Remembering Dr. S.S. Baral, the founder of ETC department of BE College.

Remembering Dr. S.S. Baral, the founder of ETC department of BE College.
By Dr. Debasis Baral, son of Dr. S.S. Baral.
Prof. Dr. Bimal Bose, 1956 Electrical Engineering
Prof. Dr. Gautam Biswas, 1979 Mechanical Engineering
অমিতাভ দত্ত, ১৯৭০ ইলেকট্রিক্যাল ইঞ্জিনিয়ারিং
Timeline Cover Photo: Prof. Baral at New Jersey, USA with Sanjit Bardhan (1965, Electrical) and his family. Sanjit Bardhan is next to Prof. Baral.

Professor Sankar Sebak Baral was born in Dharapara, Chandannagore, on 15th October 1919. He received his early education in French from Duplex College (Kanailal Vidyamandir), Chandannagore and received his B.Sc. (Hons Degree) in Physics in 1939 from Vidyasagar College, Calcutta. Upon completing his M.Sc. degree in Physics in 1941 from Calcutta University, on the advice of Dr. Meghnad Saha and Dr. Hrishikesh Rakshit, (Professor of Physics and a resident of Chandernagore), he joined University College of Science as a Demonstrator in the Physics Department. He continued to serve at this position through 1945 and had the opportunity to come in close contact of Dr. Sisir K. Mitra, Prof. Satyen Bose, Dr. P.C. Roy and other illustrious scientists of Bengal.

On the advice of Dr. Meghnad Saha, he joined Dr. Mitra’s laboratory to get involved in the research on structure of ionosphere using radio pulse echo technique. He was one of the key persons of Haringhata field station for studying and experimenting on earth’s ionosphere. During his long association with Dr. Sisir K. Mitra and his laboratory, he developed interest in editing Dr. Mitra’s legendary book on Upper Atmosphere and also in the foundation of the Institute of Radio Physics and Electronics Department of Calcutta University. In 1949-50, he became a Premchand Raichand Scholar and was a recipient of the MOATT medal. In 1952, he became a UNESCO fellow and worked at London and Paris for a while. He received his D.Sc. in Physics from Calcutta University in 1954 for his work on ionosphere which was reviewed and defended by the famous Nobel Laureate Sir Edward Appleton.

In 1956, he joined Bengal Engineering College, Shibpur in the Physics department. There he founded the Electronics and Tele-Communication (ETC) Department. The first batch of ETC students were admitted in 1966. Prof. Baral continued as the Head of ETC Department till 1978. He was a member of the UPSC selection board. Besides teaching ETC students, he also taught Acoustics for the students of Architecture and Civil Engineering students. During this period, He was well known for his works on accoustical designing of auditoriums in and around Calcutta. Publications from his work were acclaimed internationally. He was also visiting Professor and Examiners at various Indian universities. He was a guiding force for his students for many innovative projects; and always encouraged his students and younger colleagues for research works. He could spend hours and hours with students in sharing his knowledge. In recognition to his dedicated services, the Calcutta University honoured him with “Eminent Professor for Creating Eminent Students”. During 1979-81, he became a member of the West Bengal Public Service Commission.

He stayed in BE college campus for over 25 years and after retirement from active service went back to his hometown Chandannagore and continued teaching Electronics, Computer and Physics to local enthusiasts.

Dr. Baral made significant contributions in the foundation of Chandannagore Polytechnic, Rabindra Bhaban at Chandannagore and Science Club for high school students. Besides writing scientific research papers, Prof. Baral used to write popular articles in English and Bengali. He made regular contribution to the annual numbers of BECA, the Bengal Engineering College Annual magazine.

Dr. Baral had led a very simple life full of compassion and was well known for his quick wits and humor. Till the last day of his life, he offered free education for his students of different streams at various levels. His death came untimely on the afternoon of 19th August 1991 while delivering a speech at Kanailal Vidyamandir, Chandannagore, during the inauguration of a computer center at the school. He breathed last at the school’s Physics laboratory bench.

He left behind a large number of his students to continue with his legacy along with his wife, Smt Durga Rani Baral, four daughters and a son who are now well established in India and abroad.

