Memories of The 1959 - 1964 Batch of Alagappa Chettiar College of Engineering and Technology Karaikudi

Table of Contents

Editor’s Note. 01

Group Photo Taken in 1963 02 Anwarudeen. K M 04 Chakrapani. N 08 Chidambaram. A L 16 Chidambaram. C T 17 Chinni Krishnan. S 19 Karunanidhi. R 23

Krishnan. S Ph.D 30 Madaswamy. S 32 Manickavasagam. S 53 Natarajan. S V 58 Rajagopalan. A 68

Ramakrishnan. C V Ph.D 71 Ramesh Babu @ Ramesh Shamrao 80 Sahadevan. M 82 Photo Plates ACCET Exhibition Notice - 1961 85 Farewell address to Mr. D.S. Venkanna, Principal 86 Alagappa Tamil Sangam Programme Notice - 1961 87 Chidambara Natarajan, as a college girl! 89 and Thenappan dressed to kill! Get together in MRC, Chennai 90 LIG House Group photo 1960 91 From the Pages of My Autograph - 1964 92 Editor’s Note The journey started from June/ July of 1959. Selected students from all parts of India came to join the five year integrated course in engineering in Alagappa Chettiar College of Engineering and Technology (ACCET).

For all of us it was like a home away from home. Hostel facilities were very good. Mess hall was veritably a diner’s delight. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian food were excellent and at what cost, you can’t imagine these days. Hold your breath, the monthly mess bill was less than seventy five rupees! With that money one can’t think of a square meal these days. The Faculty was dedicated. Both science and engineering subjects were taught by stalwarts in each subject.

Life couldn’t have been better. All this was possible because of the munificence of Dr. R M Alagappa Chettiar, founder of the college. He had a grand vision to establish a world class university. It was with that aim, he started schools and colleges in a sprawling campus. We salute him for all that he had done to the cause of education.

We the 1959-64 batch left our foot prints in the sands of time. Most of the surviving members of the batch along with their spouse and family members gathered to celebrate the Golden Jubilee year. It was a solemn occasion. We spent some time remembering the good old days spent fifty years back! Time available to exchange details was very little. Naturally there was too much to tell and too little time. It was then I thought why not bring out a coffee table book containing a glimpse of each and every one. It would be wonderful if the details come from the individual himself. I used some friends as a sound board to know their views. The feedback was encouraging and that’s how this idea sprouted and the result is in your hands. It is as much your product. I have only acted as a facilitator. I haven’t touched the text supplied by the respective authors! Here and there, I might have used my skills to correct spelling or some grammar, nothing beyond that. The narration has been left untouched.

While going thorugh the naration of our friends you get the feeling of walking with the giants!

It’s a bliss. To quote: “,r;Rit jtpw ahd; Ngha; ,e;jpuNyhfkhSk; mr;Rit ngwpDk; Ntz;Nld; muq;fkhefUshNd”

I sincerely thank all those who gave me a helping hand to complete the work in time. My special thanks to Mr. G. Soundhar and Mr. R. Rajnarayanan of Hard n Soft Technologies Pvt. Ltd., for patiently doing the layout and cover design.

S. Manickavasagam

1 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI Year Students of ACCET on 03.03.63 of ACCET Students Year th 4 Departments of Mathematics, Geology, Physics and Chemistry by and Chemistry Physics Geology, of Mathematics, Departments The Persons in the above photograph are identified in the next page in the identified are photograph in the above The Persons Photograph taken at the party given to the Professors and Staff of the and Staff the Professors to the party given at taken Photograph The Spelling of the names is retained as printed in the original photograph as printed The Spelling of the names is retained

2 Left to Right Sitting: R. Subramani, S. Muthukaruppan, S. M. O. Md. Haneefa, N. C. Krishnaswamy, R.Padmanabhan (Manager), Prof. R. Sridhar Rao (Electrical), Prof. A. V. Raghavachar, (Mech), Prof. M. K. Venkataraman (Maths), Principal P. S. Manisundaram, Prof. N. S. Rajagopalan (Physics), Prof. D. S. Sundararama Rao (Chemistry), Prof. K. V. Krishnaswamy (Geology), Prof. W. P. Vijayaraghavan (Civil), M. Meenakshisundaram, S. Pandarakkutti, P. A. Rajamanickam, V. Balasubramaniam Standing Row 1: M. Kunchithapatham, T. Thirumeni, M. Sahadevan, N. Venkatachalapathy, R. Sundaresan, V. Ramadass, K. Subramanian, Nr. Noor. Md. Khan Ghouse, S. V. Natarajan, A. M. Mohanraj, V. C. Swaminathan, M. Subramania Pillai, G. Rengaswamy, V. Chidambaram, C. R. Chandrasekaran, K. Mariappan, S. H. Syed Ameenudeen, C. V. Ramakrishnan, J. Sornam, Row 2: M. Annamalai, CT. Chidambaram, K. Paramanandam, A. Kumaravel, P. Rengaswamy, T. K. Srinivasan, S. Kannnan, K. Ragupathysubramaniam, AL. Chidambaram, K. Vedachalam, N. Chakrapani, T. M. Ganesan, G. Rajangam, C. Suriyamurthy, S. Lakshminarayanan, T. Govindarajan, A. Venkatachalam, P. Aravindan

Row 3: Sathappan, S. Krishnan, PL. Ramanathan, A. K. Srinivasan, V. Venkatasubramanian, V. Ramaswamy, G. Chidambaranatarajan, S. Krishnaiyan, P. Venkatasubramaniam, M. Thenappan, A. Krishnanmurthy, S. Parasuraman, Chandru Gobindram, P. Sudarsanam, P. Somasundaram, S. Madaswamy, K. Subramanian, V. Kumaraswamy Row 4: J. Dwarakan, P. Ramakrishnan, K. Rajagopalan, S. Subramanian, L. Annamalai, K. M. Anwarudeen, S. Krishnamurthy, N. Sethuraman, G. Rajagoplan, S. Pothiraj, N. Sundarajan, N. Pattabhiraman, S. Chinnikrishnan, R. S. Sankarasubramanian, A. Maruthachalam, V.Rangachari, S.Manickavasagam

Row 5: A. Rajagopalan, Thomas M. Pothan, S. R. Sarma, R.Srivatsawan, A. Deivamani, N. Vijayaraghavan, M. Swaminatharao, R. Karunanithi, V. Rajagopalan, P. Sundararaj, V. Marikkannu, A. D. Rajandran, George Joseph Thanaraj 3 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI ANWARUDEEN. K M

My first employment was at Kodayar Hydro Electric Project, Lower camp. It was a very nice place. My office was at the bank of the water falls in the hill forest. I was not a poet to float in the dreamy world. Such a beautiful place with cool climate. But the management procedures & the systems were not for my liking. I thought I should go for a job with private companies. I managed to get transfer to Madras at Basin Bridge Thermal Power Station.

I knocked many doors right from Ennore Foundries in North Madras to small companies in Guindy Industrial Estate in south Madras. As I was working in shift I could find time to hunt for the job. During this endeavor I realized that the private companies do not consider the experiences with EB as worthy.

I got married in 1968. Out of many interviews I attended one gave fruit. It was Madras Refineries Ltd (MRL). I appeared for supervisory post interview, but they offered me only workman post. I took this as an avenue to escape from EB & I joined MRL. It was a down fall in my carrier.

MRL was started in collaboration with an American company. So the management was better. My job was purely technical; no weekly reports, explanations, memos, & other clerical jobs. I solved many technical problems in the power plant. I was appreciated with all adjectives (reflection of American culture). After some years I found that the benefits like promotions & salary increments were shared by a group of people (reflection of our culture).

Out of dejection I asked for a transfer to another section which involves lesser risky working condition & responsibilities. My boss said that there was no vacancy in that section; but vacancy was available in another unit wherein only chemical engineers can work. I took it as golden chance to escape from him, I immediately accepted the transfer. He thought I would stay back with him.

4 So I was transferred to lube unit (Refining section of lubricating oils). All the chemical engineers raised their eyebrows as to how I could fit the post. My new boss also questioned my sincerity to work there. I convinced him& accepted the challenge.

I was in training period for 3 months. I had to do lot of home work for learning Petro Chemical Engineering. I finally passed the test. (God promise; there was no question paper leak & no bits). And I took charge of the lube unit.

One day a manager of maintenance department came to the control room & asked me to spare some time to talk with me. We went to the dining room. He offered me cigarette & both were chatting. He asked me to come to maintenance department. I was shocked. I told him “Look Mr.-----, though I am qualified in mechanical I have experiences only in power generation & lube block operations. I don’t know anything about maintenance of gigantic compressors & pumps. Moreover workmen in maintenance are tough guys. It is not an easy thing to sail with them. Really I do not know whether I can work in maintenance.” Then he said “ When you can take charge in lube unit it is very easy to work in maintenance. Because operation is working with live plant where as in maintenance you will be working with dead plant. After initial hiccup it will be easy to manage with men & material. What I want is your sincere involvement with the job. I know you have this trait.” I agreed for the next challenge.

After a month, I was transferred to maintenance. Latter I came to know that the delay for the transfer was due to tug of war between manufacturing manager & maintenance manager; manufacturing manager was not willing to release me. During this tenure in maintenance department I solved some perennial problems of some pumps by simple modifications in design. One cannot explain the joy of achievement unless it is experienced. I was applying for overseas appointments, because I was getting delayed promotions here.

I got a job in a fertilizer company in Abudhabi. I was offered with first line supervisor post, much lower than the managerial post I was holding in MRL. Another down fall. I accepted the offer as the pay packet was heavy.

5 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI I resigned from MRL. After receiving my relieving order from personal department I was walking to my office; when I met one of my old bosses. He read the relieving order & said “So you have completed your vanavaasam & going for suhavaasam.” Then I noted that my experience in MRL was exactly 14 years, not even a day more or less. A rare coincidence.

In Abhudhabi I was given free housing (luxuriously furnished 3 bedroom villa) free water & power, free transport & free education for my children. I was leading happy life with my wife & daughter. My son was left with my relative at Chennai to continue his education. He would join us at Abudhabi in every 3 months during his vacation.

I must mention an incidence at my work spot. The plant was being commissioned by the Japanese contractor. In one hydrogen plant, I suggested a change in commissioning procedure. It would result in saving of 500 tons of water & cut down 24 hours in commissioning schedule. He was overwhelmed with joy & started blabbering in Japanese language & rushed to his office to contact design department in Japan. He returned in 2 hours with revised flow chart, approved by the project manager. The next morning he presented me a beautiful Japanese handicraft wall hanger & said “My chief say thank you & give you this.”

As the days & years passed, I found some changes in my son’s attitude and behavior. His performances were deteriorating. I could not advice him with strict words as it will spoil his happy mood while living in Abudhabi. What is going to be his future? Will his mentality change? I felt that he was mentally upset due to the inability to live in Abudhabi as his sister. What will happen if the ego grows? I wanted peace in my family. Money cannot buy many things. I took a very hard decision after many sleepless nights. I decided to quit the job & to settle down in Chennai. Another downfall.

I looked at my bank balance. It was enough to 1) extend my house by 1500 sq.ft; its rent would take care of our daily survival. 2) educational & marriage expenses of my children. I had purchased enough gold in Dubai for my daughter 3) enough deposit in bank to meet unexpected hospital expenses.

6 Five years of luxurious life in Abudhabi was over. When my son just completed +2, I settled down at Chennai. I purchased a seat in an engineering college in Chennai. He started studying well. I could find remarkable changes in his attitude & behavior. It’s a lesson that the children need nearness of the parents in their teens.

In the mean time I started a business at Ambattur Industrial estate only to find that I am not business minded. So I closed it down; but I didn’t incur financial loss. Safely returned to retired life.

My son studied well & got admission for MS in States & settled down there.

Both my children are happily married & have two children each.

As anybody wishes we are expecting to see our grand children become educated & good citizen bringing laurels to the family.

Life is rolling towards another expectation endlessly striving hard with ups & downs. -- To be continued as I have miles to go-----

7 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI CHAKRAPANI. N

This Article tries to take us back by Fifty Years and brings out the changes that have taken place in the Admission Procedure of the Engg. Colleges. Also, about the current trend is compared.

When we were admitted in the Engg. College - ACCET, there were Seven Engg. Colleges as noted below:

1. Govt. Engg. College, Guindy…. 220 Seats, 2. A.C .College of Engg & Tech, Karaikudi……..120 seats, 3. P.S.G.College of Tech., Coimbatore……………..120 seats, 4. Coimbatore Institute of Tech., Coimbatore…..120 seats, 5. Govt.College of Tech, Coimbatore…………………..120 seats, 6. Thiagarajar College of Engg., Madurai……………120 seats 7. Annamalai University, Chidambaram…………….120 seats. Out of these, the first six colleges were under Madras U’sity and had common selection. Annamalai U’sity had its own selection procedure. The private colleges were given 24 seats each which the respective management can allot themselves without interference by the govt. Hence, out of 820 seats under Madras U’sity, the govt allotted 724 seats under common selection.

After the applications were scrutinised, the eligible candidates were interviewed at the Rajaji Hall of the Govt Estate, Chennai.

The Results were published in the News Papers and Directions were given to report at the respective Colleges.

The classes commenced in July and the “Engg. Career” started right earnest.

We were the first set of New Regulations and the passage to the next year of studies were modified and made difficult for those who had arrears in the annual exam.

8 At that time, there were about 1500 seats in Polytechnics and about 2000 seats in Indl. Trg. Institutes (ITI) in the State.

Thus, the pyramid system of tech. education with the three tier model would supply the society the three different technical People viz., the technicians (from ITIs), the Junior Engrs (from Polytechnics), and the Senior Professionals ( from Engg. Colleges).

The Balance between the three categories were a well balanced one and almost all the students of all the three categories were employed once they come out of the institution.

Whether these institutions were Govt or Private, the infrastructural facilities almost matched their respective categories i.e. Engg. colleges or Polytechnics or ITIs.

There was a sense of responsibility and duty in providing the best of infrastructural facilities by the college authorities.

Engg. college students were proud students; others envied them; their families were proud of them.

Our Maths Professor, Late Sri MKV mentioned in one of his articles as to how the Engg. students were dignified and how he as a Part Time Lecturer (Deputed by Alagappa Arts College) to ACCET wanted very much to become a full time Maths Professor of Engg. college and became one with lots of mental satisfaction and pride.

For students like me from Thiruvaiyaru (Tanjore Dt.), Karaikudi was heaven and for my classmates from Chennai, it was like a punishment transfer place of Govt Service. The southern dist. students would prefer Madurai, but god sent them to Karaikudi.

Many of us were in New Polytechnic Hostel, but some were accommodated in Staff Qrs. These students in Staff Qrs had their Mess in KN Hostel which was much superior to other messes of other hostels.

But these Staff Qrs students had for their company snakes in the night and these snakes would wish them “Good Morning” the next day!

We had both Veg & Non-Veg Mess and change over to the other section was allowed every 26th of the month. I was told in February, 2014 when we met at ACCET that there is no Non-Veg Mess in the Hostels.

9 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI Some of my friends would go out of Hostel to stay in a Private House in Sekkalai and return to Hostel when they get bored with private accommodation. Now let us see the situation as on this Day…………..

As on this day, the admission procedure has been simplified, systematised and made transparent.

Today, the student knows the vacancy position and can have his choice as he approaches the Dias and selects the Institution depending on the availability of seats.

All over the country, there are 4285 Engg. Colleges as on 2010, as against 110 Colleges in 1960.

Out of this, Southern Region has 904 Colleges as against seven Colleges in Tamilnadu in 1960.

Out of these 904 Colleges in south, there are 570 colleges in Tamilnadu alone. The available seats in these Tamilnadu colleges are a little over 2,40,000. As on July 29, 2013, 80,700 seats were not filled up!

The industry complains, many of the students are not up to the mark. (not directly employable)

There are 119 Polytechnics in Tamilnadu out of 557 Polytechnics in the south. There are Govt. Polytechnics (20), Govt. assisted Polytechnic (24) and Private (75). There are 51 recognised ITIs in Tamilnadu. These Figures may vary as of now, but the proportion may remain the same.

What I want to stress is the Balanced Pyramid System amongst the three types of Institutions is gone.

