What other options did you have when you actually chose to become a faculty? Why did you choose to teach?
I was a B.E. in ECE from Andhra University in 1990. I walked proudly into an IT company in Bangalore as a hardware engineer. I must tell you a couple of things here. My salary was pretty high for a 21 year old. Still, the company did not offer any thing exciting to the restless spirit. I was a bit too frank and arrogant with my boss, demanding my private time on weekends.
After 3 months I bade good bye. As a ECE student from Andhra University I was pretty good in Math and I developed a great taste for that. I tried my luck at IISc Bangalore as a project assistant for the next 6 months or so, and finally joined M.E. in Control Systems in Andhra University itself (fortunately, in those days Andhra University had almost a semester delayed admissions) before my GATE score expired. Thereafter, I went to IIT Delhi to do my PhD, and soon after that I landed in Trichy NIT (formerly the most popular REC) in 1996. The IISc professor patted my shoulder a couple of times for my eye for math and suggested that I might be better off in academics rather than in an industry. He has also suggested that, unlike the generation at that time, I should not wait until somebody sponsors me for a PhD when I become old. I had the opportunity of entering into faculty as a young doc-saab. If I had been a bit more strategic doing my masters abroad, or at least in an IIT I might have landed in a IIT, but down the line I am quite happy with the kind of excitement I get here. Carnatic Music is my another love which drew me to the banks of Kaveri.
What are the good moments that make you feel good for having chosen this career?
Since 2000, every year there is at least one student in my class who has chosen to do his Masters/PhD abroad in Control Systems. My PhD at IIT Delhi and the papers I published put me in a strong network in my field, and sitting in a NIT never bothered me, nor my students. Herewith I copy-paste an email:
“
Dear Sir,
I am Bharath, one of your students from 2005-2009 batch. I am presently pursuing my Master's in Electrical Engineering at Pennsylvania State University. I am writing this mail to thank you for the wonderful course "Modern Control Theory" you taught us in our sixth semester. I have completed my first semester of Masters here with a course on 'Linear Control Systems'.Throughout the course, I was able to perform really well and look at things differently, entirely because of your great teaching and the wonderful art of intuition you have helped me develop. I am sure this will be of immense help in my research and future endeavors..Though, this is a really small achievement on my part, I entirely dedicate it to you.
Thank you very much, sir
Bharath Ramaswamy
”
When do you feel frustrated?
For a long time the government neglected teachers and under-paid them.
Consequently, (1) an average teacher is bad, and (2) neither the student nor his parents have any good impression on teachers as a whole - any word of appreciation is only out of the lips, just to get going smoothly.
What kind of skills and attitude are required to be a good teacher?
I would say "free-will" and an adventuresome attitude. This you see only in sensitive people, who love the journey of life rather than certain measured landmarks. One must be passionate about his/her own field, and he/she should be able to see any other field through this magical watch-glass. Personally, I see control systems everywhere - including my own veena playing.
Is PhD necessary for teaching? Why or why not?
Though there might be some exceptions here and there, I feel that PhD is necessary for teaching. Its something like Vivekananda's story where before he told a boy not to eat chocolates, he himself refrained from eating for about a month.
What do you feel about attitude towards teaching profession in society?
As I said above, the society doesn't really seem to respect the teaching community. First, we need to respect ourselves. Secondly, we need to continue demanding our dues. Fortunately, 6th pay commission has helped to a good extent. More than the salary, I felt relieved looking at the structure that has evolved - its now tough to get into faculty position and to remain vibrant thereafter. The bolts on plagiarism are also getting tightened.
Have you ever motivated your students to become faculty? Why or why not?
Three of my students, who went abroad to get their PhDs, joined faculty positions. In fact, one of them is actually eying to come back to India.
What are your future plans?
I am a free-bird, with no strings attached. My salary, my savings, and my pension should keep my family happy for years. Ah! I must also tell you that I have written a couple of books, and the one published by Oxford University Press fetches me a good deal every year. The consultancy services (a few of them on curriculum design for some of the nearby universities) I do are also significant. Nevertheless, professionally there is much to be done at various levels. I am happy that there are at least 24 more years before retire.
What is your typical day?
My day begins with Carnatic music, thanks to my iPod docking station which wakes me up early; curiously, I do not have any Gods to offer my prayers. Until 8 I am busy with my family, putting my wife as well as children into their buses, with lunch boxes, kerchiefs, and the like. Thereafter I enjoy half-an-hour to one hour reading the newspaper (only the supplements of The Hindu), and solving Sudoku (the hard and very hard ones I get in my email).
By about 9.15 I go to the office, and being the head, currently I teach about 3 hours in a week and conduct laboratory for another 3 hours in a week. I keep myself totally occupied with my academic and administrative work, and my childhood friends keep my company through emails and chat regularly. Evenings, despite my administrative load, I find myself at home around 5 and spend my time with family - having a 12 year old girl and a 8 year old son is so much fun; no homework, unless there is some emergency. I have proven myself that 7-8 hours of real work per day is fine.
What would you like to do in addition to your teaching job?
Listen and play Carnatic music, or read books.
Dr. Ramakalyan Ayyagiri can be reached at rkalyn [at] nitt.edu
