Leadership Academy

The year was 1966. passed out from Pre University Course and entered University for a degree program. As a young student in school I always imagined my self to be an engineer, a stereotype for for a studious middle class boy in those time, 60s. My idea of becoming engineer was Mechanical engineer, not Electrical or Civil. Of course no logic.

When I applied for admission to engineering college through a common admission programme, my choice was Guindy Engineering College, Madras. To be sure that I should study in Madras ( now Chennai), I also applied to A C College of Technology, Madras, that offered Chemical. Textile and Leather Technology streams. I got admission at Regional Engineering College, Trichy and A C College of Technology, Guindy. My obvious choice was A C Tech and B TECH in Chemical engineering. so I stay at Madras and not shift to Trichy. This is my love story started with Chemical Engineering.

My fist decision to do a course in chemical engineering was not based on analysis of why chemical engineering, but based on my choice of location. Then I gathered information to substantiate my decision of pursuing course in chemical engineering.

Now started collecting information why chemical engineering is the best and Chemical Industry is the place to work! Evolution of chemical industry in India is relatively recent in the sense early 20th century. After independence few industries in basic chemicals, fertilizers were established in public sector. it was during 60s the chemical and petrochemical industry started to expand. Therefore job opportunities for Chemical Engineers seem to be bright.

My recent update on evolution of chemical industry obtained from web search is:

Historical Evolution (India): India’s chemical industry roots date to the late 19th/early 20th century (P.C. Ray’s Bengal Chemical & Pharma, 1901, and private firms like Alembic 1907). Post-Independence, India built major public-sector projects: fertilizers (Sindri–Bihar, circa 1951), petrochemicals (Chennai Petroleum 1965, Indian Petrochemicals 1969), and others (Hindustan Organic Chemicals 1952, Gujarat State Fertilizers 1962, RCF Thal 1965). The 1960s–80s saw growth in plastics (Nirlon polyester, synthetic fibers), pesticides/agrochemicals, and petrochemical complexes in Haldia, Kochi, etc. Economic liberalization from 1991 spurred private investment: Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar refinery/petrochem (late 1990s), others like IPCL/DJ (Vadodara) expansions, and robust growth in specialty and fine chemicals. Recent decades emphasize technology (indigenous processes, catalytic innovation) and export orientation.

Chemical industry is a feeder industry. Growth of chemical industry is a function of growth of basic industries like steel, cement, paper, textiles and such infrastructure building industries.

My first exposure to observe in live a chemical manufacturing unit was a pilot plant for the manufacture of activated carbon at Regional Research Laboratory, Hyderabad. I went to RRL as part of my industrial training at the end of my 4th year. During those days the B tech programme was of five years. since chemical industry was at nascent stage those time, Government Of India set up RRLs across the country to promote development of indigenous technology. India was dependent of technical tie ups with foreign companies to set up any chemical industry and mostly fertilizers and oil companies those days.

After graduation I joined Andhra Pradesh Paper Mills Ltd, Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh as Graduate Engineer Trainee. The training was to familiarize the process of manufacturing paper from basic raw materiel bamboo- pulping process, paper making, black liquor recovery and about utilities like steam generation, water treatment, heat recovery and so on.

This was 1971-72 immediately after graduation. Meanwhile a Delhi based consulting company called Chemical & Metallurgical Design Consulting Pvt Ltd offered me a job as Project engineer to be part of a team to prepare Detailed Project report to set up a plant for making Rayon Grade pulp plant.

DPR included Site layout, Plant layout, List of equipment with specification, technology tie up, manpower planning, Project cost, Project Finance, Projected balance sheet, Timeline to complete the project. This experience did give make me feel I am doing a chemical engineer’s job.