A Conflict With My Professor

The story relates to my third year of B.Tech (Hons) degree course in Mechanical Engineering in IIT Bombay in early nineteen sixties.

It was the First Semester of our third year and regular classes had begun. I along with my classmates was attending our class in the subject of “Theory of Machines.” Our professor Dr A ( name with-held ) was dwelling on the topic of Transmission and teaching us about the Efficiency of Gear Traiins.

As usual with him, he was copying on the blackboard, the derivation of the efficiency of a gear train from his notes. Professor A was in the habit of copying the various steps of the formulae on the blackboard from his prepared notes. He never derived the steps logically from his memory. He used to prepare his notes meticulously consulting various books on the subject. After having followed all the steps, he wrote down the final version of the formula of Efficiency of the Gear Train on the blackboard.

On examining the formula, I found that for a particular value of a variable, the formula showed the Efficiency of the Gear Train equal to INFINITY.

In our previous year we had been taught that the Efficiency of a Machine or a System is equal to Output/Input and is always less than 1, or in other words less than 100%, because certain amount of Input fed into the System is always lost due to Friction and other losses.

Seeing the discrepancy I pondered over it for a while, stood up, and said,”Sir, I think there is something wrong in the formula.”

The Prof looked at his notes, and then on the blackboard. He was convinced that the formula he copied from his notes was correct. Reprimanding me in a loud voice he said,” Mr Pawa, you are in the habit of asking silly questions. Sit down.”

There was a loud laughter in the class.

This was an unbearable insult and humiliation to me for the wrong reason since I was convinced that the formula written on the blackboard was incorrect.

So standing there in the same posture I retorted,” Sir, I challenge that this formula is incorrect.”

The Prof was furious and in a rage told me to get out of the class.

I stood my ground and refused to go out.

Fortunately exactly at that moment the bell rang and the class dispersed. The situation was saved from getting worst.

The matter was reported to Prof D (name with-held), the Head of Mechanical Engineering Department.

Prof D was a very humble and polite human being and was always very helpful and cordial with his students. With his Industrial background he was thorough in his subject of Production Engineeing. He was loved and respected by the students. It was due to his clarity of teaching on the subject that I opted for Manufacturing as my profession later.

With great humility I would like to state that I had been a merit scholarship holder and had topped the list of successful candidates in the Merit Scholarship Examination conducted by the Institute soon after my joining IIT Bombay. I was also a position holder throughout in the class. I always respected my teachers and was never afraid to ask questions in the class to clarify my doubts. I had very respectable relations with all my teachers especially with Prof D.

I was immediately summoned by Prof D. He had a very high opinion about me and was held in high esteem by him. After listening to the whole story he advised me to remain calm always and refrain from entering into arguments with teachers. He warned me that such arrogant behavior will not either be tolerated in my future professional career.

His advise was well taken by me and lt paid me high dividends in my profession later.

The incident had shaken me to the core. I got worried about the adverse effect Prof A could have on my academic career. I started doubting his integrity. I had heard stories about how the students, who had a tiff with their teachers in Professional Colleges, had to suffer. So much so, some had to repeat an academic year.

Simultaneously I was thinking that should not the students feel safe in the belief that they should not be ridiculed, taunted or criticized while asking questions and that their questions and comments be answered with patience and respect by the teachers.

I was very disturbed, so much so I started having sleepless nights. I started remaining aloof and stopped asking questions in the class.

It was time for our First of the Two Sessional Tests in the First Term of the year. These tests were very important as they carried 40% weightage in the Final First Term Examination.

The paper set by Prof A in our sessional test was very tough. None of the students had done well. I was always worried that in order to take revenge, he might fail me. The very thought of repetition of an academic year sent chills in my body.

After about a week, while returning from the Institute, I happened to pass through the Administrative Block. As I was passing in front of Prof A’s office, he called me aloud to come to his office. I was bewildered and shocked. I expected the worst. He told me to sit down.

He took out the bundle of answer sheets of the recent test, kept them in front of me and said,” Take these answer sheets and distribute them to the students in the hostel. Most of the students have failed. You have topped the list of successful students securing 19 marks out of 20.”

I could not believe my ears. I was overwhelmed with joy. I picked up the bundle, thanked him and left hurriedly.

On my way back to the hostel, my joy knew no bounds. I was on cloud nine. I had been vindicated. I cursed myself for doubting his integrity. It seemed he was never prejudiced against me and had never harbored the thought of revenge or vengeance. Next day I went to his office, expressed my regret and apologized about the unfortunate incident. He was very happy. With a rare smile on his face he shook my hand. Thereafter we developed a strong teacher student bond which lasted for ever.

Decades later, after my retirement, I was appointed as a Proctor and a teacher in the Mechanical Engineering Department in Gyan Vihar School of Engineering and Technology Jaipur. It was my endeavor to create an open learning environment in the School where students would not be taunted or criticized and that their questions would be answered with patience and respect. The teachers would be free from pride and arrogance and that there would be mutual respect and trust between teachers and students.

And I must say, I was very successful in my endeavor and no unsavory incident of this type, ever took place in the School.