Such type of growth can be compared to a Hand with the fore finger being very fat and other fingers very , very thin like famine affected children.

Does it help the society? Does it improve the standards of education? When we were at ACCET there were only three branches of Engg. But today we have more than a dozen! We used only Slide Rules and Seven Figure Logarithm Tables.

10 We did not know computers. Today, a school student uses computer. When I said this to my grandson, he laughed out loud. The Technology development is tremendous. But we have also students who are not up to the mark, as per the industries.

When we met for the Golden Jubilee Meet at ACCET on Feb 08 &09, 2014, we must have visualised the olden days running like an old film in our memory and also a feeling of sadness in some corner of our mind that things could have been better.

When I attended the Convocation of my son (Masters in Hardware) in Arizona State U’sity, I found more graduates from China and India dominated the function.

I also found that there were American graduates in the age group of 45-50. Surely, it is never too late to learn. During the convocation ceremony in US ‘Varsities, the Master of Ceremonies says:

“Dear Students, You should thank today Three Persons as you enter the Important stage of your Career: 1. Your Parents, who encouraged you to this level you are today. ( The Parents stand up and are given a loud applause.) 2. The Dean and other Teaching Staff, who moulded you to this stage. (Loud applause). and 3. Your Friends who stood by you during this period of your education. (The friends stand up and gave a loud applause.)

The gentleman who was responsible for my entry in to RITES-NEWDELHI was a retired General Manager of Indian Railways who got his PhD in Transportation Engg from Guindy Engg. College after his retirement from service!

My daughter- in- law who is a teaching faculty in a Community College in USA says, she sets the Syllabus for the year in consultation with her students who are nurses and such working women. And the College gets the feedback about the Teaching Faculty from the students.

11 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI Also, the Industry-Education Tie up for Sponsored Research is not as it prevails in US and other Advanced Countries, as per the opinion of leading scientists of our country. Do all these things mean we were in a Golden Period of limited exposure and lesser competition in our field of exposure?

The above statistics does not include the admissions for IITs, NITs, MIT and AC College of Tech.

Sri.Pattabhiraman wanted me to include the cost of Engg. College Education those days: Here it is: College Fee: Rs 300/ per year for Private Colleges and it is much less for Govt. Colleges. Hostel Fee: Mess: Veg .around Rs 60/ per month and Non-Veg around Rs 75/ per month, in ACCET.

The Hostel Office will supply us Coupon Books of Rs.5/ each in denominations of Paise 50 so that we can purchase from Hostel Stores Oil, Biscuit etc. Govt. Hostels collect Mess Fee at the end of each month, may be for ten months only whereas the Private Colleges collect the entire Mess Fee for twelve months in advance at the beginning of the year. But let it be said that the condition of Hostels in most of the Private Colleges are much better than those of the Govt. Colleges. Maintenance of Colleges and Hostels in Private Colleges are good. The Libraries are well furnished in Private Colleges. One or two Colleges have Air-conditioned Libraries.

Today the cost may be around Rs 30000/ to Rs.40000/ for Govt. Engg Colleges and may be around Rs. 1,50,000/ for Private Colleges.

But then, a Junior Engineer in PWD will get Rs. 267/ p.m. as his Salary and in TNEB, around Rs.282/, p.m. The Industries offered around Rs.400/p.m.

After 1996 Pay Commission, this has gone up enormously and Govt.jobs attract a lot of students.

The Technology Advancement has been tremendous and is happening at a great pace. Changes are bound to happen, so say VEDAS.

12 It is inevitable and hence let us lay flat and enjoy it. Now, on other Topics…..

School Days and Music

When I was in School, the Annual Sapthasthana Brammothsavam of local Panchanadeeswara Temple used to be in Summer Vacation. I along with friends will go along with the deities to all the seven villages over a distance of about 22 KMs in a day and return the next day early morning.

In one year, in a Village called TIRUPPAZHANAM, our Tamil teacher arranged lunch for all the public running to about a few hundreds. In that particular year, Sri. Papanasam Sivan, known as TAMIL THYAGAIAH, was also following the deities and had lunch arranged by our Tamil teacher.

After lunch, Sri. Papanasam Sivan was resting in an easy-chair and our teacher ordered four of us to massage his legs and fan him with the Palm leaf fan. We did it with lot of enthusiasm not knowing that we were serving a great soul of the Carnatic music!

We used to serve the public during the famous Thyagaraja festival also every year as School Scout.

I felt sorry at later years for not learning to sing Carnatic music.

But my wife has learnt regular Carnatic music in Mumbai and later at Chennai also for some time.

This resulted in our effort to make our elder son learn Mrudangam under the famous teacher Kumbakonam Sri. Rajappa Iyer. We could not conduct his arangetram as he had to leave for Coimbatore for college studies. But we made him perform at the Thyagaraja Samadhi on an auspicious day with the gathering of our relatives alone. Today he has not been practising and probably forgotten the Art.

ACCET AGAIN

My second son got selected for ACCET, Karaikudi in the year 1995. My joy knew no bounds as after 31 years, my son would enter my Alma-Mater.

13 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI I planned his admission with great enthusiasm. I, my wife and my second son checked into a nice hotel on the Sivaganga Road two days earlier to admission.

I took them to our College, took them to all the Class Rooms, all the Civil., Mech., Elec., Labs, Library College Office etc.

I met Sri. Ramasamy, the HOD & Prof. Civil , who was our Associate Lecturer in our days, introduced my wife and son to the Professor. He told me, the Civil Engg., class strength was just two students the previous year and about 20 that year.

Today, thanks to the IT Industry almost all the Branches have good strength. Then, I took them to the Hostels and showed them the Rooms. The only improvement, I found in the Hostel was that the students were provided with Cots and Fan.

I took them to the mess too. But it was in a real mess!

The students were required to bring their own Stainless Steel plates and tumblers., for their lunch, dinner etc.

There were no regular snacks in the evening as we used to have. The Tea Container was placed outside the Dining Hall near Hand Wash and the students should have tea in their own tumblers., from the Tea Container.

I was saddened to see the steep fall in the standards from our time.

We went back to the Hotel.

My son never spoke a word to us from the time we landed in the College. He did not speak a word to us in the Hotel too. We were worried and upset.

The next morning, we went to Pillayarpatti, prayed sincerely for our son’s future, came straight to College. We got him admitted in the College, went to the Physics Lab, and met Physics Professor. Sri.Rajagopalan. He was not our Physics Professor Sri.Rajagopalan of our Times, but curiously with the same name.

When he came to know that I was an old student of ACCET, he remarked “Gentleman, those were the Golden Days of ACCET and cannot be even imagined now.”

14 I wept within myself and I will stop at this stage on admission of Anuj into ACCET.

Next day, we purchased Bed, Plate etc and left our son at the New Polytechnic Hostel, wished our son well and took leave of him. He came and stood outside the Hostel and waved his hand till the car vanished from his sight. Till this time, he did not speak a word to us. We left ACCET with a heavy heart, with a real fear that our son might land back in Chennai in the next few days.

But, by God’s grace, he stayed back, did very well in his studies (ECE) and was the First Student to get placement. Today he feels proud about ACCET. I could discuss with him with lot of interest about our Meetings in 2009, 2013 and in 2014. He showed lot of interest as he could connect himself with the place and events, his Alma Mater too.

I wondered at the Power of our Alma Mater - ACCET. I thank you for your immense patience in going through my scribbling.

I have been careful enough not to affect anybody’s feelings even by an iota of an atom. If, by any chance, I have fallen on the wrong side, my sincere apologies.

I can be approached on my mail iD: [email protected].

15 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI CHIDAMBARAM. A L

Dear Friends, I am providing in a short note what I did in my life after studied in ACCET and graduated as engineer in 1964. I did Master of Science in Engineering in USA in 1964/ 65. I did as assistant mechanical engineer in Bombay at Lambretta scooter company for about one year and I went Malaysia. I worked as consultant Engineer for Plywood company, corrugated welded mesh company, steel sheet factory.

Then I joined with Usha fan factory and started manufacturing Stamping tools, High speed Steel cutting tools, many tungsten carbide firming tools etc. In 1975 I started my own factories to manufacture Electrical Three pin plugs, and all other Electrical Accessories. Then I had many Auto lathes such as Traub, Strome machines about 30 to manufacture all small parts for Rollie cameras Smith Corona Typewriter machines etc. Next I set up one factory to manufacture all telecommunication component, Phillip Iron in millions by using pressure die casting machines. I setup one factory at Penang in Malaysia to manufacture all stainless steel utensils such plates, tiffin boxes, tumblers cups and all other kitchen utensils. I manufactured electronic washing machine timers, electrical 2 pin plugs in millions. I setup vacuum heat treatment plant to harden tungsten carbide tools and surgeon’s cutting blades and so. This way I started preparing lot of stamping dies in morgen technologies as split die for American Electronic Industries. I prepared auto feed safety mechanism for stamping presses and I received Singapore Government Appreciation Award. By this I became entrepreneur in Indian origin in Malaysia and Singapore employed about 700 workers and retired in the age of 60 by giving all the factories to most senior employees and big customers and so on. Now I am a retired person lot of loss of memory power and so on. I summarised the facts of my life. If you think is useful please correct the sentences and prepare in good format and add to the list Thanks a lot. My college days details you know very well.

16 CHIDAMBARAM. C T

Native of Chettinadu area small village called Kadiyapatti (about 3 KMs from Thirumayam Near Pudukkottai and Karaikudi) Had my schools up to rd3 from in that village. Not a std school One of my father’s friend advised him to put me and my brothers in a good school in Chennai (then Madras) with Hostel facilities.

I got admitted in Ramakrishna High school, T.Nagar and Hostel at Duraisami Road .

Pakka vegetarian diet. Very strict Rules .Get Up 5 AM, take cold water bath, Morning Exercise, Pooja, (Bhagavat Gita to be read by all). In view of good teaching and regular study hrs. I was able to pick up and got through SSLC with good marks; (400/ 600) was supposed to be good marks and with that I got admission in PUC in Loyola college and Hostel.

Then I got admission in our ACCET.

After BE I had opportunity to go to USA for higher studies ,But I was not ready to take it up.

Unfortunately, selected by TNPSC for Industries Dept?

At that time my salary was Rs 350 only (supposed to be good salary). I joined at Madurai as INSPECTOR OF INDUSTRIES, By that time our friend Karunanidhi was in Baroda and invited me to join a Tractor company as a Mech Engineer. Salary was almost same. I told him here it is Govt job and near my native place and so dropped any idea of going to Baroda..

Got married to Meenal a native of our area, she was classmate of Thenal (Dr.Ragupathy ‘s wife) in her school days in Trichy As usual lot of transfers and no job satisfaction.

17 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI I joined SIPCOT and retired as DGM by the end of 1999. I am doing some industrial consultancy to selected known companies now.

My one son and one daughter had good schooling and College in Chennai My son completed Engg and joined a British Telecom company in London; now he is settled in USA ( Atlanta). He is married to one of the daughters of L. Annamali of Kottaiyur. (during the marriage Annamalai was not there) When I was with himin Kerala for few days with my son at his age of 4 years.By that time he had two daughters and told him enough ,But he was telling he is expecting a son but next two were daughters. The 3rd daughter is my D-in law.

I was very happy to get Annamalai’s daughter as my daughter- in-law. They are well settled as US citizens.

No proposal for them to come back to India except for few weeks.

My daughter Completed BSc (comp) in Ethiraj College, Chennai and MCA and joined CTS, had several official visits to USA and got married to an Engineer in Athangudi.(He attended one of our meetings in Guindy. He is GM of a private co.) and now settled in Chennai. Her Flat is nearby our flat in the same road (Anderson rd).We take care of her children. She has resigned her job to take care of her children and now she is planning to have her own business. Not interested in going often to USA. We both did not like that life. We wish our son’s family to come often to meet us. Granddaughter in USA is going for medical line this year and the second grand daughter is in 7th grade.

Now peacefully leading a tension-free life; of course health checkups and believe in medicines mostly Siddha etc Restricting Travels to native place in view of age!

18 CHINNI KRISHNAN. S

Random events truly shape our life! Balachandran, a friend who was a year elder, living in our locality known as Ganapathy Nagar in Thanjavur, had secured admission at ACCET in the ear 1958. That was the first inkling for me to think of engineering education as a possible option. Born in a middle class family, where one followed, as if in herd, the footsteps of elder siblings as well as cousins in all aspects of life, this was indeed a radical departure. Unfamiliar with the process of seeking admission, I took the help of a PUC classmate and sent in an application for the course. I then went through the unfamiliar experience of attending the admission interview in the far away city of Madras (or so it seemed then).

The summer vacation of 1959 came to an end and having received no information about the fate of admission interview, I joined B.Sc. (Physics), emulating my elder brother who was in 2nd year of the same course, at Raja Serforji College, Thanjavur. It was the last week of July, when a bulky letter reached us, informing me to join ACCET immediately. Bidding good bye to B.Sc., I went over to Karaikudi, chaperoned by my father, and joined my Alma Mater that would shape my life forever on 31.07.1959 the day of the big election at the college.

Everything was new and exciting the atmosphere, the food and even my dress half pants throughout school and dhoti in PUC, but now it had to be pants, at least for the workshops. Making friends was not difficult, but the new found ambience veered me away from focussing fully on studies. Movie with friends even on the night between two university examination days, tennis, carom and general whiling away of time were the norm. Bored as only a teenager could get of living in college hostel, I ventured out with a few of our class mates into living in a rented accommodation at Subramaniapuram for a year. Initiated into eating egg and then on to chicken (thanks to my dear friends CVRand P. Rengasamy respectively)

19 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI in the first year itself, I was lured, by my senses, into joining the NV mess in the third year a certainly revolutionary (!) step for a boy from a very orthodox vegetarian family.

Study I did, but only just enough that too prior to main examinations to ensure safe passage through the year and move up. In spite of this, if truth be told, I secured far higher marks than what myself, my friends and the faculty expected. In fact, Mr. Sundaram, Assistant Professor, Electrical openly made a telling comment in the class, after I secured very high percentage in all the subjects in th4 year, that I must have had some godfather at the university level to have managed such a feat! Looking back on those days of more fun and less study, I wonder how my life would have coursed through, if only I had put in the effort that I should have and secured a university rank that was perhaps there for the taking.

Be that as it may, I did well enough at ACCET to secure the tuition fee waiver (a princely sum of Rs. 300 per year then) from the college right from the 2nd year and also won the merit cum means government scholarship worth Rs. 900 per annum from the same year. The cost of living then was such that I had enough money not only to take care of my education, but also of all other living expenses, including entertainment!

The Chinese “aggression” accelerated our exit out of ACCET in January 1964, earlier than originally scheduled, with yours truly securing a fairly high first class. Now that I was an “Engineer”, what next! If I were a believer, I would have said “God alone knew”! But, again contrary to the ethos of the family, I and my elder brother were agnostics (could even be labelled as “atheists”, somewhat loosely).

After three months of whiling away the time at home in Thanjavur, I received an appointment letter from PWD, Chennai and commenced my professional journey on 2nd April 1964. I spent barely 140 days in that job, doing “nothing”, really nothing, hardly spending an hour every day at some ESI Hospital construction site!

My next port of call, so to say, was Rourkela to join the public sector steel plant there, where I would spend my next 16 years or more. The 3rd class (now known as 2nd class) train journey to that destination in August ’64 was indeed memorable. Mr. EMS Namboodiripad, who had by then been the Chief Minister (first democratically elected communist to head a government anywhere in the world) and his party

20 mate Mr. Venkataramaiah were travelling by my side. I had ordered night meal that would be served at my seat, after the train reached Vijayawada station, by paying 10 annas, but these two great down to earth leaders got down at the station to partake the same dinner at the restaurant there, where the cost was cheaper by 2 annas! These two leaders were proceeding to Delhi and I had to take leave of them at Nagpur to catch a train to my new abode towards Calcutta. The time spent with them was really a very humbling, rewarding, enriching and enlightening experience for me, teaching priceless lessons in humility and unostentatious living. When would we see similar leaders in our beloved country again?

