In our latest series of “One from the History”, we bring you the life of Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai, an icon in the Indian Defence Research Program. 

 

Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai was born in a humble family in Nagercoil town of Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu on the 15th of July 1947. From a very young age, he was given the purpose of life - to serve others. Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai's father, Mr. Apathu Katha Pillai, was instrumental in Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai understanding the purpose of life. Mr. Apathu Katha Pillai, was a saint and expert in Siddha Medicine and also rare Yoga techniques like Raja Yoga - a practice through which, the person stops breathing but breathes internally. 

 

One such incident happened to which Dr.A.S.Pillai was a witness and changed his life. One day, a man came to Dr.A.S.Pillai's home and pleaded with his father to treat his wife who was suffering from a terminal stage of illness and that the doctors who were treating her had told that it was impossible to cure her. His father without any hesitation accepted to treat her. Dr.A.S.Pillai’s father cured her with   a  'strict diet and medicine' intake regimen. That man submitted a huge amount of money at the feet of Dr.A.S.Pillai's father. But his father simply rejected that money and said, "My purpose is to serve others. Treating those who suffer is my duty. If I receive this money for this then my treatments in future will not be effective." Dr.A.S.Pillai, who witnessed this incident, understood that serving others should have a purpose. This was the best education he got early in his life. 

 

 

Dr.A.S.Pillai was a meritorious student and topper in his school and college days.  He completed his schooling at D.V.D. Higher Secondary School, Nagercoil,. He earned his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Thiagarajar College of Engineering in 1969.

 

In 1991, he attended the six-week Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. He then earned PhD in Technology Management from Savitribai Phule Pune University in 1996. 

 

During a college level exhibition itself, Dr.A.S.Pillai had designed a small but novel electrical switching system, which was very much praised by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai - the father of Indian Space programs - who had visited that exhibition.

 

 

Life at Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

 

Immediately after his graduation, Dr.A.S.Pillai joined Space Science & Technology Centre, Thiruvananthapuram in the year 1969 and worked in Systems Engineering of satellite launch vehicles (rockets). It was the formative years of ISRO under the able leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. He assisted Dr Vikram Sarabhai in the evolution of a 10-year space profile for the country, the plans of activity. Later when the SLV-3 (the first Satellite Launch Vehicle of India) program was started, he became the core team Member of SLV-3, under the leadership of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. Today it is because of Dr.A.S.Pillai,  that evolved configuration of PSLV has become the mainstay for ISRO to have successive successful launches injecting satellites in the polar orbits.

 

 

In Dr. Kalam's own words regarding REX in his 'Wings of Fire', "Meanwhile, I carried out an analysis of the application of SLV 3 and its variants with Sivathanu Pillai, and compared the existing launch vehicles of the world for missile applications. We established that the SLV 3 solid rocket systems would meet the national requirements of payload delivery vehicles for short and intermediate ranges (4000 km). We contended that the development of one additional solid booster of 1.8 m diameter with 36 tonnes of propellant along with SLV-3 subsystems would meet the ICBM requirement (above 5500 km for a 1000 kg payload). This proposal was, however, never considered. It nevertheless paved the way for the formulation of the Re-entry Experiment (REX) which, much later on, became Agni".

 

Life at Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

 

Seeing the success of the SLV-3 program, Dr. Kalam was asked to lead the guided missile development programs of the nation by taking up the directorship of DRDL. The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) was born. Dr. Kalam at DRDL, had to face difficulties in changing the working culture of DRDL to suit high technology development efforts. With great efforts exerted by Dr. Kalam, Dr.A.S.Pillai was sent to DRDL on deputation from ISRO as he was groomed to be the future leader of ISRO.

 

 

Today due to the able leadership he provided, AGNI missile’s various versions, Prithvi missile’s various versions and the Akash missile – all have been inducted into the armed forces of India.

 

Life at BrahMos Aerospace

 

BrahMos Aerospace is a unique Joint Venture, first of its kind between India and Russia to design, develop, produce and market the most advanced supersonic cruise missile. After the joint venture company was started as BrahMos Aerospace, all started in the ascent towards the zenith. BRAHMOS was supposed to be just a supersonic anti-ship missile launched from coastal defence systems.

 

 

Dr.A.S.Pillai’s outstanding leadership qualities, as CEO & MD of Brahmos Aerospace, made India proud to possess the fastest, highly precise and the most potent missile BRAHMOS which is now inducted in multiple platforms, in all the three services of Indian Armed Forces. BRAHMOS is a world leader in the family of Cruise Missiles surpassing those in the developed countries. As the Architect and Founder CEO&MD of the Joint Venture, Dr.A.S.Pillai is regarded as the “Father of BrahMos” which has become a role model for establishing joint ventures between India and any other country. Presently Dr.A.S.Pillai’s specific interest is in promoting Hypersonic Systems and Green Hydrogen and other renewable energy projects for achieving net zero carbon, and of youth development with required skill and knowledge. 

