Ram Prasad ScD 1922
Ram Prasad, born as Ramprasad Bindingvale into an Iyengar Tamil Brahmin family, spent the first part of his life very close to home. After completing his schooling in Bangalore, Prasad attended Presidency College in Madras (Chennai) for higher studies. Over 200 miles from his home, Prasad was taught by world-renowned scientists, social reformers, and political thinkers who expanded his world-view. Among his mentors was C.V. Raman, who received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. Raman also taught H.H. Abdul Razzack ‘24 before his arrival at MIT. Prasad, deeply influenced by the Brahmo Samaj and the Ramakrishna Mission, joined efforts to reform the discriminatory nature of the Hindu caste system. Toward this end, he dropped his caste name, Bindingvale, and began to refer to himself as Ram Prasad. Following his degree from Presidency College, Ram Prasad returned to Bangalore to study Electrical Technology at the Indian Institute of Science, which was founded in 1909 by Jamsetji Tata after an inspiring conversation with Swami Vivekenanda, the founder of the Ramakrishna Mission. After studying in Bangalore, Prasad traveled to MIT to earn his Doctorate in Chemistry, becoming the first South Asian graduate student in the Institute's School of Sciences.
Ram Prasad c. 1920 Courtesy of Dilip Prasad
Ram Prasad's Thesis: Sc. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry, 1922
Journey to the West
In 1919, Prasad began the 57 day journey from Bangalore, India, to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to start his doctoral work at MIT. With help from family members, strangers, other Indians he met en route, and a gamut of transportation mechanisms, including ships and trains, Ram Prasad arrived at MIT on October 13th, 1919.
Ram Prasad’s voyage from Bangalore to Boston
Over his two month long voyage to MIT, Prasad traveled from Bangalore to Bombay, then to Aden, Yemen via the Arabian Sea. His ship then sailed to Suez, Egypt and Port Said, Egypt through the Red Sea. Following Egypt, the ship sailed to its final destination, Marseille, France. After touring France for the day, Prasad and his friends took a train to London, UK where they arranged for travel to the US. On the 27th of September 1919, they boarded their ship across the Atlantic to the United States. After arriving in New York on the 8th of October, Prasad was processed as an immigrant and explored New York City before departing to Cambridge by train on the night of October 12th, 1919.
Distance in miles of Prasad’s journeys by boat from Bombay (Mumbai) to Marseille, France.
Ram Prasad chronicled his journey to America and the first few months of his life in Cambridge in a personal diary that gives readers today an intimate glimpse into his journey and arrival at the Institute. Prasad’s upbringing in colonial India visibly shaped his early diary entries. Despite being among the few elite, highly educated Indians in British India, he was aware of his position in the colonial racial hierarchy. After docking in Marseille, Prasad noted his surprise when he saw European taxi drivers and daily wage workers carrying his bags and catering to his needs. In India, these menial tasks were performed by low-paid Indian laborers who were derogatively referred to as “coolies” in colonial English parlance. At this pivotal moment in his journey to MIT, Prasad saw how servitude and labor were not always inherently racial but manifested in class distinctions in Europe. Significantly, this entry is one of only two that Prasad writes in Kannada instead of English. Prasad reflected on this moment in Kannada, “Here we had the novel experience of seeing Europeans as our daily wage workers, the coachmen are also European”.
Ram Prasad's Diary
Life at the Institute
Ram Prasad’s diary entries about MIT started on October 13th and continued till February 5th, 1920, two years before his graduation. Prasad chronicled how his first days at the Institute started with finding housing in Cambridge and convincing his professors he was fit to pursue a Doctoral degree in Chemistry. After two days of demonstrating his intellect and readiness for the degree, Prasad was given permission to continue with the Doctoral program he had come to MIT for. Despite attending highly esteemed Indian universities and learning from accomplished professors, including the later Nobel Laureate CV Raman and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who became the second President of India, Prasad’s academic capabilities were doubted simply because he was an Indian student. MIT and the United States did not view India and Indians as intellectually equal, a perception that persisted for nearly half a century after he graduated.
“14 Oct 19 Got up early and went to the Tech for admission. After conferring with the professor Goodwin and Norris I have been allowed to proceed to the Doctor’s degree with chemical Engineering as my main and electrochemistry as the subsidiary or minor subject. I hope to get the faculty consent to this kind of arrangement. Tried to assist Prof Adams but without success. Had a good dinner and returned home. [After all I may become a food Chemical Engineer].”
"15 Oct Went to the Tech at 9am and filled out the required forms etc. I again impressed upon the minds of the professors the idea that I have a thorough grounding for my Doctor’s degree.”
Prasad was able to convince his MIT advisor of his high qualifications and readiness to start doctoral work, and he quickly became acquainted with life within and outside the Institute. He also received a scholarship to complete his PhD. In his daily diary entries, Prasad describes long walks along the Charles River and frequent visits to Walker Memorial for club events. A few weeks after arriving in Cambridge, Prasad wrote to the Scout Club, which he had been a member of in India. He quickly became an integral member of the Club, which provided him a community and family that he spent his weekends and holidays with.
“[19 Oct] In the evening took a stroll along the Charles River near the Harvard play grounds, Saw the inscription on the Old Bridge. Passed near the Supply power House and returned home at 9pm.”
“31 Oct Did turn out good work at the lab. In the afternoon visited Mr. Evans of the Boy Scout Headquarters Council. He has promised to take me in the Scout Masters’ Class and also to take me to one of the Hykes and also register me in one of the Troops. I began to recollect all the Scout announcements we used to have in India.”
