Prof. R Venugopal died yesterday as a result of a massive cardiac arrest. He was 65 years old. He was an eminent academician and teacher at the Fuel and Minerals Engineering Department at the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad, India, where I first met him during my visit in 1989. We met again in 2012 at the IMPC in New Delhi.
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| R. Venugopal, 2nd left, Dhanbad 1989 |
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| With Amanda and me in New Delhi, 2012 |
Prof. Venugopal served at ISM for more than three decades on different roles and responsibilities including head of the department as well as Dean of Research. His students always admired him for his unique teaching skill and his friendly nature. His main research interest focussed on pelletisation and flotation.
Prof. Venugopal had more than 100 publications in different technical journals and conference proceedings. He also served as the President of the Indian Institute of Mineral Engineering, which is the only professional body in India to promote Mineral Engineering. He is survived by his wife and three daughters.
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Deeply saddened to hear this sad news yesterday! Prof Venugopal was a true gentle man and was an inspiration to many Mineral Engineers in India. It’s a great loss to mineral engineering fraternity! My heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family!
ReplyDeleteMay his soul rest in peace in his heavenly abode!
Very sad to hear the news
ReplyDeleteMy deepest condolences for the demise...
Really a sad news. He was an eminent teacher and a humble person. Thanks for sharing the photograph from 1989, a rare one. Other than Prof Venugopal, I can recognize Prof T C Rao - 4th right, Dr J P Barnwal - 1st right, Dr Govindarajan - 3rd left. Dr Govindarajan was my guide for Masters thesis at RRL, Bhopal
ReplyDeleteI was so saddened to hear this shocking news.May his soul rest in peace
ReplyDeleteVery sad to hear the news. May his soul rest in peace. Big loss to mineral society in India.
ReplyDeleteI am shocked. I spoke to him recently on 1-9-20 as his classmate and friend, to inquire about his post retirement activities as he had retired on 31-7-2020. I was informed that he wished to continue his favorite teaching hobby at ISM. I never thought that his 4 decade association with ISM would end like this. His simplicity, communication and managerial skills are always remembered by one and all. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved family. May God give strength to all to overcome the grief. The Indian mineral engineering diaspora miss the ever smiling Venu.
ReplyDeleteB P Ravi
I am yet to recover from the shock; the wound is deep.
ReplyDeleteWhat do I write about " MY VENU" in this frame of mind--he was one of the contributors of the then newly forming Fuel and Mineral Engineering Dept in ' 70s--our association is over 50 years? Your Blog and photos therein bring back so many memories
He was also Chairman of Assessment Committees of C.S.I.R. in the areas of earth sciences.
Apart from mineral engineering,he was expert on pelletization (his Ph.D. topic in early '80s) and was being invited by organizations like TISCO/Jindal etc to give lectures to operating engineers.
He was a Member of the Committee recently appointed by Ministry of Mines,Govt of India, to prepare a Vision document on "Holistic View on Exploration to exploitation of Mineral in India". Both of us were working very closely on this over the last six months,and he sent the final document only last month.
Real loss to Mineral Engineering feternity-- his students spread across the world-
Real loss to Mineral Engineering feternity-- his students spread across the world-
-I am so saddened.
Pray GOD to give strength to his family and MAY HIS SOLE REST IN PEACE.
T.C.Rao
RIP 🥺
ReplyDeleteReally still i cannot believe that he is no more with us. I have no words to express my sorrows and sadness. May god give enough strength to his family to bear this irreplaceable loss.
ReplyDeleteIt's shocking and sad to hear passing of Prof Venugopal. Met him several times during MPT seminars. Always accommodative to hear others. Proud that I studied from same college at Nandihalli PG Center as Prof Venugopal. Real loss to his students, fraternity, friends and Mineral Engineering community. I pray for his peaceful journey to the heavens and strength to his family. I wish his journey from humble beginnings to Top of teaching in highest of institute will be chronicled and inspire others.
