Prof. B. V. A. Rao in Conversation With Prof. Narayanan
Professor Rao, I am very happy to be here today,
interviewing you for the Heritage Centre of IIT Madras.
Actually, you were the first person I think I met
when I joined IIT Madras officially,
when I reported for duty in the Machine Dynamics Lab on
6th January 1975. So, its really doubly pleased
that after so long I am again meeting you in the IIT campus.
And can you just tell I mean before joining IIT Madras,
where did you have your education, then what were you doing?
So, can you please tell me something about it?
Thank you Professor Narayanan.
I am happy that I am meeting one of my old colleagues,
so who knew me also so well and also whatever I have done
he can also vouch for it.
So, that's a great advantage.
So, I am so lucky to have a partner like that
like Professor Narayanan, so who was so helpful
and so guiding on many other issues
and I think the the Machine Dynamics Laboratory
has made a big name
and people like that who are all involved.
Before this- it all started,
actually the first batch of in 1958,
the first batch of the IIT Bombay started.
And when they were interviewing it in Bombay
I had just then completed my masters
at Indian Institute of Science in Internal Combustion Engines
and I was taking a training,
I was a trainee in the Kirloskar Oil Engines, Pune.
So, I have attended that interview.
The interview went very well with lot of Russian professors but
and finally, they said you do not have
teaching, actual teaching experience.
Then, then a month later I was- Director called me,
he was actually planning also Director called me
he said no no, you are not selected for that lecturer,
but we are now sending about 7-8 people to Germany
and under the some scheme for which IIT Bombay has been given.
So, if you are interested you would you like to go?
And you are selected because
you do not have to attend any interview,
we will make all arrangements.
So, it was all so exciting.
And then I went to Germany to Dresden for my PhD.
And all that there was only a class that
I should work for some years
at least minimum of some 3-4 years after coming back.
I returned in 1961, and then started working,
but I wasn't too happy there because the,
so they did not recognize any of my talent,
many of my specializations which I took.
I was tried to ask to teach something else etcetera
like thermodynamics and other things which not my areas.
Then, at the time there was a conference
on Applied Mechanics, Stated? Applied Mechanics at Bombay,
when Professor Kurt- Professor Haug,
Kurt Haug from here who was teaching,
he was a German expert
from that first one of the first German expert to come here.
So, he came here to attend that program,
and then he was very much excited
that somebody is speaking German language
[inaudible] and he himself was not so conversant with an English.
His English was always people were making fun.
But then he was excited why didn't you come
you know you are a German man and a German
research student and then you come away there.
And I am going to I am going to advertise also you see.
See how things are there you know.
He advertised soon, within partite
I saw the advertisement coming
for an Assistant Professor and I was a Lecturer.
I applied, but when I came to the interview whom do I see,
giants, giants in the field like Satish Dhawan,
an expert and such people were there.
Then I thought I may not be even get an entry
and finally, Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar,
AR's father and he was the Chairman at that time,
they were all, it's all very serious.
They were very serious in selecting people in those days
and then I was selected.
So, and then, but there they did not allow me to
immediately leave, at 6 months till their notice
I came and joined.
So, I was one of the earliest.
He was teaching vibrations
and the the students were in the final year, fifth year.
Already one to, first batch was to go out in 1963, 1959 to 63.
So, there was first batch was to go out
and then at at that time I was asked
to teach some Machine Tool Dynamics.
It was surprising 150 hours of Vibrations were taught
Mr. Narayanan at that time
and second year Vibration, third year Vibrations,
fourth because I was the only man
he was fully teaching High Vibrations
and I was so excited
that my area of specialization is bring you so much importance.
So, on that one had happened.
But none of the laboratories were coming up
because he had not even planned a building for that.
Professor Rao. Yeah.
Can you say a little more about the selection procedure?
You said Professor Satish Dhawan, Professor Laxmiswamy Mudaliar,
they were all stalwarts who were there
in the Selection Committee,
maybe something would have happened so,
you know we have been in the
interviews of other faculty members and so on,
in those days how did it go and so on.
Briefly you can touch upon that, it will be interesting.
No, they actually, Dhawan say
I also met him also much later
when I went for a CS, this CMERI directorship in Delhi.
He was the Chairperson again at that time,
that time also, I met him.
I was not selected at that time.
They were looking at something you know, spark
the people and that type of questions. Very basic questions.
And you know many of us you know we don't concentrate.
Thus that was the time you know because
one or two fundamental things which I could not answer.
The same experience I had in my PhD thesis,
Dr. Rao makes a finds out a new type of vibration
and claims that he is an expert,
but he does not know this fundamental thing you know,
the professor showed. I think, I think that is how
I need to change my views.
I think there is something wrong
with our system of education here,
mostly exam oriented people
who were all trained etcetera and other things
and I think the people
were all really looking for some spark in them that is how.
So, that is how I was concentrating mostly on
basic principles in all my course.
There was a nice saying by many stewards,
doctors were Dr. Rao's first 5-6 lectures are wonderful
afterwards only problematic because you know
lot of mathematics would come etcetera like.
But you know, so that is how
even today I had lot of people you know,
I got lot of good I mean what is it compliments
from people who have attained very high position
even in this country that my.
Were, were you informed immediately after the interview
that you have been selected or you were- Immediately, immediately.
