two people already there in the

Structure- Structural side.

I was the only fellow in mechanical side.

So, later on

Professor B. V. A. Rao

who was working in Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.

He was recruited

in mechanical engineering.

So, in mechanical side were two,

in fluid mechanics side two

and structural engineering side two.

So, six people were there

and there were three department three laboratories.

We ourselves made that sort of division

for convenience even though

Can you name- there was no. Can you name; Big demarcation.

Can you name those laboratories?

Yeah the

fluid mechanic laboratory was already established

in concept in paper by Professor Kraus.

So, area was marked everything was there

and he had already been

making plans for

tunnel, wind tunnel and things like that for Germany.

So, that remained as it is.

Then, P. S. Srinivasan joined later I will tell you about that.

Then, the

Vibrations Laboratory or Machine Dynamics Laboratory

or Elasticity Laboratory, Structural Laboratory,

how to name was a confusion.

So, that was left for ourselves.

So, Professor D. V. Reddy

named the structural part

as Elasticity Section.

So, Elasticity Laboratory

Fluid Mechanics Laboratory.

Then, for the mechanical engineering side

we were not knowing how to do it.

So, originally, we named that as Vibration Laboratory.

Then, later on

the subjects like theory of machines, the dynamics of

machinery, kinematics all these also came.

Then the name vibrations may not be proper.

So, that that was changed to

Machine Dynamics Laboratory subsequently.

Yeah. So, that continued.

Right. Machine Dynamics Laboratory.

Elasticity Section they called instead of laboratory.

Elasticity Section, Machine Dynamics Section

and then, a Fluid Mechanics Section.

Then, after some time.

that section name

was taken off and then, put as laboratory. Laboratory.

And by that time

there was a gentleman called Professor P. S. Srinivasan

who was recruited as the first faculty

in mechanical engineering in our institution

before even we joined.

He was much senior to me in joining.

Even though we were classmates.

We belonged to the same batch

and we were in classmates

for some time in PSG College of Technology.

Later on he moved to

Government College of Technology at Coimbatore.

So, it was a pleasure again

to see Professor P. S. Srinivasan another classmate like

Professor Ramani.

He joined fluid mechanics,

why he joined later was

he was recruited along with one Mr. Padmanabhan.

These two were that together

to offer course for the engineering drawing.

At that time it was called a geometric drawing.

So, very specifically these were

trained to teach drawing.

So, they were sent to Germany

for making efforts,

for getting them trained in drawing

And while they were in Germany

Professor Kraus felt

that specializing in drawing alone is not going to be of any use

so, he diverted them

when they were staying there

that Professor Srinivasan should be

more trained towards fluid mechanics

because we are going to start the fluid mechanics laboratory here.

It was his architecture.

Very beautiful architecture

that is why I say that

Professor Kraus should be very much highlighted

in every place.

In fact, Professor Sengupto himself used to take the advice

of Professor Kraus for every; every now and then.

Then, Professor P. A. Srinivasan after his training in Germany.

Oh. there wasn’t any degree, it was only a training.

So, after the training

he was posted to department of applied mechanics

in the fluid mechanics side.

Then, Professor Padmanaban

basically electrical engineering person.

He was even though

both were offering drawing courses;

Professor Padmanabhan was posted to mechanical engineering

on the precision engineering side.

Actually, it was known as Fine Techniques Lab. Fine.

Later on it became

Fine Techniques Laboratory at that time

it was precision engineering to start with.

Sir. Later only it became- Right maybe.

I I forgot. At that time. it was fine techniques. Fine techniques fine techniques.

I I remember. You are right you are right. Fine techniques. Yes sir.

So, he he was the first fellow

in Fine Techniques Laboratory. Very good. Like

P. A. Srinivasan even though he was only second

but he was more a dominating person

because he trained in Germany

and for everything P. A. Srinivsan was

asked to reply

and fluid mechanic side, Professor Kraus directly used to call him.

And similarly,

Professor Padmanaban used to be directly called by Professor Kraus

and he he was a centre of a any decision.

That's how the applied mechanics got started.

we were more getting divided

So, I belonged to the mechanical engineering side

with Professor B. V. A. Rao,

myself. Sir. Later on some more faculty joined

and the department became became little bigger.

Just at that time only, Professor Wagner joined.

