Some personal memories on Prof KM Bahauddin by his student Dr P Sivasankaran Nair, 1962-1967 Civil I am from second batch of REC.

Most of us in the batch were very intimate across all branches. Today while attempting to recall campus events I find much has faded with time. I see many do not remember details, of course except one case of known exception of our poet friend V Gopalakrishnan. Professor Bahauddin was my favourite teacher at REC. He was HOD (though I did not quite recognise the role of HOD then) of department but still took classes. His classes were indeed most interesting for me. I did not know his area of specialisation then but he came and lectured on strength of materials and structures for our class. His classes made you think, learn and discover. On one occasion he gave a simple problem of estimation of reactions in the legs of a normal 4-legged table (mass less) with a weight on it positioned at an unsymmetrical location! I still remember the thrill of solving the problem on my own and getting a pat from professor. This and related discussions taught me principles of statically indeterminate structures, principle of virtual work and many related issues. Even role of symmetry, and influence of stiffness became embedded intensely igniting passionate interest in the subject and its real life applications. Another typical Bahauddin example problem relates to the bend cantilever beam with two 90degree bends with lower arm stopping at mid span of main arm with a concentrated tip load at free end. Drawing bending moment and shear force diagram for this beam ensured our true learning of the principle of estimation of bending moment and shears force diagrams and remained in my mind although my profession. I do remember many more such lessons. All these made deep impressions in most of us. Professor Bahauddin is the only professor who used to say not to worry if you are in confusion as it is the first essential step to total clarity. He used to encourage students asking doubts and those confused by saying confusion can help lead you to complete understanding and clarity. Professor Bahauddin used to refer to us civil students as "my boys" and we all felt elated with such references. Me and my friendsGopalakrishnan, Sasikumar, Ravidran and Narayanaswamy used to sit in the same bench for most classes. It did not escape his attention and he started branding us affectionately as gentlemen group even after we left the college. I still recall meeting Professor Bahauddin for advice after my final examination, as I was one of his favourite students. He gave only one advice that is not to try and join PWD, as he felt that would not fit my temparament! I did follow his advice and never ever applied

for a PWD job. Yes I went and joined TKM College of engineering to teach for a Year and left TKM in 1968 to join Aeronautical Engineering Department of IISc for masters degree followed by Ph D. Many RECians were in Bangalore and we started the first Alumni association in Bangalore (much before it started at REC Calicut) and Professor Bahauddin was there to personally encourage and appreciate us. I remember his addressing us at Hotel Harsha , Bangalore as principal REC . After I finished my research at IISc I joined ISRO Satellite Centre (then ISSP) and my first job was on structural design and analyses of Aryabhata, Indias first satellite. Successful launch of Aryabhata was indeed an excitement for many of us. It connected my memories to the lessons learned at college from Prof Bahauddin first and later at IISc. I remembered with reverence and gratitude Professor Bahauddins inspiring classes and how it initiated me to get into the subject of structures. I wrote a emotional letter to Professor Bahauddin on Aryabhata success and how I remember his classes. His response and encouraging words were very typical of him and so rare to find anywhere anytime. He did keep in touch through thick and thin and I never saw his energy and enthusiasm diminish. I remember a surprise emergency message to me at ISRO Satellite Centre from HAL hospital (near HAL airport) several years back. I rushed to Hospital to find him bedridden but excited and happy to see me. He was travelling and had a heart attack at Bangalore airport. Airport staff rushed him to nearby HAL hospital where he gave a few names of people he remembered and their organisations. They traced and informed us. We could see our presence made him feel good and cheerful. More recently I remember meeting him and discussing the school educational reforms he was working on with Dr Ananthamurthy. He was very passionate about what he did, always ready to learn, debate and also change if convinced. He did have long discussion on education reform with me and my wife and insist on having a copy of the report on technology-aided teaching prepared my wife. He had probing questions on its possible adaptations in practical Kerala school environment. His enthusiasm and energy were limitless. He was very proud of all his students. I remained one of his favourite students. I remember his description of how my friend AP Skaria hosted him in Gulf during his visit there. His great words of appreciation of the initiatives and the excellent work by Dr PK Sivanandan on many fronts reverberate in my mind even now. He has been very appreciative of the achievements of all his students. Professor Bahauddin was indeed a very special person. He inspired you, he encouraged you and he gave you strength to follow what you believed in. His influence did not fade with time. You can find none like him. We should all make him live through our actions. ---------------------------