The more than sixteen years of life spent at Rourkela saw me graduating into “Grahastashram”, getting married to a wonderful Tamil girl Hema, born, brought up and educated at Delhi and becoming a father of two equally lovable sons, Arun and Ajay. Life produced another positive twist during my stay there; I had the golden opportunity of pursuing and successfully completing a post graduate course in Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology in USA, courtesy a Rotary Club scholarship.

The stifling and staid atmosphere at the public sector establishment drove me to seek a change; I joined a multinational company (Hindustan Lever), spending nearly 11 years with them, initially at their Fertilizer and Chemical plant at Haldia, West Bengal, then on to a French speaking African country Zaire (now known as Congo) and back to India to help HLL set up two plants near Kanpur; then the movement continued to Baroda with Apollo Tyres, to Kankroli (near Udaipur) with JK Tyres, to Madras Aluminium Company at Mettur and finally to Bharat Aluminium Company at Korba, chattisgarh.

Over the past ten years, after retirement from regular establishments, I continue as a consultant, spending about 10 days a month.

We feel blessed by life to have been gifted with two beautiful daughters in law and four grand children (two granddaughters and two grandsons) and to have been exposed so many different regions of our beloved country as well as the world, enabling us meet and interact with leaders from many walks of life over the years. These have certainly helped us absorb the colour, character and culture of all those areas and persona.

21 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI Elder son Arun with Family Younger Son Ajay with Family

What are the lessons of my life? While I practise and propagate the theory of “Say No to USA meaning No Un-Solicited Advice”, I feel compelled to share these with at least my class mates.

Life is an opportunity provided to us only once; live it without regret, worry or fear. I claim that I have conquered all these three emotions! Lead a life of humility, devoid of arrogance. Follow our great Subramania Bharathi. Treat all human beings as equals, irrespective of their caste, colour or religion. “rhjpfs; ,y;iyab ghg;gh”

Follow the Silver rule of “Do NOT do to others, what you do not want them do to you”; this is far superior to the Golden rule of “Do to others, what you want them do to you”. All of us may not know all the right things that we ought to do in life, but each of us would certainly know the wrong ones to avoid.

Set a very high value on integrity: the best definition of it, in my opinion, is to do the right thing even when nobody is watching.

Make everyday a learning experience - Learn, Contribute and Enjoy.

Lead a healthy life; while the future may not be in our hands, the present (the ‘gift’ we have today) is certainly ours. Always be “happy”; Eat on time; eat only what you are supposed to eat and that too in quantities that you are supposed to eat. Be physically and mentally active; spend at least 30’ every day doing some form of exercise. Follow your physician’s advice religiously.

Finally love your mother, mother tongue and mother land!

22 KARUNANIDHI. R

Write up on My Personal Life (1959 - 2014 Total 55 Years as an Engineer)

My life at ACCET Karaikudi commenced 1959 and ended in February 1964. I got my notification of admission to join ACCET from Madras University in the spring of 1959. My Father accompanied me to KKDI to get me admitted and settled at the Engineering College.

However he left me in front of Semicircular Hostel and returned right back to the KKDI railway station. I think probably he knew that the ragging starts right from the hostel entrance on the day one of our engineering life and did not want to spoil my experience.

In addition to the ragging, the courses taught by the eminent professors ofall faculties over the five years gave us the skills to enter and navigate our professional careers in our respective disciplines.

When I look back at the five years of my college life, it was the most memorable years. We went through it without realizing, we have to go into an unprotected world very soon.

During the course of our college life there were two major world events, the space race was in full swing. American Astronaut John Glenn Flew round the earth for the first time.

In addition to that India had to declare war against Pakistan as they were invading us. Hence our five year course had to be accelerated to bring out more engineers.

23 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI My Life After Leaving the College - Feb 1964 to July 1964:

The year 1964, when we came out of college, the country was going through serious recession limiting the absorption of fresh engineers. I was very keen to join the Air Force as a Fighter Pilot but was not selected at the end of the regress interview at Gwalior. I returned home very sad and informed my parents, but they were quite happy as they did not want me to join the Air Force.

My First JOB “Hindustan Tractors Ltd. at Baroda” - Oct 1964 to Sep 1968:

After few weeks with my parents I left to Bombay in search of a job. After two months I joined Hindustan Tractors Ltd at Baroda as a Trainee Engineer.

Captain Manickavasagam visited me at Baroda and we spent three happy days. After three years I became a Process Planning Engineer and the company offered to send me for further advanced industrial training in Europe.

However I declined, because around that time I was offered a position as a Scientist Engineer at ISRO (The Indian Space Research Organization). It was one of my greatest ambitions to join ISRO. An opportunity came through in the form of apublic advertisement from ISRO. It was a position for a Scientist Engineer.

My Life in ISRO - Sep 1968 to Feb 1992 (23 Years):

My interview at Thumba was successful and I left Baroda once and for all and commenced my long and prestigious career at ISRO starting September 1968. Dr. Kalam was one of the selection board members. I never knew that one day he would become the President of India.

ISRO is directly under the Prime Minister of India and is considered as an organization of the National Importance. In the year 1966, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai became the first Chairman of ISRO.

Until 1970 ISRO’s activities were limited to few small rocket launches only. Then Dr. Sarabhai initiated an ambitious project to launch an indigenous satellite from Indian Soil.

24 ISRO had to gear up to meet the challenge to launch the satellite successfully. SLV-3 (Satellite Launch Vehicle-3) an all solid configuration was chosen to carry the satellite into the desired near earth orbit.

Dr. Kalam was the Project Manager and executed the complex project successfully. After that ISRO embarked on long term planning to go for much higher capacity Satellites and Launch Vehicles.

In order to gain such sophisticated rocket technology ISRO had to acquire them from other nations. ISRO decided to go for Technology Transfer from the European Space Research Organization. It was a very bold attempt to acquire “LIQUID ROCKET ENGINE TECHNOLOGY” by deputing selected group of engineers on long term basis to France and participate in their ARIAN Rocket development program.

I was selected as one of the team members to be deputed to France for 2 years (1975 to 1977).

The Technology Transfer attempt was a success. ISRO has decided to go for new generation of Satellite launch vehicles using the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) and GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) configurations.

ISRO had to build sophisticated and massive test stands, launch pads, tracking systems round the globe, rocket fabrication facilities and highly trained multidiscipline engineering teams. These teams were working parallal to establish their respective system and required facilities leading to realize PSLV & GSLV.

I became Technical Director in July 1984, I was tasked to lead a multidiscipline Engineering team, who was tasked to establish a new test facility capable of ground testing the next generation of liquid rockets. I reported to Dr. AE Muthunayagan, Director of Propulsion, he graduated from ACCET in 1959.

The proposed facilities were to be constructed at Mahendragiri, located 22 km north of Nagarcoil.

The next six years (1984 to 1990) was very intense, in order for to realize the goal of establishing the sophisticated Liquid Rocket Test Facilities and the Support services. It was filled with innumerable happy and sad moments.

25 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI LPSC – Mahendragiri Facilities over View Independent Day

Happy Moments (Year 1991):

ISRO formed a technical committee to evaluate the newly built Test Facility. They evaluated every aspect of the new facility and certified that it was ready for operation. I was the Test Director who carried out the first historical test that has taken ISRO one step nearer to the success of the planned PSLV few years later.

This test was highly successful and witnessed by Chairman of ISRO, other Directors, special VIPs and guests. This was one of my greatest achievements. It was a memorable and unforgettable moment in my life.

Vikas Engine Stage Testing The Engine Nozzle

26 The Sad Moments: There were two major accidents that occurred during my official life in ISRO: At Thumba (Year 1970):

One of the tests that is performed on all rocket hardware as part of the manufacturing process is a high pressure pneumatic test.

One such test that was conducted under my supervision ended in an accident. During the test the rocket stage gave way and there was an explosion. Unfortunately there were two technicians near the test chamber to check for any possible leak. They were injured in the blast and were disabled. ISRO has compensated them and taken back into ISRO. Although I also was not very far from the chamber, I was not injured.

After the accident I had to face a very strong enquiry by an investigating committee. The committee concluded that all procedures were followed, hence my team and I were exonerated. This is one of the most saddening and trying experiences of my life.

At Mahendragiri (Year 1990):

The second such event happened at Mahendragiri.

The countdown for the test campaign starts three weeks before the actual test. The test preparation and the procedures are hazardous and the safety requirements are very rigid.

On the final day, six hours before the actual test firing of the rocket, liquid propellants (Fuel & Oxidizer) are uploaded one by one into the respective tanks of the Rocket. In order for the engine to develop 60 Tons of thrust, it consumes 110 liters of Fuel & Oxidizer every minute.

That eventful day, the team was following all procedures meticulously andthe countdown was progressing as per the schedule.

This test was to be witnessed by many VIPs including the Chairman of ISRO. I was in the control room watching the propellant loading operation through the mimic panel and CCTV. The control room is 100m away from the Test stand at a safe zone.

27 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI Every action is to be authorized by me until the final test is completed. The test stand is active and a 11 member loading team is at the test stand to carry out loading operation. The fuel loading was smooth and the team was getting ready to load the OXIDIZER. The team leader at the Test Stand confirmed the readiness and asked me to authorize loading the Oxidizer.

I have authorized loading of 25,000 liters of Oxidizer. The pumps were switched on to commence loading. There was silence for few seconds and then a major explosion happened.

The next moment, as I saw through the CCTV, a huge cloud of red fume ((N2O4) the Oxidizer) is gushing out into the atmosphere surrounding the 40m tall test stand. I immediately started calling through intercom but there was none to response from the test stand.

In this situation nobody is supposed to go to the test stand, but I broke the safety rules and rushed towards the test stand.

To my great surprise and relief I saw nobody, everybody had evacuated. I could see that the oxidizer was still blowing out of the damaged pump inlet. I called all concerned safety personnel to rush to the test stand where I was standing and watching.

They came and shut down the spilling propellant. Both the fuel and oxidizer are highly hazardous. Later I heard from those who were at the test stand their horrified stories of how they all escaped from the test stand. The test was called off for some time.

I had to go through a painful internal enquiry before everything could resume. I am very thankful that nobody was fatally injured.

That same year, 1991, ISRO gave an offer for “Golden Hand Shake” for those who wish to leave ISRO. I was one among the few who took that opportunity and left ISRO after 23 years. I was given a grand farewell by ISRO. First successful PSLV Flight after I have left ISRO

28 After leaving ISRO - 1991 to the present date (20 years and counting):

After few months of rest I started looking for opportunity outside India, particularly in the Oil & Gas Industry. This quest brought me to Malaysia, where I took an offer as a Project Manager in one of the Multinational Oil & Gas Companies.

I have settled down in Kuala Lumpur where I have been residing for the past twenty years. Dr. Krishnan has visited Kuala Lumpur once with his wife and we had a very good vegetarian lunch.

During this period I had the opportunity to travel a lot officially. I have visited Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Bahrain.

I have two sons who are also Engineers and they reside in the USA. We have two grand-children. We regularly visit them.

My wife and I consider this beautiful life as god’s gift.

29 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI KRISHNAN. S

My Life in Brief

My parents were almost illiterate. I was born into a goldsmith family on the “ayuthapooja” day in 1941. After my birth, my father’s trade flourished. My parents, including my relatives, believed that I brought good luck to my parents. But, when I acquired sufficient knowledge, I realized that my father’s trade flourished only because of his hard work, good habits, truthfulness to his profession, and saving habit. My advice of these four points has always been to my children, grandchildren, and students.

During major part of my education I had the spirit of attempting to excel; however third rank is the one that God found it fit for me! Somehow, this spirit was not there in my BE course; I was more interested in college politics. Quite a few activities in college politics were realized to be mistakes, which paved way for important midcourse corrections in my life. Balsubramania Iyer (“Fz;L thj;jpahu;”) and Rangaswamy Iyer in elementary school, Sadasivam Reddiar in high school, and Professors K. Narayanaswamy (KN) and N. Srinivasamoorthy (NSM) in IISc were my great teachers.

Poverty prevents intelligent children to take up higher studies. Even today, after passing SSLC fifty six years back, I feel very sad to recall that our school first ranker in SSLC, Soundappan (450+ out of 600) could not enter college education because of his poverty and he had to be content with a clerk-position in a bank. In those days state first-rankers in SSLC scored 460 to 470 out of 600.

I do not know whether to believe in astrology. However, my uncle (ngupag;gh), a strong believer in astrology used to say that I would get a very good bride, which became true after getting married to Gowri. We have been blessed with two children Anandhi and Sivasubramaniam. Their families are well placed by grace of God.

30 After passing ME, I got two jobs, one in Panaji, Goa and the other in IIT Madras. Had I taken the first one, maybe I would have ended by enjoying “feni”. IIT environment played a singular role in my career: teaching most talented students, providing valuable research opportunity, and experiencing different environments overseas. I could professionally visit most countries in the world. IIT enabled me get a bit of international recognition in the field I chose to do research.

Teaching in IIT was a wonderful experience. Professor A. Ramachandran (Director of IIT Madras in late 1960’s and early 1970’s and a great large-hearted academician) used to say, “If you want to understand well a subject, determine to teach that subject sincerely.” Teaching the students in IIT has been a great experience and I learned a lot from them. Authentic lecture in a field comes out of research in that field. Somewhere I read in Tamil: “mwpthy; mwpe;J mwpAk; mwpT”. There is also an English equivalent: “Knowledge begets knowledge.” IIT gave me a valuable research-opportunity to live through this statement.

Presently I am trying to write. Hope God has granted me enough time to do that.

No complaints God! “Fiw xd;Wk; ,y;iy”

My life’s lesson is the following.

GOD has created our soul (or atman, Brahman, etc). On this creation, our life force (or prana), body, environment and thought came into our realization. The thought process is influenced by the environment that we live in. Prana, body, environment, thought, and actions are inter dependent interlinks earmarked to us by God. The body is a tool to carry out the decisions that come through our thoughts. Let us not misuse this tool. Life is nothing but changes. Our activities are driven by our thoughts. Good activities and great achievements are through ur thoughts. Ourbody and thought-process perish when prana exits. After this, we are remembered to a certain length of time by the results of our activities. Let us not expect that others will act according to our wishes. Let us not hate anyone. Hate has always been a losing battle. Let us love all.

31 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI MADASWAMY. S

My native place is Aralvoimozhi, simply Aramboly in Kanyakumari dist. Tamil Nadu. Being the eldest of 3 brothers and 2 sisters in my family & 2nd engineer in our community i was enjoying a respectable position in the villages where my parents & fore- fathers lived.

I belong to a family of 4 grand fathers (real brothers) having 10 children each: 40 families in total. My mother was a daughter of 2nd grand father of first generation. My cousins & I are rd of3 generation. Most of the 2nd generation uncles & aunties were employed in cities. A big bungalow with 15 rooms was always available in our village for occupancy through out the year whenever we go there for holidaying. It was renovated recently and partitioned.

The family members settled at the village took care of agriculture. At night after their day’s work, all assemble at our house to discuss the plan for next day and have a common dinner, served hot. There used to be 60-70 people including agricultural labourers. During holidays I go to this village and have a lot of fun when I meet most of my cousins who also come for holidaying.

In fact I had the full opportunity of understanding & enjoying a village life from my early days.

For my class-X & XI ( 2 years ) the school was in a town 4 km away. I used to walk barefoot 4 km daily along with many students to reach school and 4 km on return. Unknowingly perhaps I was doing acupuncture in my feet by this walking.

The amount of walk I did in my teen age may be the reason for the secret of maintaining my good health in later years.

32 After passing out from ACCET Karaikudi in Jan-1964 my activities were

From To Activity

Feb 64 May64 Waiting For Job Oppertunities June 64 Dec 64 Got A Job At Bombay, Served For 6 Months: Didn’t Like Bombay Fast Life Jan 65 Sept 65 Temporary Lecturer In GCT ,Coimbatore And Resigned In Sept Oct 1965 - Joined Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) Rose Upto Dy. Genl. Manager & Retired April 2002 Retired From BSP - Settled at Bhilai for the time being due to wife’s job Aug 2005 Till Date Genl. Manager of A Factory - Machine & 2014 Fabrication Shop At Bhilai Note: My wife is still in service - Prof & HOD in English dept in a Govt Aided pvt college, Bhilai

As soon as i joined bhilai steel plant, i felt home sick due to bhilai being quite far away from my village. The frequency of going to my native place became restricted. but to my luck two of my batch mates at ACCET N. Sethuraman & K. Rajagopalan both from madurai who were already employed at BSP were of great help to me during those days of agony.