Hans Wagner,

when after B. V. A. Rao joined. Can you remember

the time he joined or may be

68 or so. I I am unable to recollect

any- doesn’t matter. Late 60’s I think.

Professor B. V. A. Rao was already a doctorate degree holder?

Yeah. he was East German. He after joining. East German doctorate.

So, when he joined he was a doctorate

already. Yeah, East German doctorate.

it was not recognized by the Government of Chennai.

But his designation was-

Yeah, yeah there was a fight actually.

Professor Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar fought

saying that this is German collaborated institution.

How how can we refuse,

you know same Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar

refused to accept it in in University of Madras.

I see. That is a controversy. Oh.

So, he was recruited

and he felt comfortable because

it is a recognized place for his degree he joined here. Ok.

So, subsequently,

some more faculty junior members and all that joined

and each each laboratory recruited

its own people qualified for them. Same

specializations. Right and much later only

the fourth section called biomechanics started

with Professor Radhakrishnan

and Professor Patel. S. Radhakrishnan.

S. Rakrishnan. Patel. Patel.

Patel happened to be my student-

Oh I see. in our own institution IIT Madras. Very good.

And then one gentleman who passed away,

Patel’s senior I forget his name.

it used to be in the letter G started.

Gisa. Yeah. Professor Gisa. He yeah right.

Ok. He- he.

Because about Professor Gisa I have heard about him. Right.

right. And- He joined.

he- Because in Senate he was asked to explain. Right.

Right. What is biomechanics?

Right. And he jumped into the bowl.

I don't know how far it is sure. Yeah true true.

He was the advisor for Professor Patel.

Right sir. So, when Patel was recruited he also was recruited.

Both of them joined the biomechanic section

Right. of the fourth section of- Now.

Department of Applied Mechanics. Now sir,

now people with the doctorate joining,

you would have also been tempted to acquire-

Yeah yeah, highest degree naturally. So

what was your effort in- Ok ok.

trying to get that. So, when I joined there Ph.D.-

Joined there. Did you register for,

Sure yes yes yes yes- Ph.D. here itself? Or elsewhere?

registered I will tell you that. Right sir.

And after having, after having that joined there- Yeah.

I was interested in trying to register for a Ph.D. Sir,

he is Professor Wagner. Professor Wagner right.

Wagner or. Wagner Wagner. Wagner.

Because a in German language is 'aa'

Not 'A'. Right. E is 'A'.

And German no Russia na American say Wag.

No even our our car

Waganer it should not be Weganor. Ok. ok.

It is Waganer but people you say Weganor. Right right.

Anyway. So, please say about your program. Ok

then I I had the ambition after having joined because

I was more interested in my growth.

That is how I remind

I mean resigned PWD and all that anyway.

So, when that was the case.

I asked Professor B. V. A. Rao.

whether it would be possible for him to guide me

and register me.

He said yes.

But there were some technical problems

and then, Professor D. V. Reddy advised me

it would be better that you registered with somebody else in

mechanical engineering,

you being basically mechanical engineering.

So, at that time

there wasn’t much of doctorate people available

excepting Professor V. C. Venkatesh

who was in manufacturing side.

Then I didn’t have any choice,

so, I registered with the Professor V. C. Venkatesh

to have the wear in gears.

We started building up

testing and all that

initially, some drawings were made and things like that.

not much of progress could go

because I belong to two departments there.

There was a conflict.

I I also happened to be taking the responsibility of an

assistant wardenship.

There was a very big

difficulty to coordinate

because the hostels were- Can you-

do you remember the hostel name sir,

where you were? It is Cauvery.

Cauvery. Cauvery was the first hostel. Ok.

Later on was the next one was- Krishna?

What was the next one next next to? Krishna-

Krishna. Just one.

Krishna hostel. Krishna hostel right no.

Memory goes off.

No don’t worry sir I can- Krishna. Yeah Yes.

Cauvery was fully developed.

Right. Krishna was half done.

Used to be yeah. Right. I am, I am losing memory.

Yeah. If you. No no I am here to help you out.

Right thank you. Yeah.

Thank you. No. I I am able to find out I should accept it

that my age

makes me forget. No. no many things. But you have,

you have wealth of information.

That is more than anything. That is ok.

So, joined.

the very first day itself I joined as an assistant warden

in Cauvery hostel. Oh

right from. Right very

Cauvery Hostel was existing.

and the hostel was elsewhere functioning.

