Dr. S. Neelamani

– A Gem of a person obtained rare achievement

 

-by Surya Prakash

Dr. S. Neelamani, a Senior Research Scientist in Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) obtained rare achievement, on being conferred upon the No. 1 Scientific Achievement award in KISR for the year 2009-2010. This achievement is a crowning glory of all the troubles and travails taken by him and his family. Dr. Neelamani was born in Punjai Puliampatti, Sathyamangalam Taluk, Erode District in Tamilnadu.

His father Mr. M. Subramaniam (Late) was a handloom weaver by profession and his mother Mrs. Chinnammal Subramaniam who lives in India is a home maker.

Dr. S. Neelamnai’s life is exemplary in that he rose to such a high position, in spite of being born into a very poor family. The struggles he and his family undertook in his childhood days are something that a present day youngster cannot just imagine. He had always studied in Government Schools and Colleges. And still he could top the school and colleges in many exams.

His family was so poor that his father could not afford to buy him a set of school uniform, chapel and new pencils every now and then. His Math teacher, Mr. Ilamurugan (Mr. Balu) used to gift pencils to those students who did all the mathematical problems correctly. So Dr. Neelamani used to study hard and solve mathematical problems all correct and he got the pencils that way.

When Dr. Neelmani completed his 7^th class, his father was told by the Headmaster of the school that special fee of Rs. 13 is to be paid forthe year. So his father went to the school to ask for Transfer Certificate. Just then his teacher, Mr. ElaMuruhu entered the scene and upon knowing the facts immediately offered to pay up the requisite amount. Dr. Neelamani never forgets that touching incident and even now when he goes to India he makes it a point to visit Mr. ElaMuruhu who is now a very old man and pays his respects to him by touching his feet. He says that spirit of selflessness shown by his teacher was a life changer for him and he has made it a point to follow this principle in his life.

In his school days in order to get some additional funds for his studies he used to go around villages for collecting old metal pieces, do household works like rice grinding to nearby families, rear chickens and sell them off in the weekly marketin his native place. From the money earned from thesetasks he used to buy books and other items required for his studies.

When he had to shift to Tiruppurto pursue Pre University Course (equivalent to the present 12th grade), his father sent a brother and a sister along with him and set up a handloom unit in that place in a rented home. So his brother and sister worked on the handloom unit until he came back from school and then he used to lend them a helping hand.

Though he came from such a poor family, by God’s Grace and through the support, guidance and blessings of his family members and Tamilnadu government scholarship he did his bachelor honors in Civil Engineering from Government College of Technology, Coimbatore under University of Madras. One of his teachers, Dr. G.A. Kumaresan,, pursued his M.Tech in Marine Technology in IIT Kharagpur and then his PhD in Ocean Engineering in IIT Madras. He also did his Post Doctoral studies in Germany as one of the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Post Doctoral Research Fellow in TU Braunschweig on Coastal Engineering.

As a Faculty member while at IIT Madras from 1990 to 2003, he was involved in the wave energy project. In that project he was involved in the construction of 150 KW pilot plant in Vizinjam, South of Trivandrum which is being used even now for research purpose.

One fine day during 2002, while going through scientific publications, he saw an advertisement for the position of Scientist in KISR through a research journal. He applied for it and came for a personal interview to KISR, Kuwait. He wasimpressed with the scientific set-up, research facilities, tools, ambianceandbenefits; he decided to work in KISR at least for 2 years.

He came to KISR on extra-ordinary leave from IIT Madras for two years but then decided to stay for few more years. Now he has completed almost 8 years of fully satisfying research and scientific service and in the year 2009-10 he was awarded the prestigious No. 1 ScientificAchievement Award by KISR. Dr. Neelamani, for his credit, has more than 250 scientific research publications in reputed international journals and conferences so far. Some of his scientific works can be viewed through Google scholar, by typing “S. Neelamani”.

He has been invited by many R&D organizations and Universities around the world fordelivering lectures in the area of Ocean and Coastal Engineering and Ocean Energy Resource development.

To motivate the young engineers to pursue their higher studies in Ocean and Coastal engineering, he delivers lectures in the engineering colleges in India every year during his vacation period. He also visits different schools and interacts with the school children and shares his experience on successful development of knowledge, skill and personality, which is essential for sustaining success in their life. It is his past time.

He used to play Kabbadi and do weightlifting. He was adjudged as Mr. GCT (2nd position) in Coimbatore in 1984. He was also a sports advisor and Associate NCC officer to the students in IIT Madras. He plays tennis and volley ball now. In his school days he used to sing patriotic and devotional songs and he also gave some stage performances. He has much interest in athletics; especially field events like shot put, discus and hammer throw.

His goal after retirement is to settle in his motherland in a remote village and help the poor and deserving children there in education and make them stand on their own feet just like his teacher did to him years ago. He can be contacted through email (sneelamani@yahoo.com) or by mobile 99278411 for guidance and counseling on education, and for information related to research and development.

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