It
is not easy to write the biography of a scientist. The hallowed precincts of
scientific research, around which the lives of scientists revolve, offer little
scope for any drama. Theirs is a dull, dour and colourless avocation which is
of little interest even to the high brow, let alone the common man.
It
is to the credit of retired chief income tax commissioner K Chandrahas that he
took up this challenging task to come up with a biography of one of the
renowned scientists of India that is at once highly readable, informative and
edifying.
Dr
Y Nayudamma is probably one of the very few scientists from Andhra Pradesh to
make it big in the highly conservative, hierarchy-conscious scientific
establishment of India. It is through sheer dint of hard work, an affable
nature, a progressive outlook and great leadership qualities that he could
reach the top in his chosen field.
The
title of the book “The People’s Scientist Dr Y Nayudamma” is indeed apt for
someone who always strove for employing technology in the service of the common
man. His life-long mission was to connect the research laboratory with the
industry to benefit the poorest of the poor. As the youngest director of
Central Leather Research Institute in Madras, he left no stone unturned to make
tanning a dignified industry and tanners a respected lot.
A
self-made man and a farmer’s son in the true sense of the term, Nayudamma made
his indelible mark both as director of CLRI and later as Director General of
the prestigious CSIR. His multi-faceted talent as a scientist, teacher, administrator
and manager par excellence was recognized and rewarded by the first Prime
Minister Jawaharlal Nehru as well as his daughter Indira Gandhi.
The
book traces the journey of Nayudamma’s life from his village Yalavarru in
Guntur district in 1930s to his student days in Varanasi, England and the US
subsequently, his tryst with CLRI from a lowly demonstrator to its director in
late 50s through late 60s, his elevation as DG-CSIR and the radical changes he
had brought to its outdated style of functioning in 70s, his brief stint as VC
of JNU and later as head and distinguished scientist of Centre for Development
Alternatives in 80s.
The
author’s admiration for the outstanding personality of Dr Nayudamma
notwithstanding, Chandrahas does not shy away from making a critical and
objective assessment of his subject and his contribution. Referring to
Nayudamma’s short stint as JNU Vice-Chancellor, the biographer says, “He was
gentle, suave, progressive but not pugnacious enough” to set things right.
The
committed and enlightened scientist was also not exactly successful in
realizing his mission to “give up our un-yielding, non-profitable,
individual-oriented researches and concentrate on a few nationally relevant
technological tasks”. “He made a virtue of seeking reconciliation when a little
confrontation was necessary”, points out Chandrahas.
The
elements of drama in the life and personality of Dr Nayudamma were brought to
the fore by the author through various anecdotes. His self-deprecating jokes on
his rather unconventional name and 6-foot frame, his two-piece western outfit, his
tongue-in-cheek self-description as ‘untouchable by profession’ and his second
marriage to Dr Pavanabai in unexpected circumstances provide the lighter and
human side of the obsessive technocrat-scientist. A rationalist, he cracked
jokes on the likes of Satya Sai Baba asking them to produce blades of grass
instead of ash, but interestingly would begin his day making notes on his sheaf
of papers by first writing ‘Sri’ in Telugu – a traditional practice in Andhra
those days.
Dr
Nayudamma was a much sought after scientist-administrator across the world
given his hands-on experience in managing scientific institutions in a newly
independent country. He travelled extensively across the world and with his
natural flair for people and relationships, built a formidable circle of
friends in the scientific community across the globe.
Madras
was his beloved place where he spent most of his working life and to which he
returned after his rather uneventful tenure at JNU. From there, he happily
engaged himself in teaching and advising on matters of science and technology nationally
and internationally. It was during one such trip to the IDRC board meeting at
Ottawa, Candada that Dr Nayudamma, an illustrious son of the country, who made
a sterling contribution to leather technology in particular and scientific
advancement in general, met with sudden death while travelling on the ill-fated
Kanishka airplane which was bombed midway by the Khalistan terrorists.
His
untimely death in 1985, followed by his wife Pavanabai’s self-immolation on
learning the news, was a great loss to the country as he had many more years of
active life left.
K
Chandrahas’s succinct narration and the thoroughness that he has brought to the
book – along with rare pictures and personal notes of Dr Nayudamma - make for
valuable reading.
K Chandrahas; Pegasus India Publishers, Flat No. 102/303, Gitanjali, Plot No.108, Srinagar Colony, Hyderabad-500073. Rs 200