Immediately, yeah, oh good. With a within of fortnight I got it.
Oh, ok. In October itself I got it,
but till till end of April I could not.
I joined here on 5th of May.
So, 5th of May. 93. Yeah.
19. 1963.
Yeah. And I taught the first batch
of a Mechanical in Machine Tool Dynamics [laughs] yeah.
And so, my my background was
I had a very interesting things earlier
when I did a project work in instead of Science,
on something like Induction of Alcohol to the Petrol and Diesel Engines
to see whether they will give more power.
They gave more power, but what happened was
the stresses were so high, they were failing at early.
So, many of the type of things you know
even there also research at Institute of Science
people didn't know what research was in those days.
When I joined here with the first
first only one PhD in Mechanical Engineering,
most of the senior people who were had
registered for PhD in Mechanical Department,
I was the the Doctoral Committee, so I fortunate.
So, that was the type of thing.
Even in IIT Bombay when I joined as a faculty, I was the first one
in Mechanical Engineering with a PhD from outside.
So, this was the stage,
I had a good chance to build a good team
and that's what happened here at IIT.
I said I should- No, one more thing.
So, this is Applied Mechanics Department
is not there in many institutes,
it is sort of unique maybe in-
Professors got backup. There is, yeah. It was there in IIT Delhi
which came after IIT Madras.
Of course, it was there in
Allahabad that Regional Engineering College.
So, there only very few institutes
had Applied Mechanics Department.
So, you can tell some of your experience
joining the Applied Mechanics Department and-
Yeah, first first I was actually I was when I was selected
I was not so clear at that time.
It's a departments and all these things.
I don't know when I was I was my Vibrations
you know the plan I said Vibrations,
but you know it was to be taught from the Applied Mechanics,
I am a Mechanical Engineer
I may go something like Mathematics Department
or something like Applied; people always used to
make fun of Applied Mechanics, Applied Mathematics.
And that was true also
because all of the most of the subjects were mathematical nature
which it is in elasticity. And jocularly, they used to call it as
Supplied Mechanics Department also. Supplied, yeah, yeah, yeah.
In the sense that because we were sort of. Reddy.
Supporting the other departments, yeah.
This fellow writes to be as Department of Supplied Mechanics.
So, like that. So, question is,
but I still then I said decided
I created that Machine Dynamics Laboratory.
I was the man who created the Machine Dynamics Laboratory.
I told Sengupto, Professor I am a Mechanical Engineer,
you are a Mechanical Engineer,
if I said only I am doing like this my career will be ruined there.
So, they will not, there are no mechanical fellow will teach me.
So, machine dynamics which involved many facets this one,
which I saw to it those areas did not
come up with the regular Mechanical Department.
So, it became a part of this one.
A. Ramachandran helped me because
he said you give the, you conduct your course,
but give the degree in Mechanical Engineering.
The degree was given from Mechanical Engineering,
but the course was conducted by us in Machine Dynamics.
So, that Mechanical Machine Dynamics Laboratory
as you are aware, so was one of the things
you you should show the photograph of that.
That is the one you know which I I will show you here,
the very first picture as a developer you can have a look.
Professor Haug also, he was instrumental in introducing
lot of Vibration courses at start,
the laboratories did not come up
and in that process he had to get back.
So. No. See we had the Vibrations Lab it was called.
Vibration lab. And then you said that.
It was in the first floor instead of- Yeah, you you made it, yeah.
So, the Sengupto, Professor Sengupto, the first Director realized
I said look here there is one West German doctorate,
another is the East German. I was from East German doctorate.
And I was also equally coming up with ideas
in those field because that is a field in which I worked in Germany.
You were referring to Professor Wagner, is it not? No, not Wagner.
Oh, oh, yeah, right, ok, right.
Yeah, ok. Then, I said, then you know Professor Haug,
he was not working towards much on this laboratory.
So, then he was sent.
Then, they wrote to Wagner. Wagner showed interest to come,
then he Professor Sengupto wrote very clearly
that there is already one German doctorate here,
Indian who has come from East German this thing,
but you may have some differences here etcetera
and other thing you know the political situation.
But he has lot of ideas.
So, if you are able to work with him together you are welcome.
He said I will have no problem
and he was a wonderful man professor Wagner and you know-
So, say when we the vibration because
vibration is the German
Indo-German the GTZ with IIT Madras was
no classified area should be taken.
Like for example, Aeronautics was not supported.
For example, why; say for example,
here we Applied Mechanics and Aeronautics
was combined for some time,
but immediately it had been withdrawn like that.
So, you could see the Vibrations Lab when when I
expanded by the activities not only vibrations, tribology,
we should maintain many other areas, acoustics, etcetera
you can see the number of team that joined here.
Mr. Velusamy is here, Mr., Mr. C. R. Subramaniam,
all of them were retired in a very-
We have do not have two or three people there,
Ramamurthi, Ganesh were all my students.
Ganeshan was my student,
then Prabhu was my first PhD student.
Then, then C. R. Subramaniam was, ?was working with me.
And all my colleagues here many of these people
who stood solidly behind me in building up just lab.
Today, I am very proud of that lab because
when I see the ultimately at the at the end of my retirement at 63,
that lab had produced large number of PhDs
which no other laboratory had made.
The number of publications was so high
and the number of academy of engineering,
there were 5 people with Ramesh etcetera,
6 people from the same laboratory was done actually.
