Prof.Yelavarthy (Nayudamma) was a science luminary who possessed a deep-seated belief that the pursuit of scientific innovations must aid in societal development. This belief reflected strongly in his research endeavours which primarily focussed on addressing challenges faced by the real world rather than treading the path of new discoveries. Perhaps this was the reason why Dr. Nayudamma was held with reverence both by the scientific community and the common public.Dr. Nayudamma was born in an agricultural family at Yelavarru village in Guntur district, andhra pradesh on 10th September 1922. He completed his initial studies in Guntur district and then left to Banaras Hindu university,Varanasi for his graduation in Industrial chemistry. After his graduation in 1942, Nayudamma took admission in the Law College at madras. Here is where, young Nayudamma met his destiny when accidentally he was introduced to Dr.Seshachalam Chowdary who was then the head of leather technology institute, madras. This meeting influenced Nayudamma to forgo law and to join the Institute of leather technology. Around the same time Dr.Seshachalam Chowdary was entrusted with the responsibility of establishing the central leather research institute (CLRI) for which he was also working towards capacity building. Dr. Sheshachalam chowdary saw in young Nayudamma, a potential value addition to the jonro of leather sciences and technology, hence at his behest the government of India in the year 1946, sent Nayudamma to university of leeds,UK to get advanced training in leather technology. Later Nayudamma moved to Lehigh University in the United States for his master’s and doctoral research. His doctoral thesis focussed on problems associated with elucidation of reaction mechanisms involved in tanning and on shrinkage phenomena. Dr.Nayudamma worked at a shop floor in a leather industry in united States, probably this training sensitised him towards the importance of structuring leather industry in the fabric of scientific research. Dr. Nayudamma returned to India in 1951 and joined the newly established CLRI first as a senior scientific officer and soon rose to the position of deputy director. Dr. Nayudamma played a central role in higher education in leather technology in India. He became the Honorary Professor in Leather In february 1958 then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru appointed Dr.Nayudamma as the director of CLRI after an interesting and brief interview. Jawarhala Nehru asked Dr.Nayudamma what was his vision for the age-old leather industry. For which Dr.Nayudamma replied that he would strive towards infusing scientific temper to the tradition-bound leather industry, which was being pursued by the socially and economically downtrodden leather artisans and help in their socio-economic uplift. The reply was well taken by pandit jawaharlal nehru and Dr.Nayudamma took over as the director of CLRI. True to his response to Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr.nayudamma for the next 13 years that he served as the director of CLRI, brought in a number of policy changes that would help the growth of leather industry in general and tanners in particular. He opened the doors of CLRI to leather artisans and offered them any assistance needed to improve in the aspect of leather production, quality and its trade. He also encouraged scientists of CLRI to take initiative and assist the industry. Nayudamma initiated the concept of tanners get-together in the premises of CLRI and also was instrumental in organizing the first leather fair in 1964 which was a joint effort of the industry and CLRI. Because of these socially conscious decisions Dr. Nayudamna became synonymous with the word ‘scientist of the poor’. The intricate interactions with the leather industry predominantly shaped the research activities of CLRI, under the leadership of Dr.Nayudamma. The research activities mainly focused on; Mechanisms of preservation of raw hide, understanding the physicochemical events of the phenomenon of shrinkage, increasing the dimensional stability of leather, experimenting with the concept of Combination tanning,, infusing the importance of collagen research in leather industry, usage of fat liquors required to soften leathers etc, which all directed towards finding scientific solutions to the problems faced by the leather artisans. In 1971, then prime minister Indira Gandhi appointed Dr. Nayudamma, as the Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR) and Secretary to the Government of India in charge of DSIR. Under Dr. Nayudamma’s leadership, CSIR took ambitious strides towards developing technologies with global impact. One such step was an integrated rural development program in the Karim Nagar district of Andhra Pradesh. He pioneered the concept of what came to be called Graduate Aptitude for Technical Education (GATE). He also encouraged talented Indian scientists setted abroad to return to India for pursuing research in the country. One such laudable discovery of Dr.Nayudamma was Dr RA Mashelkar. He also brought in a policy whereby scientists of the council could establish their own industry with lead technologies of CSIR, thus promoting applied research. After working as the director general of CSIR for seven year, he took up the vice chancellorship of JNU in 1981, in his own words Dr.Nayudamma did not consider his stint in JNU as an acceptable success. He later returned to CLRI, which in every sense of the word was Dr.Nayudamma’s karmabhoomi, to pursue his passion for research. His research career culminated in around 549 publications and process reports. Among his number of scientific works of Dr.Nayudamma, is the chapter in the Treatise on Leather Technology, which remains study material till date for leather technologists world over. Another of his great scientific piece of work was a chapter on leather in the Encyclopedia Britannica. Apart from being a prolific scientist, Dr. Nayudamma held key positions in many prestigious organisations such as U.N, FAO, UNDP international Development Research Centre, Canada. tOSTED, which he used as a platform to make core policy changes for the betterment of the leather industry both in India and abroad. Dr. Nayudamma was conferred with a number of national and international awards including Padmashr in 1971. Dr.Nayudamma passed away due to a tragic air crash when returning from canada on june 22nd To celebrate this augmentative leather technologist, Dr.Y.Nayudamma Memorial award was instituted in 1986 by Dr Nayudamma Memorial Trust.
Life and Legacy of Prof.Yelavarthy Nayudamma
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