Six Decades of Academic Research in Materials Engineering: A Personal Perspective

This article is a personal account of the evolution of the research ecosystem and academic world of metallurgical engineering in India, from the 1960s to the present day. The author emphasizes the efforts of academic leaders and political support in the establishment of newer steel plants and metallurgical engineering departments in post-independence India. The text reflects on the slow start of graduate education and research in the sixties, which only gained momentum in the seventies. The author notes the contributions of several visionaries, who initiated a transformation towards graduate education and research, leading to the growth of academic research clusters in India.