IIT Bombay’s former Director sets up chair professorship in memory of his father

The chair professorship will be called “Dr PV Sukhatme Chair in Biostatistics” to pay homage to the late visionary’s pioneering work. The aim of this initiative is to provide a boost to the subject of biostatistics and associated applications. 

After serving as the Director of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay from January 1995 to January 2000 and being a faculty member in the Mechanical Engineering Department of IIT Bombay (October 1965 onwards), Prof SP Sukhatme, the Padma Shri awardee, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Bombay on October 12, 2021 to establish a Chair Professorship at the institute in memory of his father late Dr PV Sukhatme. The honour awarded to faculty members to acknowledge their contributions to high-impact research and teaching. 

The chair professorship will be called “Dr PV Sukhatme Chair in Biostatistics” to pay homage to the late visionary’s pioneering work. The aim of this initiative is to provide a boost to the subject of biostatistics and associated applications. A virtual MoU signing event was held at IIT Bombay and was open to invitation for the institute’s faculty members, staff members and students.  

Prof SP Sukhatme spoke about the initiative and memories of his father and family. He said, “Setting up this chair is a very small thing that we are doing. My father’s contributions are many. I and my family want this initiative to be an inspiration for people. My father got recognised for his work, achieved great things and set up a tradition in the family, that education is the key to going forward. This has to be our nation’s motto. Education at all levels is the only thing that can push India forward and draw respect from the whole world. It’s educated people that are going to make this nation great. All else will follow. We must have schools and colleges like we have IIT Bombay which insist on excellence. That’s the message I want to send by setting up such a chair.”  

Prof Subhasis Chaudhuri, Director, IIT Bombay, said, “Prof Sukhatme holds a very special place in our hearts. Not only has he played a vital role in the institute’s growth as a former Director, but also established a life-long kinship with the students, faculty and staff. His powerful leadership at IIT Bombay has inspired us all to continue with our mission to emerge as a global leader in the field of research.” 

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