To R V G Menon Sir, with love and respects ..

To RVG Sir, with Love ..

With electricity tariff having been raised in Kerala yesterday after about ten years, installation of photovoltaic installations using solar energy is gaining importance in Kerala .. It is at this time I am reminded of the contribution my dear Professor (now retired) from College of Engineering, Trivandrum, Prof Dr R V G Menon is presently carrying out in the state of Kerala. A public spirited individual, simple and loving, he is a real gem of a person any student in Kerala should try to emulate.

Prof  RVG Menon is not only an academician par excellence (as can be vouched by his students), he was also very humble and easily approachable. He always had a humble, pleasant smile on his face wherever we met him, be it inside the classroom, on the verandah, in the canteen or even at the Statue junction.. He used to come to college in an old motorcycle (Jawa or so..) which made so much of noise, with loose dangling parts..

“It is desirable that a man live in all respects so simply and preparedly that if an enemy take the town, he can walk out the gate empty-handed and without anxiety." - Henry David Thoreau. Prof RVG was such a simple man. Simple not only in material possessions, but also in his demeanour and how he carried himself.

As a senior responsible citizen of the society ,he is now transitioning to a new, serious role, as the conscience keeper of the scientific and developmental community in the state of Kerala. He has been highlighting issues of sustainable development.

Through his life, Prof RVG has given meaning to the saying of the Father of our Nation, MK Gandhi.. "You must be the change you wish to see in this world .."

His efforts at restoring the livelihoods of the excluded communities of Kerala by the application of basic scientific developments and applications is remarkable. In other words he taught us about inclusive growth much before our PM and his economists .. !!

In this series of 7 videos, Dr RVG Menon is talking on general developmental issues in Kerala to his old students in the Gulf states, each of app 15 min duration.

Click for Part I here .. 

Click for Part II here ..  

Click for Part III here ..

Click for Part IV here ..

Click for Part V   here .. 

Click for Part VI here ..

In Part VII,( click here) by installing a solar panel investing app Rs 2 lakhs in his TVM home (opp to Actor Mohanlal's house. Pandu Mohanlal mookkolippichu nadannappol, Saar avandeyaduthu padhikkan ethra prayashyam paranjittundenno ..!!) ) using Solar energy on his terrace, RVG Sir has practically demonstrated the applicability of home based solar installations.

He advocates heavy energy users, like big homes, industries, entrepreneurs starting engg and medical colleges to instead start Energy farms, to adopt this technology earlier than domestic users.

RVG Sir had dedicated his life to the cause of innovations in Science and Technology while we were at College through the Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad ( and even we studied from his book titled 'History of Science and Technology' in the first year !!, I do not know whether I failed in that paper in the first attempt.. !!).

His contributions to the Popular Science Movement and Popular Science Lecture series on TV and mass media ( even inside the classes !!) will for ever be remembered not only by his vast followings of students, now in their fifties, but also by the science loving people of Kerala.

The day after the Bhopal Eveready chemical leak on Dec 2, 1984, we spent almost an hour in the early morning 8.30 AM class on Dec 3, discussing about the implications to society and water sources because of the leak... An unforgettable incident which had global implications, was discussed for the whole time (probably no other classroom in the world, and so early within 8 hours of the occurence, would have had such heavy weight discussions as we had in the class on that day)

Can you ever find such a socially relevant, practical, unwavered, enthusiastic, passionate and committed Professor anywhere other than in MIT or Harvard ?

A big thank you Sir.. The best way we can say a thank you is by upholding all the principles of Science and Technology which you held very close to your heart throughout your life. You made us socially relevant engineers ..

Sir has a big fan following not only in CET, but in all Govt Engineering colleges in Kerala state !! Sir retired as the Principal of College of Engineering, Kannur in 1998. On 30 July, 2011, at our 25 th jubilee alumni reunion at CET, got to talk with him after many years !!

george.. (photo courtesy : The Hindu)