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Dr. A. L. Mudaliar assumed office as the first Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Madras on 1 January 1959. He served as Chairman from 1959 to 1969 for a period of 10 years and made significant contributions to the Institute during his term. On the stage, from left, Mrs. Nirmala Medhi and Mr. Bishnuram Medhi (Governor of Madras State and chief guest), Prof. B. Sengupto (Director), Mr. R. Natarajan (Registrar) and Prof. N. Klein, (Humanities Department). Dr. Mudaliar can be seen at the podium.

Mr. Bishnuram Medhi was the fifth Governor of Madras State. He served his term from 1958 to 1964.  The Annual Report of IIT Madras, 1963-1964 notes that the Governor’s Prize, awarded at Convocations was endowed by Mr. Medhi. The prize was awarded to the best all-round student from the B. Tech. degree course.

Trophies and prizes were distributed for academic and extra-curricular achievements to students, staff and faculty of the Institute. We know from the annual report of IIT Madras for 1962-1963 that twelve prizes were given to winners of literary competitions conducted during the year. Mrs. Nirmala Medhi was the wife of Mr. Bishnuram Medhi (Governor of Madras). The couple were invited to the event as chief guests.

This image shows a picture of the administrators and chief guests at the stage during the Fourth Institute Day of IIT Madras. The chief guests were Mr. Bishnuram Medhi and his wife Mrs. Nirmala Medhi. From left, possibly Mr. S. Gopalakrishnan (Student Representative, Mechanical Engineering Department, first batch), Prof. D. Venkateswarlu (Gymkhana President), Mrs. Nirmala Medhi (partly visible), Mr. Bishnuram Medhi (Governor of Madras), Dr. A. L. Mudaliar (Chairman of the Board of Governors) and Prof. B. Sengupto (Director).

This photograph was taken during the Fourth Institute Day at IIT Madras. There were a number of visitors and guests who came to the Institute including the chief guests Mr. Bishnuram Medhi (Governor of Madras) and Mrs. Nirmala Medhi. This photograph was taken outside the Bose-Einstein Guest House. This assumption has been made based on the fact that the guest house had dark circular pillars which can be seen in the photograph. It is likely that the guests were welcomed at the guest house before proceeding to the Open Air Theatre (OAT) where the main event was held.   The children in…

Mr. Natarajan was the first Registrar of IIT Madras who served his term from 1959 to 1965. Here he is seen receiving a present from the Governor’s wife. Mr. Bishnuram Medhi and his wife Mrs. Nirmala Medhi were the chief guests at the fourth Institute Day. Prizes were given during Institute Days to faculty, staff and students for their contributions to the Institute.    Mr. Bishnuram Medhi (Governor of Madras and chief guest, far right) looks on as Mr. Srinivasan (Physical Training Instructor) hands a gift to Mrs. Medhi for presentation to Mr. Natarajan.

Mrs. Nirmala Medhi and Mr. Bishnuram Medhi (Governor of Madras) were the chief guests for the Fourth Institute Day. Trophies and prizes were distributed for academic and extra-curricular achievements to students, staff and faculty of the Institute. We know from the annual report of IIT Madras for 1962-1963 that twelve prizes were given to winners of literary competitions conducted during the year. The student in the photograph is yet to be identified.

Mr. R. Natarajan, the Registrar, “presented an absolutely delightful annual report, ‘Keys of Kingdom’”, according to the 15 April, 1963 edition of Campastimes.  Mr. Natarajan was the first Registrar of the Institute. He served his tenure from 1959 to 1965. Known for his love for cricket, as his articles in the publications so blatantly depict, his gift for writing complemented his love for willow and leather. Some of his articles, My Team to Mars, The Panther from Baroda, The Royal Tiger from Pataudi, The Marvel from Mangalore and The Mantle of Mankad, are literary masterpieces, rich…

Mrs. Nirmala Medhi and Mr. Bishnuram Medhi (Governor of Madras, extreme right) were the chief guests for the Fourth Institute Day. Trophies and prizes were distributed for academic and extra-curricular achievements to students, staff and faculty of the Institute. We know from the annual report of IIT Madras for 1962-1963 that twelve prizes were given to winners of literary competitions conducted during the year.   The student in the photograph is yet to be identified.

Institute Days in the 1960s were held at the Open Air Theatre (OAT). The seats would be packed and people looked forward to the event which was held with much pomp and splendour. Seated in the first row: Former Director Prof. B. Sengupto (sixth from left) and chief guest Dr. Karl Pfauter (Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany) (fifth from left). 

Dr. Karl Pfauter (Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany) was the chief guest at the Ninth Institute Day at IIT Madras. Institute Days in the 1960s were held to award prizes to students and staff who contributed to the Institute in various fields, including extra-curricular activities and academics. The Annual Report of IIT Madras (1967-68) provides details of the prize winners at the Ninth Institute Day. The student in the photograph is yet to be identified. An identical photograph can be found in the Central Photographic Section Collection in Album 0020 under the ID: 001/…

Dr. Karl Pfauter (Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany) was the chief guest at the Ninth Institute Day at IIT Madras. Institute Days in the 1960s were held to award prizes to students and staff who contributed to the Institute in various fields, including extra-curricular activities and academics. The Annual Report of IIT Madras (1967-68) provides details of the prize winners at the Ninth Institute Day. The student in the photograph is yet to be identified. An identical photograph can be found in the Central Photographic Section Collection in Album 0020 under the ID: 001/…

Dr. Karl Pfauter (Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany) was the chief guest at the Ninth Institute Day at IIT Madras. Institute Days in the 1960s were held to award prizes to students and staff who contributed to the Institute in various fields, including extra-curricular activities and academics. The Annual Report of IIT Madras (1967-68) provides details of the prize winners at the Ninth Institute Day. The person receiving the prize in the photograph is yet to be identified. An identical photograph can be found in the Central Photographic Section Collection in Album 0020…

Prof. Arcot Ramachandran (Director) started his career as a faculty member of the Department of Power Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. It was in 1959 that Prof. A. Ramachandran’s association with IIT Madras began when he attended a summer course at the Institute. A decade later, he would become the second Director of the Institute. His father, Dr. Arcot Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar was the first Chairman, Board of Governors of the Institute (1959-1969).  Seated from left: Mr. C. V. Sethunathan (Registrar), Prof. S. Sampath (Deputy Director), chief guest Dr. Karl…

Dr. Karl Pfauter (Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany) was the chief guest at the Ninth Institute Day at IIT Madras. The Annual Report of IIT Madras from the year 1967 provides a list of prizes awarded at the Institute Day of 1968. We know from this list that the person receiving the award is Ms. M. A. Vedavalli (Electrical Engineering) from the three year B.Tech. degree course. In the list of prize winners, Ms. Vedavalli is the only female student who received an award. An identical photograph can be found in the Central Photographic Section Collection in Album 0020 under…