Rana Dutta, Electrosteel Group, Gets a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering — After Superannuation
A First-Person Account:
Prologue: 8th, February 2021. 9th Convocation of IIT (BHU)-Varanasi.
In the list of Ph.Ds. that were to be honoured on that day by the IIT (BHU) Varanasi Director, Dr. Pramod Kumar Jain, the first name was mine.
It was perhaps an unique occasion in the history of the IIT’s when the recipient of a regular (not honorary) Ph.D. degree was much older than the Institute Director who was to award the degree!! In fact, I was 69 years of age when I received the degree.
Looking Back: It all started in the year 2006 when I was asked by the Electrosteel Castings Senior Management to form and head the Condition Based Monitoring (CBM) department. While developing the CBM model and applying it to different equipment, an array of valuable data was being generated.
An ex-professor of my alma mater IIT(BHU) Varanasi suggested that I document it and do a guided research. This would add value to the industrial engineering sphere, according to him.
I approached the Electrosteel Castings management with the idea and they immediately agreed to sponsor me for the same.
After clearing the examination and the interview, I registered with IIT(BHU) in September 2011. The Institute was apprehensive whether the Company could support a Ph.D. program of the standard of an IIT. Two senior professors of the Institute were deputed to study the facilities available at the Company and reported back, saying, “though it’s a manufacturing unit, it maintains an excellent standard for research work with highly qualified and experienced technical staff”.
So, at the age of 60 I started my work for my Ph.D. My experimental set up was in the premises of the Khardah Works and the Company bore the entire cost of the same.
On 28th June 2018, I finally submitted my thesis. As per the IIT norms, it was reviewed by one professor from a foreign university (USA) and another by an IIT professor. After their recommendation, the final presentation and interview before the Institute board was made on 20th December 2019.
I went through with flying colours.
Today, when I hold the degree with pride, I have no qualms to state that the honour belongs more to the Electrosteel family than me and my family. The Company that looks after its employees so well, richly deserves this honour.
Mr Rana Dutta is presently with Srikalhasthi Pipes Ltd (part of the Electrosteel Group) and was previously with Electrosteel Castings Limited. He is in charge of the TPM — Total Productive Maintenance and CBM — Condition Based Monitoring departments.
