(Written by Satinder Mullick, Mechanical 1958)
(Mr. S. Mullick has an interesting story to tell about olden days of IT-BHU, starting from 1920’s. With this fascinating story along with rare photographs and stunning information, he takes us back to our bygone era. His father, Mr. R. N. Mullick also graduated from our college in 1926. We hope our readers will enjoy it.)
(Above photo was forwarded by Rushi, the grandson of Principal M. Sengupta. The photo is also posted on our website http://www.itbhuglobal.org
Wikipedia gives a comprehensive history of BHU formation with two visionaries, Malaviyaji and Dr. Anne Besant agreeing to form BHU that would include students from all over India. Maharaja Sir Krishnaraja Wadiyar of Mysore performed the opening ceremony of Engineering College Workshop buildings in 1919.Engineering College started with an artisan course followed by Engineering College that offered combined degree in Electrical and Mechanical engineering.
In line with the vision of Dr. Anne Besant, a merit based and region based admission system was developed by Charles A King, the first Principal of Banaras Engineering College. BENCO (Banaras Engineering College) admitted students from every state/region of Greater India (India/Pakistan/Bangladesh). Students travelled from Peshawar, Bangalore, Kolkata, Bombay, Assam, Nepal and other countries to study at BENCO. Seats for each area were more or less fixed under this quota system to UNITE INDIA and to allow fair development of whole India.
Mr. Asanand Kapoor, Mr. Ram Narain Mullick, Prof. Jagat Singh, Capt. Chatterjee, Prof. Pandey were among the early pioneer students who graduated in 1924-27 time period. The first two joined Military Engineering Service in NWFP (North-West Frontier Province-now in Pakistan), while the other three taught at BENCO. While I was in college, Prof. Pandey left in 1955 to become the Principal/Director of BITS, Ranchi. Conditions in NWFP in 1927 were not better than today. Wazirs--Pathans who live in Waziristan--were a menace to safety of all. My father Mr. Mullick carried a pistol or gun with him all the time as his work required travelling to many dangerous paths (there were no roads). My father was deputed to go for a mission to do exploratory survey of an area for building a road, but for some family problem, he sent someone else. The Wazirs came out of their caves and shot all persons in the vehicle.
From 1927-40, my father worked in the development of infrastructure of NWFP, but later he had to join the Army Engineers to go to Iraq during the second World War. Upon return, he was in-charge of heavy machinery (Caterpillar Tractors etc.) and was stationed in Lahore, but oversaw operations in Kakinada (Bengal). So he travelled long distances all his life. Later he reverted back from Major Mullick to Mr. Mullick in 1952 in MES, as in-charge of Procurement of heavy equipment. One day in 1954, Mr. Kapoor was visiting us in New Delhi and he said, "Mullick sahib, you must be very rich --he meant getting big bribes". My father replied, "Yes, I have two and a half lakhs". Mr. Kapoor was astonished--My father added," Asanand, I have two sons who are Engineers in Indian Army--they are worth a lakh each and I have third son who is doing Engineering and he is worth half lakh". My father died of heart attack one day in June, 1956--while waiting for ambulance--a business man, related to Tractors Sales, came and asked me if he could take my father to his hospital in his car. My mother replied that we cannot afford to pay and if this business man pays--then that is bribe which your father won’t like.
My father learnt engineering from BENCO but ethics from his father and his friends admired him. Capt. Chatterjee and Prof. Jagat Singh knew him well from College days. So when I was at BENCO, their homes were always open for me. The closeness of the Bencoites saw no regional difference. Capt. Chatterjee from Bengal was a true friend of Major Mullick from NWFP. That was the vision of Dr. Besant and Malaviyaji fulfilled according to their wishes of uniting and developing all parts of India.
(Dr. Satinder K. Mullick BENCO 1954-1958) |
(Mr. Ram N. Mullick BENCO 1922-1926) |
Satinder Mullick, B. Sc, Mechanical Engineering1954- 1958 from BENCO, Varanasi;
PhD from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA 1965,
Retired Director Of Economic Planning, Corning Inc.USA. 1965-95,
Currently- President of Planning Investments and Economic Services (PIES)
Email: smullick@stny.rr.com
CAN YOU BEAT THAT? (By Satinder K. Mullick)
Once an IT-BHU (old Bencoite)--always a Bencoite.
My father was from 1926 batch--Major Ram N.Mullick.
I am from 1958 batch—my father overruled my decision to accept IIT-Kharagpur admission letter--made me wait 3 days to await BENCO's acceptance.
My niece is married to a Bencoite-Rakesh Suri
My brother in law is Naval Varma of San Gabriel-Calif.
My sister in laws has 4 brothers (Khullars) who are BENCO Alumni—older to me.
Nine from our extended relations are affiliated with IIT-BHU.
By the way, I went from BHU to JHU (Johns Hopkins University in the US).
- Satinder Mullick