Faculty Interview: Professor M Balakrishnan

[@soravbansal4487]

What a nice interview! Bala, your frank and insightful comments were so refreshing. I am really impressed by how you have been following your heart all through your journey: - by first deciding to stay back in India after getting influenced by idealistic goals, - then deciding to join BITS followed by IITD again based on your intuitive reasoning, - third deciding to take up a faculty position and doing research in EDA and later embedded systems, - fourth identifying that you would feel more satisfied by making societal impact than publication impact and starting ASSISTECH I find it remarkable that you have had the courage to follow your convictions all through, e.g., it seems rather hard to be able to quit an established and growing research career to pursue a completely different project like ASSISTECH, and dive deep into the real issues (irrespective of whether those issues relate to CS or not). I guess that's what they mean when they talk about "getting out of your comfort zone" I guess this unconventional and intuitive approach of yours is the primary reason behind the truly prestigious recognitions that you have received. Thank you and wish you all the best! Thank you Amitabha for conducting this wonderful interview --- so much to find out and learn here!

[@ankitmathurz]

I am really fortunate to have studied under Bala Sir and have him as my project guide. Best wishes to him 🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@chakpak]

Prof. Bala you have been a true inspiration to me and many more. Thanks for being my B.Tech project guide and instilling a love for computer architecture and systems. You helped shaped how I think about computer engineering and laid solid foundations. Wish you the very best in your retirement! Thank you so very much.

[@alokmittal001]

Prof Bala, wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for being a lifelong guide and inspiration. Wishing you all the very best as you chart the next course.

[@arvindjain237]

Best wishes to Prof. Bala in the next chapter of your life. You've been an inspiration for us throughout our career. Thanks for sharing the stories on LinkedIn recently as well - it's great to read them.

[@khullarsumeet07]

Very insightful interview. Thank you for teaching us Prof. Bala. Digital Hardware Design was such a foundational course. Still remember the late nights in the labs. It wasn't always easy - but you pushed us to learn and become better, and instilled a deep appreciation of systems engineering, which has been invaluable! Wishing you the best.

[@soumyadebmitra1244]

Thanks for sharing this. It was wonderful to know about the early days of your career.

[@rameshhariharan9500]

Dear Bala, I was probably one of those who took your very first course as faculty at IITD , wish you the very best for your retirement. Ramesh