After my marriage in 1970 and during this 44 years of our living in Bhilai, we had gone to our native place which is quite far away , at least more than 120 times with an additional expense of Rs. 30.00 Lakhs spread over this period. Our visit of2-3 times a year however helped us to be in touch with our relatives & friendsat Trivandrum.

This is a major point for the people who visit their native places once in 2-3 years when their contacts slowly vanish and at a later stage they are not recognized by the natives. So they settle here in Bhilai and never intend to go to native place in future. They get disconnected with their relatives.

This is not the case with us. We always have good contact with all our relatives. 33 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI B i o - D a t a

1, Name S. MADASWAMY 2, Date of Birth 10-04-1942 3, Name of Wife, M. KANNAMBAL She being only sister to her 3 brothers I enjoyed the status of only one brother-in-law. No stone will be left unturned by my brother-in- law’s when I ask something. 4, Date of Wedding, 01/07/70 5, Number of Children and their names, : a) One son M. Rajeev. Age 42 Got married in May/ 1998, has one daughter 13 years old, b) One daughter, M.R. Divya Age 30 married in June 2011. 6, Children’s present where abouts, Son working with SHELL India mkt-Bangalore, daughter working with Infosys, presently she is at Holland with her husband. 7, Number of Grand Children through each child: One grand daughter Vanshika 8, Educational Qualifications acquired after ACCET, None 9, Professional Experience beginning from 1964 till date, After serving pvt factory for some time, I joined as Gr.Engr in PSU (Bhilai Steel Plant) in 1965 and served various other depts like: Forge shop, Rail & structural Mill, Machine shop and retired in 2002 April at the age 60 as Dy. Genl Mgr (Technical Services). From Aug 2005 , I am working as General Manager in a factory ( machine shop - reconditioning of Hydraulic equpt ). Settled in Bhilai for the time being .

Achievement

2001- as Dy. Genl mgr (Technical Services) I was the leader for in-house development of plate bending machine capable of bending 90 mm thick plate. The machine was made with available things from the plant and nothing was purchased: not even a rupee was spent. “but it saved Rs. 20 crores for BSP“.

This is the only machine with max capacity of 90 mm in SAIL and used by all sail units for their requirement.

34 10, Present interests /hobbies: Travel, social gathering with friends whenever occasion arises. 11, Any other information: I own a house at Trivandrum and a flat at Velachery, Chennai. I may settle in one of these places after I leave Bhilai. I own a house at Bhilai also. I like Bhilai Except that it is quite far away, it has many plus points for me. I may settle here too. Only the time will tell.

My first posting -- steel structural shop

When I joined Bhilai Steel Plant in Oct 1965, the training started with induction training of 4 months, about our steel plant. We came to understand the gigantic level of the plant: a capacity of producing 1 million Tons of Steel per year in 1965 it was a great figure.

I was posted to Steel Structural Shop -an auxiliary workshop - fabrication unit supplying spares for the entire steel plant . I didn’t like the department for quite some time. Slowly I realized that without structural shop no other department can survive.

K.D.Balani

I worked under Mr.K.D.Balani who was the shift-in-charge, running in shift duty 6 am-2pm , 2 pm-10 pm ,10 pm-6 am in rotation , managing 300 workers.

It was quite challenging and interesting. Balani was very strict & during night shift we were fully awake , never allowed us to take rest or sleep.

He had such a memory power that he used to write 11 digit work-order nos. for 4 sections consisting of 50-60 jobs in the log book from his memory only . He was one of the few who had two wheeler at that time.

During “A” shift , normally he picks me up for duty. Both of us were bachelors. He comes to the top floor of 2-B type quarters, wakes me up ,makes me ready and takes me in his scooter. I can never forget his gesture.

Later on they became close& good friends of ours. Alas! Our friend is no more now.

35 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI Mr.J.P.De

Mr.De an eminent technologist of structural shop, had his own way of working. He was master of his subject. As production in charge and later shop in charge, he used to delegate powers to his sub ordinates and kept himself free of botherations and concentrating on other activities. He never tried show off and never knew how to be in the good booksof his bosses; His expectations from others used to be always high: and exhibited same reciprocal attitude towards others.

J.Balasubramanian

The ever lasting planning engineer of S S Shop Mr. J. Balasubramanian, when moves with diary/ diaries in his hands , the whole shop moves with him. The perfect documentation maintained by J B S was marvelous. Monthly plan was nothing for him, he kept the records of 12 months or more. The forgotten jobs which were not collected by the parties in time, are only known to him as where they are lying. This broad minded man had no secrets of his own.

He meant what he spoke and did what he meant.

A simple and straight forward man Mr. J B S later on became our close friend no no above that a guide, well wisher, guardian. 9th July 2003 night We were given an unprecedented help by him & his wife which we will never forget. It is God’s gift for us to have the friendship of such great people.

K.S.C.Bose

In S S shop, it was 1975 when I took over maintenance from Shri K.S.C. Bose, a thorough gentleman. I learnt lot of things from him I considered him as my Guru in my heart of heart. Fits & tolerances is a very important aspect in machine maintenance. I understood from him the theory when he once, during break-down of shearing machine no:1 explained at site giving example of fly wheel fitting .He may not be remembering this. But I do remember well.

36 Truth is merged with him and he is kind to all. I have never seen/ heard him speaking against any body-let it be a worker or an officer. As a simple hearted man Shri K. S. C. Bose loves disciplined life and maintains his own life style. For a long time he was wearing khaki pant + white shirt as uniform for him. He used to say maintenance engineers should wear this dress only. He lives with his wife in Andhra Pradesh peacefully.

About me

If at all I developed anything in me during my tenure of 23 years at S S Shop it was only due to my seniors, Mr. Kavishwar, J. P. De, Mr. J. Balasubramanian, Mr. K. S. C.Bose, and K.D.Balani.

Mr. V.V. Kavishwar

Mr Kavishwar with his matured mind was a good leader. He disseminated his knowledge not only in the work area but also guided his officers in their private life too. One such incidence I have quoted in “Glimpses of Life”.

Go to him with your travel plans, pretend to seek his advice for better plan-by rail, car, flight and be sure you are indirectly granted leave of your convenience and as bonus you get full details of travel in this period of your choice from him. He comes to your rescue directly during your problems, in the work or at home front. He is the man who tells you about the list of 50 items to be carried with you when travelling by car on long tours, to save yourselves from troubles. His knowledge of car maintenance is vast. He can be considered as a good car mechanic. He always preferred travelling by car only ,for tours of long distances.

The economical arrangements (every thing inside the car dickey) made for food tea & snacks on these tours is worth remarkable, saving lot of money & adoptable. Mrs. Kavishwar plays very important role in managing this front. Hats off to her. The success of their tour was always sure.

37 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI One or two cars simply follow Mr. Kavishwar, joining his long trip. They might have just taken Kavishwar’s permission to follow him. Silent & calm by nature, Mr. Kavishwar never kept his officers under tension. He will also be under no tension. We knew that in other departments every day used to be in the threshold of disciplinary action. I wonder now, how great the God is that I had an opportunity to work under such eminent people . He and his wife live at Mumbai with his 2 daughters and 1 son , all employed and living near by their great father.

From A-to-Z

Every day at tea time in the morning & specially at the lunch time there used to be small meeting, presided over by Mr. Kavishwar with 7-8 officers including 2-3 from other departments, all discussing any thing from A-to-Z in the world. During this time, Mr. Kavishwar used to give many tips about safe car driving, economical use of house hold items & few incidences from his latest car travel etc. Participation of 2 to 3 guests from other departments was amust. Otherwise who will bring the latest prices of commodities being discussed? We juniors Mr.P.B. Chetty & myself try to squeeze ourselves into that room to take part in the discussions and listen the interesting conversations. At the end of discussion, everybody will know the latest prices of all commodities in the Bhilai market especially edible oils and full world & National news. Yes! Yes! Your guess is correct! Absolutely there was no necessity for reading newspaper next day!!! This was a regular item in our daily routine. Well attended forum by all members & started always on dot. Dissemination of Knowledge was the prime objective. I enjoyed those periods which I lost forever after I left S S Shop in 1988.

38 About Bhilai steel plant

The Bhilai Steel Plant was established by the assistance of the Soviet Union in the year 1959, which is counted as a major step of India towards industrialization. Thanks to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who was the Pioneer Of modern India.

The major productions of the plant include rails, structurals (beams, angles, channels, crossings, sleepers), plates and wire rods. This region was once a part of the kingdom of the Haihai Rajputs, then Bhonsle Marathas. Then Under direct British from 1853 to August 15, 1947. In Madhya Pradesh from 1950, and this place was selected for Bhilai Steel Plant in 1959, Bhilai went to the state of Chattisgarh on November 1, 2000. Bhilai has continued to grow ever since and it is the 7th fastest growing city in the world.

1965 to 1970

From 1965 to 1970 monotonous bachelor life in Bhilai. Food in a mess was always a punishment. Slowly one by one of our friends were getting married to escape from mess food. The house allotted to us was so small that the two small rooms had no doors in between them. Double cot cannot be accommodated. The 3 storied block had at each level 6 quarters. This was in Russian style.

Things were going smooth otherwise & at last my “D” day of marriage also came.

I got married on 1st July 1970 and for that I took my motor cycle by train up to Chennai and from there I drove to my village from Chennai a foolish act if you think now.

On return to Bhilai after marriage when my wife entered the house in ground floor she crossed the two small rooms & came out of house. She was searching the house outside the two rooms Coolly she asked me “where is the house?”

39 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI On the job as well as at home - Activities 1970-1985

“SMARK“ Association We 5 families were very close. We meet on a social get together at frequent intervals in one of the houses by turns. Have our pool lunch or dinner. Then we Play cards game . Our children have their own games.

Husband & wife form one team, making 5 teams. Thrilled to know the outcome of game : Which team has least point and looser? The looser has to host a party in their house soon. It was just a competition: Every body was trying not to become looser. We play some times up to late night also. We had a magazine club called “SMARK” named from the first alphabet of our children’s names and rotating magazines among ourselves. It was like a well knit family .

Life was enjoyable. In later years we all attended children’s marriages conducted in Tamil Nadu, with out fail. We as a full Group travel in the train for such occasions. Now that all are retired, have settled at their native places: except two families which are in Bhilai.

My Promotion and her management of Family

My first promotion on the job was in Dec-1970 six months after marriage. And 2nd promotion as father of my son was in April 1971.

My wife Kannambal wanted to go for higher studies M.A (English) which she did. She applied for college lecturer job in 1976 and got selected. The Govt Aided Private College gives UGC scale & Pension also as per 6th pay commission. She continued her job and she is going to retire soon at the age of 65 in 2016.

She managed well both the fronts of house and her job. During our settling and starting our newly married life, possessing house hold items one by one like fridge, almairah, cots, furniture, TV, AC etc was an interesting/ thrilling experience for us. Simultaneously buying the cars Fiat, Maruti, Corsa at appropriate times gave us excitements. The life was going on enjoyable & smooth like the roads of Bhilai which are straight and wide.

40 Bhilai is a well known place for school education: a stepping stone for higher education like IIT, MEDICINE, EGINEERING Etc. One mathematics tuition teacher in Bhilai very famous for IIT coaching, is well known to the many professors of all IITs in India. These professors enquire about this tuition teacher from the Bhilai boys joining IIT. My son and daughter also took coaching from him. Son got selected for NIT, Trichy and daughter for Anna univ, Chennai.

TOURISM

We both like to go on tour & sightseeing tourist places in India. We have seen most of India. Kulu-Manali is better than Kashmir. The heat generated by the hot springs oozing out from the ground in many Places at Manikaran is used for cooking food!! Every year, we plan to go on sight seeing during X-mas leave. Some friends join us at the last moment as all the spade work I had already done for the trip. We went to Singapore 2 times our son was employed there in 2007 & 2010 saw complete Singapore. Every year tourist attractions are added there. In 2012 April we joined Thomas Cook Europe Tour 15 days Enjoyed the tour. Again things were running smooth and In 1980 our group of 5 families moved to better houses in one locality where we could meet often. Then our daughter was born in Oct 1984 with the blessings of VaishnoDevi. My family was complete with one son and one daughter.

Glimpses Of Life 1) Motor cycle Going back in memory to 1970 …..

I was getting married on 1st July 1970 at Trivandrum. For that and asa thrilling experience, I took the Motor cycle Jawa which I had in Bhilai to my native place by train upto Chennai and from there I drove the vehicle myself 800 km to my village from Chennai. Driving the vehicle myself 800 km to my village ,was no doubt thrilling . But of course it was a foolish act for the boy who was going for his marriage. He was taking a great risk of his life.

41 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI By the way, many friends of my village learnt driving in my vehicle. Even now they recollect this incident when we meet. Owning a m/ cycle was a big thing at that time!! However every thing went well & m/ cycle was very useful during our honeymoon trips

2) House burgled in 1977

During my leave period when we went to my native place in May 1977, my locked house at Bhilai was burgled. I rushed back to Bhilai and found not much of loss except my Bajaj scooter. Gave police complaint & I slowly forgot the matter in due course of time. Bought another two wheeler. Life became normal.

One day after 4 months, one sardar brought a man to my house ina bajaj scooter and in a harsh voice shouted demanding Rs. 500. I was in the office. My wife came out of house and saw the scooter & astonished. She asked me to come immediately telling all the facts.

I too was astonished as well as happy that my scooter has been found. I told Sardar that the scooter is a stolen property. Then we both went to police station. He narrated his story.

The previous night when sardar, an auto driver, was driving his auto saw ahead a small accident on the road. A bajaj scooter & a cycle dashed. He stopped his auto and tried to help the victim-a cycle rider. He asked the scooterwala to pay Rs. 500 to cyclewala.

When the money was not paid sardar told “keep the scooter here and bring the money tomorrow” Sardar asked the victim to collect the money from the same place the next day.

Next day sardar and cyclewala were waiting for scooterwala who did not turn up.

After few hours of waiting sardar searched scooter dickey and gotthe photo copy of RTO Reg. paper of the scooter. So he brought the scooter straight to my house. The funny thing is that after the scooter was stolen, it was regularly used by the robbery group in Bhilai and police could not get any clue.

42 3) 2250 km Drive

EPISODE: 1 In 1978 I bought a 2nd hand car Fiat at Trivandrum and we drove the car to Bhilai 2250 km away. Absolutely there was no problem in the entire journey & reached Bhilai safe after 6 days.

EPISODE: 2 In 1980 we ( me, my wife and son 8 years) took the same car from Bhilai to Trivandrum for my B-I-L Captain Ashok’ marriage. On reaching Trivandrum, people were astonished for this courageous (foolish) act of travelling 2250 km alone and many scolded us for being foolish. After the marriage when we were returning to Bhilai by the same car. One of my friends with his family (wife, daughter 12 years) joined us at Chennai with an old model Herald car just bought and not even serviced, checked up. On the way we had enough troubles with Herald. But continued our journey solving all the problems on the way. When we were crossing the jungle ghat section of Jagadalpur in Bastar area at 6.00 pm Herald car stopped. It was getting dark. Car did not start. We were afraid of wild animals and naxals. We had lot of jewellery & valuables. No help on the way! What to do? My friend had no idea about the car problem. It took me some 15-20 minutes to find the fault. May be petrol flow path to engine from tank is chocked. This is what I could guess. We were anxious and worried. I remembered my boss Shri. V. V. Kavishwar in Bhilai who had given me a good guidance and a list of 50 items to be carried with you when travelling by car. It consists of a small needle,.. thread to….. so many items including one 3 meters long polythene pipe of internal dia 4 mm. This pipe came to our rescue. I collected petrol from car tank in an empty oil can (in the list), placed it on the roof of car (thank god, he had a luggage stand on his car) and tied with rope (in the list). I Removed the chocked?!! petrol hose pipe from the engine carburettor nipple, and in its place I inserted one end of new poly tube. The other end was placed into the petrol can at the roof of the car with lot of petrol.

