About the cause
Prof. Mettupalayam A. Veluswami obtained his B.E. and M.Sc. (Engg) in Mechanical Engineering in 1956 and 1960 respectively from the University of Madras. Later, he received his Ph.D. through research on ‘Vibro-impacts’ in Mechanical Engineering in 1973 from the University of Massachusetts, USA. His research on ‘Vibro-impacts’ was well appreciated by top people in the area of work and felt that was on par with that of the work of Prof. Hertz in Contact Mechanics. The results of the work were well utilized in UK, USA and Japan on rail road wear. He was a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the same University from 1977 to 1979, while serving as a part-time Visiting Associate Professor in New England Engg. College, Massachusetts, USA parallelly. He joined IIT Madras in 1960 as a Lecturer in the Department of Applied Mechanics as the first faculty member. Dr. MA Veluswami was a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT, Madras besides being the Chief Design Engineer in the Engineering Design Centre for a period of about two years.
Professor has about 54 years of Teaching Experience: 49 years in India & 5 years in USA; 52 years of research experience. His areas of Specialization includes Internal Combustion Engineering, Mechanical Design, Bio-gas Energy and Pressure Vessel Technology. He had industrial experience in TVS Automobile Workshops. While working in PWD, Govt. of Tamil Nadu 1956-58, he planned, designed and executed 450 Rural Water Supply & Sanitation works besides planning & designing a major Water Supply Project and a major Sanitary work. The Novel Test Rig developed by him for conducting Research on ‘Vibro-Impacts’ in Spur Gears has led to many Ph.Ds. Many of his publications in National & International journals have been well received. He is the author of a book on ‘Engineering Mechanics’ and another on ‘Pipe Vibrations’ for ERDA in USA.
Dr.MA Veluswami received numerous honours. Some of his significant Awards are Proctor&Gamble Award in 1974 in New York, USA at the ASME, for Best Research Paper, Best Teacher Award by the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, and from the University of Massachusetts,USA in July 1979, Outstanding Engineer Award by the Institute of Engineers, 2008 etc.
Professor has guided 10 Ph.D., 3 M.S. (by research), 58 M.Tech., and 108 B.Tech. Engineers. On superannuation at IIT, Madras, he has held various senior positions such as Dean (R&D) in Kongu Engg. College, Perundurai, Erode and Velalar College of Engineering, Erode besides the Founder Principal at Jerusalem College of Engg., Chennai.
The Prof. A. Veluswami Institute Chair Professorship at IIT Madras will honour the legendary professor and will be instituted in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. This Chair will be occupied by
Prof. Venkatarathnam G. We request all alumni who have interacted with Prof Veluswami, and have fond memories with him, to sponsor the Chair.
We appeal to all of you to join hands in this endeavour and contribute generously.
How the money will be used
An Institute Chair requires an Endowment of Rs 1 Cr, and the annual returns from the principal will be used to sustain the Chair.
