THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: R. Jayaraman, 80, former principal of College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram, is a proud and contented man. He has hit a double bonanza. The Amateur Radio Society of India has conferred on him its first-ever lifetime achievement award. His filmmaker daughter J. Geetha, based in Brighton in the UK, and his son-in-law Ian McDonald have come out with a documentary, OM:OldMan (OM being a code for all-male ham radio operators) which is being previewed at the Jean Rouch International Film Festival in Paris on Wednesday.
Mr Jayaraman, also a former director of technical education, received the award at Hamfest 2016 held at Mount Abu, Rajasthan over the weekend. They chose Jayaraman (VU2JN) for the inaugural award for his active role in the development of Ham Radio in India and for his "home-brewing career that started in the 60s in his college days." "Prof JN produced many useful designs over the years and had been a guru to many. His works have been published in magazines like QST and continue to be referenced by VUs till date," OM VU2GMN Gopal Madhavan, president of the ARSI, said.
He went on to thank Mr Jayaraman for his role in the mentoring of some of the finest hams over the last few decades. "Am quite happy with the award instituted by ARSI. My daughter's documentary has not been on my hobby. The emphasis has been on the wellness of old people who are leading a productive life," said Mr Jayaraman. The 30-minute documentary features in the international competition section of the prestigious Jean Rouch International Film Festival in Paris.
