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Photo of Prof.
AnanthRaman taken by
the author when he visited him in 1997.
(Prof was 94 at that time.) |
My
memories go back to 1951. It was the first Chemistry practical class
with Prof AnanthaRaman. We were a bunch of rustics from the Central
Travancore area. Economically most of us were bordering poverty line
when compared to our northern brothers and sisters. Those days, their
parents were rolling in money from tremendous profits from black pepper
and lemon grass oil. However, the central Travancore students like us,
had a false aura of superiority because we thought that culturally we
were on a high pedestal. Many of us have not even seen a test tube (of
course, we have seen test tube babies in later life!) during our high
school chemistry classes.
We had a demonstration from Prof AnanthaRaman about making hydrogen
using a small piece of granulated zinc with a few drops of dilute
sulfuric acid. When our turn came, most of us took a handful of
granulated zinc, selected the biggest test tube and poured a sizable
quantity of dilute sulfuric acid. Watching our performance like a hawk,
Prof AnanthaRaman intervened and said “ladies and gentlemen, I can
produce the same result using one small piece of granulated zinc and a
few drops of dilute sulfuric acid. My college is operating this
laboratory within limited budget. You can use. Don’t waste”.
By the time we had reached B. Sc degree chemistry practical classes,
we still had the tendency to waste by keeping the Bunsen burner (aka
Spirit Lamp) lit for almost 2 hours and by not shutting off the gas
burner when not in use. Prof. AnathaRaman said again lifting a match
stick in his hand “ladies and gentlemen, this match stick will cost you
next to nothing. Use it as often as required. Please shut off the gas
when not in use. I would like to remind you again and again that my
college is producing this gas for you at a tremendous cost and I have to
operate within limited budget”. Despite repeated warnings, many a time,
we forgot to shut off the gas especially after a titration test when we
went to record the findings. Bearing our lapses patiently, AnanthaRaman
Sir would sneak behind us and shut off the gas.
During our time in UCC, one of our chemistry demonstrators was Miss P
J Sosamma.(aka Leela) In Aug 1993 we were invited to a wedding in
Edmonton city which is the capital city of Alberta. The bride is our
relative. She was getting married to one Dr. Joseph Varghese. (A
mechanical engineer) To my utter surprise, I found that the bride groom
is the son of P J Sosamma. At the wedding reception, I bowed down and
touched the feet of P J Sosamma much to her embarrassment. During our
conversation it was revealed that P J Sosamma left U C C to work as a
teacher in Malaysia some time in 1958, after getting married to Mr.
Varghese Thomas. They are Malaysian citizens now. Their son Dr. Joseph
Varghese is now a Canadian citizen. He is instructor of mechanical
engineering in Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, (NAIT)
Edmonton.
In Jul 2007, P J Sosamma with her husband, son and two grand sons
visited us in Calgary. Naturally, part of the conversation centered on U
C C and Prof AnanthaRaman. When I told Sosamma about the AnanthaRama
Mantra, she has improved on that. She told me that Prof AnanthaRaman had
made quite a number of chemicals required for the college laboratory by
buying cheaper ones and mixing them to make costly ones. It was yet
another surprise information about this prince of conservation.
In later life, I have followed this AnanthaRama Mantra “you can use,
don’t waste” in letter and spirit. The biggest opportunity came to me to
apply this principle when I was staff officer to my commanding officer.
I was the Quarter Master of an air defense artillery regiment for 5
years when I enforced this mantra with the full authority vested in me.
For the information of those you who are not familiar with the
organization of Indian Army; I would like to say that there are 2 staff
officers for the commanding officer of a battalion or regiment. They are
Adjutant who deals with all disciplinary aspects of the unit including
the welfare of the Jawans and Quarter Master who deals with all
materials, vehicles, equipment & food. (aka ration). Normally, staff
officers are authorized to sign any correspondence on behalf of the Old
Man (CO) except highly confidential or Operational Immediate matters.
(aka OP IMMEDIATE). This was 35 years back. I am not familiar with the
present organizational matters. I am told that full Colonels now command
a regiment in place of Lt. Cols.