The building Cauvery Hostel after it was built here,

I happened to be the first assistant warden. Ok right.

That is all. right.

but the hostels were existing even earlier

at Saidapet and all that. Right.

Right. The building was ready only here. Right.

Then, being an assistant warden.

being in the department of applied mechanics.

Doing Ph.D. Doing Ph.D. there.

In mechanical engineering. At that time was difficult because

a lot of administrative works were there.

In fact to be frank.

if I don't go to the hostel in time

some tins of oil will go off.

And I may had to periodically visit to

see that everything is alright because

it is student’s money

and Professor Swamy was

our friend we we both lived in the same hostel

by that time of course, he joined us a little bit better developed

than what it was earlier.

So, very frequently silently used to go.

I used to make the Director know that

Professor Sengupto know, knew

and he used to periodically visit.

He was also liking the way which in which we did.

It was also an interesting point in the hostel.

If you think that is necessary. I will tell you here. Please please sir.

In the hostel.

there were two

different section vegetarian non-vegetarian.

Everything was separate.

Excepting the dining hall was not partitioned.

So, I asked Professor

Sengupto- I think we had two kitchens also,

non-vegetarian. Two kitchens. Yeah. Two; two

places where you can display things,

take things everything is separate.

Even cooks were the separate.

Everything separate vessels were separate

excepting for the partition in the dining hall.

So, being an assistant warden

I was just interested in trying to know

why it was not done.

Professor Sengupto periodically used to visit

very much interested in developing the hostel.

So, he came there and I asked him

why is that there wasn’t any partition?

He smiled.

Then for some time, he didn’t reply.

In in those days.

we had the liberty to ask very freely Professor Sengupto.

he won’t mistake.

He was the Director also. He was the one the Director.

he didn’t have any I mean we didn’t have any fear

that he is the Director how can we talk to him and things like that,

very frank.

Then, I asked him if you are silent

how do I know what the answer is.

So, for which again he smile.

Smile is not the answer. That is what was.

Then, he he said

I will ask a, I will ask a question to you he has said.

Our students are going to be very bright

and they are going to study in abroad

and a lot of development is expected from them

by their own studies to our country.

When they go in a flight,

they are seated

by the side there was a non-vegetarian, our boy is a vegetarian.

Will he jump off the flight

just because he could not tolerate a non-vegetarian is by the side.

If so, is it not our duty

to train our own students to tolerate anything?

Whether he is a vegetarian non-vegetarian

to see that a vegetarian should tolerate

a non-vegetarian sitting by their side and eating.

Very nice idea. Right.

That was the lesson I understood.

Then, never asked the question.

Have I answered? He asked me.

Very much I said.

Then, no hostel here we had any partition.

Right sir.

As he imagined later on,

friends vegetarian non-vegetarian.

they used to mix with each other,

eat side by side.

There wasn’t any necessity for us to even think

of putting a partition.

So, that was a very interesting thing

which I learnt from Professor Sengupto.

Then, because of the difficulty of

time factor for me,

even though I I could register-

Sir. Were you married at that time or so? No I was not married.

Ok. If I would have been married there nobody-

would have given me the assistant warden’s position. Right.

I see. Right that was in the year 61 to-

I was there only for a very short period.

Later on I moved outside,

living with the cook

because my parents had threatened me

that anytime I might get married.

So, if that is the case,

then if I am the hostel at those days

very difficult to get a house if I get married

to make my family live.

So, I I

out of necessity, I moved out

not because I did not like the hostel life.

Which place you stay? Adyar.

Adyar. I took an independent small house

fortunately, there was a cook

who happened to know me right from my childhood

and he came there to help me.

So, he was a cook. I was enjoying his cook

I mean enjoying the stay.

I was living there for some time.

But he is a cook, he didn’t know anything about

counting money and numbers and nothing.

If you give him some 2 rupees to buy something

he doesn’t know

what is the balance and how much

he paid and all that

I mean 2 rupees a very big money at the time.

So, for some time he was working there and

he was a very good cook.

He couldn’t remain there idle.

So, silently one day he left and when I went there,

he wasn’t there.

So, I felt what to do?

My marriage also was getting postponed.

Joined back the hostel.

Joined back the hostel again in Cauvery.

I was wanted actually

to join the hostel.

