Team Sampada: Please tell us about yourself to help our readers get introduced to you
Mandyam Srinivasan: Coming from a religious family, I had a unique physical profile – a “juttu” (long hair tied as a bun), which would be remembered by most people who saw me then! After BE (Civil) at UVCE, I went on to top my ME (Aerospace) class at IISc, completed PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Yale University, followed by Neuroscience research at Yale Medical School. I then founded and directed the Touch Lab at MIT for over 30 years, while being a faculty member in Mechanical Engineering.
I am a founder of the modern field of Haptics, the science and technology of touch in humans and machines, that is being pursued now all over the world. Currently I hold the Professorial Chair of Haptics in Computer Science Department, University College London, UK, Vajra professorship in Applied Mechanics at IIT Madras, and serve as co-chair of Surgeons and Engineers Committee of the American College of Surgeons.
TS: What are your most fond memories as a student of UVCE? Any specific faculty you would like to recall from those days.
MS: My fondest memories from UVCE are the strong bonds I formed with my classmates, who remain lifelong friends. I recall the carefree moments spent “bunking” classes to see morning shows of classic movies that broadened our education, something I now wish I had done more of! I also have deep appreciation for the dedicated teachers too many to name, who stimulated a lifelong love of learning.
A pivotal moment in my journey was when BK Ramaiah failed me in my final semester Soil Mechanics exam, despite my correct answers, allegedly to prevent me from winning the Civil Engineering gold medal. This led to me withdrawing from IISc, retaking the exam, and going through the IISc entrance exam process again for readmission. In hindsight, however, this one-year break helped me perform better at IISc.
TS: Can you please elaborate your journey in the academic varsity across the foreign institutions like Yale, MIT etc?
MS: Each student is unique in their natural inclination and abilities, and every system of education must adapt to local societal conditions. In western countries, the self-discovery of the student is thought to be as important as college curriculum.
I found that US colleges give the student considerable freedom to explore their interests without overwhelming course requirements. For example, engineering students at MIT need to pass some essential core courses but are free to take biology or arts courses in multiple institutions within the Boston area, including Harvard.
TS: Being an academician, what are your views about the necessary concepts/standards that must be incorporated into the education system to make it more practical (a couple of points w.r.t UVCE would be great too)?
MS: Given the rapid pace of progress in information technology ranging from computers to robots to artificial intelligence that is likely to transform almost all professions, I think the role of university education is not only to teach long-standing fundamental scientific/engineering principles and approaches, but also allow hands-on experience ranging from problem formulation to solution in laboratory-based projects with the latest tools that mimic what the student may encounter professionally.
TS: The Alumni Network of UVCE is very vast, how do you think the alumni around the globe should get involved and give back to UVCE?
MS: Almost all the UVCE alumni I have met recall their college time fondly and many are happy to contribute their expertise and funds. Because of the daily demands on their personal and professional life, the decision of what to contribute and when depends on the institution fostering a relationship through judicious and periodic communication of its needs. In the US, the universities devote considerable resources to keeping in touch with alumni – I get an email from Yale and MIT every week – and to motivate more alumni to contribute.
TS: What would you suggest to the current students of UVCE?
MS: I believe that living ethically, guided by personal and professional dharma that is fair to all, is key to both personal happiness and societal improvement. Although not always easy, striving to stay within this framework while pursuing worldly ambitions is critical.
Resilience to recover from fair or unfair setbacks without adopting a victim mentality is also essential. Being able to study at UVCE is a privilege, when many do not have such opportunities. This privilege carries both the power and responsibility to contribute to making the world a better place.
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