<p>Bandarido Robotgalu’ (Here come the Robots) in the Sudha magazine edition dated April 29, 1984, was one of the earliest articles in Kannada about the exciting world of robots. It was written by Nalini Murthy, an engineer and a Kannada author who, during that period, was working at the College of New Caledonia in Canada. To the best of my knowledge, she is the first person to write a book on computers in Kannada for children. As an author of many novels, her sensitive portrayal of two of the most intriguing Indian epic characters, Urmila and Bheeshma, is well-remembered. </p>.<p>Engineering was not considered a domain for girls, even in the 1970s, when I entered the field. When I learnt that Nalini, born in 1937, had entered the Electrical Communication Engineering (ECE) department at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) way back in the year 1957, my respect for her grew. </p>.<p>Nalini graduated with BSc Honours from Central College, Bangalore, with the first rank in Mathematics. She joined the ECE department for the DIISc course (then the equivalent of BE). She was the only female student in the department at that time. She recalled, with apprehension, a chauvinistic professor who did not like the idea of a girl entering the engineering department. If a boy came late to the class, he could get away with it. But if Nalini came in late, even by a few minutes, he would remark, “Girls have no sense of time." Such negative remarks deeply hurt Nalini. </p>.<p>Nalini knew her historic responsibility as the only girl in her batch. If she failed, this professor would declare 'girls can not do engineering' and it would be a handy tool to prevent girls at the entry level itself. Keeping this in mind, Nalini always put in extra effort to excel. </p>.<p>While not all professors were as strongly biased, she described how “there were professors who would mark six where I felt I deserved a 10. They had a ready explanation — what do girls do with marks? After all, they have to get married and take care of the house.” Notwithstanding these unpleasant experiences, Nalini Murthy had said her stay at IISc was memorable, and her classmates co-operated with her. </p>.<p><strong>A growing career</strong></p>.<p>In 1960, Nalini completed her DIISc and received a job offer in Germany. At the same time, she married S Narasimha Murthy, an engineer who was working in Germany. Nalini later obtained an MSc in Control Engineering from Manchester University and a PhD in 1972 from Canadian University at Halifax. She was the first lady candidate to obtain a doctorate degree from this university. By this time, she was also mother to two young sons.</p>.<p>She taught at Alberta University, on a 'teaching contract’. Her student reviews were always good, but they would not make her job permanent. The head of the department would often say, “Your husband is in a government job. He has a good salary. Why are you insisting on a permanent job? You could be on contract till your retirement age.” Frustrated, Nalini left the university and moved to the computer department of New Caledonia College. </p>.<p>She became the first female engineer to register with the Association of Professional Engineers in Canada, receiving her registration certificate on November 20, 1970.</p>.<p>Our last meeting was in February 1992 at her Malleshwaram house; she had plans to retire and return to India. However, when she returned to Canada, the same year, while undergoing a uterus-related operation, she died of cardiac arrest. The legacy of Nalini Murthy lives on through a scholarship established by her husband to encourage girls to pursue a career in engineering. It is awarded annually by the Faculty of Engineering at Dalhousie University to a female engineering student. </p>.<p>Nalini is also remembered through the endowment given to the Karnataka Lekhakiyara Sangha. The first book brought out with the endowment was ‘Sthreevadi Praveshike’ (An Introduction to Feminism) in 1995. She remains a role model for young girls to pursue their profession and passion. </p>
<p>Bandarido Robotgalu’ (Here come the Robots) in the Sudha magazine edition dated April 29, 1984, was one of the earliest articles in Kannada about the exciting world of robots. It was written by Nalini Murthy, an engineer and a Kannada author who, during that period, was working at the College of New Caledonia in Canada. To the best of my knowledge, she is the first person to write a book on computers in Kannada for children. As an author of many novels, her sensitive portrayal of two of the most intriguing Indian epic characters, Urmila and Bheeshma, is well-remembered. </p>.<p>Engineering was not considered a domain for girls, even in the 1970s, when I entered the field. When I learnt that Nalini, born in 1937, had entered the Electrical Communication Engineering (ECE) department at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) way back in the year 1957, my respect for her grew. </p>.<p>Nalini graduated with BSc Honours from Central College, Bangalore, with the first rank in Mathematics. She joined the ECE department for the DIISc course (then the equivalent of BE). She was the only female student in the department at that time. She recalled, with apprehension, a chauvinistic professor who did not like the idea of a girl entering the engineering department. If a boy came late to the class, he could get away with it. But if Nalini came in late, even by a few minutes, he would remark, “Girls have no sense of time." Such negative remarks deeply hurt Nalini. </p>.<p>Nalini knew her historic responsibility as the only girl in her batch. If she failed, this professor would declare 'girls can not do engineering' and it would be a handy tool to prevent girls at the entry level itself. Keeping this in mind, Nalini always put in extra effort to excel. </p>.<p>While not all professors were as strongly biased, she described how “there were professors who would mark six where I felt I deserved a 10. They had a ready explanation — what do girls do with marks? After all, they have to get married and take care of the house.” Notwithstanding these unpleasant experiences, Nalini Murthy had said her stay at IISc was memorable, and her classmates co-operated with her. </p>.<p><strong>A growing career</strong></p>.<p>In 1960, Nalini completed her DIISc and received a job offer in Germany. At the same time, she married S Narasimha Murthy, an engineer who was working in Germany. Nalini later obtained an MSc in Control Engineering from Manchester University and a PhD in 1972 from Canadian University at Halifax. She was the first lady candidate to obtain a doctorate degree from this university. By this time, she was also mother to two young sons.</p>.<p>She taught at Alberta University, on a 'teaching contract’. Her student reviews were always good, but they would not make her job permanent. The head of the department would often say, “Your husband is in a government job. He has a good salary. Why are you insisting on a permanent job? You could be on contract till your retirement age.” Frustrated, Nalini left the university and moved to the computer department of New Caledonia College. </p>.<p>She became the first female engineer to register with the Association of Professional Engineers in Canada, receiving her registration certificate on November 20, 1970.</p>.<p>Our last meeting was in February 1992 at her Malleshwaram house; she had plans to retire and return to India. However, when she returned to Canada, the same year, while undergoing a uterus-related operation, she died of cardiac arrest. The legacy of Nalini Murthy lives on through a scholarship established by her husband to encourage girls to pursue a career in engineering. It is awarded annually by the Faculty of Engineering at Dalhousie University to a female engineering student. </p>.<p>Nalini is also remembered through the endowment given to the Karnataka Lekhakiyara Sangha. The first book brought out with the endowment was ‘Sthreevadi Praveshike’ (An Introduction to Feminism) in 1995. She remains a role model for young girls to pursue their profession and passion. </p>