Visiting professor Satish Narayana Srirama – from a small Indian village to Tartu

Satish Narayana Srirama spent 11 years at the University of Tartu, from 2009 to 2020, first as a postdoctoral researcher and later as Professor of Internet of Things. Today he is a professor at the University of Hyderabad, while remaining connected to Tartu as a visiting professor and honorary head of the Mobile & Cloud Lab.

In the first part of our conversation, Satish reflects on the path that led him from a small village in Andhra Pradesh to Germany and then to Estonia, on his unforgettable first night in Tartu, and on how a city that first felt unfamiliar became a place of deep personal and professional belonging.

You grew up in a small village in India. How did your academic journey begin?

I was born in Peddapadmapuram, a small village in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, India. My primary education was also in small towns. That gave me a deep connection with nature and a strong belief that better education is the foundation for a stronger future.

After my BTech, I started working in the Indian software industry, but my wish for higher education was always there. That was mostly inspired by my father, Prof. Lakshminarayana Sreerama, a retired professor of Nuclear Physics from Andhra University.

After 9/11, the Indian software industry became uncertain. That gave me an opportunity to look again at higher education. Admission to RWTH Aachen University changed my life significantly. I completed my master's degree there and wrote my thesis with Ericsson Research on mobile web service provisioning. The thesis received recognition, and Ericsson supported my further research and PhD studies.

What first brought you to the University of Tartu?

After my PhD, I was considering academic opportunities in India and Europe. A good friend from RWTH Aachen , Prof. Ulrich Norbisrath, had joined the University of Tartu and gave very positive feedback about the Institute of Computer Science.

He spoke about the opportunities it offered for professional and personal growth. That motivated me to join the University of Tartu. I moved there with a Mobilitas postdoctoral research grant funded by the European Social Fund. The grant gave me seed funding for my research and helped lay the foundation for what later became the Mobile & Cloud Lab.

What do you remember about arriving in Estonia?

To be frank, my first impression was quite shocking. My wife Gayatri and I landed directly at Tartu airport on its opening day, around 11:30 at night. We were led to a makeshift room prepared with cardboard for passport verification. After the procedure, we came out into the dark. Our luggage was on a cart, and there were no taxis to go to the city.

Fortunately, a taxi arrived to pick up someone else who did not turn up, and it took us to the hotel. Our first journey through Estonia was in the middle of the night, through deserted places. My wife was heartbroken. She wondered where I had brought her and immediately thought we should return.

I did not give up, and that became one of the best decisions I have taken in my life.

How did Tartu begin to feel like home?

The first month was difficult. I was trying to find other Indians in Tartu, and my wife was uncomfortable, although colleagues at the Institute of Computer Science tried to help us as much as possible.

I still remember the Estonian Summer School in Computer and Systems Science in 2009, where Gayatri and I asked Prof. Jaak Vilo for contacts of Indians in Tartu after he mentioned that he might know a few Indian students at the university. Fortunately, he found contacts for Gyaneshwer Chaubey and Chandana Chaubey at the Institute of Genomics, and after that there was no turning back.

We formed a small Indian community together with the late Naresh Modi, a local businessman, and supported one another when we felt low. Several Estonians also took us into their families. I cannot forget the warmth offered by the Marran family, who took Gayatri into their family like another daughter.

Looking back, I had the privilege of witnessing Tartu's transformation into a vibrant international city. What was once a very small airport became a better-connected gateway, and the deserted places from our first midnight drive later became our favourite summer strolls and pleasant long drives. In many ways, it feels as though my journey to Estonia was more destined than planned.

What made Tartu special for you as a researcher and as a person?

Tartu gave me intellectual freedom. I could pursue problems that genuinely interested me. The first years were especially formative, with the guidance of Prof. Marlon Dumas and Prof. Jaak Vilo and the leadership of Prof. Eero Vainikko.

I had opportunities to publish, travel to conferences, build connections, participate in European projects, and be part of a strong research ecosystem. But it was not only academic. Estonia's startup culture, the students, and the friendships all shaped my life there.

Why did you decide to return to India?

I returned to India in 2020 and joined the University of Hyderabad because of family commitments. My parents and in-laws were getting older. As the eldest son in my family, and with Gayatri being the eldest daughter in hers, returning was the natural choice in our cultural context.

I used to joke with Jaak that one day he would have to give me a sendoff. He eventually had to do it in 2020. My attachment to the University of Tartu and Estonia was so deep that the journey back to India became very difficult.

The move happened during the COVID crisis. In June 2020, I had to travel by boat to Helsinki, take one of the last flights arranged by the Indian government under the Vande Bharat mission, and spend two weeks in quarantine at the University of Hyderabad guest house before starting work.

Even so, I have not severed my connection with Tartu. I remain a visiting professor and honorary head of the Mobile & Cloud Lab at the Institute of Computer Science, and I try to contribute to the University of Tartu whenever I can.

What do you miss most about Estonia?

I miss the simple but meaningful experiences that became part of everyday life. I miss summer strolls around Toomemägi, the city centre, the Emajõgi, and the peaceful trails near Luke manor park and Pühajärv. I miss cycling on quiet roads, picking fresh strawberries in the countryside, relaxing in a traditional sauna, and jumping into an ice hole.

I also miss the people and the warmth of those connections. It is this combination of nature, simplicity, and meaningful relationships that I truly miss about Estonia.

And what do you not miss?

I do not miss the days when the snow begins to melt. The roads become slippery and messy, and even a simple walk can be challenging. We had our fair share of falls during that time.

I also do not miss the constant need for heavy jackets and winter gear. Estonian winters are beautiful, but managing the layers and braving the cold every day is something I am quite happy to be without now.

Did you have a favourite Estonian food?

I was never much of a foodie, and my dietary restrictions meant that my options were somewhat limited. But smoked fish is definitely one of my favourites, along with tatar, or buckwheat, which I came to enjoy quite a lot.

We even experimented with it at home. Gayatri sometimes replaced rice with tatar, which led to our own creative twist: "tatar biryani." These small culinary adaptations made the experience memorable.

What advice would you give to someone arriving in Estonia for the first time?

Winters can be challenging, so it helps to be intentional about both your environment and your routine. Make sure your home has enough light. I preferred bright white lights, which helped maintain alertness and mood during darker days.

But the social side is equally important. Build a small, close community around you. Winters can feel long and isolating, and having people to talk to regularly makes a significant difference. Estonians are very warm at heart, but breaking the ice is your responsibility.

In the second part of the interview, Satish talks about the Mobile & Cloud Lab, cloud, edge, and fog computing, teaching, and what future researchers should learn in the age of artificial intelligence.