Prof. Rao is probably best known for this collaboration with Prof. Alban Lynch (posting of 11th August 2014), whose names were synonymous in the late 1960s with the development of mathematical models of mineral processing systems, particularly hydrocyclones. They published their work on hydrocyclones in a number of seminal papers, and the models are still valid today, being used in many hydrocyclone manufacturers' performance curves.
Under the guidance of Prof Lynch TC was the first international PhD student of mining engineering at The University of Queensland (UQ) and in 2016 UQ held its annual Courting the Greats Ceremony, recognising significant achievements by graduates (posting of 5th November 2016). Prof. Rao was recognised as the UQ International Alumnus of the Year and after many years was reunited with Prof Lynch five years before Alban's death at the age of 91 (posting of 18th September 2021).
 |
| Reunion in Brisbane |
I was well aware of TC's reputation when he invited me to present a course of lectures at the Indian School of Mines (ISM) in Dhanbad in 1989. TC was Professor and Head of Mineral Engineering at ISM and had established a new four-year graduate programme (B.Tech) in Mineral Engineering, the only of its kind in India.
 |
| With TC at ISM in 1989 |
 |
| With ISM staff, TC is 4th from the right |
Two years late TC was in Cornwall as a delegate at Reagents '91 at the Camborne School of Mines, and he is pictured below by the River Fal, with M.S. Prasad of the University of Minnesota, USA, Shouci Lu, of Wuhan Iron & Steel University, China and T. Wakamatsu of the University of Kyoto, Japan.
Our last meeting was at the IMPC in New Delhi in 2012 (posting of 30th September 2012), where the chairman of his keynote lecture introduced him as "the Father of Indian Mineral Processing" and in 2014 it was my privilege to interview him for the blog (posting of 16th July 2014). I refer to this for full details of his life and achievements.
 |
| Delhi 2012 |
Prof. TC Rao will be sorely missed. He was a strong supporter of the MEI Blog and its most prolific commentator. His last comment was only six days ago (posting of 31st August) and I would like to invite those who knew him to add your appreciations of a great man to this posting.
.png)
.jpg)
Very sad to hear this. A very great personality in Minerals Engineering. Rest in peace 🙏🙏🙏🙏.
ReplyDeleteSad news, Barry. I only knew Prof. Rao as a contributor to your Blog. It was always interesting to read his thoughts and the discussions that often followed.
ReplyDeleteHi Sam, yes he had views on all aspects of mineral processing, and we had many interesting discussions during my time in Dhanbad
DeleteStalwart of the Mineral Industry , I did meet him during my college days at IIT(ISM) Dhanbad.
ReplyDeleteIt would be great to have names and affiliations
DeleteThis is very sad news. Another giant in the mineral processing world has left us. A true gentleman. I also had the chance of interacting with him briefly in India during the 2012 IMPC. The title of "Father of Indian Mineral Processing" seems more than suitable for him.
ReplyDeleteLuís Marcelo Tavares, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro
Sad news. I didn’t know TC Rao personally but rather through comments on this Blog. He was one of the giants in Mineral Processing. May he rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteYesterday was teachers day. And I wished in the morning and got a reply. Every alternate day we use to discuss many thing related to Mineral Processing. Always he talks about Mineral Engineering and how to add the new generation into this community.
ReplyDeleteEvery discussion he had with Dr Lynch his Guru and Mentor, he use to discuss and feels very happy.
Secondly he always appreciates the efforts of Dr Barry, his MEI blog and his temperament.
Not a single discussion went without this topic.
Every day he just asks me talk something on or related to work…
And a shock to hear his demise…
I miss him every day and missing him.
There will a huge gap…
May his soul rest in peace
Regards
Rama Murthy
Already in the early 1980s at the University of Stellenbosch, I used TC Rao's work in my teaching of computer simulation of mineral processing circuits. When I joined the University of Melbourne late 1995, I eventually met TC Rao during his frequent visits as a friend of Thomas Healy and David Boger. TC Rao had the ability to analyse problems with clarity, and approached complex phenomena in mineral processing by using simplified albeit effective models. Moreover, his energy and enthusiasm inspired colleagues and students alike. His seminal work and influence on so many lives will ensure his legacy. TC, you will be remembered fondly ...
ReplyDeleteJannie van Deventer, Melbourne
It is paradoxical that our Guru, Prof T C Rao, father of Indian Mineral Processing passed away on teachers day after blessing the most of the wishes from his students since 4.30 AM IST. He would have completed 83 years by a few days. He used to say that age is a number and we should be active and used to Quote Swami Vivekananda words 'Movement is Life'. The discussions with him always had the mention of his Gurus Prof Mahadevan, Prof Lynch, his friends Prof Barry Wills, some of his students like Prof Vangamudi, Prof Venugopal. and others and Institutes like Queensland University, ISM and Indian Mineral processing industry. We, the Indian Mineral Processing fraternity are orphaned and are at loss of words. The loss is irreplaceable. We, his students can only do, is to continue in the path shown by our Guru..
ReplyDeleteHuge loss for mineral processing society and industry. My condolences to his family, friends, India and to our society. Rest in peace. Tugcan Tuzcu
ReplyDeleteIndeed it is a great loss to Mineral Engineering community in India. Prof TC Rao chose to say goodbye fittingly on Teachers Day in India on 5th Sep. His biggest contribution is not just being a renowned teacher, but being able to influence a great number of his students to pursue careers in Mineral Processing and beyond. Om Shanthi and his journey be peacefull...Jai Hind
ReplyDeleteIt was shocking news and a huge loss to Mineral Processing Fraternity as a whole! He was great Researcher, Teacher, Professor, Administrator as well as a effective Communicator. We miss him a lot. Rest in Peace!