Professor Venkata Rao

first professor

chemical chemical engineering professor yeah, chemical engineering.

Venkateswaralu. Venkateswaralu. Venkateswaralu was my warden. Chemical engineering.

Professor Venkata Rao became the warden second time.

I was there for some some time.

Then again there was a temptation,

then I might get married.

Then, on the fear that I may not even get a house,

I went back.

Now is there remaining, then

I took a a decision not to come to the hostel at all

because this dilly dallying is not at all possible.

Then, the marriage somehow got delayed

and then Professor Sankaran became the warden

of Tapti hostel.

P. Sankaran of electrical engineer? No.

K. S. Sankaran of civil engineering. K. S civil engineering.

Right he became the warden. But there were

two Sankaran’s. Right K. S. Sankaran.

Some how he was very fond of me.

He said I want you to be the assistant warden otherwise,

I would not be a warden.

What do you say he said.

It was a very embarrassing situation for me.

I said fine.

Then, fortunately for me to relieve,

get myself relieved from the assistant wardenship,

got married.

The lady joined me.

The very day of marriage

we moved in here

and it was fortunate. You had a on on

campus you got an accommodation? Yes, I was

fortunate to get the campus allotment

Yeah, D-flat; D-type flat was a allotted.

Earlier to that in the campus.

Now the campus in is very much in a

sort of a rush to move.

First movement of the campus was funny.

Professor Physics professor

I don’t know I forget every time their name. F. B. I. Sastry.

F. B. I. Sastry.

Professor Sastry right.

he was the person first moving.

Professor Sengupto put an order

because nobody was willing to move

and quarters were built what to do?

So, those who don’t move into the quarters.

I am going to cut the house rent allowance

and there will be a lot of punishment

and they would not get the priority when the allotment comes

once you refuse.

So, that order threatened everybody.

Then, Professor Sastry willingly joined and he was very happy

and Professor Sengupto congratulated him.

There after of course, the

campus became very popular

and it was very nice.

A word about Professor Sengupto.

Professor Sengupto was living in Adyar

and used to come by an Ambassador car, red in colour.

When he enter into the gate normally

the campus was not occupied by anybody

excepting snakes.

So, there are lot of people waiting to move into the campus.

At that time the vehicle comfortable and all that was not there.

So, he never behaved like a Director

he dumped as many people as possible in his car

even though, Ambassador car can

accommodate maximum 4.

6, 7 are all very common

and used to drive through.

That was the generosity with which

the first Director was here in this campus.

Another interesting thing about Professor Sengupto which I

would like to share here if I am permitted,

he took care aerially to view the campus,

To find out how to make the roads

that was also the advice of Professor Kraus.

Then, he found

the path in such a way

the minimum number of plantations should be cut

that is how our roads are curvy

and he was also happy

the roads are curvy

because it is a natural

way of what you call the- [Speaking Tamil]

Yeah. you know finding a path. Yeah,

naturally

there wasn’t necessary for us to build in an artificial thing.

Right. It was natural.

In fact Professor V. C. Kulandaiswamy

who happened to be the

Vice-Chancellor later

he was a Director of Technical Education.

Any Director of Technical Education ex officio is a member;

member in the board.

He asked a question in the board

saying that we did a mistake of roads should be curvy,

we should have been straight it would have been beautiful

for which Professor Sengupto answered beautifully

this is the reason

and then he couldn’t say any word.

And Professor Kraus also appreciated that.

That is how the campus became

with the very good

plantations remaining as they are right now.

And that credit goes to Professor Sengupto.

Sir, you you know we were

dwelling upon your Ph.D. programme- Right.

then you know- I I deviated I am sorry. Yeah.

doesn’t matter but- Taken you too much time. No. no. no.

What happened to you? Then, then after sometime.

Professor Venkatesan and I were

guide and students like.

Things didn't go very well.

Then there was an offer to go to Germany.

I was the only person

recommended by the Department of Applied Mechanics

by Professor Reddy was very happy

that I I was proposed

and there wasn’t any competition.

Like that

many people also were proposed in their respective departments.

When everything went on,

we were instructed

to see that you vacate the quarters

and dump whatever that is

available in your own home and after you

you return back, you bring all that.

The quarters would be re-allotted to you.

So, I did everything.

But there was a big shock,

four of us,

four did not get any information later

while others got.

It was a surprise.

