THE MIT ALUMNI ASSOCATION - A RECAP

The MITAA was born in Chennai, in 1966 thanks to the unstinted efforts and foresight of stalwarts like Prof. M.V. Radhakrishnamurthy, Mr. T.A.S. Balagopal (I Batch), Mr.S.Ramaswamy, Mr.B.Venkatraman, Mr. P.Krishnaswamy (late) and others. The first General Body meeting was held on 14/4/1966 and was headed by Mr. V.Gopalan (I Batch) (President), Prof. C.J.G. Chandra (I Batch) (V.P.), Mr.P.S.Subramanian (Late) (6th Batch) (Secretary) and Mr.B.Venkatraman(late) (4th Batch Treasurer). Prof. K.Srinivasan was the Dean of the Institute at that time.

Since inception the association has come a long way and many chapters were also started. The Bombay chapter was started in 1968 under the stewardship of Mr.C.J.Ravi (I Batch), Neyveli Hyderabad and Calcutta in 1969, Bangalore in 1972, New Delhi, Trichy, Kochy. Singapore, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi. Most of the associations continue to function and a few of them who have discontinued their activities are in the process of being revived.

The silver jubilee of the Association was held in February 1991. A three day programme of lectures, seminars and Vision 2001, an Industrial Exhibition marked the occasion. His Excellency Dr.A.P.J. Abdul Kalaam, India's revered President, an alumnus of the Institute delivered the eighth C.Rajam Memorial Lecture on this occasion. A trust named The AMITA trust was formed to help students and entrepreneurs using the expertise of the senior MITIANS, and to raise funds for the Institute.

On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the Institute in 1999 the association assisted the Institute by collecting and donating a tidy sum of money. A souvenir was brought out by the association to mark the occasion. Mr.K.B. Chandrasekar of the 32nd Batch an NRI, donated Rupees One Crore and the KBC center for Information Technology was formed at the Institute.

The association continues in its path towards achieving the goals set during inception and solicits the co-operation of all its members in the form of active participation and suggestions for improvements and means of augmenting the resources to sustain its activities.

THE MADRAS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Thanks to the foresight of a group of luminaries, in the year 1949, the Madras Institute of Technology was born. At a time when all the engineering colleges were only offering traditional subjects like Civil, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, the founder decided to go in for four new disciplines of Engineering in Aeronautical, Automobile, Electronics and Instrumentation. This was a pioneering step, which was amply justified by the subsequent striking growth in these fields made by the country. Instrumentation as a branch was not even heard of in this country at that point of time and it was only much later that other Institutions included Instrumentation as a branch in their curriculum. A second departure was made from convention in that the courses were designed as three year courses and entry was open to science graduates.

The founder: We would be failing in our duty if at this point of time we do not acknowledge the great contribution made by the Founder who was essentially responsible for the establishment of the Institute. Mr. Chinnaswamy Rajam (1882 - 1955) who in later years was acknowleged by the late Dr.C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, as "a pioneer in the industrial field" made a very humble beginning, by trying his hand at various activities like running a grocery shop, canvassing orders for a tannery firm, running a leather goods showroom etc. In 1918 he started the India Company carrying out various activities, started the Kumbakonam Electric Supply Corporation Limited in 1932, Nagapattinam Electric Supply Company Limited in 1933 and India Steel Rolling Mills in 1933. It was during the construction and commissioning of the steel rolling mill that Rajam felt the urgent need to develop indigenous manpower to reduce the high cost of hiring foreign manpower and that set in, the process of establishing an Engineering Institute in the country. In 1944 when he lost his wife he decided to reduce his personal comforts and wated to serve society to the bet of his ability. He sold two of his bungalows which at of that time fetched him rupees Five Lakhs and the entire proceeds were donated for starting of the MIT. Thus was started a Institute thanks to the foresight of a visionary. The only repayment that can be made to him would be in the form of outstanding Alumni who can carry forward his mission by contributing their mite to the country in the form of technological achievements and excellence. The later generations of the Rajam family, have also been associating themselves in all the activities and advancement of the Institute very enthusiastically. The MITAA salutes its founder and remains indebted to him for his contribution.

Mr. Rajam was ably assisted by a number of distinguished friends of his like Sir Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, the second president of the Indian Republic, Mr. M Subbaraya Iyer (1885 - 1963), Mr. K. Srinivasan(1887 - 1959) Editor of the The Hindu, Mr. C R Srinivasan (1889 - 1962), Editor of the Swadesamitran, Dewan Bahadur L Venkatakrishna Iyer, Mr. M K Ranganathan the Founding Director of the Institute and others.

The first Convocation of the Institute was addressed by the First Prime Minister of India, pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in the year 1952. The late Mr. N Srinivasan a specialist in the field of Aeronautical Engineering and a former Deputy Chief Engineer of the HAL, Bangalore, took over the reins of the Director from Mr. M K Ranganathan in the year 1954 who by then, by his selfless hard work had set the way for the Institute in the path of glory. Mr. Srinivasan further developed the Faculty of Aeronautical Engineering and he was responsible for the establishment of the MIT Athenaeum, a student organisation for extra curricular activities. Professor K Srinivasan Acting Director of the IISc. took over as the third director in 1960 and continued to be the director till 1971. During his tenure he was responsible for starting PG courses in Aeronautics and Electronics. The implementation of the recommendations of the Reviewing Committee of the GOI in 1963 and obtaining financial agreements took place during his tenure. In 1971 Prof. T.Krishnan, a specialist in the field of Radio Astronomy took over as the fourth Director. In February 1975 the Silver Jubliee celebrations of the Institute were Inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Prof. S.P.Hore was the director then having taken over from Prof. Krishna. The Union Finance Minister Mr.C.Subramanian inaugurated the Alumni guest house which was handed over by the President of the MITAA to the Institute. Prof. Hore was largely responsible for the successful completion of the silver Jubilee activites by forming a well knit team of the Alumni, staff and students and consistently guiding them.

The association continues in its path towards achieving the goals set during inceptin and solicits the co-operation of all its members in the form of active participation and suggesstions for improvements and means of augmenting the resources to sustain its activities.