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Follow UsSERENDIPITY is an intriguing word. It was an English author, Horace Walpole, who coined the word on an old name for Sri Lanka, Serendip.
It was part of the title of "a silly fairy tale, called The Three Princes of Serendip: as their highnesses traveled, they were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things which they were not in quest of..."
Well, you can talk to Prof. Mathai Joseph about his life and his adventures and by the time the conversation ends, the true meaning of 'serendipity' becomes crystal clear.
It's hard to imagine this word blooming into full life for a professor, who besides being a titan in the field of Computer Science, has been the executive vice-president, Tata Consultancy Services and executive director, Tata Research Development & Design Centre.
But go back in time to a college chap sneaking into a bus to have a surreptitious peek at a computer, and his imagination run amok.
Adventure rears its head and the meadows of possibilities burst with colours just the way they were supposed to.
"You just get into the bus somehow, and I will take care of the rest," said a college friend to an MSc student who was wide-eyed at the prospect of seeing cool computers at TIFR (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research), where this friend was working.
"We got into the bus, entered the building, found this friend and got the coveted glimpse of the computers. But when my friend requested a fellow at work to explain some trivia, he asked me if I knew anything about computers and on having got the answer, turned his back and left us on our own. That was intriguing," recalls Prof Joseph about his first absolute crush with the world of these magic machines.
Nobody, including the fellow who left with disdain, would have imagined that years later, this trespasser would come back to the Tata campus, in a big way and for good.
U-Turn
After studying at a boarding school, a young Joseph moved to Delhi and did engineering for a year that he hated much. He took a chance and switched to Physics and Mumbai in 1960 and then an MSc in 1964.
Then the UK happened and so did his first brush with programming as he wrote codes for an old-fashioned computer that was his asset and first exposure.
He then applied for a PhD, and to his utmost surprise he got admission. Life took him to Cambridge for three years, where he pursued computer architecture in detail. This included a small break to India, midway, where he met people and tried his luck at TIFR, Mumbai, besides Delhi and Calcutta.
Luck couldn't have disappointed him and thus he stepped into the Tata campus again on Sept 23, 1968 for his first job, which incidentally, lasted for 17 years.
A copious career
After retiring from TCS, Prof Joseph is now an advisor of the firm. Earlier, he had for over 12 years been a Chair in Computer Science at the University of Warwick, UK.
He was earlier a Senior Research Scientist at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai. That's not all, he has been a Visiting Professor at Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh; Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands; University of York, UK.
This is in addition to visiting positions at a number of other institutions and being the Chairman of the Board of the International Institute for Software Technology from 2004--06.
Prof Joseph is better known as an expert in computer science and has worked on a number of areas of software engineering including compilers, operating systems, real-time systems and fault-tolerant systems.
Throughout his stint, the center has churned many interesting applications like process engineering, metallurgy, material science, minerals, modeling and software for both Tata and some non-Tata organizations.
The research veteran also happens to be a well-known author in his domain and has published several books and many papers. His first book was ‘A multiprocessor Operating System,’ published in 1984. And 'Formal Techniques in Real Time Systems’ remains his most well recognized works.
The author in him describes writing as a very intense and challenging work. "It needs a lot concentration. Completing Real time Systems was a lot of hard work."
Three-in-one
"It's not an ordinary garden but an exquisite and deeply-thought out work of gravel, rock and stone where even birds are figurative. The peace and awe come naturally in Zen gardens."
As you hear these words, when he describes his trip to Japan and a visit to the gardens there, you can't help asking if he has ever taken gardening seriously?
The beautifully sculpted Tata campuses at Hadapsar and TRDDC are evidence enough when he says; "I thoroughly enjoy gardening and used to do a lot of it in UK." And that's not all. The seasoned scientist, and an accomplished author, also happens to be a carpenter at heart.
Shaping masterpieces, at work and at leisure, are no doubt, his special forte. But there's more to come, as his eyes clearly convey.
Paragliding, running half-marathons and traveling are just some of the many things he longs to do.
He lives in Pune with his wife. His son and daughter are pursuing their ambitions abroad. Prof Joseph says that he hasn't missed on anything in life. There are no regrets, only some more wishes to chase.
From enjoying long walks in England to keeping TRDDC in traction, the road has been long but with lucky turning points, as his life shows for sure. Who knows where serendipity strikes again?
Inside Out
What I would like to change about myself: Nothing, I have been incredibly lucky throughout
Hobbies: Besides reading and walking, gardening
Best moments: Getting the PhD and the days when I was young
A must-have: A book
Worst fears: None
Favorite gizmo: Anything that is not complex and is not clumsy. In short, something that I don't have to adapt to but vice versa. I still have to find an ideal one.
Favorite destination: Want to see South Africa
What ticks you off: Unnecessary neglect that breeds problems in public transport, bad roads and pollution
Life's inspiration: Everyone I met taught me something. Tata Nano is an inspiration, for example, What can get bigger?
Ambition: To write more, run a half marathon and do more carpentry
Star Sign: Capricorn
The turning point in life: All accidents
Favorite Film: Omkara (beautifully close to the Shakespeare work), Maqbool, Life in a Metro, Black, Chameli, Cheeni Kum.
(pratimah@cybermedia.co.in)