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Dr. V.L.S. Bhimasankaram

That was my third or fourth visit to Germany in 1980. I had gone to Hamburg at the invitation of a Seismology Professor there, under the Senior Visiting Scientists Exchange programme between the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and its German counterpart (DAAD), for a tour of three months to study the status and exchange information on the geophysical research that was going on in our Osmania and the German Universities.

Let me give a glimpse of my experiences during my first visit to Goettingen where a strong school of geomagnetism exists. In the last quarter of 1956, I submitted my D.Sc. thesis in Geophysics to the Andhra University and was awaiting the result which used to take many months in those days, since all the examiners were invariably foreigners, mostly from Great Britain, and the thesis copies used to be sent to them by sea.

In early 1957, Government of India(GOI) granted me a fellowship to study in Germany (West Germany in those days). About that time, Andhra University conferred D.Sc degree on me and also gave me study leave to go to Germany. My teacher, Prof. B. Sundararama Rao and the Pithamaha of Geology Prof. C. Mahadevan, at that time also the Principal of the University College of Science of the Andhra University were both of the opinion that I should not work for another doctorate degree in Germany. As I was already a D.Sc. degree holder., they advised me to visit two or three institutions in Germany and study different aspects of Geophysics which would be useful to me as a teacher and researcher in Geophysics, after my return to India.

From the time I landed in Germany on the previous day, it slowly dawned on me that I was unable to communicate with them since I did not understand a word of what they spoke, nor could they follow my English. I was under the mistaken impression that I knew that language sufficiently well.

At the Institute all the senior scientists were well versed in English but did not prefer to speak in this language. In fact in the first meeting I had with the Director Prof. Bartels, a renowned Geomagnetist of the day, he greeted me and spoke to me in German, and when I put a blank face reverted to English, but strongly advised me to learn German soon. I had to take his advice seriously, for my future scientific progress depended on this. But it took me some four months to acquire a fair working knowledge in this language, with the help of a stenographer in our institute whom I had to engage as a tutor and pay her from my meagre fellowship amount.

The next step for me was to search for a place to live. At my request some colleagues from the Institute found a room for me in a private house at the foot of the hill on which the Institute was situated. The house belonged to an old couple, refugees from Czechoslovakia but of German origin, who had constructed this three storey cottage all by themselves without engaging labour.  On my informing them that I was a vegetarian, they told me that they were also vegetarians. This statement made me decide to stay in this house, even though the rent was rather on the high side. How mistaken I was  I came to know soon when they said that they would not allow me to cook, not even to make coffee or heat any food in my room or in the kitchen.

The institute building was old with no maintenance during the war. The space and equipment were limited and were not sufficient for all the researchers. One or two temporary sheds were put up in the early 20th century and the seismological and rockmagnetic laboratories were stationed there. But due to the dedicated work ethics of the Germans, the scholars assembled their own equipment and conducted scientific studies of a high order in the limited cellar space. The Director and his Assistants lived (with their families) in a part of the Institute building, and carried out their experiments at night in peace after the Institute closed for the day. One would be surprised that under such adverse conditions, Prof Bartels and his students turned out first class scientific work of international fame.

Unlike in India, there was virtually no spoon-feeding guidance to the researchers by the professors. Except for a broad discussion with the professor on the topic of research the student wanted to work on, he was left for himself for fulfilling the chosen task. All this helped me after my return to our country. Apart from learning several of their new scientific techniques and approaches, I imbibed the spirit of struggling alone all by myself with whatever little equipment and facilities were available, and to put together the equipment needed. The latter indeed helped my researches in Andhra and Osmania Universities, for, the Indian Government, in contrast to the munificent grants to the CSIR and other Government laboratories, allotted very little foreign exchange to the Universities for importing equipment from abroad. (Practically no geophysical equipment was manufactured in India at that time, and the position more or less remains the same even now). Thus, my stay at Goettingen was scientifically fruitful, though my health deteriorated due to insufficient food. I lost some 20 kilogrammes of my body weight, and had to consult a physician.

