BITS Pilani Alumni Sumita Desarkar, Ravinder K. Bhat pledge USD $1 Million for Institutional Development

The fresh pledge takes the total commitment for the endowment to more than $18 million.

BITS Pilani has received a $1 Million (₹8.40 crore) contribution from its alumni, Ravinder Kumar Bhat and Sumita Desarkar, aimed at bolstering the proposed $100 million BITS Pilani Endowment Fund. Their donation will significantly enhance institutional development, supporting upgrades in labs, infrastructure, and research initiatives, ultimately benefiting future generations of students and fostering a legacy of excellence at the institute.

This donation, under the’ Sumita Desarkar & Ravinder K. Bhat Fund for Institutional Development,’ is part of the proposed $100 million BITS Pilani Endowment Fund, aimed at driving institutional growth and supporting innovation. The fresh pledge takes the total commitment for the endowment to more than $18 million.

Desarkar and Ravinder Kumar Bhat are serial entrepreneurs based in the UAE. Over the course of their two-decade residency, they have established businesses across various sectors, including construction, commodity trading, infrastructure, and oil & gas equipment, as well as event management.

Desarkar and Bhat shared, “BITS Pilani has profoundly shaped our personal and professional journeys not only through its world-class educators, and instilling a strong work ethic but also through the network which we developed and still strongly maintain. We are honored to give forward to the institute that laid the foundation for our careers and growth with the hope that this contribution will further the legacy of excellence and create new opportunities for future generations.”

Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor of BITS Pilani, expressed gratitude and stated, “We are deeply grateful for this support. This fund will greatly enhance our efforts towards academic and infrastructural development, pushing the institute toward new horizons.”

This fund will facilitate upgradation of labs, infrastructure enhancements, research initiatives, and the overall educational experience to the students across BITS Pilani’s campuses, helping the institute achieve its mission of academic excellence and innovation.