That is a great credit to the IIT Madras
and particularly this laboratory.
And this is the laboratory, what was I was initial stages
to and I was happy to involve.
The first to chop you know ISRO,
Abdul Kalam used to come and sit and discuss with us
like this, what he wants.
He wanted a Hydraulic Vibration Machine
to consolidate the solid propellants in rockets.
At that time all the indigenous this thing.
So, we I developed a Hydraulic Vibration Machine.
It came also next picture, next picture you can see that.
See here, we got a NRDC Award,
Imports Substitution Award for this.
It has a one tonne shaker with this one,
we did it also for several other people.
And even for tractor seats etcetera
that was one of the first experimental projects that we developed here.
So, when they wanted see,
we wanted to simulate satellites
actually on a platform here,
we developed a 10 inch stainless stainless steel ball with pure air jets
with a platform on which the satellites are mounted
and they could give get 6 degrees of freedom.
And then, they they are deputed two with people
to IIT, ISRO people
for 2 for 2 years to develop that whole city.
The third one was they wanted to expose
later on I will show see, these all the
people you know we we developed for the industry.
We this laboratory particularly
worked very closely with the industry
and we had lot of major projects
which got us good laurels like Import Substitution,
Invention Awards etcetera, many other things etcetera.
See, see this is the one which we developed
and which came in newspapers and all that.
You can see that.
And first we used hydraulic,
we also used the pneumatic shakers.
These are all very; see you can see that IIT team develops
Vibrator Dr. B. V. A. Rao etcetera
names are there in the Hydraulic Vibration Machine.
I think this is something really heritage to see that you know
how how this institute.
I think Professor Wagner is also very good at
solving some of the industrial problems and so on.
He was. And later on he became
the founder of the Industrial Consultancy and
Sponsored Research Centre. Wagner see, Wagner you know what happened was
1968 he joined and immediately I went as the home board,
I was the first Home Board Fellow to be selected by from IIT Bombay.
So, I went to Kalsubai at that during that period. IIT Pune or IIT Madras.
IIT Madras, yeah. Yeah, right.
During that period he was managing.
The moment you know 69 I retired,
he left and handed over the charge to me
in the Machine Dynamics Laboratory.
And that's how we continued for example, RVR Sastri,
now who joined later Bharat Dynamics Limited,
this is the where Ramamurthi's project for the KCP.
We know the drums and trammels etcetera
which makes lot of noise and vibrations you know
when they mix up etcetera
and they are messing the stresses.
This is our bed this is what I feel today,
you have dumped all sorts of things on that,
it is a we we took an enormous efforts
to put up that beautiful isolation bed,
unique isolation bed in perhaps in the whole country
where we can test
but But sir, still it is there and it is being used.
I do not know, yes.
You can see the how they how they whole laboratory.
The shock testing machine was developed by me
for shocks, how this is, because
we helped also IGCR in the shock phenomena and other thing
because they wanted to see
when they are blasting the jetty
whether the reactors etcetera will go into?
So, we were concentrating essentially
on lot of industrial projects of high magnitude
and high need to the country etcetera
with like ISRO, DRDO, BARC,
I mean all of us you should know the exception
without all that help I mean I could not have done it.
Such a team cooperation was there from all the colleagues.
Although some people did not see eye to eye with me,
but still we worked together.
No, no you can tell something about your colleagues
in the Machine Dynamics Lab Exactly.
as well as the other section no, Applied Mechanics Department,
we had the Fluid Mechanics Lab,
the Solid Mechanics Section and so on,
and later on the Biomechanics
and the Biomedical Engineering section also joined.
You see. So, perhaps.
Brief report which I wrote
see the Applied Mechanics went through a hard times at that time
because there was no permanent head of the department.
D. V. Reddy was there, he was always one
one leg here, one he was and finally, board out there.
Then, they combined Aeronautics and Applied Mechanisms
that did not work out, according to Germans that was removed.
And what one time both we were three laboratories there,
Vibrations Laboratory, then Elasticity Laboratory,
and also the Fluid Mechanics Laboratory,
all 3 of us from Bangalore, Indian Institute of Science.
Each of us had, but we are all assistant professors only, all 3.
So, they used to call trimurtis in those days
because of we we occupied 3 different positions.
At one time when we were all 3 of us went to Germany
nobody was here and you know the department suffered a lot.
So, you can see the our industrial consultations
and we had we had very good I don't know
at that time I I I spent about 3-4 years in Germany
for before that, I could see how hard it is that,
but we had equally capable people amongst us,
like R. V. R Sastri, Swarnamani.
In Electronics in those days, they were all coming up,
there was, they could develop a good sensors.
And you, I also put up here many of the things
we had developed indigenously, indigenously,
because indigenization was very much encouraged,
with those you can see are all we are testing with the bus duct.
All all the things nuclear plants, everything was tested etcetera.
You can see even; how to put up good foundations
for vibration free foundations etcetera
which we are all doing it here, this itself is done.
What was happened was in the HSB building, next building
the vibrations were affecting the semiconductor laboratory in the top floor.
Correct. We saw the blow, this one come this one come in
air conditioner blower's compressors that were used,
so they were creating that problem through.
So, those things were
we put up separate special beds etcetera to see that thing.