After many years, I went to my old Geophysical Institute. Prof. Siebert who was one of the Assistants to Prof. Bartels at the time of my previous visit was now the Director. He was pleased to see me and took me round various laboratories. I saw with pleasure that the Institute building was thoroughly refurbished and wore a new look, and the laboratories were well stocked with modern equipment. In short, it was a modern and expanded version of my old institute of the 50’s. Later on Prof. Siebert arranged a meeting for me with his colleagues where we exchanged notes on the Geomagnetic researches being carried out in India and Germany.

In the evening, Prof. Siebert, saying that he would like to show me an interesting item, took me and a few of his younger colleagues down to a small room in the cellar. There he opened a page of a big old-looking leather bound volume and showed me an entry in the book. This was a record the Institute kept of my brief bio-data and the dates of my visit in 1957 with my photo attached. While I was pleasantly surprised to see and recognise my old, but familiar face in the photograph I was equally amazed to see that I recorded on the day of my departure, the impressions of my stay at the institute in this Visitor’s Book about which I had completely forgotten. I congratulated the German Scientists on the meticulous manner in which they kept the records. The Director then opened the relevant page in the book and asked me to put down my impressions of the institute, as I saw it today. This I did happily and in glowing terms.

While looking at the Visitor’s Book, I found the signature of a very famous German geomagnetist Herr Smith (His real name was changed in this narrative for reasons which would be obvious shortly.) belonging to the 18th century, recorded a few years ago. I was very much surprised to find this entry of recent date and enquired Prof. Siebert about this unusual happening. He laughingly said, “Oh! There is a good story behind this signature� He then went on to elaborate:

The great German scientist, Prof. Smith had two sons, Prof. Siebert told us. The eldest of them was brilliant and used to stand first in all his classes. His father was very happy with his progress and had great hopes about his future. To ensure a bright scientific career for his son, father Smith put him through the University and the son Smith obtained in a few years a doctorate in Physics under the guidance of an internationally famous German Professor. However, Prof Smith was very much worried about his second son who was not interested in studies, did not attend the school regularly, and used to mix with ‘undesirable characters�. As the boy grew up, the problems of father Smith intensified. Resigning himself to the inevitable, one fine morning Prof. Smith persuaded his son and put him on a boat heading for the United States, more as a punishment, like the British sent their criminals to Australia.

Prof Siebert continued, “Prof Smith’s first son soon joined the faculty of a famous University and was well settled as his father used to proudly tell his friends�. Then Prof Siebert turned towards me and said, “The signature you saw in the Visitors� Book was that of a descendant of the second son of Prof. Smith, who was sent away to the USA.

He then continued after allowing us to look at the signature once again, “This young Mr. Smith from the States came to us a few years ago and told me that he was the great great grandson of the famous Prof Smith. He narrated to us how in a few months after migrating to the US, his great grand father started trading in potatoes (The exact business carried out by the migrated Mr. Smith was changed for the purpose of this narrative.), and how in a few years became a millionaire.�

“‘My grand father�, said the young visitor ‘improved the business and became a leading businessman in the field of potato trading. He was often referred to as the The Potato King in our country�. �

“While we were gaping at him in surprise, the visitor, young Mr. Smith went on, (continued Prof Siebert) ‘I inherited the business and his wealth. I came to Germany, the country of my forefathers, and to this place to see the institute with which my great great grand father was closely associated. Incidentally, do you mind sir�, he said haltingly and after some hesitation, while I was wondering what favour the American was going to seek from me, �I mean to say, you do not think: otherwise sir, if I make a donation of One million Deutsh Marks to your institute in commemoration of my famous ancestor!� leaving me and our colleagues around me floating as charged particles in the ‘n’th orbit round the Earth.�

“It is partly the effect of this donation� Prof Siebert told me, “that you see in the renovated Institute building and in some of the latest equipment we got.�

After this narration there were no words that could express my feelings. I was thrilled beyond description. This looked like a story in a novel.

It was then that one of the young research scholars who was with us in the cellar enquired of his Professor as to what happened to the eldest son of Prof Smith and his progeny in Germany. Prof Siebert replied philosophically, “We never heard of them�

“Oh! The American Connection!� barked some one in the gathering.