43 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI Thus I made arrangement for gravity flow of petrol to the engine from the can. The engine started!!! It was 6.45 pm fully dark. Our tension was not yet over. Any how, it was only 25 km away from the city of Jagadalpur. We slowly reached mechanic shop. The mechanic did a quick job. Cleaned the fuel pump & filter and the car was ready by 8.00 pm We finished our dinner. Only 320 km to Bhilai. we drove some distance in the night. Took rest for some time avoiding night travel. And reached Bhilai next day safely!!

4) Miraculous Escape- Vaishno Devi Blessings

My wife also is very religious like other ladies. Once, long before 1984 she prayed to Goddess Vaishno Devi that if she is blessed with a girl as the second child, the entire family of 4 will come to the Vaishno Devi Temple without availing any comforts and will take all the hardships ourselves.

November 1993. It was severe winter when we 3 (me, wife & daughter) (son in college-didn’t come) visited her brother Col. Ashok family at Dharamsala (where he was posted as commander of a regiment in the army) He suggested to go to Vaishno Devi Temple since it is very near and he will make all arrangements for car, drivers and facility at Katra for stay and pony ride etc... My wife knew very well that as per her promise to Vaishno Devi, 1) Nobody’s help should be taken 2) Full family should go for temple visit

But our son was not with us to form full family. However she reluctantly accepted the offer from her brother Col. Ashok, who immediately arranged:- a car, 2 drivers and other things at Katra.

We decided program like this:

Night 12.30 am (terribly cold) start with 2 drivers in the front: Back seat for us. 1. Planned to Reach Katra 200 km by 4.00 am - 5.00 am. 2. Refresh in an arranged room, 3. take pony go to temple, 4. have darshan of Devi by 11 am. 5.back to Katra before 1.00 pm. 6. Have lunch. 7. Return to Dharamsala before dark.

44 But Vaishnodevi Amma had her own plan

Night 12.30 am we started in a very cold night by car with 2 drivers and other comforts After 1 hr travel at 1.30 am car had to be stopped with heavy brakes in a turning. Probably the sleepy driver was not careful in following the mountain road. The car totally stopped and got tilted totally upside- down with 4 wheels up. It slid along the road with its roof rubbing the road and stopped just before falling into a valley 50-60 metre deep.

We were lucky there was no traffic on both sides of road at that moment. We would have been finished otherwise! We 5 people inside the car were experiencing the upside - down tilting & we were on the roof of car but inside. Nothing happened to any one of us. Not a drop of blood was shed. We came out of the car and re-tilted it on its 4 wheels with the help of some people at 2.00 am Checked: Engine did not start, some oil got drained out. It was sure we cannot travel further. Col. Ashok came next morning towed the car to Dharamsala and took us back.

We consoled ourselves: Vaishnodevi did not want us to violate the promise given to her. After 12 years in June 2005 Vaishnodevi called us: we went to her. We were now full family with addition of our DIL & grand daughter.

Activities 1985- 1998

5) Winning a subordinate officer 1995

My first posting at Steel Structural Shop was in 1965 and I completed 25years of service in 1988. I was handpicked by the management, promoted superseding many of my seniors in 1988 and transferred to the prestigious Rail & Structural Mill mechanical maintenance where I worked for 4 years.

Transferred to Machine shop maintenance of machines in 1995 which gave me good experience One of the officers who was very good at machine maintenance with 20 years experience did not like & accept me as his boss. The following incident made him change his attitude towards me and started accepting me as his boss.

45 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI The incident

Being a newly joined officer, I was approached by one lathe operator who told me about the problem in his lathe of not having original automatic longitudinal feed system.

I checked up and found that in the feed shaft (which drives the automatic feed system) the dog clutch had been fitted in the wrong position. Dog clutch transmits power in one direction only. In the other direction it slips. But here it was made to work in the wrong position against the “Theory of Machines”. So the system failed frequently and the production of lathe was low.

I explained the problem & solution to my subordinate officer and asked him to rectify the fault, by reversing the position of dog clutch. He didn’t do it :probably he thought that he cannot be challenged in technical matters as he was considered“ master of maintenance”.

Then I got it done by another worker & the original feed mechanism was restored with in 30 minutes. The lathe operator was so happy to see his machine in original condition after so many years. Superintendent of machine shop appreciated and thanked me. From that day onwards my subordinate officer was a changed man and started behaving normally with due respect.

6) Shirdi Sai Baba saved us 2002

Feb 2002.Just before my retirement we went Shirdi by my Maruti car. We were three. My wife, my daughter and I. We stayed with Mr. Belsare (he was my batch mate & our neighbor at Bhilai before his retirement) at Amaravathy for the night. Next day morning we proceeded to Shirdi. After Sai Baba darshan on our return again we stopped at Belsare’s house. During our casual talk we came to know that Mr.& Mrs Belsare wanted to come with us to Shirdi but did not disclose in time. We felt very sorry: we could have taken them with us as car can accommodate two persons easily. It did not strike us. They also hesitated to ask us. We begged pardon and started for Bhilai. On our way back on the highway some where in Andhra Pradesh one motor cycle came in wrong side. To save him I had to go to right side of the road. 46 The m/ cycle was saved, man escaped unhurt and vanished. But from the opposite side another motor cycle came and hit my car front damaging the radiator little. He fell down, his vehicle got damaged. Had there been a heavy vehicle or a car in the opposite side it would have been a head on collision & we would have been finished. We were lucky that Shirdi Baba saved us. Probably this accident would not have happened, had Mrs & Mr Belsare joined us to Shirdi!!! As it was not a big accident, I talked to the man who got injured a little bit and compromised. I gave money to him in the presence of few people gathered there, for the repair of his m/ cycle as well as his medical expenses. Then I left the site, drove slowly to find a car mechanic. After one hour one police jeep cameand stopped my car Police took us to the station where I saw that man. He had filed a F I R after agreeing to compromise. Police was very harsh to me initially. The man has not told the truth. When police came to know the truth, they fired him and with respect allowed me to go.

7- SINGAPORE TRIP

Our son was working for Exxon Mobils at Singapore. He has one daughter 10 yrs old. She took us for sight seeing at Singapore, when We (me & wife) visited him in June 2007 stayed for 25 days. In our second trip to Singapore during Oct 2010 we took our daughter also. We three stayed there for 20 days. Both the trips were nice.

8- EUROPEAN TOUR

FROM 30TH APRIL TO 14TH MAY My wife & I joined the group of 34 persons for a tour conducted by Thomas Cook DAY -1 (ITALY-ROME) (COLLOSEUM TRIP) DAY- 2 (ITALY-ROME) (VATICAN, TREVI FOUNTAIN TRIP) DAY -3 (ITALY-PISA ,FLORENCE) (PISA TRIP) DAY- 4 (ITALY-AUSTRIA) (VENICE, INNSBRUCK TRIP) DAY -5 (AUSTRIA - SWITZERLAND)(SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL . THOMAS COOK MOUNTAIN) DAY- 6 (SWITZERLAND) ( TRUMMEL BACK FALLS JUNGFRAJOCH) DAY -7 (SWITZERLAND)TITLIS-SWISS ALPS IN ROTAIR-LUCERNE TRIP

47 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI DAY- 8 (SWITZERLAND AND GERMANY) (TITISEE- RHINE FALLS-BLACK FOREST TRIP) DAY -9 (GERMANY-BELGIUM) RHINE RIVER CRUISE-COLOGNE(KOLN) - BRUSSELS DAY -10 (NETHERLAND - (Holland) - AMSTERDAM) ( MADURODAM-AMSTERDAM) DAY -11 (FRANCE-PARIS) (CHATEAU OF CHANTILL YEFFEL TOWER SEINE RIVER CRUISE) DAY -12 (FRANCE-PARIS) (VERSAILLES PALACE, LOUVRE MUSEUM-MONA LISA) DAY -13 (UK-LONDON-) ( TUSSAUD WAX MUSEUM,LONDON EYE TRIP) DAY -14 (UK-LONDON), (TOWER OF LONDON CHANGE OF GUARD LORD’S CRICKET STADIUM) DAY -15 (UK-LONDON-INDIA) (RETURN TO INDIA)

ACTIVITY 1999-2002 till my retirement

Promoted as Dy. General Manager in 1999, my last phase of 3 years tenure before retirement was in technical services dept.. where I made good impact. I was the leader of technical committee for in-house manufacture of 3 nos of hydraulic presses for straightening of rails before sending them to Indian Railways. Due to financial crunch, in-house manufacturing of PLATE BENDING MACHINE capable of bending 90 mm thick plate and 3 nos of Hydraulic Press was taken up . I was the leader for all these projects, saved Rs 30 crores for BSP. The next generation of the departments though they have not seen/ worked with me, know me through my innovation and contribution to their dept in particular and to BSP in general. After my retirement, just to have a kind of satisfaction in me, I used to visit the sites where these machines are installed and working. I keep in touch with these depts.

Hydraulic Training

In addition to above, Since long I head a group of my own oil Hydraulic experts and BSP experts. Training Modules level L-1 for technicians and level-2 for Engineers were developed under my guidance. We organized “Basic Hydraulics” Training in BSP and covered all the departments from 2009-12.

My own group gave training to the local industries. Engg Colleges in & around Bhilai called us to organize for their students. This group went to Chennai many a times to impart training to Tamil Nadu Small Scale Industries a state Govt. undertaking. We are continuing.

48 Activities 2002 - 2014 After retirement till date

The people want to pay you back in the same coins

During the service you earn not only salary but goodwill, respect etc with your attitude, concern, behaviour towards colleagues, peers, subordinates and workers.

After you retire when people meet you outside either they will respect you and talk or ignore you as if they have not seen you depending upon how you had been with them when you were in service.

Whether you commanded respect or demanded respect?

This I have experienced in my life. During my morning walk I meet many people my seniors, retired & juniors still in service. They stop and speak to me few words with respect. I observe that some retired officers are not recognized by others.

After retirement

After April, 2002, I was enjoying my retired life at Bhilai: for 3 months I went to my native place alone: on the way I got down at many places to meet my friends & relatives: saw them after many years:

Visited ACCET, Karaikudi.

As my wife still had 12 years service after my retirement I am in bhilai. In 2005 I was offered a job with handsome remuneration and a chauffeur driven car. The factory is in Bhilai-13 km away from my home.

The factory was started for reconditioning of hydraulic equipment. Had orders till 2 years. Then we switched over to a kind of jobbing job machine shop which is running at present.

Among my friends of my age I am one of the very few who knows some computer operation. During my tenure in the plant I learned. That has helped me a lot after my retirement, in managing the factory now.

I still go on learning computer which is interesting for me. Because of this, I am able to find out internet solutions for most of my problems by sitting in my office in the factory.

49 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI I spent my time usefully. many of my retired friends complain about their difficulty in killing/ spending the time. If they had learnt computer operation this complaint would not have been there. I feel pity on them.!! I am happy that I have managed/ I am managing my time usefully: sometimes I feel short of time.

As an example:

Once we got a job order from a client for manufacturing and supplying of 200 nos of special holed flanges with many holes at 2 different PCDs.

And the angle between two consecutive holes were odd. (see below)

Before this order, in our routine work we have done plenty of hole marking & drilling of flanges for other clients with number of holes, equal to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24. No problem in doing the job.

In the new order, the position of holes on flanges & its marking was difficult because of odd type of holes.: not known to us.

How to mark fraction of holes? How to mark indivisible-non factorial degrees of 360?

Went to internet. Found solution for the problem. Ans: Chord length method.

Solution: hole marking see figure The holes are at 210, 260, 320, 340 & 570 (non-factor angles of 3600) from each adjacent holes.

Let us take 570 hole. You cannot mark this hole by any other method except chord length. Using this chord length method all holes with any angle between them and any number, even fraction of holes can be done very easily.

50 ANGLE BET N NO OF FACTOR=K- Chord AB = S.NO PCD=d mm HOLES θ HOLES=360/ θ Sin(θ /2) (pcd X K ) mm

1 210 17.14 0.1822 335 61.04 2 260 13.84 0.2249 330 74.20 3 320 11.25 0.2756 330 90.96 4 340 13.85 0.2924 335 97.95 5 570 6.31 0.4771 335 159.8

Power Factor improvement

When I took over the factory in 2005, I never knew anything about Power Factor. Slowly I gathered some information. Our factory was paying additionally Power Factor Penalty of Rs 1600/- per month for not maintaining Power Factor above 0.850 in the electrical power utilized. Found out factory Power Factor was as low as 0.450 Naturally Power Factor Penalty will be levied !!!

51 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI I went to internet: studied the problem

Made a small booklet “Power Factor Correction-Benefits” and its E-copy was sent to most of our batch mates for their comments. I gave booklets at Bhilai to two electrical experts for their comments. They said “ being a mechanical engineer basically, you have analysed well the electrical aspect of power factor-its correction & benefits. Booklet is very useful ” On the basis of booklet I improved the Power Factor by adding proper capacitors to the individual machines, Tested and confirmed. The Power Factor got improved to 0.890. And so, Power Factor Penalty disappeared from the bill. A saving of Rs 1600/- per month.

Epilogue

I get immense satisfaction doing small innovations, solving the problems inthe factory taking help from internet, etc. Constant touch with the technical books, magazines, gives me additional power of knowledge.

Meeting often at ACCET or any other place gives some new life to our friendship of 1959-64. From that point of view Feb 2014 Golden Jubilee meet, was an unique get-together which I & my wife attended.

Seeing our classmates after 50 years gave a heavy feeling of affection. We before coming to Karaikudi for Golden Jubilee, contacted most of our batch by individual Email letter quoting some incidents of our college days connecting both of us. They recollected from memory and agreed. This exercise made our presence felt in the meet.

One thing I cannot forget in ACCET. This Mini-Profile also will not be complete with out mentioning that. It was the N.V mess of S.C hostel. To tell the truth such a food I had never eaten either before/ after those 4 years. Often I used to tell my mother this fact.

O.K.Sirs, Fortunately I am one of the luckiest persons to buy a house from BSP township at Bhilai and living with BSP officers as my both side neighbours. I never felt that I am retired-because I have the same surroundings/ situations inmy living style before & after retirement This has given me immense satisfaction and strength. I thank God for His Blessings. 52 MANICKAVASAGAM. S

I hail from Mannargudi, in the erstwhile Tanjore district. It’s a historical place with a hoary past. It was a dream come true when I joined the Alagappa Engineering College. My childhood friend Jayachandran was already there, one year senior. If I say that his parents were instrumental in persuading my father to send me to engineering college, it’s no exaggeration. I had my priorities cut out, clear and simple.I must get a first class and leave the college with fond memories. So, during all those five years it was all studies and no fun. Still, I didn’t missmy quota of cinema, cine-songs in Arts College Hostel Park. I was secretary, Campus Tamil Sangam during third year. No NCC and no Hindi knowledge but Hindi songs, yes! All those period-songs are now in my iPod! It’s always a pleasure to listen to them even now! Despite my lack of Hindi language skills, I decided to join Army. I still don’t know what prompted me to join army. If Isay that I was fired by nationalism and all that crap, I will not be telling the truth. It’s a myth and let it remain so.

That decision landed me in the then Officers Training School (OTS), now Officers Training Academy (OTA) at Madras in July ’64, for a 30 week pre-commission training. It was tough and tiresome. To use the military lingo, we were buggered. We were 400 Gentleman Cadets drawn from all over India. At last, the day of deliverance came on 14th February, 1965, when I was commissioned and inducted in the Corps of Engineers. This is one of the oldest fighting arms of the Indian Army. As a young commissioned officer, I underwent a Corps specific training in College of Military Engineering at Poona (now Pune) for 30 weeks. That’s the time the ’65 war with Pakistan broke out and I was packed off to Leh. I went to a Construction Company as second in command (Captain). Leh is located in a high altitude area (10,500 Ft above MSL). I was living in a tent! No tap water and no flush tank either! Sleeping inside

53 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI a sleeping bag was a new experience. Winter temperature used to go as low as -30 degrees Celsius! I did some projects like Micro Hydel Scheme at 14,000 Ft! My company was engaged in construction of a 200 beds air conditioned hospital, accommodation for air wing personnel and the like. Life in a hostile climate was tough and demanding the best of physical fitness. Leh tenure was restricted to all ranks and not to exceed 2 years. I had stayed for two and a half years because my Commanding Officer wanted me to complete some works. Working along Sikh and Marathi troops was a pleasure. This came to the knowledge of the Divisional Commander, Major General Gill. He was furious and a gave a bit of his mind to my CO. Well, I was immediately shifted out to Poona, my Group centre (Bombay Sappers). There I took charge as Chief Instructor Workshops in Training Battalion-2. It was from here I left army. By the time I left, I was given the rank of Acting Major.

