MITAA (The MIT Alumni Association)
Proudly Presents
THE OUTSTANDING ALUMNUS AWARD FOR 2015
TO
Mr. T.A.S. Balagopal
The MIT Chromepet campus of Anna University, founded in 1949 by Sri C Rajam, is a unique Institution and carved a niche for itself in unconventional engineering courses like Aeronautical Engineering, Automobile Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Instrumentation Technology and subsequently adding Production Technology, Rubber and Plastic Technology, Information Technology and Computer Science and Engineering.
During the centenary birth year of Sri C. Rajam in 1982, MITAA instituted the scheme of presenting annual endowment lecture and an award for the Outstanding Alumnus in his memory. For 2015 MITAA has the unique distinction of choosing an alumnus of the very first batch and founder member of the MITAA, Mr. T.A.S. Balagopal as the Outstanding Alumnus.
After his Bachelor’s degree in Physics under Madras University, he joined MIT at the very inception year 1949. He took up Automobile Engineering.
He served the alma mater till 1956 as lecturer in automobile engineering. Later he joined an American Oil Company and excelled in his job and got promoted as a District Manager at a very young age. He joined Tatas in 1969 in the new Export department of TELCO (now Tata Motors). He held various positions and became Director (Exports). Under his guidance Tata Motors became the first company to export engineering products worth Rs. 100 crores. He took great interest in export activities of India. He was elected as the Chairman of Engineering Export Promotion Council, sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce, Govt of India. He has written a book “Export Management”, with a Foreword by Dr Abdul Kalam. The book highlights India’s achievement in export and future potential, and is a reference book in Business Schools in India and abroad.
Now Mr. T.A.S. Balagopal lives in Chennai with his wife Dr. Indu Balagopal qualified medically but an ardent social worker and still active. They have two daughters. Elder one is a medical doctor qualified in India and UK and the younger one is specialized in Market Research and lives in Bangalore.
MITAA takes great pleasure in awarding Mr. T.A.S. Balagopal the Outstanding Alumnus for the year 2015 and wish him good health and great success in all his future endeavors.
