The Extraordinary Story of our Alumni Rajesh Kanna to the ISRO

Its all started in 2009 when Rajesh Kanna stepped into the campus of Sri Shakthi to pursue his graduation in Electrical & Electronics Engineering. He came from a small village Chinnamalai kundru, in Ettaiapuram taluk, Thuthokodi, his father was a farmer and mother was working as a labour in the fireworks industry, though his background was low he had ambitions of sky-high and found Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology as the right place to study and live his dreams.

Rajesh Khanna was advancing smoothly in his education on one side, and the other side, he was very involved in skill development activities like a paper presentation at the campus. He received a big appreciation in 2012 from the chief guest Dr.Mylswamy Annadurai, Chairman, ISRO, for his paper presentation in International Conference for Computer Communication And Informatics (ICCCI'2012) and it was the moment he got his first aspiration to work in ISRO.

During Rajesh Kanna's third year at Sri Shakthi, he worked on a project model "Portable Wind Mill Operated Mobile Charging Kit" which was tested at the outlet of college bus in the creation stage and later the project was presented in IIT Kharagpur. In 2012, he received the "Best Engineering Student Award", by Cav Dr.GRD Memorial Award, Coimbatore.

In 2013, while Rajesh Kanna pursuing his final year of engineering education, he attended an on-campus placement drive and got placed as ZI Instructor in Limber link technologies Pvt Ltd, Bangalore. He moved to Bangalore in July to begin his career and worked there for 2 years. Then, he joined Elpro Energy dimensions and worked as an R&D engineer for another 7 months in Bangalore, meanwhile he was also preparing for GATE exam and applied for ISRO centralised Recruitment board exam. The big career turn over occurred when he got selected as Technical Assistant / Electrical Engineer, in ISRO Propulsion Complex at Mahendragiri, Tirunelveli district.

Rajesh Kanna's small project was awarded "Mangalyan Satellite Model" by Dr.Mylswamy Annadurai for a photo release of Prof.U.Rao at Satellite centre -URCE. He had various significant role responsibilities in the project such as Electrical power system design and estimation works for newly planned rocket engine test stands and its remote terminal unit & its control centre, Design and establishment of on-grid and off-grid solar power plant under renewable energy project, Maintenance of major electrical installations like Transformers, Generators, HT & LT control panels. In 2020, Rajesh Kanna's excellence in his work got him the promotion as Senior Technical Assistant.

With the Annual Performance appraisal report given by Academic Selection Committee, Rajesh Kanna made his way to Priest University, Tanjore, to undergo higher studies in MTech - Power Systems Engineering, and now completed the 1st year in his course. After graduating in 2022 with a special review for Scientist / Engineer -SC, he will receive the appointment for Direct Scientist Post (Group A - Gazetted officer).

Right from his time at Sri Shakthi, Rajesh Kanna's dream to become a Scientist pushed him to explore the science and technologies around him and the hunger to succeed made him take the opportunities coming in his way. Now, Rajesh Kanna is on his way to becoming a Scientist at ISRO, which is a proud feeling for all of us. We wish him all success in his personal and professional life.

Rajesh Kanna is forever grateful for his education and experience he gained in his extraordinary journey from Sri Shakthi to ISRO. He is now giving back to the society at his native in Chinnamalai Kundru, Ettaiapuram taluk, Thuthokodi, with a team of Govt officials guiding and motivating the school & college students to prepare for TNPSC, RRB, Indian Army, Tamilnadu Police. His team supports the students with the collection of previous year question papers & study materials. He also takes coaching classes for Govt Exams in GD Naidu Academy. With his team's proper guidance, 7 students got cleared in TNPSC group IV exams in 2019.