Humble genius of IISc prof Madhavi Latha, who helped anchor world’s highest single-arch rail bridge

She doesn’t chase credit, says a retired colleague of Latha, who days ago put up a post crediting Indian Railways & ‘unsung heroes’ for success of Chenab Rail Bridge.

Civil engineer & IISc professor G. Madhavi Latha | Photo: X/@ncbn

Bengaluru: G. Madhavi Latha, a professor at Bengaluru’s Indian Institute of Science (IISc), has inspired a generation of girls across India to reach for the stars.

Over the last few days, she has been lauded by politicians, professors and the public for her critical role in the design and construction of the world’s highest single-arch railway bridge over the Chenab river in Jammu. But, she’s not quite comfortable with her newfound celebrity status.

“Please don’t make me unnecessarily famous,” she said in a LinkedIn post, days after the bridge was inaugurated. Instead, she stated, “all the glory” belongs to the Indian Railways, as well as to the unsung engineers, workers, and planners.

Latha spent over 17 years as a geotechnical consultant on the Chenab Rail Bridge project, and it was her work that helped stabilise the Himalayan slopes for the bridge that is 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

At the IISc, where she is a professor of civil engineering, her colleagues, students and former professors are ecstatic.

“We are all extremely proud of her,” Mohan Kumar, a retired IISc professor who had worked with Latha, told ThePrint.

He’s not surprised by her LinkedIn post deflecting all the attention. She always acknowledges other people’s work rather than chasing credit, he added.

Nanjunda Rao, chief research scientist at IISc, recalled his collaboration with Latha when they served together on a civil engineering department review committee.

“That was the best time, when the (department’s) chair worked with three young people with some very good understanding. We were able to do many things for the department, and she was highly cooperative, and we were working cohesively,” Rao said.

In its role as India’s premier research institute, IISc has contributed majorly to the nation’s development, and that includes Latha’s work on the Chenab bridge, according to Rao.

List of accolades

Latha’s association with the bridge project began in 2005, first under professor T.G. Sitharam, who was then at IISc. Later, she served as an independent geotechnical consultant for Afcons Limited, the engineering firm executing the project for the Indian Railways.

As a geotechnical consultant, Latha worked to develop and design slope stabilisation schemes without which the Rs 1,486-crore bridge could not have been possible.

The Himalayan region, known for its tough terrain, is rife with geological challenges and extreme weather conditions, making any construction project a Herculean task. Latha’s team adopted a design-as-you-go strategy in this case. Her work involved design and placement of rock anchors to enhance structural stability and ensure safety.

Before the Chenab Rail Bridge made headlines, Latha may not have been a household name, but she was still a star.

She is the first recipient of the ‘best woman researcher in geotechnical engineering’ award from the Indian Geotechnical Society. She has won numerous other awards too, including IISc’s Prof. S.K Chatterjee Award for outstanding woman researcher.

These accolades have marked her place in the list of top 75 women in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) of India.

Brilliance wrapped in humility

Latha’s passion is reflected in how she handles her research.

“She comes around 10 a.m. and stays (until) around 8 p.m.,” Rizwan Khan, a post-doctoral research associate under Latha, told ThePrint.

His journey with Latha started in 2017, when he joined as a doctoral student. “We talk about in the research group that ma’am puts in a lot of effort and handles a lot of projects… (She) writes proposals to get funding to ensure that all equipment and instruments are available in the lab so that we can do good research,” Khan added.

For some students, she’s more than just a professor: She’s their mentor and guide.

According to Khan, Latha treats her students like her kids. “She goes out of the way to help the students, not only academically, but also personally, financially… she takes care of everything from day one to the end,” he said.

It’s not just IISc that’s celebrating the success of Latha, who hails from Yedugundlapadu, a village in Andhra Pradesh.

“Hailing from a small village in Andhra Pradesh, she dedicated 17 years of hard work and sacrifice to build this architectural marvel for the nation,” Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu posted on ‘X’.

A comment under her LinkedIn post, which received a glowing reaction, read: “She only focuses on quality work. She doesn’t expect popularity. She put her words in this post that do your job sincerely and nothing (is) possible with a single person without the support or role of many other(s).”

Latha has asked the people not to praise her, yet more headlines have popped up with her name. As her WhatsApp bio says: “Sometimes I win… other times I learn.” She is now off to Spain for her next mission.

(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)