IIT Kanpur celebrates 62nd Foundation Day in hybrid mode, honours alumni

A total of 20 awards were presented during the event. Railway and IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also among those felicitated by the institute.  

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur celebrated its 62nd Foundation Day by honouring its illustrious alumni and fellows, including railway and IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, for their achievements and contributions in various fields. The event was held in hybrid mode due to the pandemic. 

In all, 20 awards were presented on the occasion — 16 to prominent alumni and four to fellows of IIT Kanpur. The awardees included eminent scientists, industry experts, politicians, administrators and technocrats, most of them pioneers in their respective fields. Board of Governors chairman K Radhakrishnan, who was also the former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), presided over the Foundation Day function of IIT Kanpur. 

IIT Kanpur launches 2 centres of research & learning 

IIT Kanpur also formally launched two major centres of research and learning – ‘Shivani Centre for the Nurture and Re-Integration of Hindi and Other Indian Languages’ – at IIT Kanpur and ‘Chandrakanta Kesavan Centre for Energy Policy and Climate Solutions’.  

The ‘Shivani Centre for the Nurture and Re-Integration of Hindi and Other Indian Languages’ will facilitate the creation of academic resources (STEM content, textbooks, references, digital tools) in languages other than English and will enable dissemination of technological tools to increase the ease-of-use for Hindi and other Indian Languages (OILs) on digital platforms.  

The ‘Chandrakanta Kesavan Centre for Energy Policy and Climate Solutions’ will help India in developing, adapting, and implementing technologies to reduce emissions and grow sustainably, in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. 

IIT Kanpur Director Abhay Karandikar said, “The pandemic saw the IITK fraternity coming together to support India and the world in the battle against the novel coronavirus. The IITK family rose to the occasion, providing solutions and services to overcome the challenges. As the world enters a ‘new normal’, we felt it appropriate to celebrate the Foundation Day of our ‘alma mater’ through the hybrid mode. Our alumni have contributed immensely at the national, and global level. We are proud of their achievements, and this is a moment to celebrate their accomplishments. This occasion is an opportunity for each of us to rededicate ourselves to the ethos of IIT Kanpur.”  

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