Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) alumni, including leaders like Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella, have greatly influenced US tech, finance, and entrepreneurship, driving innovation in major firms and startups. Their impact spans sectors, with IITians leading transformative ventures and shaping global industries through their technical expertise and leadership. And now there will be an IITian’s progeny at the upper echleons of the US politics.
One of the most desi US elections of all time ended with the Telugu brigade triumphing over the Tamil side as Trump-Vance beat Harris-Walz comprehensively. Usha Vance is poised to become the first Indian-origin Second Lady and across IIT campuses and alumni groups worldwide, there’s a palpable sense of pride and celebration as Usha Chilukuri, granddaughter of an IIT legend, steps into her role as the first Indian American Second Lady of the US. WhatsApp groups are lighting up with messages, memories, and heartfelt tributes, as alumni share stories of her grandfather, the beloved Professor Rama Sastri, whose Telugu-accented English and dedication made him an unforgettable figure in IIT’s early days.
The IITians
Flashback to 1954
A tall gangling young lecturer, Rama Sastri, with a very marked Telugu lilt to his English, taught us Physics at IIT Kharagpur. He was an excellent teacher, despite his accented English, and also served as the warden of Azad Hall.
A (hilarious) general body meeting of the hostel was held sometime late1954 to discuss burgeoning mess bills, which had climbed from rupees thirty to an astronomical forty rupees per month. Rama Sastri had to pacify the irate students.
He patiently explained the reasons for the increase ‘What to do, everythingu become costly, ricu, saltu, pepperu, vegetablesu all cost more.” The students were mesmerised by the accent’u and kept quiet. The meeting passed off peacefully. The anecdote became part of the early IIT student lore as a memorable event’u!
Rama Sastri was deputed for a year to MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, on a post doctoral fellowship. He came back a changed man. He had broad shoulders (filled out thanks to nourishing US food) and sported a marked American accent. His bold visage was unrecognizable from the figure he cut a year earlier.
He sounded totally American until he came to the deadly word ‘against’ when he reverted to his original Telugu persona. He pronounced it as ‘againistu,’ and we were relieved that our beloved Prof had become normal.
Rama Sastri left IIT Kharagpur in the early sixties and joined the Physics Department of the newly set up IIT Madras. He retired years later as a much loved Professor after an excellent career. IIT Madras now runs a student award in his memory.
Rama Sastri’s son, Krish graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree from IIT Madras in 1977 and later, in the 1980s, migrated to the US and is now a lecturer in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at San Diego State University.
One may wonder the reason for a long spiel about a Physics teacher of long ago: His granddaughter Usha was born in USA, graduated from Yale, did a Master’s degree at Cambridge and later attended the Law School at Yale where she met and married a classmate. Usha Chilukuri is the wife of JD Vance, Trump’s running mate.
Yes, the accomplished daughter of a Mechanical Engineer from IIT Madras and the granddaughter of a Physics teacher at IIT Kharagpur and IIT Madras is set to become the Second Lady of the USA!
The Legacy of Rama Sastri: A Beloved Physics Lecturer and Pioneer
Rama Sastri, Usha’s grandfather, was an iconic figure in the early days of IIT Kharagpur. Arriving at the prestigious institution in 1954, he quickly became known not only for his exceptional teaching in Physics but also for his unique and memorable Telugu-accented English. His light-hearted approach and charismatic presence were well-received by students, particularly during a legendary general body meeting in Azad Hall, where students debated over a 10-rupee hike in the mess bill. As he humorously reassured students, citing the rising costs of “ricu, saltu, pepperu, vegetablesu,” his distinctive accent softened the tension, etching a fond memory into IIT’s early lore.
In 1955, Rama Sastri earned a postdoctoral fellowship at MIT, where he gained a broader outlook and a slight American lilt, though students later remarked that his Telugu accent crept back at unexpected moments, reinforcing his endearing place in IIT’s heart. After a distinguished tenure at IIT Kharagpur, he joined IIT Madras, contributing to its budding Physics Department and eventually retiring as a revered professor. In his memory, IIT Madras now hosts a student award, a tribute to a lecturer who shaped countless careers.
A Family Tradition at IIT: Honouring the Past, Embracing the Future
The IIT connection carried on with Rama Sastri’s son, Krish, who graduated in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Madras in 1977. He later moved to the US, where he currently lectures in Aerospace Engineering at San Diego State University. IIT alumni fondly recall the Sastri family’s legacy, appreciating the deep-rooted values of academia and intellectual rigor that each generation upheld. Now, as the IIT community watches Usha ascend to a national role, memories of her grandfather and father resonate strongly, with IITians reflecting on the impact of their work and presence.
Usha Chilukuri: A Trailblazer in the US
Usha Chilukuri’s journey to becoming the Second Lady is a testament to her dedication and intellect. Born in the US to an IIT graduate, she excelled academically, graduating from Yale, obtaining a Master’s from Cambridge, and returning to Yale Law School. It was there she met JD Vance, a rising political figure who is now the Republican vice-presidential candidate in the US. Together, they represent a new era, bringing with them the cultural and intellectual foundations of their heritage.
As the first Indian American to serve as Second Lady of the US, Usha’s story is one that connects the rich tradition of IIT with the highest echelons of American politics. For IITians and many Indians, it is a moment of pride, reflecting how the academic roots nurtured in India can flourish internationally.
This historic rise from the IIT classrooms of the 1950s to the global stage in 2024 marks a full-circle moment, one that not only honours Rama Sastri’s legacy but celebrates the bridge between tradition and progress that his family embodies. For Usha, this journey carries forward a legacy and adds a new chapter to the Sastri family’s enduring contribution to the worlds of academia, culture, and public service.
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