Stuff Prof Dhawan was made of

Wg Cdr DP Sabharwal (retd)

APJ ABDUL KALAM, the former President, while talking about his failure as mission director for the first-ever launch of Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3), recalled that his boss at a subsequent press conference, stated that they had failed, but he supported his team and said they would succeed. Next year, the mission was successful and Kalam was told to address the media and take credit for it. This is what Kalam had to say about the man who taught him what leadership was all about. The man he was referring to was Prof Satish Dhawan. 

I had seen and heard Prof Dhawan a few times when he was Director of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, where I was pursuing my Masters in Aeronautical Engineering. It was towards the end of my stay that I had the honour to meet and interact with this great man. 

One afternoon, as I was working on a lathe machine in the propulsion lab for my project fabrication, I heard some commotion. As I looked up, I saw him coming into the lab, accompanied by my head of the department and my project guide. He was on his farewell visit. As it was the first machine, right at the entrance of the lab where I was working, the team stopped and I heard my guide telling him: ‘Sir, he is one of the Air Force officers who are with us. He is working on hybrid rockets for his thesis.’ Hardly had he finished when the head of the department added: ‘He has been offered full scholarship for his PhD by Caltech University.’

‘That’s good,’ I heard Prof Dhawan saying as he extended his hand towards me. ‘Keep India’s flag flying high over there, young officer.’ Instantly, I too extended my hand, but the next moment held it back apologetically, looking at the soot on my hand. ‘I am sorry, Sir, my hand is dirty.’

With his hand still extended, looking sideways, he asked the head of the department: ‘Have you ever come across engineers who dirty their hands?’ Turning towards me he said: ‘It would be my pleasure to shake hands with such an engineer!’

I was stupefied as he shook my hand, muttering, ‘it is my privilege, Sir.’ While this was going on, my guide had indicated to the lab assistant to get a clean piece of cotton-waste and offer it to the director to wipe his hands. The group started moving on to the next machine, and I saw him refusing the cotton-waste, saying: ‘Don’t bother. Let the feeling linger on for some time.’ Then suddenly, he looked back and said to me: ‘Inculcate this habit in your students as well.’

The incident took place decades ago, and even today, 37 years down the line, I impress upon my students the virtues of working with their hands, and with a glint in my eyes tell them: ‘Who knows with your dirty hands you might have the life-time experience of shaking hands with a great personality!’