That means, we developed a capacity to
organize ourselves because that's how the industry people
were very much this one.
Ultimately, when we produced large number of PhDs in vibration area.
Acoustics area I was tying,
because see Acoustics I did not have much
because that is the one area I picked up much later after coming,
but no the acoustics particularly with Dr. Narayan's entry,
this one we worked very close this one
along with Civil Engineering people and all that
and so acoustics also become a very important thing.
We used to teach shipal ship vibrations,
ship ship acoustics, and such areas also
interacting with other department.
We always thought you know the Applied Mechanics as a Supplied Mechanics.
We should supply we should we should feedback
good areas from this.
All mathematical mathematical to the other department,
so that we do it.
But still we are although we are mathematical,
we were doing hard hard hard-
You know you can also talk about the new programmes
which were started on Industrial Tribology,
M.Tech in Machine Dynamics,
M.Tech in Industrial Tribology
because 19 after 1993 I left.
The the Machine Dynamics Laboratory published a brochure,
giving all the publications and activities and everything,
they have, there they have acknowledged me.
The courses the postgraduate programme
started in Machine Dynamics majoring in vibration and sound,
the tribology majoring in lubrication, friction and wear,
and the maintenance engineering and management in reverse
are all essentially due to Dr. Rao.
You know they are unique programmes, I mean the
the maintenance in management
it was in that those days it was not even countries you know. And not the.
Types. Yeah.
Because these were coming in newspapers,
yes world is facing these problems oil crisis,
oil will lot of failures due to vibration dynamic effects.
So, we immediately transferred here
because you know what happens I will tell ultimately,
anything is done we realize it much later,
maybe even after the person is not there,
you know that that is our nature.
But how we were doing at that time,
but nobody nobody talked about it,
we thought it is all just normal things we were doing,
but actually what we were doing was
what if the country reads and we were at the right.
If that type of policy had followed
of the Nehru's policy at that time
I don't think this globalization would have come
and we had to depend on outside people etcetera
for so many things etcetera and other things.
So, we had the capability.
For example, the missile testing, when they were firing the missiles,
four and half kilometres they were wasting one missile casting the enormous.
So, we developed a ray keeping the missile and pulling the wires
with the same acceleration characteristic for testing,
qualification testing and that got an Invention Award for us.
Yeah, no the the acoustic testing facility for high
High Intensity noise levels.
Of some of these spacecraft structures.
So, you see how They are also unique.
See my people, Rao's people will see the
number of people I would take, not one.
That was my thing.
I wanted to knowledge to assimilate to many people,
not one, not live with me alone,
that was my trump at that day.
See, the number of people got involved
from Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electronics,
everybody and other thing,
I was we are doing at the Ennore
because loose soil whether we need piles and other things
strong foundation or not
we were helping them those people here.
If we just quickly go through it,
it shows a lot of very interesting things in this big picture
you can see how how we how to how to find out these things.
All these are some of our criteria,
but see the number of colleagues.
This is a damper, this is how or one Dr. Wagner was was,
I thought you know he would also be like the earlier professor,
he may not put any of these things,
but he was wonderful
this he was the man to first to introduce
how to test the dampers and analyse.
And one of my PhD student
worked on the transmission line, same thing too.
See, every project we did.
You know these Stockbridge dampers were used. 2 or 3 2 or 3
project from PhDs we produced on that
that is the credit; that means, it was not only an industrial work,
but also project project work for PhDs.
So, that is how the
the systems were totally different there at that time.
Can see the, these are all the things indigenously developed,
test etcetera. We had a lot of good things.
You can see the bus rides very very areas.
So, some of the things you know
we have ourself developed in the laboratories
like sensors, vibrators and other things
are also shown in this photographs.
I don't know if you are able to make what is,
what saying what is Machine Dynamics Laboratory.
So, if you can able to put it.
I it will be a good thing for future people to see that.
Do you have that acoustic transversibility?
Yeah. Tested that for; that photograph also.
Go to go to the almost to end sir, I will show you
just by go for. You see these are all industrial,
these are the things we developed.
We could have continued with that work type of work,
but indigenous development. Next, last one you go sir.
This is for the tire stress analysis. Yeah, yeah.
Bagomatic press. this over in this,
it may be in the other one. The the next one that I put it I think.
Yeah, here little lower.
You will go there. Yeah, you go there. Yeah, I could see.
These are all PhD works.
See, even Germans gave me an equipment here.
So, I invited the director
and also the German consulate for people and you know.
See, this is the one, the SLV-3, first rocket Abdul Kalam shared.
We created a facility outside 180 dB,
inside it should be 80 dB;
that means, 180 dB means if you are get explore out
for a minute because you cannot even go about more than 120, 130.
But such risk we took in developing, we created horns,
all all they here you know the the there the
Thermodynamics Laboratory we created all these facilities and did it.
So, we interacted with many other departments and their facility.
So, can I say something in the?
See, we we were the first to have this type of acoustic high intensity,
Oh, yeah. acoustic test facility in our lab.
This was one of Professor Rao's PhD student Professor Ram Bhatt
he developed it, but later on the ISRO people
they found a use for this testing
to qualify some of the payloads
which have been sent to sent by rockets and so on,
but now in ISRO in Bangalore they have.
students developed that. So, they have a big testing facility
Yes and also in n-test in Imarat that is DRDO lab,
they they have a big reverberation test facility and
they we have all been design review team
we were reviewers and so on.