ReplyDeleteI met Prof. Venugopal at IIT(ISM) in 2009. Though i knew him as a senior since long but as a teacher and mentor to many Mineral Engineering students I came to know at IIT (ISM). Other than a teacher he was a good baller and a good singer too, which I came to know during my frequent interactions with him. His writing and orating skills are at paar. Very simple, kind and down to earth person and guided many Bachelor's, Post graduates and PhD's. I remember being myself as one of the external for his PhD student.It was priveldge provided by him to me... We use to discuss many projects with him other than many personal development things.
ReplyDeleteProf.TCRao's one of the close student or say more than that...
We simply miss him and very much shocked to hear his untimely demise and at such time where we cannot see him at last...
Remei the last meeting and conversation bring tears to my eyes...
May the departed soul brest in peace..
Regards
Rama Murthy.
I was privileged and fortunate to have him as my PhD guide. He was a guide, mentor and gem of a man. Words fall short to describe Prof. Venugopal. I can never forget his face when flotation and pelletization related comes up. Child like curiosity, a dedicated worker and never ending enthusiasm to learn the latest technologies, I can hardly write about it. It was not the right time, never. Sir, You had so many plans, so many project proposals, research topics, book writing...like miles to go before I sleep. Still can't believe its already been 3 days.
ReplyDeleteSo shocked and disheartened. Wherever you are, may your soul rest in eternal peace sir. Always praying for your blessings.
Appreciate your words Arya. He always wanted us to be strong. Wherever he may be, he is watching us and sending us tonnes of blessings.
DeleteGod is so cruel this time. In this critical situation, I am lacking word to explain and accept the heart breaking news that you are no more with us. I am blessed to have you as guide and always proud to be your student. I have never imagined the future without your guidance. I have never ever met a guide who is so intelligent, down to earth, student loving, caring and ever versatile & passionate for mineral engineering and it's future.Your words are always like magic which can change a negative situation into positive vibes. You have always guided me, in personal as well as in research problems. You are more than a mentor.You have enormous passion for mineral engineering and devoted your whole life into this field. Therefore, I have a humble request to all the eminent personality in the field of Mineral Engineering , that if possible kindly announce and publish a special issue in an International Journal, dedicated to Prof. R. Venugopal 's memories, that aims to highlight emerging technologies in mineral processing/beneficiation.
ReplyDeleteMay God put your devine soul into heavenly peace.
It was very hard to believe this heartbreaking news. A very kind and Noble soul has been moved apart from us. I was fortunate enough to have interacted with him as my faculty, my project guide & always remember him as a very helpful and keen on supporting.
ReplyDeleteMay his soul rest in Peace.
As eminent teacher in the field of mineral processing, we learned a lot from Prof Venugopal sir. It's an irreparable loss to the entire academic and industrial world engaged in Mineral processing. The time he spent with me as well as with our family will always be there in our memories, we miss you sir!
ReplyDeleteI was indeed privileged and fortunate to have him as my PhD guide too. He was a more than a guide, a mentor and gem of a man. It was not the right time sir, you leave us like this, never. Sir, You had so many plans, so many project proposals, research topics, book writing...like miles to go before I sleep. Still can't believe its already been 4 days.
ReplyDeleteSo shocked and disheartened. Wherever you are, i pray God, may your soul rest in eternal peace sir. Always praying for your blessings.
Prof Venugopal and I worked together for about 41 years. We both studied together at Nandihalli College Karnataka, in the Dept. of Mineral Processing. He was senior to me by 3-years. Subsequently we both joined IIT(ISM), Dhanbad (formerly known as Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad) in the Dept. of Fuel & Mineral Engineering. We both were nurtured by Prof T C Rao. Most of the short courses conducted, professional development programmes organised and Off-campus trainings organised to train industry personnel were together. We jointly worked on several plant projects to find solution to the Problems of the Industry. Organised IIME meetings and MPT conferences.
ReplyDeleteI am unable to digest that he is no more. It is difficult to fill-up this vacuum. To console myself I can just say that MAY GOD REST HIS SOUL IN PEACE.