Chandrathil Gouri Krishnadas Nair is an Indian technocrat, teacher and metallurgical scientist known for his contributions in the field of aeronautical metallurgy. Dr Nair was given the

Padma Shri Padma Shri ( IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conf ...

Award by the Government of India for his contributions to science and technology in 2001.

Early years

C. G. Krishnadas Nair was born in kuttipuzha village in Ernakulam district of Kerala on 17 August 1941 as the son of Idaprampalli Manakkal Krishnan Namboothiri and Chandrathil Gouriamma. Sarvadikaryakkar Kunjikutti Pillai is his maternal ancestor. He had his early education in Kerala and continued his studies at IIT Madras to pass graduate degree in Metallurgical Engineering in 1964. He obtained master's degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1966 and earned PhD in 1968 from the

University of Saskatchewan A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United State ...

, Canada.

Career

C. G. K. Nair started his career as an assistant professor in Regional Engineering College, Suratkal (present KNIT). Later, he worked as visiting faculty at

University of Sheffield , mottoeng = To discover the causes of things , established = – University of SheffieldPredecessor institutions: – Sheffield Medical School – Firth College – Sheffield Technical School – University College of Sheffield , type = Pu ...

, UK when he quit teaching career to join Hindustan Aeronautics in the design and development department in 1971. Slowly he rose through the ranks to become the first professional engineer to become MD & Chairman of

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is an Indian state-owned aerospace and defence company, headquartered in Bangalore, India. Established on 23 December 1940, HAL is one of the oldest and largest aerospace and defence manufacturers in the worl ...

. Nair's efforts at HAL is said to have transformed the company into a globally competent aerospace industry through long-term strategic plan with strong R&D, diversification, export, industry academy interaction and work culture based on ethics and teamwork. Cochin International Airport

Nair is also credited with efforts that led to the design and development of Advanced Light Helicopter, new Jet trainer and Light Armed Helicopter by HAL. He is considered as the influence behind the design of High Altitude Helicopter, Multi Role Transport Aircraft and many advanced aerospace equipments. In 1991, he founded the Society of Indian Aerospace Technologies and Industries (SIATI) to train and support small and medium enterprises to develop aerospace components indigenously. He served as AICTE-INAE Distinguished Visiting Professor at IIT Chennai for two terms after his retirement from HAL when he was appointed as the Vice Chancellor of

MATS University MATS University 'Mahaveer Academy of Technology and Science University' , is a private university located in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India. It was established by Chhattisgarh Private University Act under Section 2(f) of UGC Act 1956. MATS Univ ...

. In 2008, he was invited by

Government of Kerala Government of Kerala is the subnational government of the Indian state of Kerala. The government is led by a chief minister, who selects all the other ministers. The chief minister and their most senior ministers belong to the supreme decisio ...

to head

Cochin International Airport Limited Kochi (), also known as Cochin ( ) ( the official name until 1996) is a major port city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of Ke ...

as the Managing Director. He served CIAL till 2011. NITC AB

C. G. K. Nair has presented and published 193 scientific papers at various conferences at national and international levels. He has authored 20 books.Non-Destructive Test and Evaluation of Materials: J Prasad, C G K Nair: 9780070077461: Amazon.com: Books
/ref> He is the Chairperson of

National Institute of Technology Calicut National Institute of Technology Calicut (NIT Calicut or NITC), formerly Regional Engineering College Calicut, is a public technical university and an institute of national importance governed by the NIT Act passed by the Parliament of India ...

(NITC) since the end of his tenure at CIAL in 2011 and is also an independent Director at Global Vectra Helicorp.

Positions held

C. G. K. Nair has held various positions in his career. * Chancellor of

Jain University Jain University, officially JAIN (Deemed-to-be University), is a private deemed-to-be-university in Bangalore, India. Originating from Sri Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College, it was conferred the deemed-to-be-university status in 2009. In August ...

, Bangalore - India (Current) * Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of

. * Independent Director at

Global Vectra Helicorp Limited Global Vectra Helicorp Limited (GVHL) is India's largest private helicopter company. It has a fleet of 29 aircraft ranging from small light helicopters to medium-sized twin engined helicopters seating 4 to 15 passengers. The company is promoted ...

since 4 May 2012 * Non-Executive Independent Director at Titan Industries Limited since 2 May 2002 * Member - Scientific Advisory Committee to the

Cabinet of India The Union Council of Ministers Article 58 of the '' Constitution of India'' is the principal executive organ of the Government of India, which is responsible for being the senior decision making body of the executive branch. It is chaired by ...

* Member - Enterprise Reform Committee to the

* Chairman of the Society of Defence Technologists (SODET) * President of the Society of Indian Aerospace Technologies * Member of Governing Council of MVJ College of Engineering * President of

Aeronautical Society of India Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI) is the principal Society in India serving the professions in areas of aeronautics, aerospace and aviation. Its stated primary purpose is to "advance the sciences, engineering, technology and management of aer ...

* President of

Indian Institute of Metals Indian Institute of Metals (IIM) was formed in Kolkata in 1946 under the leadership of Dr. Dara P. Antia, who was then Chief Metallurgist of Indian Aluminum Co. The IIM is over 60 years old premier professional Metallurgical Institute set up to ...

* Vice-Chancellor of

* Managing Director,

* Founder of International Institute for Aerospace Engineering & Management (IIAEM), Bangalore * Chairman of

Awards and recognition

Nair received several awards and recognition during his career. * Outstanding Aerospace Personality Award (2011) for the decade by Indian Aviation for outstanding contributions to the Indian Aerospace Industry * Centenary of Aviation Award (2010) by Society of Aerospace Studies * Rajiv Gandhi 60th Birth Anniversary Rastriya Ekta Samman (2008) for contribution to National prosperity, unity and achievements. * Life Time Contributions and Achievement Award (2007) from

Indian National Academy of Engineering The Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), founded in 1987, comprises India's engineers, engineer-scientists and technologists covering the entire spectrum of engineering disciplines. The Academy is registered under the Societies Reg ...

(INAE) * IIM Platinum Award from

(2004) * National Metallurgist Award (2003) from the

and Ministry of Steel and Mines * Scope Award for Excellence in Public Sector Management for best Managed Public Sector (HAL) (2003) * Scope Award for Best Chief Executive and PM's Gold Plaque (2002) Department of Public Enterprises and Ministry of Industries by

Vice-President of India The vice president of India (IAST: ) is the deputy to the head of state of the Republic of India, i.e. the president of India. The office of vice president is the second-highest constitutional office after the president and ranks second in the ...

* Padmashri (2001) by the

President of India The president of India ( IAST: ) is the head of state of the Republic of India. The president is the nominal head of the executive, the first citizen of the country, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces. Droupadi Murm ...

* Dr.Ambedkar Bharath Shree Award (2001) by

Governor of Karnataka The Governor of Karnataka is the constitutional head of the Indian state of Karnataka. The governor is appointed by the president of India for a term of five years, and holds office at the president's pleasure. The governor is '' de jure'' he ...

* Gold Cross Award (International) (2001) by COMITE D’HONNEUR du MERITE ET DEVOUEMENT FRANCAIS, France. * Rashtriya Ratna Award (2001) International Friendship Forum of India * Swadeshi Science Puraskara (2000) * National Award for R&D (1998) * Hon. Fellow & Life Time Achievement Award from

(1997) * First Distinguished IIT Alumnus Award from IIT: Chennai (1996) * Omprakash Bhasin Award in Space & Aerospace Application (1996) * Hindustan Zinc Gold Medal (1993) by

. * Vasvik Research Award (1992) by Vibidhlaxi Audyogik Samshodhan Vikas Kendra * FIE Foundation Award (1991) from

FIE Foundation FIE Foundation is a charity trust established in 1970, belongs to 'Fie Group of Industries' Ichalkaranji, in Maharashtra State of India. Background Mr. P. D. Kulkarni ( Panditkaka Daji Kulkarni), The Chairman of FIE Group, who was also the tru ...

, awarded by the

Prime Minister of India The prime minister of India (IAST: ) is the head of government of the Republic of India. Executive authority is vested in the prime minister and their chosen Council of Ministers, despite the president of India being the nominal head of the ...

* National Award for R&D (1991) by Department of Scientific & Industrial Research * Indira Gandhi Memorial National Award (1990) for Excellent Chief Executive, by Central Public Sector Employees Federation, Hyderabad * National Award for Best Employer of Physically Handicapped (1990) by President of India. * National Energy Award (1990) by the Institute of Indian Foundry men * National Aeronautical Prize (1990) from

* National Award for Best Employer of Physically Handicapped (1989) by

* Birla Gold Medal (1988) from

* Ferroguard Award (1979) from Electro-Chemical Society of India * Best Young Metallurgist Award (1975) from Ministry of Steel & Mines,

Government of India The Government of India ( ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, ...

. * Fellow of

* Fellow of

Institution of Engineers (India) The Institution of Engineers (India) is the national organization of engineers in India. It has more than one million members in 15 engineering disciplines in 125 centers or chapters in India and overseas; it is the world's largest multi-disci ...

* Fellow of

References

External links