But I want to say that this was the first facility
which was created in the country for this acoustic tensibility. we should not like too much.
In the Kaveri engine you must have heard of the GTRE was going on
lot of problems. You know finally,
I have got still that letter Abdul Kalam wrote
please consult Dr. Rao, is that letter is there.
So, they consulted me
and I gave solution within within 2 months.
Now, how why that noise where that noise is coming from,
and what could be that is
because it was a non-linear vibration
which they are not not even perceived etcetera.
Anyhow, so this glory somehow
why I am trying to tell is this somehow
we could have glorified in those it, so much, but we did not do it.
We did not do it.
But you know we were in the right direction
how these things could come.
I think the Heritage Centre should take some steps
to see that see the the
how the future generation people should pick up.
Perhaps you can say something about that
noise test which we carried out in the airport you know
for if you remember something on that yes, right. See
I have put up here.
This is not only my credit here,
this old projects, all are major projects.
Yeah that we can- All are major projects.
Year wise I have put it here.
See, when Pondicherry Airport,
Pondicherry when Pondicherry they wanted to put a airport
there was objection from- Saleem Ali.
Saleem Ali for this you know for for long we affected
and also the the hospital people
the Pondicherry Hospital people.
And the other Saleem Ali and this one there was objection.
Then the ministry people wrote to me,
wrote to us somehow recommended go to our laboratory.
So, we along with Narayanan and couple of people
2 or 3, Ramachandran and others. Professor Subramanian and Ramchandran.
24 hours we stood on the Meenambakkam Airport
in the high grass where that come you know
where the 7 4 7s would just land on our head
taking a great risk you know in those days,
measured the noise level for the all the higher
level aircrafts, 24 hours.
2 days we did it.
It was a great risk we took.
From that we plotted what is called
noise exposure forecast contours, NEF contours.
These contours show that
within that contour no building should come safe
because they will be subjected to aircraft noise
which can cause lot of serious problems.
And so, none of these people who are complaining
did not come within that range
that was our, but still the Pondicherry airport was cleared,
they completed the whole what is that that runway.
Again, there was a problem
and myself, Narayanan and myself went
we went to the hospital people who complained
with the green dress we are all put on because
we are also because during an operation they wanted to show that.
And we showed that the noise made by their that generators
was much more than the single aircraft
that would fly on this thing.
You know we had a wonderful.
We we also met you remember that Trissur.
Yeah. Trissur, the whole area they were complaining of
textile mill which was coming out the the sleepless nights
and the children got lot of effects etcetera.
And we used to this the magistrate of dispute
give that gave that project to us
and we tried to sort out that problem.
I mean I can go on large number of projects which were done.
Luckily I had a good camera in those days
none of these people were using any camera
that is how I was able to keep so many of these photographs
and I would be very happy to see that these these things
are all given back to you to the Heritage Centre
and you know that each each will speak
a story by itself and each.
So, what I want to do is I know that is a limited. No, can you
just list some of the major projects which are been- Yeah, yeah it is written already.
You can just read or. No I I read
I will make this whole report. I have to correct my English here
because it was written in ? and I will. No problem.
major projects I will give brief account its already written.
I will put everything together.
It can be kept in one of the things
for people who want to really see what Machine Dynamic is.
Somehow you know for example, today tomorrow today
Machine Dynamics Laboratory does not exist.
Now, that's why I am trying to talk little more emphatically
because if it was continuing it is a different story,
in that manner it is not, in that manner it is not there.
And you know that after the computers and other things
today's way of looking at its a totally different issue, ok.
And but question is at those days it was experimentation
which working with hands
and you know these are the type of things you know
which were very much needed.
Professor Rao, you you have
joined the IIT Madras at a very early date
when the institute has just started.
So, you must have had other experience apart from
academics, teaching, and so on,
you would have been involved in some
as a warden or sports can you say highlight.
Oh. Some of those activities, some anecdotes and.
That is a big story.
Yeah. When I joined in 63, hardly it,
see all the all the laboratories were managed by the Germans.
They were there, but many German laboratories
were still to be equipped,
not many of them had come,
and and least with applied mechanics, ok.
So, by many of us we were available for other works
like Alumni Association, then the Gymkhana,
hostels, Staff Club, Faculty Club like that.
So, we were all utilized very nicely.
I also bought out this very nicely this
when we got another, when D. V. Reddy left,
we got a professor from Caltech
one S. R. Valluri, the later who became the Director of the NAL.
And he found aghast what is these people doing,
Assistant Professors and other things,
they are doing hostel work and this work,
they are not doing any research work, you know
that is how he tried to look at the things etcetera.
And then when A. Ramchandran took over,
he also found lot of young people
instead of spending their time on research in laboratories
they were all wasting their Faculty Clubs, Gymkhanas
and other types of things you know because this is not the way.
I was the warden of hostel and also a Chairman Council of Wardens.
So, immediately said get out then.
So, within the within that 3 months,
I got the Humboldt Fellowship really would be
that is how it happened.
So, that was all a history.
But you know if you see the the team work,
if you feel the Machine Dynamics Laboratory.
And then the the type of experiments
we built up you can see that even.
So, we had a lot of teams as you can see here.
Me, I am also there in the.
This is which team it is?