During my 19 years of official life with the maintenance engineering
division of Suncor Inc. Canada, my efforts to enforce this principle was
met with stiff resistance from the maintenance crew. It was habitual for
them to misuse fuel from company vehicles, throw dozens of cotton gloves
all over the mining area, throw away costly tools even without a single
use etc. My first attempt to enforce strict maintenance of a log book
(in army style) for each company vehicle was thwarted being impractical
and time consuming. When the maintenance superintendent presented the
proposal to the crew, there was name calling from them which was
directed towards me too. “We have been running this place for so many
years without your help. Who the hell are you to tell us how to behave
ourselves”? Along with this, they have added several choicest adjectives
to my name from the English dictionary. However, I didn’t give up. One
day after a visit to the Mine, our executive vice president (a six feet
plus Yankee) remarked that he could walk all the 14 miles jumping from
one cotton glove to another. He could see a wealth of costly tools
thrown all over the place. Needless to say that the very same day, such
wastage ended abruptly.
My crusade against misuse of company vehicles continued till a new
executive vice president (a lady of 5’ only) took over. Her often
repeated declared policy was to run this multibillion oil sands project
like her kitchen. During the first staff meeting, she enquired from the
vice-president in charge of company vehicles about the number of
vehicles with Alberta license plates. When she got the reply that there
are 45 one ton vehicles with Alberta license plates, she exclaimed
“gosh” and ordered 40 of them to be removed forthwith and brought to her
office. Without moving an eyelid, the plates were removed. By removing
the license plates, employees could no more take the vehicles out of the
company gate, siphon off fuel from the dual tanks of the vehicles for
personal use, and take their girl friends and or family for shopping and
fishing trips to lakes and so on. If these plates were not removed as
directed, the very next day there would have been a
Notification on the company’s bulletin board to say the vice-president
so and so has accepted a challenging job elsewhere and the company is
wishing him all success in his future endeavors. To put it in plain
language “you are fired”. (Do you remember “art of war” by Sunsu?) For
the information of those of you who do not know the method of
terminating an employee abruptly, this is the way it done in Canada and
USA. With several multinationals operating in India now, I am sure; the
same policy may be operational there too.
After the number plates were removed, a new electronic system has
been enforced. Each company vehicle is identified by an electronic code.
The ignition key is attached to an electronic plate which has this code.
When you go to the company’s gas station to fuel up the vehicle, you
have to scan this plate on an electronic device located on the gas
station.
Then you enter the present km reading of this vehicle to electronic
device. If the gas station pump finds that this particular vehicle did
not run enough km since last fill to warrant a refill, it will simply
refuse to discharge the fuel. Consequently, idling vehicles when not in
use was also stopped. This system was introduced about 16 years back.
With the tremendous progress made in the electronic field during the
past several years, I am sure a much better system may be in existence
all over the world now. Before this system was introduced, there were
recorded Canadian police cases of Suncor employees stealing company
vehicles and driving them over 4000 km and abandoning them in ditches at
will!
When I joined Suncor in 1976, the company’s annual loss was close to
40 million dollars. Our daily production was around forty thousand
barrels. One time, the board of directors has even thought of moth
balling the plant. However, things have changed over a period time. Like
a phoenix rising from the ashes, this company’s production soared from
forty thousand to three hundred and fifty thousand barrels per day. When
the price of oil shot up, even the quarterly profit of Suncor Inc rose
to billion plus. With tremendous expansion, the production is heading
towards half a million barrels per day. Only two weeks back, Suncor was
merged with Petro Canada, to become the biggest oil company of Canada.
Although, I was a very small spoke in Suncor’s wheel, the company has
recognized my small role by rewarding me monetarily beyond my wildest
expectation. The central work shop Jawans fabricated and presented me
with two mementos when I retired. One is the replica of a centrifugal
pump fabricated in stainless steel and oak wood. (This is in recognition
of my role in modifying the impellors of thirteen Bird centrifugal pumps
which enhanced their life 3 times). The second one is a podium made of
oak wood with my name inscribed with the company logo. (This is in
recognition on my role as MC during company functions. “I don’t speak no
English yeh”).
A few months back, Malayalam film star Thilakan was in Calgary in
connection with a film production. He is the hero in a film produced
simultaneously in Malayalam and English. The English title of the film
is “Publicans and Harlots”; the Malayalam version being “Chunkakaarum
Veshyakalum”. A friend of mine who is associated with the production of
this film, requested me to loan this podium for the use of Thilankan
making
a speech. When Thilakan heard that the podium belongs to a former
soldier, he expressed a desire to meet me. The meeting was arranged and
my wife and I met Thilakan and his younger daughter at their host’s
place. I didn’t know that Thilakan is a former soldier of the Indian
Army. Naturally, our conversation lasted a few hours. Throughout this
meeting, Thilakan was helping himself from a Vodka bottle along with his
break fast cereal. When I declined his invitation to join Vodka sipping
with him, he was surprised to hear that I am not a drinking soldier.