Sunderesan of metallurgy,

Oh. myself, Bhimshankar Sastry of Physics

and A. K. Narayanan of electrical.

These four were not there

that is because of some political reason.

Let me not explain that here- No. Yeah.

because it was not good also.

So, later on I was upset.

I had the liberty of saying Professor Sengupto

to see Professor Sengupto.

I directly went into Professor Sengupto’s house,

asked him what is the matter?

He somehow

didn’t answer properly, then he said

well, Germany is not the only country.

You have other countries why do you bother about it.

So, later on, it was very embarrassing for me to ask.

So, little disappointed

just at that time only out of challenge

I began applying abroad.

I didn’t want to remain here

because I felt as if I was insulted.

Yeah. Then, I I Professor Sengupto knew.

I used to talk to him very frankly. But,

you know if I am correct you went to the

most famous prestigious. Yeah right right. Institution in USA.

Right. MIT.

Right. In fact one way guide was a very excellent man. Yeah.

And he was a very well-known man

and because of that work

I was given an honor,

a very good award was presented to me

in New York October 74

and the work was

very much respected in Japan

in UK and also, USA for railroad constructions.

they were interested using this work to calculate the wear

and then, trying to design

that the work was concentrating on that.

Professor Enrich Hertz

was making certain spring constant on contacts.

Contact mechanics.

My work was more on contact mechanics vibrations.

I had the possibility of finding out that damping coefficient

instead of spring.

So, that contribution they felt as if

is very good.

So, that that later on made me- You

return back in 73 if I. 73.

Right. 70 to 73 I was a student,

returned back in 73.

Did you go back to- I joined back the Department of

Applied Mechanics. Applied mechanics. Right.

73 then

when I I was given the elevation

as an assistant professor simply because I had the

Ph.D. degree.

It took some time anyway

immediately not joining

but after some time

I I was asked whether

I would be comfortable here.

I said I am comfortable anywhere doesn’t matter

because vibration laboratory is also then.

Then, there was a necessity

for a

a person to be recruited for the Engineering Design Centre.

Professor Ramchandran by that time had started

Engineering Design Centre.

Professor Channabasavan was the first man

recruited the Engineering Design Centre as a man in charge.

Then, I was interviewed.

I was selected.

Then won’t you be interested in going to

Engineering Design Centre?

I accepted that

then within about few months

there was an offer from US

for a post doctoral work.

The same place

where professor was very much in interested

so, it was a very embarrassing situation to ask leave.

Professor Narayana Murthy was the Director.

He felt it is not advisable for you to go

So, be here.

74. That was 70; 70. 74. 77;

77. 77 much later. 77. Yeah. Right.

No I was there after 73 for 4 years. Sir

how did you move into ME and MH in-

after the Engineering Design Centre

the Professor Naryana Murthy himself said.

It is better that you go to ME much.

Because he was

incharge of mechanical engineering professor.

So, I went there.

Again there was my own classmate sitting there.

Professor Raidu.

Like Ramani Raidu and many other people classmates were.

So,I joined my MEMH.

After some time only this offer came

and the Engineering Design Centre also was born

then it was difficult for me

to convince Professor Narayana Murthy to

to- Yeah. Time up? No this a no this is the ME and MH. Already

ok. In fact now the name has been changed sir.

Yeah, If you see that,

it is a machine elements. Yeah and mechanical handling.

Yeah. Laboratory now, it is called Machine Design.

Right I I knew that. Right sir. I knew that

because mechanically machine this is the mechanical

what is that the the the other side mechanical handling,

there was there isn’t anybody.

Mechanical handling is closed. Nobody is there? No.

closed. All the three are. And

for your information

That machine dynamics group in applied mechanics,

joined our department. Yeah I know that.

So, they have the thrust now. Professor

Ramamurti was so, Very much insisting on that. If you had

continued in mechanics.

Yeah. That machine dynamics.

I would have moved out automatically. You would have moved out automatically. It is ok Yeah,

Can you recognize somehow these people?

Professor Ramachandran

and Professor Sampath Desai.

And. I think half. That gentleman is

I I know him I forget his name.

his name would start with the letter B.

I forget that That gentleman with the-

Yeah, I I forget his name.

the man with spectator is a German.

Right. A nice gentleman I forget-

Professor Narayana Murthy at the back of

Professor Ramachandran.

right right. Just behind him of course.

