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PIONEERING PURSUITS
OF PRODUCT
ENGINEERING GROUP
erhaps it is little known that today’s Digital Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), headed by distinguished
and Advanced Technologies Group started as Astronomer, Vainu Babu, was looking for an optical
Pspecial projects group incubated in 1968 with telescope’s indigenous fabrication in 1971. TCE helped
the nucleus of experienced engineers in Machine IIA realise this dream. Extract from Biographical
Design and Control Systems. The group was formed Memoirs of Vainu Babu is reproduced below where
to cater to clients’ needs, mostly government, in acknowledgement of TCE’s support is specifically
unique projects and products. The projects’ nature mentioned.
required applying engineering from first principals and
fundamentals, thus helping indigenous development Harlow Shapley of Harvard University, where Babu
of high technology products at a reduced cost, which studied astronomy, once lamented that although India
helped substitute imports and save precious foreign had produced so many great theoretical astronomers,
exchange for the government during the country’s her observing facilities were practically nil. The Saha
critical development phase after independence. The Committee in 1945, also realised this shortcoming
team has done several pioneering works for industry, and recommended acquiring a large telescope. But
scientific establishments, Space and Nuclear Defence the high cost of a large telescope and the difficult
industry, Research organisations, and other Institutions foreign exchange situation prevented successful
of national importance. implementation of the recommendation. In 1971 when
IIA was born, Babu, the founder-director, toyed with
One such project of National Importance where TCE indigenously manufacturing one such telescope for a
demonstrated pioneering spirit is the team’s work long time.
for Vainu Bapu Observatory of the Indian Institute of
Astrophysics in Kodaikanal. Newly established Indian
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