SENIOR INTERMEDIATE

English Prose
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Solution to Plastic Pollution

(Lesson No 8)
From the Internet

1 He could easily be mistaken for a Sanskrit pundit if you

heard him quote the holy text as a solution to any
problem in the world.

Introduction: These lines are extracted from the

lesson 'Solution to Plastic Pollution', a supplement from the
internet. Respected and appreciated the world over, Dr
Rajagopalan Vasudevan, a professor in Chemistry, devised a
unique method of using synthetic waste for laying roads.
Context & Meaning: As a Dean and Department Head of
Chemistry at the Thiagarajar College of Engineering,
Dr Vasudevan's life is dedicated to research and the spreading
of values. In the exercise of his roles as a teacher, researcher
and university authority, Dr Vasudevan has based his
performance on the Gita. His students know him by the
Sanskrit teachings he spreads during the rest hours. The
fascinating thing about Dr Vasudevan was his penchant for a
rare combination of subject knowledge, Chemistry and
Sanskrit. He was so proficient in the Sanskrit language that he
could easily be mistaken for a Sanskrit scholar.
General Relevance: This article highlights the subject capability
of Dr Vasudevan, a renowned Chemistry Professor who
specializes in Sanskrit, basing his ideas on the holy Bhagavad-
Gita.

2 One day, your test will become the convention.

Introduction: These lines are extracted from the
lesson 'Solution to Plastic Pollution', a supplement from the
internet. Respected and appreciated the world over, Dr
Rajagopalan Vasudevan, a professor in Chemistry, devised a
unique method of using synthetic waste for laying roads.
Context & Meaning: When the late Dr Abdul Kalam, India's
former President and scientist, visited Thiagarajar College, Dr
Vasudevan spoke to him about his unique project. Dr Kalam
encouraged him to lay the first plastic paved road within the
campus and added that his effort would undoubtedly become a
rage. All charged up, Dr Vasudevan, in 2002, paved a 60-ft road
within the campus with plastic-modified bitumen. The road is
still intact today. He received a patent for the process in 2006.
Since then, almost 10,000 km of Indian roads have been paved
using this technique
General Relevance: Dr Kalam's encouragement set the ball
rolling for Dr Vasudevan, who left no stone unturned in
accomplishing his pet project of using synthetic waste for laying
roads.

3 "But I think it my duty to serve my country first and

therefore, I gave it free to the Indian Government.
Introduction: These lines are extracted from the
lesson 'Solution to Plastic Pollution', a supplement from the
internet. Respected and appreciated the world over, Dr
Rajagopalan Vasudevan, a professor in Chemistry, devised a
unique method of using synthetic waste for laying roads.
Context & Meaning: Dr Vasudevan's innovation was patented
in 2006, generating interest among civic bodies in the country,
Japan, and China. It served the dual purpose of increasing road
quality and solving the problem of plastic removal.
The professor, however, chose to share the technology with
the Indian Government for free. Dr Vasudevan's ethics and
commitment to the nation prevented the innovative
technology of plastic roads from migrating to other countries.
Technology has since become a talk all over the world.
General Relevance: The lines underline Dr Vasudevan's loyalty
to his motherland. If he wanted, he could have quickly earned a
fortune for his work by selling his ideas to other countries. But
he did not do so.

4 The plastic instantly melts and coats the gravel without

releasing toxic gasses into the atmosphere.
Introduction: These lines are extracted from the
lesson 'Solution to Plastic Pollution', a supplement from the
internet. Respected and appreciated the world over, Dr
Rajagopalan Vasudevan, a professor in Chemistry, devised a
unique method of using synthetic waste for laying roads.
Context & Meaning: The idea of spraying dry, shredded plastic
waste, made up of pieces as small as 2 mm in size, over gravel
heated to 170 degrees celsius was the brainchild of
Dr Vasudevan. The plastic melted and coated the stones with a
thin film. The plastic-coated stones were then added to molten
tar. The plus of this initiative is that it considerably reduces
toxic emissions and presents an efficient, economical and
environmentally friendly solution.
General Relevance: The essay highlights the unique technique
used by Dr Vasudevan, which was very much appreciated
worldwide because of its eco-friendly move.
 Short Answers
1 Describe the deportment of Dr Vasudevan as the professor
of TCE.
Ans: Dr Rajagopalan Vasudevan is an Indian scientist who has
worked mainly in waste management. He was a professor
at Thiagarajar College of Engineering. He developed an
innovative method to reuse plastic waste to construct better,
more durable and very cost-effective roads. He is a recipient of
the prestigious Padma Shree award and is titled the 'Plastic
Man of India'.
The Thiagarajar College of Engineering welcomed the young
investigator Vasudevan in 1975 and 1998 as part of its teaching
structure. His tenure as a Professor instilled in him the
importance of chemistry to humankind. It opened his eyes to
the fact that chemistry has applications everywhere. As he
neared the end of a long career in teaching, he started working
on his idea of plastic roads and waste management. He credits
his innovation to his love for chemistry. The focus of his
research led him to propose methods of recovery and reuse of
plastic waste found in landfills. This is how the idea of plastic
roads was born.

2 How did Dr Vasudevan experiment with plastic waste and

what has been the result?
Ans Dr Rajagopalan Vasudevan is an Indian scientist who has
worked mainly in waste management. He was a professor
at Thiagarajar College of Engineering. He developed an
innovative method to reuse plastic waste to construct better,
more durable and cost-effective roads. He is a recipient of the
prestigious Padma Shree award and is titled the 'Plastic Man of
India'.
The idea emerged from his workshop at the Thiagarajar College
of Engineering in Madurai as far back as 2001. Dr Vasudevan
started experimenting with effective disposal techniques. In a
molten condition, he found that plastic had the property of an
excellent binder. Acting on the principle that like attracts like,
Dr Vasudevan looked at another chemical of similar nature:
bitumen. This black tarry substance was being combined with
gravel to lay roads. When molten plastic was added to the
stone and bitumen mix, Dr Vasudevan found that, true to its
nature, plastic stuck fast and bound both materials together.
The bitumen-modified plastic improved the tensile strength of
the road by making it more durable and flexible. Plastic also
prevented pothole formation.

3 How did A P G Kalam encourages Dr Vasudevan, and what

has been the outcome?
Ans Dr Rajagopalan Vasudevan is an Indian scientist who has
worked mainly in waste management. He was a professor
at Thiagarajar College of Engineering. He developed an
innovative method to reuse plastic waste to construct better,
more durable and cost-effective roads. He is a recipient of the
prestigious Padma Shree Award and is titled the 'Plastic Man of
India'.
Disturbed by calls to ban plastic, Dr Vasudevan set upon finding
a solution to the growing environmental challenges it raised.
When the late Dr Abdul Kalam, India's former President and
scientist, visited Thiagarajar College, Dr Vasudevan presented
his project to him. Impressed by the move, Dr Kalam
encouraged him to lay the first plastic paved road within the
college campus, stressing on grey streets, which Dr Vasudevan
accomplished in 2002. The road is still intact today. He received
a patent for the process in 2006. Since then, almost 10,000 km
of Indian roads have been paved using his technique.