Patibandla Srinivas
Amaravati: The life journey of Dr Mamidala Ramulu (a professor at the University of Washington) is a great lesson for the youth to overcome hardships, suppression, and poverty on the way to reaching their goals and fulfilling dreams with dedication and hard work.
He proved that education is a tool to grow in personal life and a useful weapon for society’s development. Interestingly, he started his run with thirst for education from a remote Tarigoppula village near Janagam in Telangana State almost six decades ago amidst suppression and poverty but never stopped his journey even after reaching his destination as a professor and researcher in the United States of America.
He has designed and developed the manufacturing methods for various systems, from the B2 Bombers to the Boeing 787. He is called endearingly as Ram or M.R. for his leadership and outstanding record in promoting and collaborative education and research with industry. He received the NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award and the Technology Award from the Water Jet Technology Association in the United States of America.
Ramulu was born in Tarigoppula village near the town of Jangam in Telangana State. His father M Somaiah was a poor washerman in the village. Ramulu was a brilliant student from his childhood. He faced suppression from the landlords in his native village during his childhood for the reason he got first rank in the school and district.
As a result, he was restricted to his family’s traditional clothes-washing work. During those days, there were restrictions and traditions in Telangana that the people were compelled to live within the boundaries of the village and must do their traditional work.
However he fled the house at midnight after 7th standard and reached the nearest town Janagam with a never ending thirst for education. Former MLA Goka Ramalingam, organiser of the social welfare hostel, initially provided shelter.
Following the suggestion of the former MLA, he joined a private school Andhra Basha Vardhani (ABV) with the help of headmaster Ch Hanumantha Rao.
The school was run by the management of Guntur-based teachers. Though he got admission, he could not pay Rs 36 school fee. Another teacher G Ramakrishna Rao arranged the fee and provided him an offer to teach other students in the town as private tuition. He also used to work night-time as a construction laborer.
Finally, he got top rank not only in school but in the entire district in the higher secondary education (10th) examination.
Later, he joined the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) without proper knowledge and guidance. The instructor of the ITI gave him a strong suggestion to join the second grade since it is suitable for him after observing the marks. Later, he reached Hyderabad riding a train without ticket with empty pockets.
He started life as a construction worker and finally joined the pre-university course (intermediate) at Viveka Vardhini (VV) College with the help of an unknown person when Ramulu was expressing his inability to pay the fees at Nizam College. But the unknown person introduced him to the principal of VV College and finally he got admitted with a scholarship. All the lecturers of the college gave their books to Ramulu following the directions of the Principal. He continued to work as a labourer and took up private tuitions. He completed it with top marks.
After completing the pre-university course, he got admission to the Engineering Course but joined the BSC geology since he could not pay tuition fees. Again a teacher of the college, Vanaja Ayyangar, observed his marks and questioned him about his BSC course choice instead of the Engineering education. After he explained his financial condition, she suggested Ramulu meet Abid Ali, the principal of the Engineering College. After seeing his marks and the financial backwardness of Ramulu, the Principal agreed to admit him to Engineering College at Osmania University though the deadline was almost over. Professor Padma Rajaiah also helped him to get admission.
During those days, he worked as a part-time maths teacher at Rao’s Tutorial College to meet his living expenses and college fees. Immediately after completing the Engineering, he appeared for the IIT exam with the guidance and help of Dr Mithra, owner of Rao’s Tutorial College. On his journey from Hyderabad to Delhi IIT, he went there barefoot after losing his chappals in his walk from the Delhi railway station to the exam hall.
He slept at a lab in the IIT College for the night while waiting for exam results the next day. He stood in the top three in the IIT exam results and got admitted with a scholarship.
After completing his M.Tech at Delhi IIT, he went to America under the overseas education scholarship programme of the Indian government.
He completed his Ph.d and now serves as director of the illustrious University of Washington in California. Indeed, after completion of his higher education, he returned to India to work in the country but situations and friends forced him again going back to America. Finally, he became a renowned professor, research scholar, and one of the key members of the B2 bomber and Boeing designing team.
He worked with APJ Abdul Kalam for programme-based visits long ago. Still, he enjoys his life surrounded by an educational environment for teaching students. He prefers to spend time including Sundays in the University only. He never forgot people who encouraged him giving clothes and money.
Ramulu speaking to “The Capital” Newspaper said that youth should know his story especially his childhood surrounded by hardships and suppressions. Determination and hard work are important, he suggested to the youth. He also said the youth should not fear to see hardships and failures.
Father’s faith becomes true
The professor recollected his memories with his father Somaiah as his father always used to go to the Shiva temple and light the lamp every day. Indeed, Ramulu didn’t have faith in his father’s religious customs due to their family hardships.
When Ramulu questioned his father, he used to say that the lighting in the temple would give light (brightness) to Ramulu’s life, he recalls the memories. He also recalled that he met several student leaders like George, and political leaders like Sitaram Yechury, and P Indra Reddy during his education life and also took part in various movements and agitations.
A letter gives confidence:
D Shankar Rao, a teacher working for Viveka Vardhini School wrote a letter to him after he resigned to his position giving a suggestion and confidence to Ramulu to continue his studies and he will reach greater heights one day. Ramulu never forgot the teacher and letter but he could not find his whereabouts except a clue that the teacher was a native of Guntur.