Society of Power Engineers (Vadodara Chapter), Newsletter, April 2013 Issue. pp.6-8.

INTERVIEW - Dr. C S Indulkar – A POWER ENGINEER

Born in Gwalior. Dr. CS Indulkar is a renowned power engineer and an academician. He did his B.Sc. (Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics) in 1953 from Victoria College, Gwalior. He had a long career as a teacher in IIT, Delhi and was Head of Electrical Engineering Department at the fag end of the tenure. He has authored numbers of technical books and technical articles. He has to his credit teaching experience in the countries of Middle East,

Africa and Australasia. He also had done his Post Graduation and Doctorate at University of Manchester, UK. A soft spoken and a gentleman to reckon, Dr. Indulkar has been a much sought after personality in the power sector of the country. He is a Life Member of Society of Power Engineers (I), Vadodara Chapter. Many times he has contributed articles for the quarterly journal of SPE (I) (SPE News Letter).

In an exclusive interview with Er. SM Takalkar and Er. PA Shah, Dr. CS Indulkar reveals his contribution and achievements in the power sector during his life so far.

Q. Where did you complete your schooling before taking up B.Sc. Course?

A. I have completed my schooling in Gwalior which includes first four years home tutored classes.

I studied in reputed schools like Jiwajirao High School and Scindia School. I remember my schooling days quite often.

Q. Please give brief information about your family.

A. My mother belonged to Baroda. My father and (late) eldest brother worked for the Scindia family in Gwalior. My (late) elder brother did MA, LLB (Agra University) and did PG Diploma (1957-58) in Landscape Architecture from IIT-Kharagpur. He also completed part-time master's level programs, first from the University of Sydney, and then from the University of Edinburgh. He spent a year in India, and then spent all other years working in Australia and UK. My youngest brother did his M.Sc. (Agri.) from Agriculture College-

Gwalior and Ph.D. from IARI, New Delhi. He worked in various Chemical and Fertilizer industries (including BASF and SEARL) and is now an Advisor on “Stewardship Development” to Cheminova and settled in Mumbai. My younger sister is married and is in Mumbai. I am married to Sudha Indulkar. I & my wife Sudha now live in Vadodara.

Q. It appears that you moved to Manchester (UK) for Masters and job. What were the circumstances leading to migration leaving Government jobs in Chambal Hydro project & MPEB?

A. I wanted to do M.Sc. (Tech.) by research from Manchester University, since three of my Professors from IIT-Kharagpur had done their M.Sc. (Tech.) degrees from Manchester College of Technology and would talk about their work on Electrical Machines in the Lecture classes while teaching. This inspired

me to move to Manchester UK. Therefore, I applied for admission to M.Sc. (Tech.) by research at the Manchester College of Science and Technology, and got selected in 1959.Later, I did my PhD in 1970 under Colombo Plan sponsorship from the University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology,

Q. You served IIT New Delhi for about 32 years and retired as HOD in Electrical Engineering department.

What were your major achievements in academy (save Doctorate)?

A. While at the PNG University of Technology, I kept my research interest in Power Systems alive and continued to pursue them with my counterparts in the Electrical Engineering Department.

My research in power systems has been concerned with switching overvoltages in multiconductor transmission lines and power system stability. As part of the research, I had been investigating the effect of bridging capacitors across bonded joints of a cross bonded underground cable to reduce the switching overvoltages. I had used a frequency domain approach, which automatically took into

account the frequency-dependent effects of the cable parameters.

The above studies have also been extended to 400kV overhead transmission lines and useful results of practical design importances have been obtained. Although my studies were concerned with switching

overvoltages, the mathematical techniques and computational procedures are directly applicable to the evaluation of lightning over voltages. Another aspect of my power systems research has been focusing on power system stability to evaluate the sensitivity values of the operating angle of the generator connected to an infinite bus through a D/C overhead transmission line, with respect to the system parameters and operating variables. I also conducted studies on self-excited oscillations in synchronous machines connected to long EHV transmission lines.

Q. You also offered your services as a visiting professor in countries like Iraq, Zambia & Papua New Guinea.

Which University impressed you much and the reason for the same?

A. The laboratory facilities at all these universities were very good because of collaboration with the teaching staff of European, and Australian Universities. Therefore teaching was a pleasure. There is nothing specific which can differentiate in the impression or working experience.

