Fortunately, AHEAD India Foundation has been blessed by numerous books, articles and other publications by its mentors, founders, members, advisors and patrons. A sneak peek of publications –

Prof. Dr. Gopal Tripathi, Mentor

Various News Letters published by IIT – BHU and MIT (USA) and Numerous Articles on Metallurgy and Chemical Engineering and Research Publications in Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research.

Revisiting a visionary : Prof. Copal Tripathi

Prof. Copal Tripathi, a visionary with extraordinary contributions in the field of Chemical engineering, was born and raised in Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh, where he received his preliminary education. Although he came from on ordinary family, he had extraordinary acumen, reflected in his subsequent   academic excellence. He completed his graduation, majoring in Chemistry, and his post-graduation in Chemistry from Banaras Hindu University. He always had an interest in pursuing research, and became on assistant lecturer in the Deportment of Si licote Technology of the College of Technology, BHU. In light of his exceptional talent, he was offered a Tata fellowship for higher studies in the US, wherein, he pursued his M.S. in Metallurgical Engineering from MIT and later on completed his M.S. and PhD in Chemical Engineering. World renowned individuals such as Prof. G. G. Brown, Prof. Lewis, Prof. D. L. Katz and other senior chemical engineers were among his teachers. He shared classes with 1. J. Mcketta, editor of Encyclopaedia of Chemical Processing & Design and, consequently, became a member of the editorial board of this multi-volume set.

Prof. Gopal Tripathi was a voracious reader of technical journals and books and possessed a fantastic memory. His  batch mates used to refer him as a walking dictionary and seek his help in understanding mathematical concepts. His research in US was in the area of Thermodynamics (PVT Relations of Hydrocarbon Gases – an area driven by WWII needs) under the supervision of Prof. G.G. Brown. He returned to India in the year 1949, on the request of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya. Back in BHU, he became the Principal of College of Technology and founder-head of the Department of Chemical Engineering (founded in the year 1956), and initiated research in the areas of Vapor-liquid Equilibria, Fluidization Engineering, Non-Newtonian Fluids, Catalytic Cracking of Reduced Crude, etc.

He had special interest in the fields of Fluid Mechanics, Transport Phenomenon, Thermodynamics, Mathematical Methods in Chemical Engineering and Petroleum Refinery Engineering. All of these are core Chemical Engineering subjects. The first PhD awarded in Fluidization in Indio was mentored under him. In those days, without computers and calculators, he developed and inspired an interest in experimental research.

Prof. Gopal Tripathi was instrumental in spreading Chemical Engineering education across the country – University of Roorkee (now IIT Roorkee), Department of Chemical Engineering, Punjab University – Chandigarh, HBTI Kanpur were all mentored by him. With his exemplar display of perseverance and leadership traits, he played a key role in the creation of Institute of Technology – IT BHU (now Indian Institute of Technology – IIT(BHU), Varanasi), after the unification of all three technical institutes in BHU (BENCO, MINMET, TECHNO), and its inclusion into the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) system for admission to undergraduate courses. He also held several posts – Director of Planning & Co- ordination BHU, Chairman of Soda Ash Commission and also the leader of Indian Delegation to China. later, he went on to become the Vice-Chancellor of Lucknow University.

Prof.Tripathi supervised several modifications for the betterment of the institute  research facilities were upgraded, new and advanced technology were installed in the laboratories. The degree of MSc given to chemical engineers was aggrandized to M.Tech and several small as well as consequential changes were made, which enriched the technical institute of BHU and prepared it to be counted among the top institutes of India.

Prof. Gopal Tripathi was an amiable individual and a cam passionate teacher. His students still assert the unombiguity and frankness they had in interactions with him. His teaching skills were unparalleled and so were his incredible  contributions to the field of Chemical Engineering.

“Prof.Tripathi was punctual, outspoken and humble hearted. Whenever he saw a class full of students with the professor late or absent, he would go in and teach that subject without even referring to a book – such was his competence in the subject”, recalls Prof. S.N. Upadhay, a Raja Ra manna awardee.

This legendary person, with his flamboyant demeanour, won many hearts. He is a role model not only for Chemical Engineering aspirants, but for everyone who seeks to scale new heights of success. His legacy lives on in the Deportment through the Gopol Tripathy Auditorium, used regularly for different programmes, and the establishment of a Prof. Gopol Tripathi Memorial Choir Project in 2014.

Reference – IIT BHU Newsletter Vol II Issue_2_2017