Mysuru: “Prof. A. Balasubramanian who did not hesitate to take up any difficult job, is a model teacher who taught other teachers how to be a good teacher,” said University of Mysore Vice-Chancellor Prof. G. Hemantha Kumar.

He was speaking at the felicitation function of Prof. Balasubramanian, on attaining superannuation, after serving in the Department of Studies in Earth Sciences, University of Mysore, at the department premises in Manasagangothri, here yesterday and said that when he joined the University he was doing work related to computers and technology.

In 2020, the University of Mysore is going to be completely digitalised and in this background Prof. Balu (as he was fondly called) was the first to use the computers. When NAAC (National Accreditation and Assessment Council) began, no one had information about it. It was he (Prof. Balu) who through his PPT presentation helped everyone understand what it was all about. He worked very hard to see that University of Mysore gets NAAC grades, said Prof. Hemantha Kumar.

When the students were forced to go to other colleges to learn computer studies, it was Prof. Balu who was also responsible for starting Computer and Technology courses. He was a strict disciplinarian and there used to be lot of discussions between us about computers, technology and administration for the development of the university, he recalled.

University of Mysore former Vice-Chancellor Prof. M. Madaiah said that Prof. Balasubramanian had worked hard for the development of several departments in the University.

“I know Balasubramanian since the past 25 years. During my tenure as the Vice-Chancellor, he was selected on merit for the teaching post. He was not just confined to his department but also involved himself in several programmes of the University and headed the AVRC (Audio Visual Research Centre), EMMRC (Educational Multi Media Research Centre) and other departments. He never said that he did not know but instead made efforts to learn what he did not know. A couple of years later, I saw him in Pondicherry where again his contribution was immense. After returning to his parent department Earth Sciences, he has presented over 160 papers,” he said.

Replying to the felicitation, Prof. Balasubramanian said that his role model was  former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. “I did my Post Doc in Australia and was offered a job there. But I refused and returned to India as I felt that it was the Indian Government which had given me everything and I had to give back something in return. I will serve my country just like my role model A.P.J. Abdul Kalam,” he said.

Prof. Balasubramanian and his wife Indira Balasubramanian were honoured on the occasion.

Department of Studies in Earth Sciences Chairman Prof. M. Sethu Madhav, Prof. Rudraiah, Prof. Indumathi and others were present.