Dr S Krishna moorthy- The teacher who shaped my destiny

Dr. S Krishnamoorthy- The teacher who shaped my destiny

In 1974, I joined VJTI for doing my M.E. in Machine Design. We were four students and all of us agreed on the first day morning that we were to stay here till we got a good job and once we land a good job then we would all say bye to M.E. One reason was we were paid a miserable 250 Rs per month as stipend and we just could not expect to live in Mumbai with that kind of money. In the after noon on the first day, a teacher entered the class. He was barely 30 and looked very handsome, and  was dressed in jeans (something very unusual in those days). He introduced himself as an old student of VJTI who just completed his Ph.D from University of Kentucky. He soon got down to business and dismissed all of us to go to Library and get adequate material for the M.E Thesis. We looked at each other. We were thinking of leaving and this gentleman was urging us to select the topic for thesis and that too before the end of the first day, Reluctantly, we went to the Library and to our dismay we could not even search in an orderly fashion. Next day, he told us to get Library cards and then asked us to search in specific journals and note down the papers along with author when we notice something interesting. I started spending almost all evenings in the Library as VJTI Library used to remain open till 9 PM. I had a rack full of Library cards in a few weeks. The lecturer who got me interested in studies was Dr S krishnamoorthy and as he lived in hostel I met him often. I could see him leaving his room at 7 AM to his small cabin in the second floor with a leather bag and with a pensive look in his face. I used to intercept him with some query or other. As a student, I used to get good marks more because of my hard work. I was not very analytical in my approach and was very weak in visualising the linkages and mechanisms which was his topic in Ph.D. I am sure I must have asked many foolish questions but he used to answer them as if they were very serious questions. He became my hero and I started admiring him for his knowledge and  teaching technique. 

Next week he announced that each one of us has to deliver a seminar lecture for half an hour. I took the topic " Vibration", Since I was weak in Mathematics, I took the route of describing the equipments which used the principle of vibration like vibratory feeder. I delivered a good lecture according to me and fielded a couple of questions from Prof Bhide and Prof Menon. It was Dr S Krishnamoorthy's 'turn  to speak. He told " Chandrasekar, your seminar was like a science Today article and not like a M.E student's seminar lecture". Every one laughed. It was very true. I always fancied myself as a writer of Engineering subjects and not as an Engineer. This contributed to my lack of quantitative skills and a precise way of speaking.  I was sad that my Hero at last was not happy about my lecture. But, I was determined that I would complete my ME and do the Thesis under him only. In fact all the four of us decided to stay back come what may.

In six months, he selected two students to do project under him. Sandeep Patki and myself. I do not know the strength of Patki but about myself I can say he took me only because of my sincerity and nothing else. 

The project was on water lubricated bearings and the project was in collaboration with a pump manufacturer. Patki and myself used to go every saturday and sunday to the pump factory and work there in Design Department. Sometimes, Dr would come and I used to listen to him with rapt attention as he would explain the failure mechanisms.

He was a great nationalist. He would ask us to avoid coke and drink local soft drinks. Though he himself got ph. D from USA he used to tell us to pursue higher education in India only. So, I became a nationalist myself reeling out opinions on American imperialism and capitalist tendencies of Indians soon. Sometimes, I used to make fun of IIT graduates (as I had not been able to enter any IIT) though I religiously went every week  to IIT Bombay mainly to Central Library for getting some reference or other. Dr always said " Do not indulge in IIT baiting and focus on your work ".

We constructed a test rig and ran tests on several variants of the  bearings. I remember a couple of occasions where I had slept in  the factory watching the test rig and looking for evidences of wear in the bearings.

Each one of his lectures was well prepared and was delivered in consistent manner as of they were being recorded for posterity. He never spoke impromptu, None of his answers was casual. The only talk you can indulge in  a casual manner with him was when he was in the hostel. 

I remember the day when I along with my uncle (Ravi) met him in the hostel lawn. Dr was in pyjama and the mood was just Ok for a light talk. My uncle broached the subject of marriage. My uncle told him "it is time for you to settle down in life". Dr was very uncomfortable. He repeated "settle down" two three times. (Later I learnt that he did it when he wanted to moderate his replies). My uncle changed the subject and then everything was OK.

When I came to second year, I decided that I would pursue a career in research. I got the confidence because I got good marks in first year and my project was going well. Dr was more close to us and he spent more time with us, I recall one instance I behaved badly with him and till today, I repent it. He cancelled off some test and I went to his room and protested. I did not get any reply from him but my classmates told me that he felt very bad. I was after all his favourite student and I should not have shown so much of anger against him. 

Campus interviews started happening. We got a call from Telco Pune (now Tata Motors). Dr called me and told me that I should go to his home in Pune after the interview and stay for the night. I agreed. I attended the interview which was in the main plant and in the evening went to Rasta peth. Dr's father and mother were staying in a small house and in that night they had been waiting for me, I had good dinner and had long walk with his father. I saw my friends off at the station stayed overnight and left in the morning to Lonavala to see my friends on the way to Mumbai. 

I did my second year exams well and got first rank in the University and distinction. I knew that I did not deserve any credit for this. My teacher and mentor Dr Krishnamoorthy is the only person who helped me to achieve this great honour. 

I was in Pune again for the examination  for the Thesis by an Engineer in Kirloskar. My thesis was approved without any problem in Sep 1976. By that time, I attended many interviews but was not selected in any of the companies. Telco did not select me nor Larsen and Toubro. A pump manufacturer offered me a job in Ahmedabad which I rejected. Dr asked me to go for Ph. D. His argument was a person with a good M.E could do Ph.D. I could scarcely believe my ears. He was telling me that I got good M. E . I did not know whether he was sarcastic or serious. He was serious, of course.

I learnt many things from Dr. These characteristics have become part of me . I cannot list them now. I used to imitate him some times in college and people used to tell me that I was involved in "hero worship". But Dr Krishnamoorthy only gave me the appetite to do serious work in my profession. I chose Design and worked in Mechanical design of Process equipment with all dedication only because of training given by Dr.
In 1986, I decided to move from Mumbai to Pune. I told Dr that I am moving as I am not happy there. Dr gave me the address of his brother in Pune and said "He has got a flat in Viman nagar. Take the key from him and shift there till you get a better flat." His brother Dr Sundarrajan who was at that time in Datamatics  handed over the keys to me without any question when I told him that I am Dr Krishnamoorthy's student and told me that I can stay there as long as I want. I do not recall he even discussed any rent. 

I met Dr a few years back (2010) in his house in Chedda nagar. He let me in and asked me " I told you to do ph.D and you never did". His wife had to intervene and remind him "He is no more your student. In fact he has even got his daughter married"  I disagreed with her. I told her" I am and will always be Dr's student and no one can take away that from me ".
We went for a walk and spoke about our class mates and college politics. As both of us were no more in VJTI we could speak freely. we returned and he asked me to have some Dosas before I leave. I could see he was preparing notes for some class and when I told him I take lectures in Symbiosis, he asked me to prepare similar notes and keep solved problems in a separate note book for my lectures. One should be lucky to get a good teacher who is a role model in profession.
I was lucky to have Dr Krishnamoorthy as my teacher. One who taught me perseverance, tenacity,dedication and absolute professionalism. That is why I can say with all the sincerity at my command that he shaped my destiny.