Thilakan was frank enough to admit that his doctors have cautioned him
about his half dead liver and medical problems associated with alcohol
consumption. His philosophy about the shortness of human life to worry
about alcoholism raised my eyebrows. The producers and director of
“Publicans & Harlots” claim that Thilakan would be heading for an Oscar
award in this film and Rehman & Pookutty would vanish into oblivion! And
here I am waiting for my podium being seen all over the world in Maxi
screens & Mini screens!! Arey Vaa Vaa!!. Here, trying to blow my own
trumpets at Prof AnanthaRaman’s cost.
When ever I got a promotion in Suncor, my night shift Jawans will put
a notice on the bulletin board “six munths bak I kud nat even ispell
supervizar. Now I are one. Jacob”. Most of my Jawans in India and Canada
are either dead or retired. However, I still cherish their memories of
good times and bad times. It was “WAR & PEACE” all the way. After 38
years of active service, it is “ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT.”
I couldn’t understand Prof AnanthaRaman when he said “if all you
switch off the single bulb in your hostel room when not in use, it will
save thousands of rupees over a period of time”. (During that time, the
usage of millions or billions was not common. These days, even the word
trillion is in daily news) This AnanthaRaman Mantra was tried out a few
months back in Canada. The cities of Montreal, Toronto & Calgary have
voluntarily decided to switch off all the unwanted lights and electronic
equipment for 24 hours during a week end. The resultant savings recorded
by the power companies of the respective cities, ran in to several
millions. Several cities in Canada now have photosensitive street
lights. These lights will do on/off based on the intensity of
illumination. I am sure; this system is in existence in many parts of
the world now. Last week, 4000 cities in 88 countries switched off the
lights for one hour to proclaim solidarity with earth hour. No doubt, it
will be saving millions if not billions over a period of time. It is
reported that when the price of oil was bordering $150.00 a barrel,
North Americans started voluntary conservation. (I too am included. I
started driving less) Statistics shows that when the conservation
reached 14%, the price of oil nose dived to $32.50 a barrel. OPEC
nations had to push their panic button to salvage situation. The
forecast of $20.00 a barrel caused chill in their spines. I am sure, if
Prof AnathaRaman were alive today, he would have enjoyed the fun and
said “didn’t I tell you half century ago”. He would have been amused to
watch his Mantra being repeated through paid advertisement by Malayalam
super stars like Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi & Dileep urging consumers to
conserve energy!!
In personal life too I have adhered to the principle of “you can use
don’t waste”. My personal vehicle is shut off when not in use for more
than a minute. Seeing my example, my children too are doing the same!
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Author with Prof.
AnanthaRaman when he
visited him in 1997 at this home in Trichur. |
Forty two years after leaving UCC, I visited Prof AnanthaRaman
without warning. He was living like a hermit in Pushpagiri village near
Trichur. He was 94 at that time. He was still vibrant and active. I
asked him “sir do you remember me” (he had every reason not to remember
me because of the state of my hair. From the bushy state of UCC days my
head was fit for a commercial with the caption “before & after”). To my
utter surprise, he not remembered my name but rattled out the names of
several of my class mates like Dr. Joyce Mathew (later principal of UCC)
Dr. A M Chacko (former principal and now Manager of UCC. Perhaps, I am
the only one who can claim that I was Dr. Chacko’s
Classmate in 2nd form; now grade7 and in UCC. I am glad that Dr. Chacko
could fit into the big shoes of Prof AnanthaRaman as the Prof’s
successor) Dr. C K Mathews (He retired as a very senior scientist from
atomic energy’s Kalpakam fast breeder reactor projects of Chennai. He is
the winner of several international scientific awards.)
AnanthaRaman Sir has enquired from my wife about her elder brother
Dr. N A Abraham. I am told that Dr. N A Abraham is one of the most
favorite students of AnanthaRaman Sir. He told me that he is proud of
Dr. Abraham’s academic and scientific achievements. In his opinion, Dr.
Abraham is the only former student of AnathaRaman Sir who got a D. Sc in
Chemistry from University of Paris. AnanthaRaman Sir had visited Dr.