Prof. Dr. Bimal Bose, 1956 Electrical Engineering adds:
My name is Bimal Bose (1956 EE), currently Emeritus Chair Professor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Dr. Baral was my doctoral thesis adviser in B. E. College during 1962-1966. My research topic was Magnetic Amplifiers although he was specialized in Physics and Tele -Communications. With his help and advice, I also got Calcutta University’s prestigious Premchand Roychand scholarship. In 1966, I attended CU Convocation to receive the doctorate degree and the Mouat Gold Medal.
Instead of meeting him in the department, I used to meet him in his BE College residence regularly. It is difficult to describe the kindness and affection of Dr. and Mrs. Baral. They were like my parents. I used to love and respect them from the bottom of my heart. Bani and Debu, their children, were also very dear to me. I was like a member of the Baral family. I have rarely met a similar family in my whole life.
After coming to USA, and with tremendous pressure of work, I practically lost contact with the Baral family. They made so much contribution in my life. I can not forget Dr. Baral. He inspired me continuously.

Prof. Dr. Gautam Biswas, 1979 Mechanical Engineering adds:
Prof. S.S. Baral worked on Upper Atmospheric Physics specifically on Ionosphere and Appleton Layer. Sir Edward Appleton received Nobel Prize in Physics in 1947. Prof. Sisir Kumar Mitra, doyen of Indian radio science was a very good friend of Prof. Appleton. There was a well known research group in Calcutta with Prof. Mitra as the apex scientist. The school was highly respected for the Astrophysical research. Prof. Mitra delivered his famous lecture on “The Light of the Night Sky” at Burlington House of Royal Society in 1944. I am told that Prof. Baral formally conducted his doctoral research leading to DSc as a member of Prof. Mitra’s group and submitted his thesis in 1953. Furthermore, his DSc thesis was reviewed by Prof. Appleton who also attended his defense.

গুরুদেব প্রফেসর বড়াল
অমিতাভ দত্ত, ১৯৭০ ইলেকট্রিক্যাল ইঞ্জিনিয়ারিং
Our “Gurudev Baral” was Dr. S. S (Sankar Sebak) Baraal, D.Sc, PRS (Premchand Raichand Scholar), Professor and HOD Physics and later HOD ETC Engineering. He used to be called by the students “Gurudev”, not without reason.

In our time the 2nd and the 4th year used to be the toughest years. In the second year the subject ‘Particle Dynamics’ was dreaded by most of the students. However, in our 2nd year (1966-67), the situation got still worse. The college administration suspected that question papers on ‘Drawing’ had got leaked. So almost overnight the question paper was changed and in the exam hall we got questions in cyclostyled form and found to be truly difficult. Our Physics and Chemistry examinations were scheduled on the same date and, to make our life more difficult, our paper on Chemistry was quite lengthy. As it was, the Chemistry syllabus included subjects like Industrial Chemistry, Fuel Analysis etc. Consequently, quite a few students failed in both the subjects, Particle Dynamics and Drawing / Chemistry and Drawing. A few failed in three subjects and had to repeat the year. A few others failed in one subject – Particle Dynamics/Drawing/Chemistry (in that order).

Between the second term and the final exam I had three spells of major sickness and I could not pass in Chemistry and Drawing and had to appear in supplementary exams later. But none failed in Physics. In our second year Dr Baral was our teacher for Electronics (basic things). It is quite common and traditional for the students to seek suggestions from the teachers before the exams. So, before our 2nd year exam we went to the residence of our professor of Industrial Chemistry to seek suggestions and Sir replied through the window saying, “The entire book is my suggestion.”

On the other side, Dr Baral Sir was very kind to us and popular since ages as a “ছাত্রদরদী শিক্ষক”. In our time all the students who were from Kolkata and nearby places, used to go home in short vacations during festivals like Saraswati Pujo, Dol Jatra etc. During one Dol Jatra, I did not go home (in the 4th / 5th year). After the usual fun in the hostel, some of us went to Dr Baral’s residence to wish him and pay the respects. All of us were smeared with multiple colours from head to toe and our faces were hardly recognizable. To the best of my recollection, something like the following exchange of words happened thereafter; কে হে তোমরা? কাউকেই তো চেনা যাচ্ছে না।
We introduced ourselves.
আমরা স্যারকে প্রণাম করে আবীর দেবার পরে, উনি বল্লেন “মিষ্টিমুখ করতে হবে, সবাই হাঁ করে দাঁড়িয়ে পড়ো”
After we did that, on his suggestion, Shrimati Baral put some sweet in our mouths with a spoon. That affection is unforgettable and remains as one of the best moments of our campus days.