These are workers

and he is the person who was inaugurated.

Kerckhoff.

Ok. So, all these people I know.

I am able to recollect. Very very.

And there was a

this person also I know I forget that

the the a person between

Professor- yeah, that is Sampath right.

Yeah. Sampath.

So, and and he he I knew very well, but

he is a bit handicapped person.

Do you remember?

No. He used to walk a little-

Herbert. No no Herbert is.

Workshop; workshop. Yeah yeah. Ebert; Ebert sorry. Yeah. Ebert.

I I forget his name.

I forget that now.

anyway it doesn’t matter. So, very interesting sir,

you moved into

mechanical ME and MH in 77.

Yeah. From Engineering Design Centre.

I joined MEMH in 74.

Ok. As a

technical senior Right right. Technical assistant Right. right.

Only to teach drawing.

Ok. Ok. Ok. I was also doing Ph.D. at that time.

So, just for you know. Fine. Remembrance. Very good.

So, then sir what happen you know in MEMH

you know can you. Even Ramaiyan. Yeah.

yeah. Ramaiyan and others also joined at that time.

Right right. They were all faculty in Anna University.

Then, you were developing a set up

in ME and MH. Yeah.

ME and MH the first Ph.D. student was Professor Balaveera Reddy.

And he was a very dynamic person,

this was set up. Do you remember yes. This was set up

and very much respect I must give to this

because he worked night and day

leaving his family at the other coast

and he built in is already

a man with four daughters and a son

and they were all in this set

and he came there

very much concentrating on Ph.D. work.

He did this equipment.

Can you say anything special

about this equipment because- Sure the special

feature is there is a slot there

where when the

slot is not there because of the metal,

when a conductor go goes

just in between a magnet

there will be a generation of current.

So, there is an Eddy current.

The moment the slot comes

the Eddy current will disappear.

So, a current.

slot, a current, a slot.

that will give an electric break.

So, this break was utilized

on a gear shaft

to see the two gears when they mesh,

one gear will be running,

the other gear will be preventing Yeah,

Just because of intermit breaking.

So, when there is a hit,

since I did already on contact mechanics,

I was interested in making this

contact mechanics applied on gears.

That was the work.

the for that only this was built.

Later on, by changing parameters.

many other works could also be done.

This Sir- if I am correct

it is also a non-conduct sensing arrangement. Yeah right.

Whereas, you know there is no conduct sensor here. Yeah right.

So, you can

remotely, Right right yeah. Collect the signal.

That is right. That is another advantage of this.

Damping. Subsequently

many people worked on this if I am correct.

Yeah yeah. Not only Balaveera Reddy.

if I am correct Venkataraman. 7; 7 people did. 7 people. Did work on that

Yeah, So, one set up.

7 people I think. People did that work

yeah and this was also wanted in some of the

this self-financing engineering colleges.

Right. To build up to take it because IIT did not

after some time wanted.

but later on

there were a hesitating move and all that.

But there wasn’t anybody

to use it properly

that is how it got diminished.

I don't know what happened for subsequently.

I didn't go to the laboratory further.

But that that the set up is continuing there or I don't know.

Now, lot of revamping has been done. Yeah Ok

So, new equipments have come in. No. it is too old.

Probably, some more

better concepts should have come now and

too old Yeah, So,

I am sorry; I have taken a lot of time. No. no. no. no.

it was very interesting to- Ok. talk to you.

So, you retired. Then, after you just asked me the career.

Then, I moved Engineering Design Centre.

then I was given an offer

you be in the Mechanical Engineering Department as a faculty.

at the time,

at the same time, do be in the Engineering Design Centre.

So, faculty in mechanical engineering

and chief design engineer in

Engineering Design Centre.

This sort of thing again

disturbed me very much.

Then, after some time Professor

L. S. Srinath felt

the Engineering Design Centre was

the concept was made by Professor Ramachandran.

Professor L. S. Srinath felt-

Sir. before that,

do you remember one work done by us jointly

in the feed mixing unit yes yeah.

in Nandanam. I I remember. I remember that; I remember that.

Yeah it is a point we should be.

So, very very much highlighted.

I am happy that you you mentioned. Because you are-

you are doing many projects.

Right. In one project.

you know we joined together. Yeah right.

And that is a Nandanam

feed mixing unit. I understand.