ReplyDeleteProf Rao is leaving a great legacy in the mineral processing. From my part, I have been using his hydrocyclone models since 1976. These are embedded in Optimill, Dynamill and now in our online Digital Twins helping to maximize metal production and water recovery. My deepest symphatie to prof. Rao family.
ReplyDeleteProf Rao was one of the great Mineral Processing Engineers of his time. Rest in Peace Mate!
ReplyDeleteHe is my cousin. We really miss him.His contribution to the Mineral Engineering is commendable.
ReplyDeleteJagan Mohan.
Hyderabad
This is very sad news. A celebration of an amazing career reflected in the many ways his work has guided so many across this sector.
ReplyDeleteClearly, TC Rao will be missed by many, long remembered, and celebrated by future generations. Rest in Peace.
ReplyDeleteDr. Rao is truly a great mentor. I have interacted with him during the conference, and he explain things well and encourage young engineers to carry the legacy forward. He will surely be missed.
ReplyDeleteVishal Gupta
Very sad to hear the news of Prof TC Rao Sir. A veteran in the field of Hydrocyclones and had published many papers in this field. Had the opportunity to meet him in MPT conferences etc. My heartfelt condolences on his demise.
ReplyDeleteHe was our Guru and mentor. Very sad to know this. We lost a gem in mineral processing who developed many innovative technologies in mineral processing to boost mineral industries.
ReplyDeleteIn india we say OM SHANTI-means may his soul rest in peace.
siva rao
As one of Prof Rao's earlier B.Tech students at Indian School of Mines, I can say that he has not only shaped India's mineral processing education but also zealously inspired the industry to bring in new ideas and innovation. Above all, he really cared about his graduates as a father would do to ensure we did the best in our career with meaningful contributions to the industry. We will miss him a lot. May his soul rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteIt was sad to hear of the passing of Prof T C Rao, a giant in mineral processing not only in India but also worldwide. His connection to our family started when he came to Australia to study his PhD at UQ as a student of my father, Alban Lynch. Dad often recalled to us the Sunday afternoons spent on the Lynch back deck in Brisbane, debating the finer points of the cyclone model they developed. As you mention, Barry, he was the first international student in Mineral Processing, and one of the first to graduate from the fledgling JKMRC team (before it was called the JK). His connection with the industry remained strong for his entire life, with so many sharp observations and challenges laid down for those of us still working in it to accept. He was kind, humble and so supportive. I personally will miss him and send my deepest condolences to his family.
ReplyDeleteVery sad news indeed. Many may not know just how important Rao was in the story of the JKMRC. He arrived in Brisbane in late 1961 to join the then Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering at UQ. Alban Lynch was about to begin work on the AMIRA Project on modelling and simulation of comminution circuits, the famous P9 Project, in January 1962. A student was needed to tackle the problem of developing a hydrocyclone model and Rao was given the task. As he said, he had never seen a cyclone. Rao was dispatched to Mount Isa Mines to conduct sampling on a full size cyclone test rig as none of the Mount Isa metallurgists wanted the job. He was to spend countless months conducting testwork on that rig. It was from that work that the first cyclone model was developed which allowed the simulation of Mount Isa comminution circuits.
ReplyDeleteRao was also a trailblazer in an equally important way. He demonstrated that students could collect high quality data in plant environments. He thus paved the way for countless postgraduate students who would spend months at a time in operating plants conducting testwork to provide data for model development. This was a hallmark of the Alban Lynch approach.
Don McKee, Brisbane, Australia
Every day we use to discuss and he used to mention his work and the support , love and affection he got from Dr Lynch, you and few more
DeleteRegards
Rama Murthy
Rest in Peace Prof Rao! I only came to know Prof Rao in the past few years after he visited the JKMRC to give a Friday seminar in 2016 (https://youtu.be/zEIPhIxkeFE?feature=shared). He was such a lovely gentleman and we quickly built a strong bond. We shared many correspondence over the following years and I appreciated his support. He will be missed, but his legacy will live on through all the people he touched over his career.
ReplyDeleteOne of the greats of modern India. I attended his 3 day course in 2007 to learn Mineral processing. The mineral processing industry will miss him a lot. His contribution to Hydrocyclone will be etched into eternity. Thank you sir and Om Shanti.
ReplyDeleteIt is a big loss to our country. He was always very inspiring and great mentor. Om Shanti..
ReplyDeleteRegards
Nikhil Dhawan, IIT-Roorkee
I hope you accept my sincere apologies for the considerable delay in corresponding with you.
ReplyDeleteDad used to often speak of you, with high regard. He was a big fan of you, and your blog. He lauded the blog for providing a respected community platform for the ME profession. His lament was that the ME profession suffered from a disproportionately diminutive status in the overall mining industry, much to its detriment. For him, Barry's Blog was its representative stream of consciousness, with authoritative opinions, and candid observations.
If I am not mistaken, you visited ISM Dhanbad in the late 1980s? You joined us for dinner at another Professor's place. I was a kid.
Your interactions with Dad used to enliven him.
I am deeply grateful to you for being his good friend.
You will always have my best wishes. And Dad's.
Thanking you,
Warm regards,
Phani
T. Phani Raj (son of the late Dr. TC Rao)
Hi Phani
DeleteI am really pleased to hear from you. Your dad was a great friend and I am missing him a lot. He was the blog's most prolific follower. My sincere condolences on your great loss.
Yes I had a great fortnight in Dhanbad in the late 80s with your dad and his colleagues.
Thanks again, and look after yourself.
Best regards
Barry