It was a great learning experience. It was a great privilege to serve Indian Army. The loyalty you see around you, the display of honesty and integrity shown by men and officers, the team spirit- all these have no parallel. I realized much to my horror when I later worked in the IRS how people are driven by greed and selfish attitude. My experience in army stood by me in good stead right through.

After leaving Poona, I came to Madras to prepare for the civil service examinations. I was selected for the Indian Forest Service and placed in the 5th rank (all India). But, there were only four vacancies in that year! However, I passed the civil services examination later, and selected for IPS and IRS. I could not make it to IPS, as I was short by one inch height! That’s how I landed in Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Excise) 1971 batch! I served for 28 years (1971-1998) and rose to the level of Chief Commissioner. In that period, I had 10 transfers! It was a Bharat Darshan of sorts! From one end to the other, like Delhi, Madras, Cochin, Allahabad, Coimbatore, Trichy, Calcutta and briefly Bombay! The change over from Olive Green (ARMY) to civil service was difficult. Work culture, attitude, and red tapes, made a lot of difference. I earned a sobriquet- here comes the military! But it worked well. A no-nonsense attitude kept mischief mongers at bay. My stint in North Block (Ministry of Finance) as Secretary, Central Board of Excise and Customs (ex-officio Dy Secretary, Government of India) was an eye opener to the way Union Government and other state governments worked.

54 More so, as I had the opportunity to know how governments in UK, USA and Europe worked. More about this later.

Working as IRS officer was a great opportunity. I was party to the developmental work of the government, through fiscal policy. It gave me ample scope to interact with industry at various levels. Parliamentary work like preparing Bills, answers to questions, Parliamentary committees’ work, discussing the nitty gritty details with Senior Law Officers like Attorney General, Solicitor General were part ofmy experience. “Suppress the fact, suggest the false”, was the advice given to me by a senior officer! My experience with some ministers and senior bureaucrats by itself will form a small book!

As a part of Republic Day awards, I was awarded the President’s certificate for “Distinguished and Meritorious Service” in the year 1998.

After becoming Chief Commissioner, my next stop was to be Delhi. Even moving to Calcutta was not liked by many in the family. My presence in Madras was favored. My younger son just then finished his engineering studies. My mother was 87 years old and needed help. My mother-in-law was also in advanced age group. So, I was looking for some opportunity to come back to Madras from Calcutta. It came in the shape of a job in Central Administrative Tribunal, as a Member. I was selected and posted to Madras Bench. This was a judicial work on par with a Judge of the High Court. I accepted and joined at Madras. Initially it was olive green (army), then civvies, and now black robe! What a metamorphosis? I served as Member, for five years and nine months. (And for some months as acting Vice Chairman.) Thereafter, I hung my boots once and for all. Almost forty years of public service came to an end in September 2004.

The journey through four decades was wonderful. Either while studying or immediately thereafter, I didn’t envisage such a course. As I moved along, I plotted the course, with some course correction. I could have gone for a single service career and ended as a Brigadier or General but somehow I felt at some point that I was not cut for a full length army service. At that point of time army was an elite service. You lived an artificial life of pomp and glory far away from the common man. While retaining the good traits that I learned from army, I decided to leave. I can’t forget the lessons

55 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI I learnt, the honest way of working, the objective outlook while working in a team, and above all the country’s honor and welfare. I followed the dictum of Field Marshal Chetwood in letter and spirit.

“The safety, honour, and welfare of your country come first always and every time.

The honour, welfare, and comfort of the men you command come next.

Your own ease, comfort, and safety come last always and every time.”

During my civil service tenure, I had occasion to go to Austria for three months for an International seminar on customs rules and procedures, organized under the auspices of UN. Delegates from 14 countries participated. It gave me an opportunity to see and discuss how customs worked in different countries. I visited many parts in Europe in the process. Similarly, I went to USA for an eight weeks seminar organized by the Internal Revenue Service. We were ten delegates drawn from eight countries. We discussed the procedures, investigation techniques and use of computers in tax administration. On both these occasions, I used to keenly observe how the officers and staff work with a sense of dedication and pride in those countries. Unfortunately, in India we miss both. The colonial hang over is still there even after sixty years! Unfortunate, it is.

I had the pleasure of meeting some of our friends at different places. Karunanidhi was in Baroda while I was in Poona. I went to see him during one of the long weekends. Thereafter, I met him in Trivandrum in ISRO. It continued like this. Another important friend is Paramasivam who happens to be my school mate. He has been with me through thick and thin. Jayachandran (63 batch) and Paramasivam have been friends for the longest time in my life! Of course there are others, but not college related.

I used to meet CVR while at Delhi. (He was in IIT). It was a surprise to meet Suriyamoorthi in Delhi when he came on some duty. While at Coimbatore, I met the PSG group-Aravindan, Krishnamurthy and others. Of course, while at Madras, there was opportunity to meet a number of friends- Krishnan, Chari, Sahadevan, Anwarudeen, Mohanraj, Swaminatha Rao and many more. I had spent a lot of time in Cochin, and had occasion to meet Sarma. Having been in the revenue service, I lived to a great

56 extent like a recluse. I didn’t want to mix much with the club-going crowd. That was in fact a disadvantage, I and my family felt always. But we managed to live a normal life, commensurate with the positions I held at different time and places.

I had mixed blessing in my personal life. I married in’68 Rajakumari, daughter of veteran communist leader Manali C Kandasamy. He won the assembly election in 1952, while there was an arrest warrant pending against him for four years! He was all along underground- a feat unparalleled in Indian politics! My first son was born in ’69. Rajakumari passed away in May ’70, due to Hepatitis. She was happy that I was selected for the civil services, but didn’t survive to enjoy the happiness. It took some time for me to reconcile. I married Lakshmi in ’74. My second son was born in ’76. Both my sons are engineers, one living in USA and the other in Bangalore. We have two grandsons. The eldest has entered university (Texas A&M).

During all the hectic years as an administrator, I found time to write novels in Tamil. One novel was prescribed as a non-detailed text for undergraduates in Bharathiar University. I produced a CD-ROM for Kanchi Sankara Madam giving details about all the seers and its history and social service rendered by the Madam. Edited a number of books. Later I wrote a novel in English- Power of Passion, which was published in US. This was followed by “Swami, Girl, and the Bomb”. Well, the list is long. Literary activity gave me enormous satisfaction.

Friends remember about me some odd things! Madasamy remembers about my addiction to Kumudam magazine, and love for cinema songs in college days! Anwarudeen recalls the time spent in Karaikudi even without a ceiling fan! We didn’t complain. Like that our generation grew up without so many things like cell phone, laptop, iPod and iPad. We did wonders with the help of slide rule and logarithm tables! I found out to my shock and surprise that slide rule is being sold as antique for $150 in US! Thank heavens we haven’t yet become antiques!

It was a great occasion - I mean the Golden Jubilee meet. I met Madaswamy and Thomas Pothen for the first time after we left the college! We were transported back to ’64! Will there be yet another occasion like Diamond Jubilee re-union? I sincerely hope there will be.

57 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI NATARAJAN. S.V

It happened on a Sunday

It happened on a Sunday. To be precise, it happened on Sunday, the 5th July 1959.

I was expecting the result of the interview, for admission to the Engineering College, attended by me in the I week of June 1959.

In the afternoon, my father’s cousin, an officer of L.I.C, brought a list of successful candidates selected by the common selection committee for admission to B.E. Course in Madras state. He had collected the list from PWD office in Madras, where it was displayed in the Notice Board.

There were 6 Engineering colleges apart from Annamalai University. I.I.T Madras has just been established. I attended the interview for I.I.T also.

My uncle showed us the list. My Roll No.259 found a place in the list for students from Madras district. We were pleased very much. The next day, a letter came from the Principal, ACCET, Karaikudi, informing me of my selection.

I was advised to join before 15th July 1959. I was expecting admission to Guindy college. I gave Guindy as my 1st choice, Thiagarajar College Madurai as II choice and Karaikudi the III. But I was allotted Karaikudi. While I was happy about admission, I was not very happy about going to Karaikudi, an unknown place.

My elder brother, working as Inspector of Income-Tax at that time, told me to go to Karaikudi. He said that being a non-urban place, I would have nothing much to do except studying. So I accepted his view.

On 7th July, I requested Principal Presidency College, where I had just joined B.Sc Chemistry I-year, to relieve me. The same afternoon, I got relieved!

58 My father, accounts Officer in Postal Audit Madras was on tour at Trichy at that time. I boarded the Tuticorin Express on Sundayth the12 July, and landed at Trichy on Monday morning. My father took me to the Travelers Bungalow, near the Post Office, Trichy.

The same evening myself and my father took the bus to Karaikudi, and landed at the Semi-circular Hostel office room at about 7.30 PM.

My first year at Karaikudi

The person I met first at Semi-circular Hostel was a hefty and tall one. I thought that he was the Deputy Warden. Later, I came to know that he was (Balu Mama), Mr. S. Balakrishnan a third year student and the brother of our classmate Ramesh Babu!

He took the details about me and allotted me a place in Staff Quarters, attached to K.N.Hostel. In each quarter 4 or 5 students were allotted.

I remember that S. Sundaresan, S. Meenakshisundaram, Rajangam were in the same quarter.

As desired by my father, we immediately went to the residence of Principal at nearby Kottaiyur. Prof.D. S. Venkanna, the Principal was very kind. He enquired if I applied to I.I.T Madras. When I nodded, he took out a paper and checked. He said that I was placed in the waiting list at I.I.T and that he was the chairman of the selection Board at I.I.T.!

We thanked him and returned to the Hostel. We paid the fees on the 14th July and I started attending the classes immediately. My father returned to Trichy.

In the next few days, we were awaiting ragging. Fortunately, nothing serious was there. I went to Trichy on Saturday to stay with my father, and returned on Monday morning. This practice continued for a few weeks, and I avoided ragging thus!

In the first week of August, I became seriously ill. I decided to go to Chennai on the 14th of August. My family doctor said that I suffered from Jaundice, and needed rest for 3 weeks. Our friend, V. Rajagopalan arranged with his brother at Chennai to give me certain KEERAI to treat the disease. It was nice of Rajagopal as usual.

59 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI I returned to Karaikudi on 7th September and stayed till the end of I term, say 25th September. I returned to Chennai for the terminal holidays.

In the I week of October, I went back to Karaikudi. I requested for a change of hostel to S.C.Hostel. I was allotted Room No. 11 in New Polytechnic Hostel. My roommates were S.Chinnikrishnan, B.Vijayadurai of I-B.E Old Regulation and Palaniyandi, also of I-B.E.O.R.

Chinni the Go-getter, would come to the room late at night after meeting several classmates. There was no quarrel among the roommates. It was a peaceful hostel life.

I had the chance to mingle with both I-B.E O.R and I-B.E N.R students.I can recall the names of many O.R I-Year students-Seenu Sarma, P.G. (so called because of his passion for Pure Geometry-R. Ramachandran),Thambi so called since he was short, Varadarajan, Mahesh Patel, Venkatasubbia etc,

A few seniors of higher classes were also friendly with our batch- Bandari, Mohan Singh, Madhavan of Final B.E, Kalyanakrishnan, K. Gopalan of II-B.E are the ones I still remember.

Merit Scholarship

Later in the year, I was given the college merit scholarship of 50% fee remission. This was continued for all the 5 years.(I had lost the Merit scholarship of Govt.of India, given to the top 20 students based on the S.S.L.C Examination Marks by 2 ranks. I did not apply for the Merit-cum-Means scholarships in view of my father’s salary)

Subjects

The First year subjects were mostly easy-Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, English, Civil Engineering, Geometrical Drawing, and Practicals of Physics and Chemistry. I did well in all the subjects except in Geometrical Drawing though I got a Pass in this also. There were a few Day Scholars T.K. Srinivasan, Venkatasubramanian and a few others. But all became close friends in the I-year itself. There was a group from Madras. We generally travelled together to Madras for the Holidays. I recall V. Rajagopalan, K. Ramchand, P. Sudarsanam, S. Parasuraman (upto Chingleput only), S. Suriyanarayanan, V. C. Swaminathan, A. M. Mohanraj, V.Balasubramanian, 60 K. Subramanian, Annamani and Pattabi as such persons. The train journey used to be interesting.

Arts Festival

We saw the Arts Festival for a week in November 1959. Cine Artistes came and it was nice time for us. Our Principal said that Engineers needed to spend some time in recreation. He also permitted the screening of a few films in the campus every month!

Late Lakshminarasimhan

He was a hardworking and bright student. He stood first in the I terminal Examination. Unfortunately, he died at his home town before the end of the academic year.

(Late) Prof. M.K. Venkatraman and (Late) Prof. S.K. Rengarajan

We have to remember the two great Professors of Mathematics who created in us great interest in the subject. I met Prof. M.K.V in 1966 at Hardwar when he told that he was doing higher studies at I.I.T Karagpur. Even today, his books are the text-books for B.E students in India.

Prof Rengarajan was another genius, who could solve complicated problems in Analytical Geometry like a child’s play. He later moved to CECRI Karaikudi, where he was the Director for some time. We also had the privilege of learning from Prof. Rajagopalan of Physics,and Prof. V. Swaminatha Iyer of Chemistry. Their classes were quite interesting.

End of first year

The first year ended in April 1960. I passed in all the subjects, getting D or A+ in all the subjects except B in GD (Geometrical Drawing).

The second Year- 1960-61

My father got a promotion and shifted to Nagpur. I reached Karaikudi, 2 weeks after the classes for II-Year started. All the Second year boarders were placed in the New Polytechnic Hostel.

61 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI Kerala from Ramanathan!

A new batch joined in First year, A boy from Cochin was allotted to our room in addition to the soft-spoken (Late)A. Krishnamurthy, and the friendly T.Tirumeni. The First year boy very nervously introduced himself “I am Kerala from Ramanathan”. After 3 weeks, he left for Cochin to join a college there. I met him after 15 years at Enfield India. He was a Purchase Manager there.

(Late) S. Suriyanarayanan was a hero in the hostel. I recall the day in the mess, when the head server behaved in a rough manner to Suri. In no time, Suri threw the coffee tumbler on the floor and shouted at the server, who apologized on the spot.

I recall my trips to Madurai for occasions like Deepavali. In some occasions, Ramesh took me, (Late) K. Rajagopal, and A. Krishnamurthy in his car. I visited Ramesh’s house in Madurai, without imagining that, after a decade, I was going to marry Seethalakshmi, one of the neighbours of Ramesh.

Survey Practical

I liked both Survey Theory and Practical. A camp of about 5 days was arranged in Survey Practical. We spent 4 to 5 hours for taking readings across the road between the Hostel and college.

M/I = f/y=E/R

I can never forget this formula.Applied Mechanics was a good subject, entirely because it was taught by (Late) Prof. P. S. Manisundaram. The lectures used to be lively. He also increased the general awareness of the students.

Syed Ameenuddin

Our classmate, Syed has a lovely voice , and he used to sing many popular Hindi songs in the Hostel.

Study Holidays

In the second year, we got about 6 weeks of study Holidays before the University Examination. On 27th February 961, I went to Nanded, Parbhani and Aurangabad in this period. My father was on tour to these places. I saw Ellora and Ajanta caves in this period. 62 “Sudarsanam, you too!”

In one of the Survey Theory classes, a student (Parasuraman I think) was busy talking to Sudarsanam. The lecturer, Mr. K. S. Gangadharan, asked that student to go out of the class. He also said “Sudarsanam, you too!” (Years later, I met Mr. Ganagadaran in 1965 in New Delhi. He was with C.P.W.D, and I with D.G.S & D.)

Late Noor Mohammed

He was a nice gentleman. He was a colleague in the Practical classes.

End of II Year

The second year ended on 13th May 1961, and III year started in the 3rd week of June 1961.