I understand. Where we had to. Sure sure. Do.

Sure. we we had that work

and Engineering Design Centre

did go to very many places for consultancy

on the design particularly.

One example I will try to give

the people

for taking the feather off from the chicken

they were finding it difficult.

They were asking me whether it would be possible for a machine,

machine to be designed.

So, it will be very quick and all that.

We tried, but

by the time Engineering Design Centre itself did not exist.

Yeah. So, it it couldn’t continue.

There were lots of projects we were interested

but the only thing is

manpower was not there

and there wasn’t automation;

there wasn’t any automation.

By that time there wasn’t any software development

which we could be using it for design.

Such developments were not there.

So, but that itself is a different field.

Development of a software design is a different field.

So, these were all put forth to

Professor Srinath and he felt

that it is wise that we dissolve that

and he made me to perfectly permanently join

in MEMH laboratory.

That is how I- One more person

you have forgotten Engineering Design Centre,

Professor. Professor Kalander Saheb.

Kalander Saheb also, yeah, Kalandar Saheb also Yeah,

He also joined in the manufacturing side.

I went to the MEMH. After that

you know Channabasavan. And Professor Channabasavan

went to precision engineering.

After the centre was closed.

Yeah. People were distributed. We were distributed right.

Kalandar Saheb came to our lab. Then, there was Sharma.

Sharma also was there in the

engineer design centre he also went to the precision engineering.

D. K. Sharma.

And Kotial.

Kotial also was there.

Right. Shirohi also was there.

all we were all there in the Engineering Design Centre.

they were transferred to precision engineering

while I was transferred to MEMH.

Kalandar Saheb went to manufacturing.

Channabasavan also went to precision engineering. Right sir.

Malhotra

my? Malhotra was in the FRP. FRP Centre.

He was already there in the FRP. Right sir.

He didn’t come to the Engineering Design Centre. Right.

right sir. So, how was your you know

your work in ME and MH because

I left MEMH you know in 77.

Ok. I went to IIT Bombay.

Yeah. I know. When I came back.

I came back to manufacturing engineering. Engineering section.

Yeah. And not did not come.

Right. To MEMH. You went to Bombay I went to USA.

That is how it is. It is right.

So, anything that you can recollect

in your- No. MEMH was a very

lovable place to work with because

all our colleagues were excellent,

it was a beautiful place and

big workshop and all that.

Professor M. A. Parameshwaran. M. A. Parame that is

MEMH Machine Elements Mechanical Handling.

That is how it was named as MEMH

and machine elements.

We were rotating ourselves who is the head and all that.

For a longer time

there was a professor called Raidu

who happened to be my classmate.

He was there as a head for a long time

and then, Professor Parameshwaran permanently

head for mechanically handling.

There were only three people

Professor Parameshwaram, Professor Ram. Ramakoteswara Rao.

Ramakoteswara Rao

and Then, Madhusudan Rao Madhusudan Rao

who unfortunately passed away.

Excepting Parameshwaram the other two don’t exist now.

So, when these things were going on

there was a lot of exchange between

mechanical handling and machine elements.

There wasn't any big demarcation.

Even though separate laboratories exist.

They were in the in the same building.

So, we never had any difficulty

in exchanging mechanics or

manpower and all that even materials.

So, went on for a long time.

I think before that was dissolved

I left the institution.

So, later on I do not know

what happened. Did not get dissolved sir.

Actually after Parameshwaran,

we couldn’t continue the program.

Ok. Madhusudan Rao also went to. Could not.

Malaysia

So, we were finding it difficult to offer that.

Understand Programme.

we had PG programme.

Yeah yeah. In machine elements alone.

Yeah yeah And a mechanical handling. Right and

later on Balasubramaniam joined I think. So, mechanical handling had

to be closed. Yeah yeah natural.

So, that is how it happened. Yeah.

yeah. Still its a very hot field sir.

you know if some. True.

Somewhere because no other institution in India has it.

no that was a. Does it.

except Kharagpur. Crane and all that were very well-developed.

Well-developed.

And I I think the credit again goes to Professor Kraus.

He was the architect for all the laboratories.

the departments were all laboratory oriented.

That concept was brought by

Kraus because in Germany it was the case.

Sir did you come for our Golden Jubilee Celebration

were you- I don’t think I came.

Ok 2000. I don’t-

9 if I am correct.

