Photo Adventures with Curiosity and Learning


January 27, 2007: Visiting Krishnan at IIT-M

R. Kalyana Krishnan and I go back almost 15 years. He was my reality check and idea-bouncer when I was on the Biomedical Engineering faculty from 1993 - 1994. He started his systems development lab in the early 70s. He used his hands and when tools and equipment were not available, he made them. Never one to complain, he just worked his day as if there were no tomorrow. His students are spread all over the world. Some time ago, Krishnan started several projects to help the disadvantaged of India. He developed a multilingual character set for web pages and more recently has developed a strategy for web browsing for the blind. Read about it at his web site where you will read of the numerous award he and his team have received.

About 4 or 5 years ago, there was a terrible storm that resulted in a fire in his lab. It disappeared in an instant. On the one hand, it was a fast track for spring cleaning - there was TTL chip catalogs from the 70s. On the other hand, his life's work went up in literal smoke. I visited him just after the fire. Discussing the way to move forward, I jokingly suggested he just press the reset button and move on. Without my advice, he would have done it anyway - but he has cited this quote in his web history. Being a part of Krishnan's group is a big-time gift!

So off I went for a visit. It was Saturday but Krishnan was there and we spent the entire morning together. I went by auto from Raj's home - and here is the view (after negotiating a realistic price).

jan 27 0857 auto

The first surprise was the absence of chaos on the road from Thiravanmiyur to the main Adyar road. Look - lane markers and vehicles within their lanes.

jan 27 0863 minus chaos

The main Adyar road has been widened - but trees are untouchable. So about 1/2 meter before the tree is a warning sign. A bit late - but nevertheless its there

jan 27 0868 tree sign

Here is Krishan and his current students

jan 27 0874 rkk lab

and Krishnan

jan 27 0879 krishnan

On his moped, he dropped me off in Adyar. I was looking for a DVD, Water, which was sort of forbidden in India, but was finally going to be shown in March. It is available from Amazon. It was time to eat - and my favorite place was gone. So I chanced Hotel Runs. Famous for the double meaning of its name

jan 27 0880 hotel runs

I managed to enjoy lunch - and then walked past the Adyar Bakery - a favorite stop for Ellen and myself

jan 27 0883 adyar bakery

This guy looks like a shoe repairman. But everyone knows that shoe repairmen have their own shops. He is actually a US intelligence agent in disguise - keeping his finger on the pulse of Bush's policies as the ripple across India.

jan 27 0885 shoe man

Then the main Adyar light - just in time to view the start of the every-3-minute-race.

jan 27 0888 race

And of course, if you make it this far after dining at Hotel Runs - you can find a room for the night. However, be sure to pick up a tube or two of Odomos - a very effective mosquito repellant - not available in the US.

jan 27 0891 rooms

And then going home - and viewing the efficiency of parking in Chennai. What a clever way to save space. Just use enough of the street to park one wheel.

jan 27 0893 parking

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C. Frank Starmer

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