Former Director, CSIR Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad
At the outset, I would like to pay my rich tributes to Dr. T. S. R. Prasada Rao, the great son of the soil, a visionary technocrat and science leader, an institution builder, and above all a great and wonderful human being with a characteristic smile and human touch. Catalysis science and technology have been instrumental in catalysing my personal interaction with Dr. Prasada Rao. Although I have known him for a long time as a catalyst researcher through his work and publications, my first personal interaction was in the early 1990s when I met him in one of the international conferences. One meeting and interaction is more than enough for anyone to be impressed, influenced and be a friend with him — such was his charisma. In this case, I was particularly privileged since both of us belonged to the same state, Andhra Pradesh, and research area. Post the first meeting, I have had several interactions and meetings with him on various occasions and today I feel that I am one of his extended family members.
Dr Turaga Sundara Rama Prasada Rao, popularly known as Dr Prasada Rao, in his life journey spanning a little more than eight decades has led a remarkable and exemplary life. The eight decadal journey started way back in 1939 at Ganti Pedapudi in the East Godavari district of present day state of Andhra Pradesh when our country was knocking at the door of independence. He was raised in the Avidi Village, East Godavari district where he completed his school education. Both the villages and the rich culture of AP in education provided him with a natural understanding of the problem and curiosity and commitment to solve them with hard work and perseverance. The love and respect for the rural culture of India as well as the commitment to serve rural India for its advancement was one of the hallmarks of this son of the soil. In leisurely conversation with Dr. Prasada Rao, he would always bring up stories of his village and Visakhapatnam (Waltair) where he completed his graduation, post-graduation and Ph.D. Although he had the opportunity to go abroad for a post-doc, he chose to serve Indian industry with a commitment to develop products and processes for the industrial growth of a young, independent India.
A very interesting, enterprising, and remarkable professional career spanning more than five decades was started in 1967 at the Fertilizer Corporation of India’s R&D Centre in Sindri, Bihar followed by 16 years at the R&D Centre at Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited (IPCL), Baroda where he rose to the position Deputy General Manager. Later he became the Director of CSIR-IIP in the year 1990 till his retirement on superannuation where he has been admired and remembered for his transformative leadership of the institute with his approach of reaching out to industry from the lab rather than usual practice of waiting for industry to approach the lab. This has completely transformed CSIR-IIP and many new clients have been added to its list and many new pilot plants were established in the process of various technology transfers.
In general, people will go for spiritual interests or spend time with family post retirement; however, this man was on a mission mode to utilize his curiosity, problem-solving ability, and commitment to pursuing larger goals in life. He became a well-known solution provider to the global and Indian petrochemical industry through the foundation and success of his consulting company, Sarasijam Technologies, and by continuing that journey with the co-founding of another company with his daughter and son-in-law i.e. SciTech Patent Art in Hyderabad which is a leading company now to serve the global R&D community in the area of patent search and technology landscaping. The circle was completed when he inspired his son to start ADI Analytics, a consultancy specialising in energy and chemicals in Houston, Texas. This is one of the rare examples of families where everyone is an entrepreneur. What a phenomenal professional journey which starts with industry and ends with industry to serve the community with fruits of science and technology for their well being.
Coming to his scientific and technological contributions, it was very difficult to distinguish whether he is an engineer or a chemist, such was Dr. Prasada Rao’s mastery over the subject. As elaborated earlier, my personal interaction started with him on innovative processes using heterogeneous catalysts which were instrumental in our long lasting relationship. His philosophy of developing in the lab and commercializing in industry has impressed me a lot. This philosophy was helpful in development and commercialization of various indigenous petrochemical catalysts and adsorbents for leading Indian companies including Bharat Petroleum, Indian Oil, GAIL, Indian Petrochemicals, Reliance, and Cadila Pharmaceuticals etc. He was also involved in strengthening and expanding the catalyst manufacturing capability of Indian industry. Some of his notable contributions have been on the paraffin dehydrogenation catalyst, a feedstock for linear alkyl benzenes, adsorbent for removal of aromatics from food-grade hexane, catalyst for toluene disproportionation to xylenes, ammoxidation catalyst for converting propylene to acrylonitrile, zirconia supported hydrotreating catalyst, ZSM-5 catalyst for n-heptane aromatization and many more. He has authored more than 100 research papers, has been cited as an inventor of more than 50 patents, co-authored or co-edited three books, and has supervised the thesis of 10 research scholars for their Ph.D degree.
If you are good at your endeavours, the recognition, rewards, and awards follow. He was the elected fellow of Indian Academy of Sciences, Bengaluru and the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), and awarded the PETROTECH life-time achievement award by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, the FICCI award in S&T, K. G. Naik Gold Medal of the MS University of Baroda and Om Prakash Bhasin award for S&T and several others. He was also an active member of Catalysis Society of India. While reaching the great heights in his professional journey, Dr. Prasada Rao never not forgot his humble roots and beginnings and for the well-being of Avidi village where he has set up a trust. The activities and programs of trust for the all-round development of this village starting from education to health and hygiene were helpful in this village’s recognition as a smart village by the government of Andhra Pradesh. A person who was the creator of the phrase “just smile at work” at CSIR-IIP has brought smiles to many be it in his village, among his well wishers, friends, technology beneficiaries, industrial clients, and family members.
Although his passing away is an irreparable and great loss for all of us, we should cherish and celebrate the contributions made by Dr Prasada Rao in his purposeful and glorious life with dedication and kind-heartedness. He was a man made in India for the benefit of global well being and is a perfect example and inspiration for the today’s young generation to utilize one’s knowledge and experience to support the government vision of Make in India and Start-up India. Only one has to understand his potential, understand the changing time and needs and have a vision and hard working ability like Dr Prasada Rao to be successful. Bubbling with ideas, energy, and enthusiasm with a smile in all circumstances is the lesson from Dr. Prasada Rao’s life.