No I don’t think so, I didnt come.

Invitation was sent. 2009 I

I already had move to Perundurai.

Perundurai. So, I couldn’t make the trip.

Ok. Because was an employee there

I didn’t take leave and come.

Because I know that is the time, I was also a HOD.

I see. So, then,

many of the professors retired professor came

including German professors. No I could have come

had I been free so,

but I was employed

somewhere. Probably some other time we can you know

talk about. I will I show you the- Sure sure.

photographs also. With pleasure with pleasure.

Then, anything you can recollect which is

something at the top of your mind

about you are stay in IIT. Ok

as far as the department is concerned,

irrespective which department do you belong,

excellent friendship

and people were very much

helping each other even though

some minor personal animosities

might be there out of competition or something like that.

Professional competition is there everywhere.

So, excepting that

I atleast feel

that there was a beautiful coordination.

To make that coordination better

we used to have the Saturday movies where

people again

used to mix with families and things like that.

it was a wonderful life

and for making that sort of movies

very good Open Air Theatre was there.

There is also a credit

regarding the Open Air Theatre

probably, many people may not know.

If time permits I might say that also, Please Yeah,

There was a very big pit there.

The present place where there is Open Air Theatre

a very big pit.

Superintending Engineer Ramaswamy was

the engineer there at that time.

Professor Sengupto was

trying to do things for the institution.

They both inspected the site very big pit.

Sengupto was asking Ramaswamy what to do.

Then, he said with the

idea of building some building there,

he said no problem sir,

without any difficulty, we could dump earth and then,

make it better.

Then, he again smiled, it is usual style of smiling.

When he smiles,

there is something which others have to watch

that that this is the meaning.

He is smiling. He is basically a civil engineer.

He is a mechanical engineer.

excellent handwriting. Professor Sengupto.

Beautiful. Professor Sengupto? Yeah.

Excellent teacher.

Somebody said civil engineer.

No. no. no. He is he took classes for applied mechanics. Oh.

I attended also. I see I see.

He was fond of taking classes

but there wasn’t any time as a Director

and there were some funds I mean lot of

in fact for the whole day I can tell,

but there is not much of time.

Beautiful things one can enjoy

but that there is no time. Anyway that pit he smiled

then Mr. Ramaswamy I didn’t ask you

whether we are going to make the building

or any other thing.

I was just trying to think what can we do that.

Then, Ramaswamy was keeping quiet.

Then he said why don’t we make this as an Open Air Theatre.

That is how the Open Air Theatre came.

Without much of expenditure

the the existing pit itself

was made in such a way,

it is a beautiful gallery, we enjoy today.

then Open Air Theatre

and in Open Air Theatre

there was a difficulty by the time of course, Sengupto left

when our-

Professor Ramachandran. Ramachandran came.

Whenever we used to have function

we had to wait for the sun

to go down because

suns rays were harming we were not in a position to

listen to it.

So, this sort of

situation in a big institution is not good

they thought that only made a

a very big auditorium to to be developed now

which is now called a Student Activity;

Activity Centre.

Now, the original concept again was

to make the stage common

and this is the Open Air Theatre

the other end will be closed theater.

So, the stage can be rotated

without any difficulty of additional expenditure.

But subsequent directors changed that.

So, so the student activity centre became an independent one.

Independent one. This became an independent one.

That is how it was.

I said thank you very much sir. Oh it’s a pleasure sir.

On behalf of center. Sorry if I have unnecessary taken. No. no.

Unnecessary information. Yeah.

So, maybe I didn’t know where to cut where to enter.

So, professor- I want to ask one question. Sure.

One Professor Haug was there in applied mechanics.

Yes. what is the year?

In 60’s. Yes.

Professor Haug I told you.

he was there.

Which; which.

He took a vibrations. vibration class.

Vibration class. Ok.

Because his daughter used to work as a- Yeah yeah.

Assistant. His daughter in Chemistry Department. In Chemistry Department.

Yeah I know that. And Then, how.

Yeah Right. Yeah he

her name used to start with the E I forget the full name anyway.

Ok. ok. Yeah.

and he remained there only a for few years.

He very old, he couldn’t.

in his place only Wagner came.

Originally-

Right. Originally. he was the person recruited for a vibrations.

Professor Wagner replaced him.

Ok So,

Thank you sir.

संग्रह

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