My Transformative Research Odyssey at IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur

The journey of a PhD is both about discovery as well as perseverance.

For me it was a journey across India—through the green expanse of IIT Madras to the focused corridors of IIT Kanpur—each shaping my research and my understanding of what academia should be like.

IT Madras was my first stop where I went along with my colleague Kaleem Ahmad.

The journey began on a train winding through the vibrant landscapes of South India—a moving prelude to the intellectual adventure ahead.

We arrived at Chennai Central Railway Station. A ₹450 prepaid taxi took us to the sprawling IIT campus. Interestingly, people were puzzled when we asked for the “Indian Institute of Technology.” However, only the abbreviation “IIT” brought instant recognition—a charming little reminder that context matters, even in directions.

Entering the IIT gates was like entering a new world. A place where old trees and wildlife existed freely. Ut encompasses rigorous scientific enquiry.

Our hosts, Prof. M. S. R. Rao and Prof. Sedupathy at the Materials Science Research Centre, greeted us with warmth and helped us settle into Sindhu Hostel (Tower Hostel).

The campus itself was a living laboratory of coexistence. Spanning hundreds of acres, it doubled as a wildlife sanctuary. The scholars and scientists wandered together with deer, blackbucks, monkeys, and exotic bird. The natural beauty was captured by cameras with long lenses waited patiently for fleeting moments of natural beauty.

We decided to work in Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) techniques laboratory. The scholars worked after dinner and stretched into the morning early hours. The colleagues lives there. They kept their mattresses in corners behind the lab equipment and books on the desks. An unspoken camaraderie bound them together. To curb the pollution cars were banned in the campus. Therefore, bicycles became our lifeline and it was our mode of transport.

Guided by Prof. Kamraj, then Head of Metallurgy, we carried out nanoindentation tests. What struck me most was the humility of IIT Madras faculty—world-class experts who were approachable, generous with their time, and committed to our progress.

Research had many challenges like any meaningful journey.

Kaleem returned home after a month of rigorous work.

But I decided to stay solo there for the next three months.I came back to srinagar to appear in my semester progress presentation and prepare for the next semester. This was followed by another stini of three months to

 IIT Madras. We completed sample preparations, characterizations, and indentation tests, before moving on to the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bengaluru for tribological testing. Even in our rare breaks—like visiting Pondicherry University or strolling the serene coastline—our conversations always returned to the lab.

IIT Madras gave me more than data. It gave me a vision of academia rooted in humility, perseverance, and collaboration—a place where curiosity thrives alongside compassion.

In early 2016, our PhD had reached its decisive phase.

We decided to refine our thesis at Department of Materials Science and Engineering at IIT Kanpur. I was again rejoined by Kaleem through a long train ride from Srinagar. We checked into the guest house of the institute with a mix of anticipation and resolve.

Our first meeting was with Prof. Kamal K. Kar—a formidable presence and a contrast to the approachable Prof. Rao at IIT Madras. Prof. Kar was formal, precise, and time-conscious. But he made room in his busy schedule to meet us. His instructions to his team were clear: support the research, adhere to timelines, and maintain quality. Our work moved swiftly under this disciplined framework.

IIT kanpur was different from IIT Madras in many ways. The campus was more isolated which offered few diatractions. We missed the krishna gate, Taramani and phoenix mall which were a source of stress releivers. Instead all the focus was on research. For pushed forward completing all experiments and adding new data to our thesis therefore elevating the academic rigour.

We started to write our thesis after coming back to srinagar. During the winter of 2017 we spent time to refine our thesis drafts with the guid nce of our mentors from CSIR lab Jamshedpur and NAL.

Finally we submitted our thesis. It was accepted and we defended it successfully. Therefore it was a moment of relief and pride for us and our guides. This marked the end of a long and demanding road.

After the completion of PhD we got a chance to teach at NIT srinagar for two academic sessions. Later, alongside our guides—Prof. Sheikh Nazir Ahmad and Prof. M. Mursaleen Butt—we returned to IIT Kanpur for a faculty development program on Material Characterization, coordinated by Prof. Gauthama.

This time, the journey was by air to Lucknow, followed by a road trip to the campus. It was attended by faculty throughout the country. It offered hands-on training on newly commissioned Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM).

Looking back, in our research odyssey IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur were two contrasting chapters. Madras offered the harmony of science and nature. It was an ethos of humility and a collaborative spirit. While Kanpur provided discipline and a relentless drive.

They not only shaped our doctoral thesis but also our academic philosophy. The thoughts were grounded in curiosity and community. It was a belief that true excellence lies as the mix of passion and perseverance.

By Dr. Sajad Hussain Din

sajad_08phd12@nitsri.ac.in


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