Abraham in 1981 and stayed with him for a week in Montreal, Canada. The
Prof was accompanied by his son Ganesh and his wife. During their stay
in Montreal, Prof was given the facility to adhere to his strict
vegetarian diet. His daughter-in-law took charge of the Montreal kitchen
and they all had a very good time visiting several places in Montreal
and Quebec City. (Dr. Abraham in his early eighties, is now leading a
retired life in Toronto, Canada.)
Although the purpose of my visit was a short courtesy call, it lasted
for more than 2 hours. During our conversation, he had confided in me
several incidents which he would not have shared with me when I was his
student. I shall share one incident only. The rest of them are bordering
confidential in nature and therefore I would like to keep them as such.
After retirement from U C C, AnanthaRaman Sir was persuaded to accept
the post of the Principal of a college in Guruvayoor. Although, he
wanted to lead a peaceful life after retirement, the persuasion came
from no less a person than the then Chief Minister of Travancore Cochin
State (Kerala was not formed at that time). I didn’t know that Chief
Minister Panampilli Govinda Menon was a student of AnanthaRaman Sir at
UCC.
One day, AnanthaRaman Sir was on official duty in Trivandrum from
Guruvayoor College. When he was ready to leave Trivandrum early in the
morning, a usual surprise Bandh was declared in T C State. AnathaRaman
Sir was in a dilemma. At any cost, his presence was required in
Guruvayoor by that evening. Faced with this tight situation, he
Telephoned the Chief Minister. Govinda Menon told his former professor
that state transport buses are running with police escort. Within a few
minutes, an express bus with full police escort was at the door step of
AnathaRaman Sir. He safely reached Guruvayoor to keep his appointment.
Prof AnanthaRaman told me that this was the one and only time he had
asked for any favors from any of his former students. I salute the
honesty and integrity of this great professor. I am proud to say that I
had the privilege to be his student for 4 years in UCC.
I may have forgotten all the chemistry I have learnt from him during
my working life in India. However, when I got my 2nd promotion in Suncor
and moved to the Refinery from the Mine, perforce I had to revive part
of my AnanthaRaman Chemistry classes again. I had to rekindle my long
forgotten memories about the destructive distillation of coal tar, the
evaporation of hydrocarbons and their conversion from gaseous state to
liquid state by instant cooling within heat exchangers, the production
of hydrogen by mixing steam with methane under 1600 PSI and 900 degree
F, the resultant flaring of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, mixing of
hydrogen with vaporized hydrocarbon to liberate sulphur impurities by
heating it up again under high pressure to convert sulphur to hydrogen
sulphide, the role of catalyst in huge reactors, the conversion of
hydrogen sulphide into molten sulphur, the liberation and recycling of
liberated hydrogen during this process, the role of naphtha as a solvent
etc etc. I have no hesitation in saying that Prof AnanthaRaman is still
a beacon in my life.
When I heard that the Prof had hit a century plus like the master
blaster Sachin Tendulkar (Tendulkar was not even born when we were
playing cricket at UCC) it gave me inspiration to continue batting.
Perhaps, I too may a hit a century unless the good Lord clean bowls me
at 99.
When the time came to leave Pushpagiri Ashram, I could see the wet
eyes of my professor. Tears came rolling down my eyes when he hugged me
to say good bye. I was in uncontrollable grief when he placed both his
hands over my head and blessed me. That was good bye for ever to my
mentor in several ways.
(I now remember the famous quotation of Prof Aruvamudam Iyenkaar my
Shakespearian Prof at UCC for 4 years “There is nothing unusual when an
ordinary person cries. But, when a soldier cries the grief is real”)
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Letter from
Prof. AnanthaRaman to JP.
You can see the letter in full size
here. |
I am sharing with you a letter dated Feb 09, 96 wrote to me by Prof
AnanthaRaman. The photographs are the ones taken during my visit.
Perhaps, this may the last letter the Prof
has written to any of his former students. The photograph with me could
be the last one taken with a former student. I still treasure them as
precious memories. Did you notice the way the Prof is writing his name?
The name Anantha is followed without a gap with Raman starting with
capital R.
The name Dr. N A Abraham mentioned in this letter is now known to
you. The name Alice; is my wife’s younger sister, Dr. Alice George is
another former student of Prof AnanthaRaman. Alice and her husband Dr.
George Eipe had 5 year tenure at C M C Vellore after retirement from
Kerala Medical Service. Alice is still serving as head of the Department
of Physiology at Kolencherry Medical College, Kerala.
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