Q. What are the titles of books which you have authored and which cross-sections of power engineers benefitted from them?

A. The most important book I have written, which is now in the sixth edition, and which is selling very well is the following:

*Indulkar CS & S.Thiruvengadam: "An Introduction to Electrical Engineering materials" published

through S. Chand & Company Ltd., New Delhi in 1965, fifth Revised Edition published in 2010, and sixth Revised edition published in 2011. These days about 2000 copies per year of this book are being sold.

The following are the other books which I have written:

*Indulkar CS "Power System Transients-A Statistical Approach" printed through Prentice-Hall of India,

New Delhi in 1996, and Second Revised Edition in 2010, and Reprint 2012.

*Indulkar CS: "Electrical Machines & Power Systems-Problems with Solutions" printed through S.

Chand & Company Ltd. New Delhi in 2011.

*Indulkar CS: "Laboratory Experiments in Electrical Power Engineering" Khanna Publishers, Delhi

printed in 1986, and Reprints in 2000, and 2003.

*Indulkar CS: "Electric Energy Systems Engineering" Khanna Publishers, Delhi, published in 1976

containing 562 pages.

Q. You have been actively involved in reviewing the papers for various National & International Journals.

Let us know which Journal you rate one of the best, so far as the technical contents and circulation is

concerned.

A.

The following journals are the best from the contents point of view:

Proceedings of the IET (Generation, Transmission, and Distribution)

IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery

IEEE Transactions on Power Systems

International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems

Q. You have been nominated for awards in various institutions in USA & UK. What were the achievements which resulted in to such nominations?

A. The American Biographical Institute's International Board of Research decides on the MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD on the overall accomplishments and contributions to society. Singling out a limited number to receive the accolade is difficult. Much deliberation is held to choose those whose

accomplishments and dedication towards exemplary goals is among the best.

Q. You have guided so many PhD students during your tenure. To whom you rank as best Ph.D. student and the topic of the thesis?

A. The following two Ph.D. students were excellent and the efforts of the candidates were commendable.

Er. PK Gupta - Ph.D. 1982, Professor & Head, Delhi College of Engineering, Delhi,-Thesis

Title:"Sensitivity analysis of multiconductor transmission systems".

Er. B. Viswanathan Ph.D. 1985, Dean, Electrical Sciences, Dr. M. College of Engineering &

Technology, Pollachi - Tamilnadu, 642003.-Thesis Title: "Some studies on compensated transmission systems".

Q. What are your present assignments and activities for utilizing your valuable time?

A. I am completely retired but still read Technical Journals and Magazines containing Power and Machines articles. Thus I am able to keep myself busy and updated.

Q. How do you rate the programs of SPE Vadodara Chapter? Do you have any suggestions to improve the quality of the programs and increase the activities of SPE(I)?

A. According to my assessment, the programmes and activities conducted by Vadodara Chapter of SPE (I) are very good. There is good variation in programme to suit to the taste of different cross sections of Power Engineers. I suggest that, at least, one technical meeting per month and one Technical

Programme per year should be conducted which should cover group discussion and equipment specific issues.

Q. What is the message you would like to give to young Engineers?

A. Young engineers have better opportunities and better gadgets which can be utilized to do the same work more efficiently and effectively with less time. They should therefore, contribute their might in the faster development of infrastructure in the Power Sector.

Q. Would like to say or indicate any thing in addition to the answers to above questionnaire?

A. Academic career and keeping in latest technological development in power sector has been the essence of my life so far. Even though on the date I am not attached to any specific assignment, I keep

busy by reading and contributing technical articles in the Power, Power System and Electrical Machines. I will be failing in my duty if I do not acknowledge the contribution of my wife Sudha, who has stood by my side through thick and thin.

Dr. C. S. Indulkar, B.Tech (Hons.) (IIT Kharagpur),
M. Sc (Tech) (Manch.), Ph. D (Manch.),
Life Senior Member, IEEE
Formerly, Professor & Head, Electrical Engineering Department,
IIT Delhi.

Website on Electric Machines & Power Systems:
https://cindulkar.tripod.com/index.htm

Website on Control Systems:
http://csindulkar.tripod.com/index.htm