Sir, may be. Professor Sengupto, yourself there.
No, this is it is Sastri, this is alumni
I was, I was. Yeah.
Yeah, this photo I do not have,
this photo I don't have at all.
See, this is very nice. So, alumni.
So, particularly you know they were all,
see you are you see you are a Institute of Science Professor,
I mean studied etcetera you are doing
all sorts of nonsense work, now that is how it happened.
So, like that. It was very interesting
and to see that many of these things.
That's why I have I have particularly mentioned in this one.
But one thing about the team between these three sections
we had, and then I was also instrumental
in starting the Biotech, Bio Biomedical Engineering.
There was a lot number of times it came to the Senate,
somehow it was dropped because there won't be the
job opportunities etcetera. But when I became
Head of the Department, I bought the Biomedical Engineering
the first student of Biomedical Engineering
one Mr. Thirumalai you know that even today
he sends me the car to whether airport or station to pick me up
and his car only going around for me.
I mean that is about Biomedical Engineering was
established only by me in that one.
So, that, so we had 4 sections
Elasticity Group, Fluid Mechanics, Machine Dynamics Group,
and this one that was the very homogenous team
and you know in which.
No, initially I think it was called Bio-Mechanics
there was a Professor Ghista.
Professor Patil. nothing happened, but he tried his best,
but it could not go through.
No, later on it became Biomedical Engineering. Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering.
So, I finally, wanted to say.
No, your experiences in the campus?
Experience with? In the campus.
Ok. Campus Maybe your social life in the campus.
I think you had a good garden, your wife was involved in Oh.
Ladies Club and so on.
Those things also. Yeah. She was very active she was.
My wife was very active.
She was a dancer herself in those days, earlier days.
And so she used to give also performances
here in the early days and you believe or not she,
myself and my wife used to go even in the double ride in the cycles.
Ok. In in the old times.
And she was she even today loves gardens and this one flowers.
So, she got for 7 successive years the best garden prize.
So, at at the hostel and whenever we had
put up etcetera and another thing.
And she was she also became the president of the Ladies Club
and she was quite active in those things
and that is how I have been active.
So, for her only this school was started in Bangalore
in 1942, I am say 75 year old institution.
I am just running as a president.
I am also that was the pre-school
which was started in Montessori System.
I am also the President of the Indian Montessori Centre.
Just I retired from Vietnam,
the first batch of your Montessorians were trained there
and all that. So, all these things I lastly you know.
No, you have mentioned about you know your tennis
activities, club activities and so on and-
Yes, because you know everything you are asking,
that's very nice of you, good No, no
Question is because even there,
even although I did not do anything in the laboratories
and research area at that time
whatever I did with perfection.
I was the first Secretary for the tennis court also, tennis court.
And so, when I retired
I instituted a rolling trophy- B.V.A. Rao Single's Trophy
in in tennis that continue and
E. G. Ramachandran's Double Trophy were for.
It continued for some years
and I do not know what happened to that etcetera thing.
So, whatever I did even there I was
when I was a all of them were professors,
but I was only the Assistant Professor who became
the Chairman Council of Wardens those days 1968
in charge of the Taramani house also and all that.
So, I did a lot of,
my my time was very glorious time for me,
it gave me a lot of opportunities to learn
and interact with people
and I always took a lot of interest in
not only in these things also,
but in sports and social activities and other things.
That's why although I retired in June 93,
I always kept contact with this lab especially with
close friends and colleagues like Narayanan
who is who interviewed me today.
And I considered this day as my greatest memorable day
for providing me an opportunity
to recollect what all I contributed
to the growth of this lab and the department I belong.
Maybe perhaps the way in which I have talked
may not be in order that's why I put it in writing
you can see that in each area,
so what has been contributed is also been explained.
And I want to know since it has come out in this shape,
I want to add little more etcetera and things
make with with photographs I put it
and sent it to you as a monograph
which can be put up here.
The uniqueness and greatness of this laboratory
can be gauged by the number of fellows
of the Indian National Academy of Engineering,
we were 6 of us. I was the first one to get.
And so, we were 6 of us,
and unfortunately 2 are no more,
both of them were voracious PhD producers of this laboratory
and who had largest number of publications in international journals.
As human beings we have our own shortcomings,
but when work come here,
we all worked as a team to uphold the name of this lab
in the highest pedestal
that such a lab is no longer there today
makes all the old timers
who contributed to its growth and fame, feel very sad.
My humble request that it deserves to be kept
as a museum for generations to remember
at this place that there was a lab like this.
Professor Rao. Like we tell.
Ok. That all people will wonder
a man like this walked down this earth for Gandhiji.
Professor Rao, can you remember something about
these these look like some shock.
Kelvin, yeah. Yeah, right.
So, it has been some negatives you have been taken by Dr. Gauri.
Klein. It will be Klein, yeah.
See, I know it. right.
There is no v.
Dr. Klein, we got a Klein,
Dr. Klein came here for a Fluid Mechanics.
And so, he was he,
in fact, he has given me a very good certificate also,
I took it took it for some time you know
he was because Germans are very practical people.
If you go to a German labs
they don't work on some small gadgets etcetera
they will work with one to one.
Regular machines and that itself they will work do research.
So, that is the type.
And they are all used to that type of research
that's why it would take long time
7 to 8 years for their PhD.
