The Pleasure of Being an Academic: A Journey with Prof. B.S. Murty
The Pleasure of Being an Academic:
A Journey with Prof. B.S. Murty
- Amit Kantode
In a world increasingly chasing immediate rewards and fast success, listening to Professor B.S. Murty talk about his academic journey feels like a refreshing walk through a forest of patience, passion, and purpose. Speaking at the inaugural event of GROW-N, a collaborative initiative to foster academic interaction, Prof. Murty's heartfelt and candid reflections presented an inspiring mosaic of what it truly means to live the life of an academic.
This blog tries to capture the
essence of his talk — not as a transcript, but as a story of perseverance,
humility, and the "pleasure of being an academic" in its truest form.
Prof. Murty’s love affair with
teaching began not in a fancy university classroom, but in a modest setting —
tutoring his own uncle, a schoolmate six months younger than him. Despite his
enthusiasm, the tutoring sessions were not a roaring success: his uncle passed
the exams but never developed a love for mathematics.
This early experience, however,
gifted Prof. Murty something invaluable: a realization that he wanted to become
a teacher. Not necessarily a professor at a prestigious institution, but simply
someone who could teach and derive joy from it.
In his teenage years, a
fascination with numbers consumed him. He recounted his excitement when trying
to "square the circle" — an ancient and impossible mathematical
problem — not realizing at that time that it had been proven unsolvable using
only a compass and straightedge.
Even though he later understood
that his attempt was based on an incorrect assumption (treating π as 22/7), the
thrill of exploration planted a deep love for research within him.
Later, while studying at Regional
Engineering College, Tiruchirappalli (now NIT Trichy), he obsessed over
fascinating patterns in numbers — observing how squares of repeated numbers
formed predictable sequences. This wasn’t "useful" research. It
wasn’t aimed at a degree or a publication. It was pure curiosity, pure love.
His graduate and postgraduate
experiences were a journey into maturity. During his Master’s at IISc Bangalore
and his Ph.D. at Washington State University, he realized that research is not
about quick wins. It is about falling down and learning to get back up, over
and over again.
A failed attempt at squaring the
circle. A failed comprehensive examination. Struggles with understanding
complex fluid mechanics concepts. Students complaining about his initial accent
and teaching methods in the U.S.
Each stumble taught him one
crucial lesson: resilience.
As he beautifully said,
"Research is a serious business. You may fall many times, but the key is
knowing how to pick yourself up each time."
One of the most powerful themes
in Prof. Murty’s narrative was the transformational role of teaching in his
life.
Teaching was not just a duty for
him. It became his meditation. It was the very act that healed him during
personal struggles. He found that good teaching wasn’t about being entertaining
or indulgent; it was about genuinely caring for students and wanting them to
learn.
"When my teaching was
bad," he said, "I knew it was because I wasn’t caring enough about
the students."
Good teaching, he discovered,
wasn’t for the students’ sake alone — it was crucial for his own peace and
happiness.
Despite his passion, Prof.
Murty’s research journey wasn’t always glorious.
There were periods when his work
became obsolete — like when finite volume methods overtook finite difference
methods. For four years at IIT Kanpur, he didn't even get a Ph.D. student.
Instead of becoming bitter or
blaming circumstances, he did what a true academic would: he reinvented
himself.
He found solace in
"paper-and-pen" research, collaborated with friends, and even
published a single-author paper — a rare feat.
Failures, he emphasized, were not
the end. They were integral to the life of a researcher. If you weren’t failing
sometimes, you probably weren’t doing real research at all.
Prof. Murty’s career highlights
one golden thread — the importance of collaboration.
He recounted working with Dr.
Shankar Narasimhan, a chemical engineer, to solve hydraulic network problems
using graph theory — an unusual but incredibly fruitful partnership.
Later, at IIT Madras, he
collaborated with environmental engineers, chemical engineers, and mechanical
engineers, bringing interdisciplinary ideas to life. His foray into
environmental engineering and contaminant transport modeling was fueled by his
willingness to step out of his comfort zone, learn new subjects, and complement
others’ strengths with his own.
He emphasized a golden principle:
in collaborations, focus on the project’s success, not personal credit.
"You don’t always have to be the driver of the car," he said.
"It’s about reaching the destination together."
From designing spillways for
massive dams to working on groundwater management projects, consulting grounded
his theoretical knowledge into practical impact.
And more importantly, it gave him
a sense of giving back to society — a recurring theme in his career philosophy.
Lessons for Students and Young
Academics
Prof. Murty offered some profound
advice for young researchers and teachers:
- Students deserve good teaching: Teaching
isn’t about surviving the classroom; it’s about caring.
- Research is serious work: Expect failure,
and prepare to pick yourself up each time.
- Collaborate, but don’t compete unnecessarily:
Success belongs to the team, not to individuals.
- Loyalty to your work matters: Not every
project will bring fame. But loyalty to your craft builds character.
- Step outside your comfort zone: Learn new
subjects, tackle unfamiliar problems. True growth happens there.
- Balance career and compassion: Care for your
students, your colleagues, and your community.
It was charming to hear Prof.
Murty reference classic rock songs that inspired him throughout his life:
- "What I Am" by Edie Brickell &
New Bohemians — a reflection on self-acceptance.
- "Love the One You’re With" by
Crosby, Stills & Nash — about making the best of your situation.
- "Hey Hey, My My" by Neil Young —
"It's better to burn out than to fade away."
These musical inspirations
encapsulate the spirit of his talk — staying true to oneself, embracing
challenges, and living passionately.
As Prof. Murty nears his
retirement, he isn't looking forward to resting. Instead, he plans to immerse
himself even more in grassroots water management projects.
In his words: "Teaching
and research are my hobbies. And someone is paying me for it — what more could
I ask for?"
In an era obsessed with quick
success, Prof. Murty’s journey reminds us that a life of meaning is built not
on accolades alone but on loyalty to one's passion, resilience in the face of
setbacks, and generosity toward others.
In the end, the true pleasure of
being an academic is not found in awards or promotions, but in the joy of
teaching, learning, and growing — endlessly, tirelessly, beautifully.
Talk Link (Access restricted to GROW-N Google Group members.): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1guUSjxRiD6ld17HdoQxCYxgvqGKwfht9/view?usp=drive_link
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