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.
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