So, these are the shock tubes.
And they were also doing for the buses
the whether the flow.
Separation. Flow separations etcetera.
Yeah. Fluid mechanics was doing it.
Elasticity also was very well
led by you know he died long ago,
but you know he was a wonderful man.
There are lot of work was done on
photo elasticity and other things including Jay Ramachandran
who contributed also to the. No, no even now
I think Professor Ramesh is continuing. Ramesh
On Digital Photo Elasticity. rather a wonderful digital photography.
So, we had an excellent group
and that tradition is also still continuing here.
And lastly, I think you you all remember perhaps
when I retired in 93
some of the professional societies joined
and also my students joined
to institute a endowment price in my name B. V. A. Rao.
I didn't give any single price.
So, they have kept the money and every convocation,
it's given for the best student.
Now, because since we should all these things have got,
they are giving it for the Applied Mechanics.
Yeah. So, I have been now branded finally,
Applied Mechanics man not a mechanical man.
Do you remember some interesting anecdotes
and so on in which happened during your time, yeah?
Lot of it, lot. Lot. A few of them you can,
is a sort of interesting
which will be really recorded for memory sake,
I think you can tell, yeah.
Starting with Professor Kurt Haug,
Kurt and always remember,
recently he also died.
Yeah. A Professor Kurt as a great friend of mine.
When I worked with VIT for 12 or 13 years
Haug, his Haug his English was not so good.
So, every time he would tell my my husband,
sir we used to we used to correct. So, my wife;
not sir, not my husband
and my husband he would tell. Sir, doesn't matter.
So, he would say doesn't matter.
And I am taking about Wagner, Wagner once said Rao
I do not know what is wrong with these Tamilians.
See, Germany when you say, this means yes.
This means no. Only Vietnam is this means yes,
this means no, opposite.
I checked up recently Vietnam is it correct,
it is correct, but these Tamilains
when I tell something to do that you will say like this.
That means, it has got both components
vertical and horizontal components.
Both the rotation and linear motion are.
Sort of superimposed, ok.
So, like that you know we used to have a lot of.
You know Professor Wagner used to
perform magics in the campus you know. Magics.
You know that is how he was treated well in the the in the in the jails.
Yeah. Because he was also arrested after the war.
Ok. So, they were all involved you know that in the Second World War.
But this man used to do magic,
so by that they were all impressed
and they would give little separately something you know
treat them all a little bit. Wagner was a was a great man.
He also passed away recently, about a year ago.
So. Can you tell something about Professor Ramamurthy,
Professor Prabhu and.
Ramamurthy was a man, first man after I joined
Ramamurthy was a man
whom whom whom I interviewed also.
I was also in the interview at that time
because by the time you know they said because
no German professor was there and so I was involved.
He was he had a good record of
coming from IIT Kharagpur and other things and all that.
But he had not completed his PhD,
then he registered under Dr. R. S. Alwar
and then you know there was some problem etcetera
then I was that time in Germany and talk;
he finished his Germany.
After a PhD he wanted to be more independent.
Did my my my thing was
I said my knowledge must percolate
not only to the students,
but also to the industry people.
So, lot of industry people used to
come with dynamic problems and other things.
But problem is they were not really interested
in in what is that, working with other projects
or spending money on these things etcetera and all that.
They were not interested.
But I said I would discuss for hours with them
what can happen all this.
So, I used to also invite being number two here.
So, after that he went to Germany and came back
afterwards said Professor Rao
my rate will be 200 rupees per hour if you call me.
I cannot waste time with these people.
Thank you. So, that is a day
that is a day, I we never worked together,
for next 20 years, more than more than 20 years.
But but we are in the same laboratory, same people,
he also guided number of people etcetera
along with me and all that.
And he was great and you know
recently the I am I am more known outside the IIT
as B. V. A. means Bearing Vibration Acoustic Rao.
B. V. A. Rao almost introduced in every conference and seminar.
B. V. A. means Bearing Vibration,
that is three things which I introduced here.
Bearing means tribology, vibration,
acoustics that is the dynamics,
so which I introduced. So, was.
So, that is how it happened.
And I this condition mounting society of India,
I used to inaugurate
and he used to give key note address.
We used to work, we became close friends
and last you know when he was in the deathbed almost
with suffering from cancer, living in cancer,
we ourselves went and all that met I met twice
him, he was very jovial and talked etcetera and other thing.
So, so he was also remembering
some of the things etcetera about that one, ok.
Yeah, he was remembering that we used to do
lot of experiments in those days. That's why glorious tribute here
to to Ramamurthy also.
One more thing we should said,
we took a project for Bharat Dynamics Limited
that wire spool unwinding machine.
I used to take not only my laboratory,
from Mechanical I used to take,
I used to take from Electrical Engineering,
and also Electronics people
because it involved a lot of things etcetera and all
several time when one Professor Ramaswamy was there,
it is that time I used to take him.
We built a thyristor.
Thyristor was still you know new in those days etcetera.
So, a 15th 1500 kilo watt DC motor
has to drive a gearbox
running from 1500 to 15000.
At the end of which a disc with 400 mm
with a sonic speed,
very complicated set up we developed
for the biodynamics and then what happened
when everything was tested
and then was happening we took and put it there,
take the blast that the whole building went off.
