Dr. K. S. Murthy

Dr. Murthy say...

Nostalgia takes me back almost 4 decades and memories still percolate fresh as I am writing this article about my study at the Department of Colour Chemistry & Dyeing at the University of Leeds and life afterwards. 

STUDY AT LEEDS UNIVERSITY
Due to lack of proper opportunities in India, Prof Rattee preferred that I should enhance my prospects by gathering experience in British or Swiss companies and dissuaded me not to return to India and that too to Calcutta. He emphasised that it was time Indians came out of their shell and blossomed with better prospects in life.

LIFE AT LEEDS
All at sea in the totally new environment, I remember feeling lost and lonely in the refectory at Loughborough Institute of Technology where I was sent for a short course on Polarography, shortly after my arrival at Leeds.

Finding a cosy accommodation to stay, etc can take a toll on the newcomer. Switching over to and handling new currency like Pound Sterling vis-à-vis Indian Rupees was yet another problem for those who received financial support from home.

Soon enough, several of my department mates made me feel at home, including the present Head of the Department, Professor David M Lewis, and played snooker, taught swimming and teased me whether I had a date with a blonde or found a ‘bird’ yet. The other friends were Colin Carter, Alan Tetlow, and Chris Cook et al. We used to play cricket, sing, go on picnics, eat fish and chips at Eldon, booze at Students’ Union, and dine at Refectory etc. They all fondly called my PADDY (derived from my name Murthy that they likened to the Irish name Murphy).

Indian Students’ Association topped the 76 different national associations at that time and used to celebrate Indian cultural festivals like Diwali, Dussera, Gudi Padwa, etc with gaiety. Professors and Heads of various Departments used to attend and enjoy Indian cuisine and desserts. I was a member of some associations like Photographic Society, Youth Hostel, Scottish Dance etc to know about the nuances and culture of the host nation. Periodical meetings were held in the Students Union. British Council was yet another place where I could meet and interact with students not only of Indian origin but also foreign nationals from Africa, Europe, Middle East and USA. The Annual departmental dinner, meeting the freshers in the Smoker’s room, interacting with visitors during the Cloth Workers’ Meet, etc are still fresh in my mind.

CAREER
At the conclusion of my studies, multinationals like Ciba, Geigy, ICI, Yorkshire Dyeware etc visited the campus for recruitment and I was selected by ICI, Manchester. I could also apply for research study in Europe or USA. Alexander Foundation offered me a coveted fellowship to work in Wool Research Institute at Germany. The options were plenty and opportunities galore. Clayton Aniline Company (Associate Company of Ciba) made an exception to employ a foreign national and appointed me as a research chemist at par with the British. They even assured me a suitable placement back in India in higher hierarchy level following the completion of projects assigned and training in Switzerland. However, due to some problem faced by my mother, I had to return to India leaving aside all the options for growth and I could never go back. But, I continue to maintain contact via e-mail with Prof Rattee. He had even sent a message through me to Professor E.H.Daruwalla on felicitation with a Gold Medal for lifetime service to education and textile Industry in India by the Society of Dyers and Colourists. 

I landed at Calcutta on recruitment by ICI (India). Totally unprepared initially to face the world of service, politics in the corporate offices, problems of regional inflexibilities and professional jealousies, in time I learnt to handle them. My British Ph.D gave me an edge every time I looked for a change.

Subsequently, I made a complete change in career and took to techno-journalism and covered various seminars in areas like chemicals, textiles, dyes, paints, plastics, pharmaceuticals and chemical engineering, besides profiling top achievers in these sectors. This also helped me to sharpen my communication skills, especially writing. Prof Rattee expressed that it was a bold step and joked that I put on a reporter’s hat and exchange notes with my fellow journalist wife.  

Professor Andrew Lock, Dean, Leeds University Business School was in Mumbai recently for the launching of Indian Alumni Association, Mumbai Chapter, which I have attended. Blue Chip companies rate the university as second choice for recruitment. With several international students and alumni all over the world, the prestige of Leeds University would rise to greater heights. 

SECOND INNINGS
For the last 2 years I have been a Technical Consultant working on the regulatory aspects of organic pigments at Pidilite Industries Limited. From this reinstatement, it is obvious that a technical person always remains technical no matter what he does in other areas. This is only possible with the background higher education provided by the universities like Bombay (UDCT) and Leeds. This also proves that the learning is an ongoing process, regardless of age, and not restricted to formal education in schools and universities.

I extend my best wishes for the centenary celebration of the Leeds University on 25th April 2004.