Unfortunately, I was not one of his direct students as I did not study ETC Engineering. Referring to an earlier post of Asim Deb (ETC 1977); you would know about the everlasting affection of Dr Baral Sir which continued even well after passing out of the students.

Dr. S. S Baral was born on 15th October 1919 at Chandannagar which was under the French rule then. He received his early education at Kanailal Bidyamandir at Chandannagar, erstwhile Duplex College and renamed after the famous revolutionary from Chandannagar, Kanailal Dutta, an alumnus of that institute, who was hanged by the British rulers on 10.11.1908, at the age of only 20 years.

Sir did his B.Sc (Hons) in Physics from Vidyasagar College, Kolkata in 1939 and M.Sc in Physics from the CU in the year 1941. He started working in the University College of Science and later joined the laboratory of the legendary professor of Physics, Dr. Sisir Kumar Mitra, FRS to investigate the structure of Ionosphere using radio pulse echo techniques. The dedication and sincerity of Dr Baral (and his colleagues) can be easily understood from his article “National Professor S.K. Mitra (FRS) and his disciples” published in the journal of Radio and Space Physics Vol 19, October & December 1990, especially the following part.

“On one morning in October 1954 Prof Mitra called me and expressed his desire of establishing the field station and erecting the Australian Automatic Ionospheric Recorder before he retired from the University service. The packets and parcels sent by CSIRO Australia, were lying in the Institute for a couple of years. He gave me the blue-prints and descriptive circuits sent by the above organization. I requested A.K. Saha, S. Roy and S. Dutta to accompany me to Haringhata. They readily agreed and we took all the parts of equipment in a van and went to stay at Haringhata, where, fortunately, the laboratory building construction was nearing completion. The first problem was to get a wooden pole for the antenna-supporting mast as recommended by the CSIRO. This we solved by constructing ladders of 20 ft and 10 ft unit and fixing the same by thick steel plates of angular form. Four such units of total length of 80 feet were set on a concrete base and kept taut by guy wires. On this support the crossed-delta aerials were supported. We applied all our efforts with courage and perseverance and succeeded to install and fully commission the Ionosonde equipment within about eight months. We had to stay in the laboratory for 24 hours. We had to cook our food and make all personal arrangements. The land was visited very often by poisonous snakes. We had to take extra protection.”

He became a Premchand Raichand Scholar and was awarded the MOATT medal in 1952. He was a UNESCO fellow and worked in London and Paris. He got his D.Sc in Physics from the CU in 1954 and joined BE College in the department of Physics, in 1956. In 1965 when our batch joined the college; he was the Professor and HOD of the Physics. With his initiative and sustained efforts, he founded the ETC Engineering department in BE College and the first batch of this discipline joined in 1966. Dr Baral was the Professor and HOD of ETC Engineering upto 1978. After his retirement, Dr Baral left the BE College campus where he had lived for 25 years and went back to his hometown Chandannagar. He was retired but not tired and continued to perform the role of teacher, mentor, guide and whatnot in the fields of Computers, Electronics and Physics.

So, it was no wonder that lying on a bench of the Physics laboratory of Kanailal Bidyamandir, Chandannagar where he took his early education; he would breath his last. He passed away after delivering a lecture in the school. The date was 19th August 1991. He was then of 72 years.

After 24 years, another famous scientist and researcher would exit this world in a similar manner – while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong, on 27th July 2015, and yes, he was Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam. I think God, while recalling His blessed children, makes sure that they do not suffer and depart from a place that they had loved and nurtured (institute of learning in the cases of Dr Baral and Dr Kalam).

In the old days, Light Houses were built to guide ships for safe entry into the ports of destination. The Light House of Alexandria was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and over millennium got destroyed. A teacher, mentor and human being like Dr Sankar Sebak Baral was like a Light House, guiding his disciples to the right path of learning and enlightenment.

For such a ‘Gurudeb’ all that I can say is to quote the following:
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires”.
Pronam Sir, you were our great teacher.

If the people remember me as a good teacher that will be the biggest honour for me
A.P. J. Abdul Kalam

A good teacher is like a candle—it consumes itself to light the way for others.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk