Vice Chancellor's Profile
Dr. P. Devadas Manoharan
Vice Chancellor
Anna University of Technology
Tiruchirappalli - 620024
Ph. No. 0431 - 2407095
Born to eminent teachers Mr. Manoharan and Mrs. Vimala Manoharan, in Aralvaimozhi, Kanyakumari District, Dr. Devadas Manoharan was schooled at SLB Higher Secondary School, Nagarcoil where he excelled at academics and extracurricular activities. He graduated with an engineering degree from Regional Engineering College (REC, now National Institute of Technology NIT), Tiruchirappalli. He proceeded to obtain his Masters and PhD degrees in Engineering from Anna University, Chennai.
A senior professor in Anna University, Chennai, Dr. Devadas Manoharan, has an academic career spanning over 28 years in which he has successfully guided 9 Ph.Ds research scholars, 64 M.E. dissertations and 28 under-graduate projects. He has published more than 70 papers at national and international journals and conferences. He has conducted over 25 workshops/ training programmes/ short-term courses for practicing engineers and faculty of engineering institutions. As coordinator for DSA and CAS sponsored projects supported by the UGC, he was singularly responsible for infrastructural development in the Civil Engineering Department, Anna University. His earnest interest in undertaking sponsored research projects resulted in much-needed equipment and infrastructure facilities being made available to the department which benefitted the students and research scholars also.
Giving primary importance to sustainability and environmental protection, his research activities have focussed on the utilization and recycling of industrial waste like fly-ash, ceramic waste and quarry dust. His research is also notable for the development of cost-effective construction techniques, including repairs and rehabilitation of structures, and studies on self-compacting concrete. An integral part of his contributions have reflected his commitment to equitable growth, through development of an economic housing technology and a methodology for laying low cost rural roads through the utilization of industrial waste.
Dr. Devadas Manoharan holds an impressive track-record as an efficient administrator seamlessly integrating the additional responsibilities into his academic life as a Professor. He has simultaneously occupied administrative positions such Estate Officer; Head of the Structural Engineering Division; Head of the Department of Civil Engineering; and Director of the Building Technology Centre, Anna University, Chennai. He has also served as a Syndicate Member of Anna University, Chennai.
In addition, he has also held important positions such as Member of the Research Board, Anna University, Chennai; Member, Academic Council, GCT, Coimbatore; Member, Board of Studies, Annamalai University, Chidambaram; Member, Scientific Committee of Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre, Chennai; Member, Tamil Nadu Young Scientist Award 2008, High Level Committee of Science City, Chennai; Executive Committee Member for Centre for Development of Tamil in Engineering and Technology, Anna University, Chennai; Member, Renovation and Maintenance of Chepauk Palace Expert Committee, Chennai; and Member, Building Committee, Anna University Trichy. He also served on a jury selected by the Government of Tamil Nadu to adjudge the Best Books in Tamil for Engineering and Technical Courses. He has represented Anna University in several decision-making bodies including the prestigious Tamil Internet Steering Committee and the Tamil Nadu Virtual University Society.
For the past seven and a half years, in his capacity as Professor & Estate Officer of Anna University Chennai, he has strove hard to improve the institutional infrastructure. During his tenure, Anna University has been given a complete facelift by carrying out numerous projects including renovation of the heritage building and the Vivekananda Auditorium, widening and relaying of roads, and cultivation of lawns and gardens. He was responsible for the conceptualization and implementation of new construction in the campus including the Audio-Visual Research Centre, Ramanujam Computing Centre, Lecture halls in the Golden Jubilee Block and hostels. In order to preserve the indigenous medicinal tradition, he developed an eco-park “Poompozhil” with rare herbal collections in the campus. He also initiated a novel scheme of “Enn Peyar Maram” to make each person grow at least one tree in the University Campus, and so far more than 1000 saplings have been planted. His innovative ideas of water management through rainwater harvesting and use of recycled waste water to maintain a green environment in the campus have won widespread appreciation.
During his tenure as Executive Director of Building Technology Centre, he conducted more than 20 training programmes for people from diverse social segments including civil engineers of various government departments, site supervisors, panchayat presidents and masons to improve their technical knowledge and update their knowledge of the best construction practices. He also coordinated with social service organizations by conducting training programmes for economically and socially backward people from in and around Chennai. Being committed to popularizing scientific knowledge among the public, he has authored and published technical manuals in Tamil for the benefit of skilled and unskilled labourers. As a technical advisor to social-work and voluntary organizations, he also developed low-cost roads by using industrial waste for rural areas with low volume traffic besides cost-efficient housing for tsunami-affected public.
An impressive orator in his mother-tongue Tamil and a regular participant at several school and collegiate level Kavi Arangam (poetry readings), he wrote poems right from his student days. These poems have been compiled in his book Vidivu Eppozhuthu. This flair for Tamil naturally led him to serve as the Vice President of “Valar Tamizh Mandram”, a unit of College of Engineering, Guindy. During his tenure, the functioning of the Tamizh Mandram at Anna University, Chennai reached its pinnacle witnessing the participation of several eminent scholars in its various meetings.
He was also worked hard to successfully organize and conduct several landmark pastoral functions of Anna University, significant among them are the events to mark the opening of new engineering colleges under Anna University presided over by the Honourable Chief Minister Dr. Kalaignar and felicitation of former Vice-Chancellors of Anna University, presided over by His Excellency the former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. He has routinely given his best to ensure the smooth conduct of annual events such as the convocations of Anna University, Chennai, TNEA Counselling and Festivals organized by the Science City, Chennai.
His wife Dr. Geetha Devadas, is Professor of Pathology at Madras Medical College and their daughter Ms. Ilakya Devadas is pursuing her MBBS from Stanley Medical College, Chennai.