III-YEAR 1961-62 Allocation of Branch

We all chose a Branch - Civil, Mechanical or Electrical. I chose Mechanical. There were about 20 each in Civil and Electrical and the rest- about 60, in Mechanical.

Unfortunately, a few of our classmates did not pass 1 or 2 subjects. They did not continue with us in the III- YEAR, but all of us continue together in our hearts.

Munnukku Vanga

Prof. M. Antony Dorai was an interesting person, handling Theory of Machines. He used to talk about a travel in a bullock-cart driven vehicle. The driver said Munnukku Vanga. He would mention that the phrase was applicable in all aspects of life. We should aim to improve ourselves constantly.

In our final year, he left us to join the newly started BHEL at Trichy.He was also the external examiner in the Final year Workshop Practice.

My roommates

We moved to S.C. Hostel-Semi-circular Hostel. My roommates were, Late A. KRISHNAMURTHY, N. PATTABIRAMAN, and R. SUBRAMANI

63 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI We enjoyed every bit of our stay. During Lunch time or in the evening, we would join a couple of tables and play Table-tennis. Sometimes, myself and A.Krishnamurthy would walk up to Arts College and listen to the film songs in their Hostel.

Engineering Exhibition

This was held in December 1961. We were formed into groups of 3 or 4 and told to make things of technical value for showing to public. No regular classes were held in this period.

I was part of a team led by (Late) T. K. Srinivasan, a technical giant. We made a small hand held flour mill. The public who came to the exhibition, appreciated the (Late) Prof. R. N. Varadarajan.

He taught us fluid mechanics-a subject that I loved. His presentation of topics such as dimensional analysis, reynolds no., mach no. etc was superb. In the Final Year, he handled Power Plant Engineering.

Success in English Oratorical contest at Coimbatore

Myself and a Final Year student, Mr. Balasubramanian represented our college at the Inter-Collegiate oratorical contest, conducted by the Rotary Club of Coimbatore, in November. Our team got the II-Prize. My friends gave the title ‘Orator’ to me.

III-YEAR EXAMINATIONS

III - Year 1962. Examinations started on 20th March 1962 and ended on 31st March.

Kadak, Kadak, Kadak

On 31st March, I attended the Workshop Practical (Lathe work) Examination. A small bar was to be turned, stepcut and thread cut. During thread cutting, I had given excessive depth. The piece, was bent, tool broken and the machine stopped, with a kadak, kadak noise. Obviously, I did not get thro’ the Practical Examination. Prof. T. S. R. Murthy was the internal examiner. I passed in September. However, I got the First class as there was no loss of a year.

64 Retirement of Prof. Venkanna

In March, the Principal, Prof. D. S. Venkanna retired and Prof. P. S. Manisundaram took over as the Principal.

IV-YEAR 1962-63

We moved to the top floor of S.C.Hostel. I was in Room No.10, along with A.Krishnamurthy and T.Thenappan. (Surprisingly, Thenappan did not remember this, when we met at Karaikudi on 8th February this year.)

V.Balu became the Asst.Secretary of Mechanical Engineering Association. An excellent organiser, he arranged the Educational tour in December 1962. We visited, Madras, Kolar, Bangalore, Badravati, Jog Falls, Mysore, Ooty, and Coimbatore. It was nice for us to see several industries, where we would be employed soon!

War broke out between India and China in October 1962. It lasted for about 3 weeks. Finally, China stopped the war.

What about tomorrow?

This used to be the point raised by the students at the end of any function at the College. Invariably, the Principal would announce a holiday for the next day.

IV-Year Examinations were held in April 1963.

Acceleration of the course:

In view of the country’s needs, our course was accelerated and compressed. We got a letter from the college, asking us to join the Final Year in the last week of May 1963. The Final year was to end in the First week of January 1964., instead of integrated course and also, the accelerated B.E. Course!

Hostel Day

Normally a grand dinner was held on these occasions. I served pickles for the guests during those days!

65 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI FINAL B.E 1963-64

K. N. Hostel

We moved to K. N. Hostel. I got Room No.99. All rooms were of single occupancy, A privilege for the Final year boys!

Defence teams came to recruit for Short Service Regular Commission. K. Ramchand, V. Balu, Myself, T. K. Srinivasan and S. Manickavasagam were selected in the interview. I did not go for the Final selection interview. Only Ramchand and Manickavasagam joined the Defence forces.I learn that S. P. Kutty also joined the Army.

Mechanical Engineering Association

I was elected as the Secretary of the Mechanical Engineering Association. I arranged for weekly meetings, including 4 or 5 lectures by the research scientists of CECRI.

Tours

I arranged for a 4-day tour to Tekkadi in June 1963. Again in September, we went on a tour to Trichy, Neyveli, Mettur Dam, Alwaye (stay at Cochin island) Trivandrum, Cape Comorin, and Quilon. I had the full cooperation from my friends. In particular, I must mention the great support of K. Ramcahand, who was the class representative.

My father visited Karaikudi in the last week of November ’63 on official tour. He stayed with me in that period. I was quite happy.

My birthday on 25th December 1963.

My friends somehow remembered this. On that day they bodily lifted me and threw me in the pond at K.N. Hostel. I had escaped ragging by my seniors in the First year, but could not do so from my friends, in the Final Year!

Final Examination

The Viva-voce for the Project started on 16th December 63. I was the first candidate to face the internal examiner Prof A. V. Ragavachar and the External Examiner Prof. Ambalavanan of Annamalai University. I secured a distinction in the Project Examonation. Then practicals were held. 66 Theory Examinations were held from 6th January 64 till 11th January.

I left for Madras on 12th January.

Result

The result was declared on 17th February 1964. I passed with a First Class.

Sports persons in my class

There were a few good sports persons in my Batch-George Joseph Thanaraj in Hockey, V. Balu in Tennis, and K. Subramanian in Cricket.

Some thoughts

I have mentioned only a few names of my batch-mates in this. This does not mean that I had forgotten the rest. I must say that I had interacted positively with everyone in my batch, and I continue to do so in the get-togethers we have had.

I close this with the fond memories of Alagappapuram - memories that are too pleasant to forget, but none too painful to remember.

67 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI RAJAGOPALAN. A

My College Life & Stint As Hockey Player

I was born in a middle class family in Palaymkottai in Tirunelveli district. We are a Telugu speaking community and had migrated from Andhra Pradesh generations back. My father could not complete his studies due to family circumstances and joined work at postal department after completing Intermediate. My father moved out from his native village to Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli for the sake of our studies. I studied elementary, primary, high school and college (upto PUC) at St.Xavier’s High school & College at Tirunelveli. I was able to secure engineering college admission at ACCET College, Karaikudi on merit as I had good marks in PUC. I was the first member in my family circle spread over a few villages to have done engineering. But other elder members also had distinguished careers in IPS, Air Force and Banking sectors.

In those days during the 50s and 60s Tiruneliveli is well known for its educational institutions and its affinity to hockey. Tiruneliveli used to be called theOxford of the south. My house was situated right opposite to V.O.C stadium in Playamkottai in Tirunelveli. This is the venue where hockey tournaments are conducted during 50s and 60s and big and famous teams such as ICF-Madras, State bank of India, Golden Rock-Trichy, Laskmi Mills-Kovilpatti, Loyola College - Chennai, St.Joseph’s - Trichy, St.Xaviers college, Tirunelveli etc. would participate in these tournaments. These are the factors that developed my interest in the game of hockey and I had the desire to play hockey at a professional level. I used to play hockey regularly at V.O.C ground with my school mates.

68 ACCET college, Karaikudi were the winners of the university hockey tournament for three consecutive years from 1959-1960 to 1961-1962. I was a part of the team (as ‘Left In’) which won the inter division university hockey title in 1961-1962. Our hockey team was of high standard during those 3 years. During this time, our team had 2 to 3 state players and 2 to 3 university players. Three players from Palayamkottai had represented the team. This included Mr. George Joseph who is my classmate, Mr. Frankie who is senior to me by 2 years and myself. Mr. George had a good physique and had good stamina and so he rightfully played as right full back and Mr. Frankie as left full. All of three of us had their residence within 1 km from V.O.C stadium.

The correspondent of our college Mr.CVCT Venkatachalam Chettiar had shown keen interest in sports activities and the college had allocated more seats under sports quota. Due to this, good players got admission to the college and the college had a strong hockey team that could win tournaments at university level. I consider myself very fortunate in having played with people like Mr.Badiuddin, Mr. Venkatraman (both state players) & Mr. Srinivasan (university player) and other members of the then hockey team. During practice, Mr. Badiuddin would be standing alone at the goal post and some five or six of us will be allowed to score a goal from within the ‘D’ play area by passing within ourselves. We would fail to score in most of our attempts.

In those days, Madras University would reimburse all expense incurred by the college for the hockey team which wins the university tournament. All expenses for the team and the support staff from the first match to the final for all the matches held across the state are taken care of. Therefor the college had sufficient funds to support sports activities. The management and the Principal were kind enough to encourage us further by sending our team to participate at various tournaments held across the state for practice. Moreover our college Principal Mr. Vennkanna would allow extra 10 extra term days for each student if he represents the college in a sports activity. Whenever college team won divisional or inter divisional tournament, the students would ask “what about tomorrow?” and Principal would declare a holiday for celebrations. The physical education director would encourage the students to participate in various sports and any student who represented a college

69 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI team will be allowed to leave class by 4 PM to take part in practice. Such was the encouragement and recognition given by the college for sports activities. After leaving college, I did not get a chance to continue playing hockey. ButI continued to follow hockey. After leaving college Mr. Badiuddin had represented Southern Railways. He was employed in a senior position for his hockey skills. His photo has appeared many times in the weekly magazine ‘Sports & Past Time”.

After college, I joined the Highways department by MPSC selection process. I served at various capacities across different parts of TamilNadu from 1964 to 2001 and retired as Chief Engineer in Highways department. I have constructed many roads and bridges during my career. Some of the noteworthy things (at least to my conscience) being the concrete 4 lane bridge of about 500 meters across Cauvery river at Trichy during 1972-1976 and a bridge of about 200 meters across Tamiraparani river at my native place Tirunelveli during 1985-1988.

Regarding my personal life, I got married to Renuka in 1970. I have a son Kumar who is married to Priya. Kumar & Priya have a boy and a girl twins Kartik & Kirti. My grandchildren Kartik & Kirti are now 4 years old. These days I spend most of my time with them in Bangalore and visit Chennai once a month to take care of my house there.

70 RAMAKRISHNAN. C V

Introduction

I present some of my experiences, not all of it hunky-dory. I have tried to highlight my additions to learning on various occasions. I have also flagged several issues of a societal nature for which solutions have to be searched.

After my studies I joined IIT/ Delhi. IIT faculty, in conformity with the traditions of the best research and teaching institutions all over the world, engage themselves in excelling in four domains. High quality International Research, Innovative teaching including the preparation of pedagogic materials and course administration, Industrial Consultancy, Sponsored Research and International collaboration and Institute Administration and other Professional Activities. To summarise, Icould graduate approximately 25 Ph.Ds, 80 M.Tech projects and was engaged in teaching 43 batches of B.Tech/ M.Tech students. I had executed a large number of sponsored projects for funding agencies and carried out a reasonable number of Consultancy projects. I along with a faculty colleague helped in incubating a private company which is reasonably successful employing 30 professionals.

The College Years

The first touching experience I had in Karaikudi was when, I was inmy second year after a creditable performance earlier, peer and family pressure forced me to approach Prof. D.S. Venkanna in his exalted office with trepidation for a possible change of discipline to Electrical Engineering. To my utter disbelief, he recognized me and most graciously offered anything I desired. It was by far -an ac tion-par-excellence in academic administration to treat seventeen year old youngster with such respect. It is a different matter that I changed my mind soon after. I distinctly owe my mathematical competence, which even my French pure 71 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI mathematics friends respected, to Prof. M. K. Venkataraman and Prof. S.K. Rangarajan. A decade later, when I was chatting with my senior colleague in IITD Prof. M.K. Jain, a renowned name in Numerical Analysis, revealed that he felt honoured to be his supervisor and asked “ Do you know that even at that senior age with reputation, he stayed in Shivalik hostel for three years?”. I also recall with great admiration the trust Prof. W. P. Vijayaraghavan placed in me, and Prof. Azariah Thanasingh’s opinion that while IRSE examination would be a walkover for me, research would suit me better.

IISc is a wonderful melting pot of multiple disciplines and Indian cultures in an environment of scholarship and humility. Here I learnt research techniques and developed my analytical abilities in an atmosphere of serenity. To cite a small experience, I was working in the library one morning when an elderly gentleman parked his Standard Herald car and was making enquiries with an assistant for getting a reference material. A few minutes later, all hell broke loose and the Chief Librarian came running from his office and offered his help. I continued with my assignment and later came to know that the redoubtable visitor was Sir. C. V. Raman, who had felt that calling IISc and seeking the reference to be sent would be a waste of time but just driving down from Hebbal would be neater. It is no wonder that Bengaluru evolved as the Science Capital of the country and an IT Megapolis of the world.

I rejected the idea of writing the Engineering Services Exam and also decided against applying for any Ivy League university in US after a visit to IIT/ Kanpur. Here I met Prof. M. Ananthakrishnan, one if the most outstanding Scientific Administrator of the country and UN, who, till this day continues to be my mentor and well-wisher. Apart from my thesis advisor Prof. A.H. Shah, who had Stanford and UCB (University of California, Berkeley) pedigree, I interacted with towering academics in the Departments of Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautics, Mathematics and Computer Science. Here I really learnt what intellectual hard work was and you carried on with it just because you enjoyed it. As a student I used to walk along the corridors at midnight with my friend when one night Prof. M. S. Muthanna , the Deputy director, called me by name from behind and joined us all the time enquiring our welfare. My advisor vacated a bedroom in his home for me to help me giving finishing touches to my thesis during the last three months.

72 His wife would prepare the meal and leave a flaskful of coffee for me. When my parents visited me at Kanpur and met the Shah family, they were in tears. Prof. Shah had also by then helped me in getting a PDF at Edmunton, Canada and was volunteering to finance my travel as I could not pay for it. I must mention Prof. V. Rajaraman, one of the few responsible for India’s creditable IT revolution and an unassuming figure. Mrs. Indira Gandhi was visiting IIT/K and the Computer Centre was in her itinery. When I asked him if the centre would be closed during her visit, he told I can work as usual. So I was routinely working and answered a couple of simple questions from the Prime minister-no fuss. In short, IISc and all old IITs have been able to retain the atmosphere so far comparable to the very best in the west, but the same can not be said about others.

It has not always been beds of roses for all. Since the intellectual expectation is high, each individual has to limit his level of ambition to be reasonable. Frequently, young people at these institutions can become depressed and require counseling as otherwise the consequences can be serious. This is an issue I had faced all through my life with my students and friends. While in western countries the psychiatric physicians and psychological therapists are doing a fine job, it is abysmally poor in India. Further the social stigma in the country due to ignorance is appalling. I had been counseling students and friends having mental health problems for a long time. This is sad but I found is so common in all the higher institutions of learning-IISc, IIT/K and IIT/D and even in institutions abroad.

The Early Years

I joined IIT/Delhi after rejecting a few offers and the PDF assignment. I was a very good teacher but my love was for research. I had a wonderful three bed-roomed villa in the campus with a huge lawn, a lovely wife Nimmi and cultured neighbours who all had spent an average of five years abroad with their families. My wife was hardly sixteen and decided to juggle her fulltime studentship of Delhi University with home-making, gardening and managing a workaholic hubby. Later, I spent fifteen months with my wife in UK as a Visiting faculty and this was a tipping point in life. University College Swansea, which I chose, was among the two best institutions in my field of research, Computational Mechanics. Prof. O.C. Zienkiewicz was a legendary

73 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI figure, later to be honoured with an OBE, and the departmental corridor was milling with students, researchers and long term visitors from all over the world. Renowned professors joined for coffee and meals in student canteen while discussing some finer aspects of research. I met my professor only twice with appointment but the research atmosphere he had created with just eight faculty members and a narrow corridor with about 20 rooms was mind boggling. There were ninety researchers, some of whom were fifty year old professors, from diverse countries.