 

But it was Dr.A.S.Pillai’s effort that the Indian Navy considered to mount BRAHMOS on their vessels. Today BRAHMOS is the premier fighting weapon for the Indian Navy. Dr. Pillai evolved the unique concept of the most successful joint venture BrahMos, which is a world leader in the family of cruise missiles. He has been the prime force behind the Joint Venture from the Indian side right from its initial days, advocating the "Mind to Market" concept for the joint venture.

 

 

Simply saying, under Dr.A.S.Pillai’s leadership, a one room company called BRAHMOS has spread its wings all over India and keeping the enemies of India ever under fear.

 

National Awards Received By Dr. A Sivathanu Pillai

 

• Padma Bhushan (2013) Conferred by President Pranab Mukherjee for his contribution to the country's cruise missile programme.

• Padma Shri (2002) Conferred by President Dr KR Narayanan for his outstanding contribution in India's Space and Missile Technologies.

 

 

Other Notable Awards & Honours Received By Dr. A Sivathanu Pillai

 

• Order Of Friendship (2013) Awarded for his great contribution to the strengthening of friendship and cooperation with Russia and the development of scientific ties.

• Performance Excellence Award (2012) Awarded for his achievement & contribution made towards progress of the Nation during 17th CEOs Conference 2013 at Amritsar.

• Puthiya Thalaimurai Tamizhan Tamilian Award (2012) Awarded for his outstanding contribution in the development of BRAHMOS supersonic Cruise Missile.

• For the Sake of Honour Award (2009) Awarded by the Rotary Club of Tiruchi Fort.

• Raja Rammohan Puraskar (2006) Awarded the “Raja Rammohan Puraskar 2006” for his dedicated service to humanity through a series of societal missions.

 

 

• IG BUBNOV MEDAL (2003) Awarded by Rubin Design Bureau, Russia.

• The Order of the Peter the Great and the Academician of the University (2003) Awarded by The Moscow University of Security, Defence and Law Enforcement, Russia.

• Dr. Davidson Frame Award (2001) Conferred “Dr. Davidson Frame Award” for Project Leadership from Dr. Davidson Frame University of Management & Technology, USA.

• Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Research Award (1991) Awarded in 1991 “Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Research Award” in the area of Technology Management and System Analysis.

 

 

Awards Summary

 

Year	Name of Award or Honor	Awarding Organization
2014	Lifetime Achievement Award	Rotary International.
2014	Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award	Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management.
2014	Order of Friendship	President of Russia.
2013	Padma Bhushan	President of India.
2009	DRDO Technology Leadership Award	Prime Minister of India.
2009	Level A certification of Project Directorship	International Project Management Association (IPMA), Switzerland.
2008	Honorary Doctorate	Thapar University, India.
2007	Honorary Doctorate	Avinashilingam University, India.
2006	Honorary Doctorate	Bharathiar University, India.
2006	Honorary Doctorate	State Marine Technical University of St. Petersburg, Russia.
2006	Honorary Doctorate	Andhra University, India.
2006	Raja Rammohan Puraskar Award	Ministry of Defence.
2005	DRDO Performance Excellence Award	Ministry of Defence.
2005	Honorary Doctorate	Sathyabama University, India.
2005	Honorary Doctorate	Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, India.
2003	The Order of the Peter the Great and the Academician of the university	The Moscow University of Security, Defence and Law Enforcement, Russia.
2003	Award for dedicated service, co-operation, development and peace	OISCA International, Japan.
2002	Padma Shri	President of India.
2001	Dr. Davidson Frame Award	University of Technology & Management, USA.
1988	DRDO Scientist of the year	Ministry of Defence.

 

Books authored by Dr.A.S.Pillai

 

Introduction to Rocket Science and Space Exploration

40 years with Abdul Kalam UNTOLD STORIES

Success Mantra of BRAHMOS

The Path Unexplored

Thoughts For Change - We Can Do It

Envisioning an Empowered Nation: Technology for Societal Transformation

Revolution In Leadership - Building Technology Competence

Revolution In Project Management

Ocean Warfare: The Technology Waves

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Engineering

Technology Leadership - A Revolution In The Making

 

Dr.A.S.Pillai is a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering, Astronautical Society of India, Honorary Fellow of the Association of Minimal Access Surgeons of India (FAMS) and Honorary IPMA Fellowship for Project Leadership. He is a member of many Professional Societies – IEEE, Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI), Instrument Society of India and International Association of Business Leaders (USA). He has visited and interacted with scientific and technological organizations in more than thirty countries.

 

Dr.A.S.Pillai’s life is a great example of how a person from a small town with humble beginnings can make it to the Zenith of a knowledge driven industry. His expertise in defence is acknowledged world life. He is and will remain an icon of Defence technology and research in the world. And as he says 'India will dominate the knowledge age'

 

References:

www.aspillai.in

www.wikipedia.com