'Dr. G. Madhavi Latha Garu is my #MondayMotivation': Anand Mahindra's Monday Motivation is Madhavi Latha

Time of India

4 hours ago

Anand Mahindra's Monday Motivation post
Industrialist
Anand Mahindra
's widely followed
#MondayMotivation
posts usually highlight excellence across diverse fields. But this time, he chose to shine a light on a woman whose dedication spanned nearly two decades and contributed to one of India's most ambitious infrastructure projects.
A skilled geotechnical engineer and Professor at IISc Bengaluru, she was instrumental in the completion of the Chenab Railway Bridge; a promise she kept for more than 17 years," Mahindra posted, talking about
Dr. G. Madhavi Latha
. He ended with his now-infamous line:
"Dr. G. Madhavi Latha Garu is my #MondayMotivation."
Anand Mahindra's Monday Motivation
Meet G Madhavi Latha, IISc professor, worked on Chenab Bridge project
As India marked the opening of the Chenab Railway Bridge on June 6, the world's tallest railway bridge at 359 metres above riverbed height with the limelight irresistibly turned to the imposing structure. 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower, the bridge is a part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) and cost Rs 1,486 crore to build, as per the reports.
But beneath the shiny steel and concrete stands a story of scientific excellence, particularly from the men and women who toiled quietly in the background. Among them, Dr. Latha's work in geotechnical engineering was invaluable to the project's success.
Chenab Bridge construction: Dr. Latha's vital role in ensuring stability
The
Chenab Bridge
was one of the most challenging in Indian railway history. Building infrastructure in the rugged Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir, with seismicity, unstable slopes, and harsh climate, needed more than engineering prowess, but also resilience and ingenuity.
For 17 years, as a consultant, Dr. Latha gave valuable inputs on:
Structural stability
Slope safety
Placement and reinforcement of rock anchors
These choices had a direct influence on the safety and longevity of the bridge in one of the most challenging environments on Earth.
Dr. Latha's academic journey: From rural Andhra Pradesh to IISc Bengaluru expert
Dr. Latha's inspirational journey started in a village in Andhra Pradesh. She acquired her B.Tech in Civil Engineering from JNTU in 1992, proceeded with an M.Tech in Geotechnical Engineering from NIT Warangal, where she stood first in her class. Her academic journey continued with a PhD from IIT Madras in 2000.
She is currently a well-known professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and a renowned expert in her field. She also wrote a scholarly article describing the intricate geotechnical challenges of the Chenab Bridge, presented in the Indian Geotechnical Journal.
Dr. Latha's awards and recognitions
Dr. Latha's outstanding work has won her numerous awards:
Best Woman Geotechnical Researcher Award (2021)
Featured among India's Top 75 Women in STEAM (2022)
Her achievements were also welcomed by political leaders. Chandrababu Naidu, former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, welcomed her with praise, writing on X (formerly Twitter): "Another Telugu daughter has made India proud."
Chenab bridge site access overcoming Himalayan challenges to begin construction
Access to the site itself was a gargantuan task before construction work started on the Chenab Bridge. Engineers and laborers used mules and horses to cross the rugged Himalayas initially. Only after laying down temporary tracks and subsequently constructing 11 km and 12 km of permanent access roads on both riverbanks was equipment transport possible.
This feat of logistics paved the way for the building of one of the world's most famous bridges. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the Chenab Bridge, striding across its characteristic steel arch waving the national flag, it was not only an engineering achievement. The bridge symbolises a connection between Kashmir and the rest of India—a dream realised by hardworking contributors such as Dr. Latha.
For Anand Mahindra, this moment was a reminder of the intellectual strength, determination, and nationalism that lie behind India's greatest successes.
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