You have seen one of the pictures like that
you getting a etcetera not that one,
but I showed in one of the later that disaster, disaster.
So, Ramaswamy said no, you you people,
your mechanical fellows are the failures.
So, I have all my energies wasted
in this developing this control etcetera and other things.
I won't come. Pandalai was Director, he said come later
then, so Pandalai has called me,
so the project was came to almost tell still this one.
So, this man said he will not come
and he will not again look into it.
So, that we we had no idea about that,
you has to only to know it.
At that time V. V. Sastry had then just come back from Germany,
I will take V. V. Sastry sir.
No, he does not know anything about this project etcetera.
Doesn't matter. I took V. V. Sastry, got it completed.
Then, a 2 months later
the Brigadier Antony was the Chief of the Bharath Dynamics,
wrote to me Professor Rao
although this is a classified project
it should not be publicized outside
because of the efforts you people have taken
I would like to recommend it to the invention motion body.
And I gave the name of Ramaswamy also.
Ramaswamy had stopped talking for me
it was that 6 months by that time
and then when he when he saw in the newspaper
that he got it, he was very excited that came become.
So, these are all, ok the part of the game.
Question is now everything was
was in the interest of the institution
and its growth and we never let down anybody outside
that any project has failed because of our efforts.
No, no I would like to mention that you know
nowadays people take pride in multidisciplinary
projects involving a number of departments and so on.
Even in those days I think such things were were happening,
I mean people were not knowing that
their they stress lot of importance on interdisciplinary,
multidisciplinary projects, but
that has been there right from the beginning.
I am humbled and honoured to receive
this accolade from the President World Federation.
I am equally grateful to the President of Institution
who nominated me to this honour
that I am receiving this international recognition
at this age of mine is a great wonder and satisfaction to me
that my efforts in this direction to share the knowledge
and academic experience with larger group of students
and professionals for nearly 55 years
has been greatly recognized today.
In this regard, I would like to share briefly the approaches
followed by me in engineering education, that's important,
all the time without any expectations of whatever nature.
Some more right from the beginning of my career
at IIT and other places, always believed
in wonder in order to wonder, which I acquired from
my earlier projects of Masters and PhD works.
This means that I always aimed towards
both breadth and depth competence
which many may not agree.
My wandering to different associated areas
in which I scarcely had knowledge
resulted in guiding large numbers of students
to get specialized in them
who in turn brought me later laurels.
This made me to believe more and more strongly
in wonder in order to wonder.
Only through wandering in unexplored new fields
we reap ultimately wonderful outcomes.
Perhaps a few of my earlier distinctions such as the fellowship of
the Indian National Academy of Engineering from INAE
in 1988, The National Design Award
from the Institution of Engineers in 2004
and The Golden Doctorate from the
Technical University addressed in Germany in 2011,
they gave 50 year later they given,
were all good promises.
Another strategy as strictly followed
from the beginning of my career
was to combine research and practice simultaneously.
Through several projects and consultations
I came closer to many industries
which in turn earned me many credits.
The outcome of all these undertakings was
to make others shine, make other shine
which would result ultimately in our own shining
getting shined of having contributed to
a couple of innovative industry leaders
an absolute present day
requirement to meet global challenges.
You know the Suresh, Suresh who was the ISRO Chairman
we have taught him vibrations taught a vibrations
such people you know big were Padmabhushan, Padmabushans,
they are all becoming all those people.
Many of those Padmabhushans are all by our students only.
In this regard, the steps taken etcetera
is recognized the importance of engineering education
towards the betterment of quality engineering
and industrial leadership is praiseworthy and most cherished.
So, I will just mentioned that
is a very important thing that most of our youngsters,
ok there may be experts,
very highly knowledgeable in their this thing
and and in computer computations experimentation.
But without if they do not work with hands
we don't do this type of projects,
so we we remain the same thing.
And we will we will not be able to
we we may get to this one, but that will never work.
So, ultimately what he did a country is,
we may have 1000s of papers, I don't want to name.
Some people have got 6000 papers, 600 PhDs,
not even one of them has seen the daylights,
they all go to their shelves.
But what what country is now looking at is
the people with that's it
how we should be something, something that
not even one equipment which I cannot work.
Even today we talk of anything,
we talk of C. V. Raman's Raman effect that's all.
Which other scientist which other great engineer has made.
For example, the same WFEO gives one medal
for construction management for a Civil Engineer,
not even one from India.
So many people from outside
because they are all developed lot of that type of
Civil Engineering jobs, they get it.
So, the question now is
somewhere we are, we lack in these things
and Nehru's policy of these IITs to go to the various countries
to get a new knowledge etcetera has been totally floored
because all the IITs are following the same pattern now today.
We should have got the German pattern,
Bombay should have got a Russian pattern,
we Delhi should have got the Delhi justice pattern.
If they had followed that type,
we would have knowledge from all those countries
here in this country and at least
we would have been much in a different way
in engineering education as well as the industrial development.
So, this is my message I would like to give to the Heritage
from our past experience.
And I thank you, thank Professor Narayanan
and professor other good old friends here who are all here.
So, who made this this one
and I promise that I will complete this report
and you promise that it will be kept for for
publicity etcetera and other things for people to read.
Is there anything else to go?
So, thank you Professor Rao.
It's very nice. Thank you Narayanan.
Talking to you. Yeah.
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