They had sacrificed a year of their income hoping that they may with luck be able to publish a joint paper with one of the faculty. Just interacting with them gave new ideas. When my term was coming to a close, the renowned professor one day walked to my seat and heard a summary of my work. I had divided my contribution into three parts. He ordered that the two works I had carried out with Scottish and Italian researchers can be published independently and he wanted his name in the third paper with additional work to be carried out with the Italian visitor for publication in the Journal of Strain Analysis. No doubt it was one among the happiest days of my life. Ten years later, he invited me as a visiting Professor for a year in his project for and I carried out some good work on viscoplastic fracture modeling. I must mention about the quality of life in UK. On both the occasions I was supported by a very liberal sustenance allowance, though not comparable with British salaries and we could travel to various places all over UK and Paris. In spite of all the hype about Capitalism, UK and Europe are very socialistic and are caring societies. The right to basic living, shelter and healthcare is paramount and market forces are used to inject efficiency into the system.

It is no wonder that the western world has benefited enormously by creating such places of learning. No doubt US tops the list, but Europe, Japan and Korea are not far behind. Now China is not only flooding these institutions with their students and visitors but is furiously setting up its own institutions. We are not doing badly on the first front but our focus on the latter is pathetic. It is extremely well projected in a UN document that there is a knowledge revolution in progress and only those countries which excel in this area will prosper and survive. All the world’s problems are solvable with these new technologies and only China and India along with the west have the appropriate globalized human resource. No wonder Obama is worried about 74 the Chinese and Indians by looking at the merit list of top US universities but can we utilize the opportunity?

My research activities in India took off nicely and I had several extremely good doctoral students. Probably the British academic halo was fresh and infectious. All the research fellows were great workaholics. My first two research fellows were older than me and the awe and respect they showered on me and my young wife was humbling. Later, when all their children did extremely well in studies and profession, they told “Sir, but for your inspiration and IIT/D, we could never have dreamt of this”. I had another middle aged researcher who did an extremely good work on spacecraft flutter but had to separate from his wife and experienced a serious heart attack followed by surgery. I queried if it was all worth. He replied “Sir, What is there more to achieve in life than working with you and Prof. Sengupta and publishing those papers in outstanding scientific journals? After all, I hail from a small village”.

I set off to the Institut Nationale de Recherche d’ Informatique et d’Automatique at Rocquencourt near Paris for a six month assignment. This was one of the most prestigious institutions in the world doing research on Computer Science and Applications. Here I interacted with Olivier Pironneau - an unassuming young Frenchman with a brilliant degree from the grand Ecole Polytechnique-Paris,and Ph.D and D.Sc from Berkely and Cambridge/ Paris. French academics can hold multiple appointments and deliver lectures and guide research teams in several locations. This was a wonderful experience. A senior Professor in Europe has a royal aura and is respected by everyone. INRIA had a large number of such professors visiting while lecturing or having duty elsewhere on a schedule. Icould do some interesting work during my short stay and when I sent a draft paperto Olivier based on my work there, he deleted his name from the author list saying that he made no contribution to the work and sent it to the editor. Within a month he was in my office in Delhi with the reprints. That was a lesson to me on etiquette and mutual respect. We have exchanged visits umpteen number of times in Paris and Delhi since then.

75 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI The Middle Years

You would have realized that at this time, I was in a heady atmosphere, teaching brilliant undergraduates and sincere postgraduates, guiding highly motivated researchers who were flocking to me. I managed to get funding under ODA of UK for a collaborative project. This provided the support for setting up a good Computation facility for our research team and a few exchange visits. Our Director lauded it as a good achievement. My area of research was in Computer Aided Engineering and at this point in time it was merging with Computed aided Design and Manufacturing. This was also propelled by the developments in our area and Computer Science. With rapid advances in IT technologies, networking and high speed computing we were getting into an exciting phase.

I entered into a collaboration arrangement with CEMEF, Sophia Antipolis, France through the Indo French Centre. This is a French National Centre for Material forming processes under the CNRS (French Counter part of CSIR and DST) and Ecole des Mines, Paris. Professor J.L Chenot, who had already been decorated with Chevalier award, was my collaborator and close friend and I spent several months in the French Riviera, ironically, engaged in serious research.

I had to shoulder several administrative responsibilities one after another in addition to my teaching and research commitments. Departmental Headship was difficult but manageable. I also served three years as the head of IT services and it was a challenging task to build the institutional state of the art IT network. It was a satisfying job as we had the best central computing facility and the best network of the time. I was at that time a good expert on computing and networking including Internet technologies.

I spent a four year term as Dean, undergraduate studies. Normally, this would have been a cakewalk demanding very little time from my academic duties. But, the IIT was reviewing its curriculum and the concept paper was handed over to me along with the plan for implementation for the first year. The Dean was entrusted with the preparation of the plan for II-IV years and implementation. This was a challenging task. First you have to arrive at a compromise with feuding Heads engaged in turf wars 76 and arrive at a framework, which is in sync with the concept paper. While implementation you will find minefields and snake-pits and innocent students may become victims. Every sign of discontent had to be carefully monitored and remedied. Many policy changes on enhanced funding, increase in intake, creation of IIT corpus, increased importance for external resource generation and mobilization of IIT Alumni, setting up an additional campus were deliberated during my tenure. Certainly it was a rewarding experience. I must mention about Prof. N.C. Nigam, who was our Director during part of my tenure. He was a strict disciplinarian and simpleton to the core. Once during our discussions, an issue was raised on the library having poor attendance during late night hours, he said “Those few scholars are the most important for the nation and I shall not allow the library hours to be shortened”. On another occasion when we deliberated on a Professor who had strayed off the rules, he said” I shall talk to him but who am I to pull him up? I am an ordinary Director and he is a great engineer scientist”. He also extended full support to me in organizing an International conference on “Engineering Software”.

I would like to narrate a different experience when I was to deliver a talk at the University of Marseilles. There were several eminent invitees from all over the world and I was surprised that we were all accommodated in the University dorm without central air-conditioning and the lunches were in the common dining hall. WhenI enquired my host discreetly, he informed me that this was the custom as the participants were all young students and they should freely engage themselves with the leading scientists. If they are put in a non-student atmosphere, they would withdraw into a shell in awe which would not be intellectually healthy. I think there is a lesson worth learning.

Of course, the usual crisis management situations were common and the Deans worked as a team just as a Defence officer manages strategic affairs.

The Senior Years

After spending eleven years with adjunct administrative responsibilities, I plunged fully back into academics, deliberately curbing my international travel, but I was getting nominated into several committees and performed various duties. I also 77 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI was elected as a Fellow of INAE and was the Honorary General Secretary for nearly a year and a half. My research and teaching went on smoothly. During this period, I had the opportunity to be a part of a three member enquiry committee Headed by a retired High Court Chief judge to look into the affairs of a central University. Having been associated with the best managed institutions all my life, I realized how things could go wrong very badly if problems are not nipped in the bud. We made four visits and interviewed all stakeholders spending in all ten days and finalized our report in three months. The choice of very good academics with integrity and an academic-administrator with vision as Vice-chancellor is vital.

Personal Life

Living in an IIT campus is almost a like a paradise. We were all insulated from the usual hassles. We had excellent social relations and had hosted most of these friends with the food cooked by Nimmi.

During April 2006, when my young daughter joined NSIT- Delhi, which meant a further commitment of four years in Delhi, we were looking at various options for retirement. I present my experience as it has been unbelievable and myDelhi colleagues still wonder how I had coped. I have even delivered a lecture at IIT/D and my oncologist had suggested a lecture to medical graduates. Suddenly, my wife was diagnosed with Stage-I ductal carcinoma although she was undergoing annual mammographic evaluations. We took it calmly initially as the morbidity rate was only 26%. However the biology of cancer cells and the hormonal disposition of the patient play significant role in recovery and after two years of immense psychological, financial and physical struggle for the entire family, she was put on clinical trials which failed. A further course of chemos and radiotherapy was to follow. In the midst of this, I had a critical intestinal bleeding episode while flying from Bangalore to Delhi, which was very correctly diagnosed as Carcinoid Cancer in the GI tract, which is a rare form of cancer and is usually undiagnosed or misdiagnosed even in advanced countries. I was lucky in getting the very best medical advice but a very complex oncosurgery was needed urgently and my dying wife nursed me all through including two ICU confinements. She succumbed to her disease in 2009 leaving me shattered. I had been doing extensive reading and research on these cancers.

78 The important thing I want to emphasize here is that although some protocols exist, cancer therapy has to be individualized since there is a lot of heterogeneity even in the same form of disease. I had to take at least three different evaluations in Delhi and Chennai at every stage and argue with the oncologists quoting medical literature and treatment options. I trusted my Delhi surgeons and went ahead and have managed to survive more than five years and hope to continue longer. With the average lifespan increasing, all other diseases becoming treatable and cancer being an evolutionary disorder, it is inevitable that cancer will become more prevalent and treatment might become unaffordable even for the wealthy. Cancer is a multidimensional societal problem and not purely clinical. We have not even scratched the surface of the issue and a comprehensive healthcare policy on cancer is the need of the hour. A public-private partnership on affordable integrated cancer-care cover taking into account the varying risks is possible.

79 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI RAMESH BABU @ RAMESH SHAMRAO

This is Ramesh Babu and joined 1959 batch. My first instinct was “ I do not want to study engineering”. But family got me a seat through Principal Venkanna who was my father’s friend. So rest is history.

I did not pay attention to my studies and was always getting into trouble with teaching staff. I did not get through the second year and so spent six months in Bangalore doing nothing. Then came back and joined the next batch. Made a bunch of new friends too.

After graduation, I worked at NGEF, Bangalore as Junior Engineer in Production Planning - Time study department. Had a god father there too and was still playful. However, got a good name for coming up with ideas from the management.

Due to some personal reason, decided to move to Kuwait. A friend’s sister helped me to get a job with her husband’s help. Left for Kuwait in 1969 with a work visa and worked in sales focusing on instrumentation distributor company. Soon realized that sales is my gig.

A US company President Dr. Wilbur Teeters had visited us and he was impressed (even if I have to say so) with me and offered me a job in US. He arranged for my move and I started working in sales with Hoke, Inc. from August 1973. I quickly learned US way of selling and moved up the ladder. I also learnt that networking is a big part of success.

I got involved in Instrumentation Society of America and in one year was offered a honorary position as Advisor. This is normally held by locals and an outsider being there is an achievement.

This networking led to an offer, I could not refuse, to move to California in 1978 and head the global sales/ Marketing department of a flow meter manufacturer. I worked hard, diligently, and was appreciated by my peers.

80 In 1990, I had an opportunity to buy a local distributor company that sells instrumentation and heat transfer products. It has been a great transformation and profitable, no doubt. We have six sales engineers and two inside sales support staff. Our annual turnover is 8 million dollars with a good profit margin. I plan to bring in my second son in soon to take over.

On personal life, there is my wife Shylaja (you all met her) and two boys Abhishek and Darshun. Abhishek is married to Ara and they have a baby Asha. He works for US Federal Government and Ara is a college counselor. Darshun is working for a web sales in Los Angeles. We are content and God has blessed us. I play golf regularly and we travel a bit. We have family all over US and gets us over to see them. We have a family get together in our house every December.

A few of our classmates have visited us and have enjoyed our hospitality and Shylaja’s cooking. So come and visit us. The door is open.

81 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI Sahadevan. M

Bird’s eye view,

M. Sahadevan, Electrical Engineering graduate from ACCET, 1964 batch, worked for Madras State Electricity Board for 5 years from 1964 to 1969, Hindustan Brown Boveri Ltd. (HBB) for 15 years from 1970 to 1985 and Ministry of Power & Water, Government of Bahrain, for 5 years from 1986 to 1990.

Specialized in Power System Control, he had opportunities to guide and manage design, development, manufacture, installation and commissioning of turn key projects in various State Electricity Boards in India. Worked for Brown Boveri + Cie, Switzerland, Principals and Technical collaborators of HBB, for 2 years and widely traveled in Europe. Significant contributions were made towards for 10 year development plan while working for Ministry of Power and Water, Government of Bahrain.

Returned to India just before Gulf War, 1991. After some break in service started working for Datapro Electronics & Information Technology Ltd. till 1996 and actively participated in setting up Computer Network across our country to provide value added service.

His favorite subjects are Power System Control and Computer Networks. After retirement he took deep interest in Spiritual field and feels that our countryhas unlimited hidden treasures in this transcendental domain to be discovered in the life and teachings of our Rishis, past and present.

His son works for e-com Company in USA. Daughter works for European National Bank in the Banking Software area along with her husband. Mrs Vasantham Sahadevan, as house wife, followed him wherever he went in pursuit of profession and took care of home and children. She is interested in meditations.

82 Some Interesting Anecdotes Highlighted

Life style seen in Thevar Community villages seen during young days.

The native village was surrounded by network of villages populated by Thevar Community people. The social transactions were with these village communities in general. Intra, inter village conflicts amongst these communities were not uncommon. ‘Aruvals’ and ‘urulaikkattai’ were freely used in these fights with attendant cuts, beatings and bloodshed.

First Job

Armed with Provisional Engineering Degree Certificate, traveled to Madras, as Chennai was then called, with decision to meet top officials of the Madras State, in quest of a job. Met the Chief Electrical Inspector to Government ( CEIG) and Director of Technical Education (DTE). Surprisingly interviews were granted when sought on his own.

DTE was willing to offer teaching position provided there was an assurance to continue the position and not to use it as a stepping stone. MS wanted to think over the issue. CEIG issued an appointment order as Junior Electrical Inspector. The job responsibility was to check the electrical wiring in Touring Cinemas for compliance with Indian Electricity Rules as a statutory requirement before granting license for film shows.

Changed the job to Madras State Electricity Board in about six months time and was assigned as Junior Engineer, Carrier Communication, stationed at Load Dispatch Centre, Erode. After some time went to 157, Mount Road, Chennai, where EB Head Office was located for the purpose of confirmation of Job. Engineers were taken in batch of 4/ 5 into Chief Electrical Engineer’s (CEE) Office for interview. CEE started reading a complaint received from previous employer that MS left the job without proper handing over. MS explained that after tendering resignation, was not relieved in time to join EB and therefore left the job after explaining the position through a letter.

In this scenario, the Chairman entered the room. CEE informed about the complaint received. MS explained the circumstances under which it was done. Chairman issued on the spot order not to take any action since the candidate joined another Government organization and left earlier job without formal handing over because he was not relieved in time to take up the new job.

83 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI After about 5 years in MSEB, MS resigned the job to join a Corporate Company (CC) in Bombay. Friends and well wishers cautioned because of activities of some political outfit in Maharashtra against the Madrasis (as South Indians were called in North India). However, when the job was taken up, it was found that many Madrasis were in important positions along with Indians from other regions. Job skills were the main consideration for growth in profession.

MS resigned the job after about 16 years of service to join Ministry of Power& water, Government Bahrain. MS replaced one of his friends KK who was with Maharashtra SEB (Mah.SEB) earlier. There were many regional professionals who were competing at the interview stage. Interview was conducted by KK and Bahrain Ministry Officials. Pressure was brought on the interview team through Pune University Senior Employees to select a Regional Professional instead of MS. The selection team members stood their ground and went ahead with their process not influenced by the pressure tactics.

Interest in Spiritual Field

MS traveled many times to Technical Principal’s organization in Switzerland, while working for CC in Bombay, for training and work. It was pleasure working in Switzerland because of the climate and attitude of the colleagues in the department. Met Swamy Chinmayananda’s devotees. Swamy translated our scriptures into English and also gave public talks suitable for assimilation by modern young generation groomed by western type of education prevalent in Indian Universities. Our Scriptures and teachings of Rishis, MS thought, were profound and logical; he was wonder stuck. Slowly but surely he was gravitated and rooted in Ramana Maharishi’s Teachings. As life unfolds, MS feels like driving in an unknown express highway in a foreign country responding to the twists and turns; and the journey of life goes on.

Arunachala!

84 85 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI 86 87 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI 88 Thenappan dressed to kill!

Chidambara Natarajan, as a college girl!

89 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI Get together in MRC, Chennai in MRC, together Get

90 LIG House Group photo 1960 photo LIG House Group

91 MEMORIES OF THE 1959 - 1964 BATCH OF ACCET KARAIKUDI From the Pages of My Autograph S. Manickavasagam

92