So what's new ?
This is what we were used to listen to every Thursday and Monday at Nirma University till last year. I wonder now no body is going to ask me What's new ? Yes, we lost a person with unmatched dedication to professional field.
I would start with my M.E. admission. I went in the office where he along with other professors asked me why am I willing to join M.E programme and I said I want to be a teacher. He laughed in his natural way and said from where will you bring the vacancies. Will you start your own college ? I had no answer but I was assured the I am admitted because the then HoD took my GATE score card. But, I had received a very strong signal from NS that he will be the person who will not let the life easy during M.E.
He was teaching CRE (the name of course was Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering) which was almost same as our BE course and he used to show the same slides which he might have prepared years back. But, he had the charisma to hold the class. Though we were learning the same material as we could have at BE but his touch made the things different. His style of checking the answer sheets was also different. If you are solving for conversion or time for any particular conversion you have to first get the mathematical formula and at the last you have to substitute the values. If you substitute any value in any of the equation in between he will deduct the marks. So we never got the expected marks in his courses.
I would also like to share an experience which I think created a negative impression of mine in his mind. We were GATE qualified students and were supposed to get stipend of Rs. 2500/pm. However, due to some administrative delays we did not get stipend for initial few months. One fine day we got the message from our office that the stipend will be distributed between 2.30 to 3.00 pm. But, unfortunately between 2.00 to 3.00 his lecture was scheduled. We were so excited that without thinking of the consequences we thought of going to get the stipend during the lecture. I lead the group and took his permission. He said you can go during the lecture. He started the lecture and soon the clock was showing 2.30. I waited for few minutes but then I suddenly stood up and requested him to let us leave. He said "If you think getting money is more important than gaining knowledge you may go" I do not know what happened to me and I left the class and my friends followed. I wanted to work on catalysis under him in my M.E. project but he had other plans and (i think) due to above incident he did not pick me up. He never believed in computational aspect and I still remember his words during my M.E. projects. You are "Reinventing the Wheels".
After leaving MSU I joined VVP Engineering College and I somehow wanted to convey him that I was not as bad as he thinks. So, whenever I got a chance to discuss with him I took the full advantage but I was getting a feeling that he is not very comfortable. It was in CHEMCON 2002 when I got the best presentation prize he came to me the next day and praised me for the work and the presentation. I was very happy.
I left VVP and joined Nirma. During that time he used to regularly visit Nirma. During Chemozale of 2005 he called me and said every year you present paper at CHEMCON but you are not focusing on one area. This is the high time that you zero in on any topic and start working for your PhD. He also told me that if you want to work on Thermodynamics (which was not his area) he would talk to Prof. Dabke. So I started working on and in 2006 I registered as a PhD student under him with Dabke sir as my co-guide. During this 5-6 years of close association with him I had learnt so many things from him. His dedication, disciplined approach in every matter, his encouragement and his comments on my writing styles and many more to add. He said that if you do not join PhD now you will miss the train. I realized the value of that statement just after the completion of my PhD. I completed my defence in July 2011 and October 2011 I was promoted as Associate Professor. I could correlate his words then.
I must thank him for showing me the path in the academic life. His contribution to Chemical Engineering Field in Gujarat and in India is unparalleled. His contribution to Chemical Department Nirma University is immense. Because of his able support we could achieve so many things at the department.
I would always remain indebted to the great person for his contribution to my professional growth.
May his soul rest in peace.
Aum Shanti
