One Woman's Solo Start, Now Lifting IITM Research: Ms. Susheela Kapaleaswaran

Back in the early '80s, IIT Madras felt like a guy's domain, until women like Susheela K showed up as the only one in her M.Tech batch. Empty lecture halls, head bent over notes, quietly capturing notes from every voice of professors echoing from the platform, chalk scraping blackboards. Ms. Susheela K joined IITM in 1981 as part of the MTech cohort, back when IIT Madras hummed with a distinctly male energy: a guy's domain where women were rare sparks. 

Her M.Tech batch was small, with just 3-4 students, and Susheela K was the only woman. Though two out of three classmates often missed classes, she stayed committed, her pen swiftly capturing every note in the quiet lecture halls of the time. As one of IIT Madras's pioneering women, she helped widen opportunities for those who followed. Today, women thrive across campus, a transformation Susheela and the girls back then contributed to through their quiet resolve. Those solitary moments didn't weaken her; they built lasting resilience that continues to inspire, shaping the strength she carries forward.

Susheela K, as a day scholar, did not experience hostel life. Missing the bus meant she had to walk through the hostel zones or along Gajendra Circle to the main gate, her feet fatigued but her determination intact. She recalls with appreciation the professors who taught with the same dedication, even when she was the sole attendee. The library became her regular retreat between classes. There, she gained a valuable insight: solitude provides essential time for reflection and cultivating gratitude for life's experiences.

Ms. Susheela credits IIT Madras with instilling the resilience to overcome career setbacks, break glass ceilings, and pursue a truly rewarding profession. Stipends sustained her during her studies; years later, with financial stability, she resolved to contribute in return. Today, she supports research initiatives and returns to campus to reconnect with professors and fellow alumni, a meaningful full circle that strengthens her enduring bond with the institute.

When asked what day at IIT Madras she would choose to relive, Ms. Susheela K points to her convocation without hesitation, receiving her degree from dignitaries such as Mr. Zail Singh, the then president of India, and Ms. Sheila Dixit, a moment of profound triumph after years of perseverance. Those solitary lectures, with chalk echoing in quiet halls, and the library's calm interludes between classes, remain vivid. Simple yet powerful, the scratch of a pen on paper, the scent of aged books all evoke smiles even today. 

To current IIT Madras students, Ms. Susheela offers clear counsel: "Pursue interdisciplinary courses and resist the temptation to confine yourselves to one narrow facet of engineering; this broader approach fosters innovation and adaptability throughout your careers." For fellow alumni, she shares a gentle retirement reminder: "No matter one's professional achievements, we all return to ordinary lives. Cultivate compassion, never turn from the underprivileged nor yield to undue power." For Ms. Susheela, the Joy of Giving embodies profound personal satisfaction: the quiet reward of contributing, even modestly, to the institution that equipped her with resilience, opportunities, and a fulfilling path- enabling others to follow the suit.

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