Prasad started attending Church services with his Scout friends. Perhaps inspired by his experiences in Chennai, Prasad clearly maintained an interest in different religions during his time at MIT. “Walked across to Boston on the Harvard Bridge. Later at 6:30 I attended a Church service at Paris Street. There met Hughes and another scout Commissioner and some of the boys too. I visited their club house. Expect to do scout work.”
A Nationalist in the Making
Far away from home, Prasad wrote poignantly and candidly about his homesickness and longing for India. He frequently wrote of the letters he sent home and the updates he received from his family. He also cataloged every time he met an Indian person during his travels and studies at MIT. While Prasad was no longer under colonial rule in the United States, the racism of the early 20th century permeated the milieu around him. Three months after arriving at MIT, Prasad read about the 1917 Asiatic Barred Zone Act passed by Congress to severely restrict “undesirable” immigrants from Asian countries. In his diary, he states how it made his “blood boil” to see India was “exploited by every foreigner without restriction”, and yet America was closing its doors to Asians like him.
“Read about restriction laws for Orientalists, etc. My blood boils to think how our country is exploited by every foreigner without restriction.”
While studying at MIT, Prasad met his future father-in-law, Dharmanand Kosambi. Kosambi was a Buddhist scholar who was working at Harvard. Kosambi’s two children, Manik (Prasad’s future wife) and Damodar, were also studying at Harvard. Prasad and Kosambi found comfort and cultural connection with each other as Indians and aspiring nation-builders. Together they became frequent visitors at the Vedanta Center, the American branch of the Ramakrishna Mission. There, Prasad met Swami Paramananda who became an important mentor in his life.
“30 Nov: Heard from Mr. Kosambi that the honorable Mr. Kamath is here. Saw my inspection Report of Scouts in Boston Herald. In the evening visited the Vedanta centre and was much impressed by the holy temple and the Swami Panamananda. Was invited to visit the place quite often and to take part in the Jan 6 anniversary. Hope to learn much from the Swamiji.”
In this entry, written on New Year’s Day 1920, Prasad clearly states that he plans to return to India and apply the knowledge he learned at MIT to bettering his home country. Like many of his Indian peers, Prasad’s goal of helping rebuild India was a strong motivating factor in his studies at MIT. “January 1920 1. The day began rather gloomy. I am better after my fever. Purchased quinine and drugged myself. I was visited by Prof Kosambi in the evening. We had a chat over the vast field for work before us while we return to India.”
Kosambi had traveled extensivelty in India, Sri Lanka, and Burma to study Buddhism, Sanskrit, and Pali. He continued his research at Harvard and taught at Leningrad University in Russia. Kosmabi returned to India as the anti-colonial nationalist movement entered a new phase in the early 1920s. Inspired, Kosambi taught without pay at Gujarat Vidyapth, founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920, where T.N. Shah '29 also taught. He also played a pivotal role in recruiting volunteers for the Salt Satyagraha in early 1930, a nonviolent protest led by Gandhi that marked the start of Indian civil disobedience against British rule.
Kosambi’s intimate involvement with Indian nationalism and the Indian independence movement strongly influenced Prasad’s on his return to India. Prasad spent some years after his graduation traveling near Ahmedabad with his father. He spent time at Sabarmati Ashram and Gujarat Vidyapith, where he met several prominent Indian nationalists, including Sarojini Naidu, JB Kriplani, and PC Ray. Prasad also met with Mahatma Gandhi multiple times. Prasad talked about his education, future plans, and upcoming wedding with Gandhi at these meetings. Gandhi inquired about his education and time in America, and they discussed the role of technological skills in the path to independence. Prasad vowed to return to Gandhi’s ashram to seek blessings with his future wife Manik after their marriage. On his part, the Mahatma blessed their marriage, encouraging them to be “true servants of the motherland,” a role he aspired all MIT alumni would take on.
Ram Prasad letter to Manik Kosambi describing his meeting with Mahatma Gandhi, 7 Nov 1925 Courtesy of Dilip Prasad
Ram Prasad letter to Manik Kosambi describing life at Sabarmati Ashram Courtesy of Dilip Prasad
Mahatma Gandhi letter written in December 1925 wishing Ram Prasad and Manik well wishes for their marriage. "May God’s choicest blessing descend upon Manikbai and Ram Prasad and may prove true servants of the Motherland." Courtesy of Dilip Prasad
Ram Prasad published his Doctoral thesis work on August 21st, 1922, nearly three years after he had first arrived at MIT. Maintaining his resolve to return to India and contribute to his nation, Prasad eventually moved to Mumbai and served as the Chief Engineer for the Koyna Hydroelectric Power Plant, the first underground hydropower facility in India.
Long after he left MIT, Ram Prasad continued to maintain his close connections with the Institute. Both his son, Arun Prasad ‘52, SM ‘55 and his grandson, Dilip Prasad SM ‘93, PhD ‘97, came to study at MIT. A few years before beginning construction of the Koyna Plant, Prasad wrote to MIT’s President Killian in 1950 describing a paper on electric power he was planning to present at the 1951 World Power Conference. Prasad also wrote to Killian in 1951 and ended with the following resounding statement about MIT’s global role:
“On behalf of the MIT alumni in India and the students who are now undergoing training at MIT, I offer our very best wishes for the further success of MIT in the cause of Scientific and Engineering education not only for students in America but for students from all over the world.” -- Ram Prasad to James Killian, 1950
We thank Dilip Prasad SM ‘93, PhD ‘97 and Anil Prasad for sharing this family history with us.
“Ram Prasad’s interaction with Gandhi provides a glimpse into what Gandhi represented to aspiring freedom fighters in India. He was both a leader in the movement and a representation of the dedication to India required to end British rule.” - Amulya Aluru, 2023, SM 2024, Student Researcher