Tag: alumnus

IIT KGP Alumnus led Rapido becomes Unicorn with fresh $120 million funding

The journey from idea to execution is a dynamic and thrilling adventure, where creativity meets action in a dance of innovation. It all begins with a spark—an idea that ignites imagination and hints at possibilities beyond the familiar. This nascent concept is then nurtured through careful planning and thoughtful creation, transforming abstract thoughts into tangible plans and prototypes. As the vision takes shape, execution becomes the thrilling final act, where strategy and effort converge to bring the idea to life. This phase demands not just commitment and precision but also a willingness to adapt and refine.

The result is a vibrant manifestation of creativity and hard work, where an initial thought blossoms into a completed project, resonating with impact and success. This is the story of Rapido, a mobile application on transport mobility which has come a long way after its inception in 2015. The ride-hailing start-up has raised a funding of $120 million (about Rs 1,000 crore) in primary capital from existing investor WestBridge Capital at a post-money valuation of $1 billion, showed regulatory filings thus making it the latest company to join the coveted unicorn club. The ride-hailing startup has become the third unicorn in India this year, after Perfios and Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal’s Krutrim AI.

Founded in 2015 by Aravind Sanka, Pavan Guntupalli, and Rishikesh SR, Rapido had raised $180 million in Series D funding round in April 2022, led by Swiggy, which valued the mobility startup at $800 million. Rapido has raised about $430 million till date. Mr. Pavan Guntupalli is an Alumnus of IIT Kharagpur who has completed his B.Tech in Electronics and Electrical Communications Engineering (2008-2012). Prior to Rapido, Mr. Pavan Guntupalli was a Software Developer in Samsung Research India, Bangalore from

Rishikesh SR, Aravind Sanka, Pavan Guntupalli (L-R)

The investor poured in the fresh capital through three of its related entities – Setu AIF Trust, Konark Trust, and MMPL Trust, as per regulatory filings. The Hyderabad-based firm which started off as an auto and bike taxi aggregator, has also ventured into cabs. The company will expand its auto and cab offerings in newer cities across India. The market analysts are projecting that the Bengaluru-based bike taxi company is likely to raise another $20 million from global investors.

“With over 10 lakh bike taxi riders and around 20 lakh bike rides happening every week, it’s evident that bike taxis play a crucial role in Karnataka’s transportation ecosystem. This data highlights the significant demand and reliance placed on bike taxis for convenient and efficient mobility solutions across the state. Rapido expresses confidence that the transport department of the government of Karnataka will adopt a more comprehensive approach, in line with the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and the recent advisory issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways related to the grant of contract carriage permit to two-wheelers,” said Pavan Guntupalli, Co-founder of Rapido.

We’re #1 choice of 10 Million people because we’re the solution of India’s intra-city commuting problems. With assured safety, we also provide economically priced rides. Our bike taxis can dodge the traffic during peak hours and get you to the destination in a jiffy! So when you think travel, think Rapido. With a lot of hardwork and perseverance we have made a place for ourselves in the market. As a brand and as a service, it is our constant endeavour to redefine ourselves.” – Rapido

Rapido, like its rivals Ola and Uber, has rolled out subscription-based plans for auto rickshaw drivers on its platform instead of charging a booking fee or commission on every transaction. Rapido has also forayed into cab-hailing services, essentially becoming a full-stack ride-hailing firm.

Rapido has raised $329 million in funding prior to the latest round. Nexus Venture Partners and Integrated Capital are among its other investors. The company has managed to reduce its burn to around $2-3 million a month and is on track for operational profitability by FY25-end. Rapido has also forayed into the hyper-local parcel delivery and cab service market as it looks to expand its offerings from auto and bike taxi services.

“We firmly believe that the revised approach will facilitate the grant of contract carriage permits to two-wheelers and bike taxis, aligning Karnataka with states that have successfully implemented similar models. This move is not only crucial for the growth of the sector but also ensures compliance with the existing provisions of Motor Vehicles Act 1988 and Motor Vehicle Rules,” Guntupalli added.

Rapido was among late-stage firms engaged in talks to raise a large round at a marginally higher valuation than its last fundraise. The new round, which is yet to be fully closed, could also see a secondary component being stitched up with some early investors exiting their positions. The company was valued at $825 million after its $180 million funding in April 2022. While Rapido is yet to disclose FY24 numbers, the firm’s operating revenue surged 3X to ₹443 crore during FY23.

“By leveraging the latest safety technologies and on-boarding/training for our captains. Every ride is tracked by Rapido with access to granular latitudinal and longitudinal. In line with our Safety First philosophy, we have been conducting a stringent Four-step Background Verification of every captain on our platform since hiring process, verification through third party vendor, captain training process, captain monitoring process and captain retention process.” – Rapido

For more, visit
https://www.rapido.bike/

Media Courtesy:

TOI The Hindu Business Line Economic Times
Business Standard Hindustan Times Money Control
En Trackr Inc42  

By : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

Follow us on: Facebook – IIT Kharagpur; Twitter – @IITKgp;  Instagram – @iit.kgp; LinkedIn – Indian Institute of Technology
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Arjun Malhotra sends heart warming message to welcome the new KGPians of Y2024

Esteemed Alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, Mr. Arjun Malhotra who is widely renowned for his instrumental role in co-founding the HCL Group, way back in 1975 and is currently the Chairman of the Advisory Board of Altysys sent a heart-warming message to welcome the Freshers of the Y2024. As a proud Alumnus, he recalls his days in his Alma Mater and shares the anecdotes that will help the new undergrads to have a home away from home. The Institute is indeed overwhelmed for the inspiring words of Mr. Malhotra for our newbies.

 

“”Hello KGPians, this is Arjun Malhotra. I am an Electronics Graduate from 1970.I want to welcome all of you to @IIT Kharagpur. I hope you all see the advantage of being in a small town like Kharagpur away from the metros. The important thing here is, this Institute allows you to make a life for your own. You do not have to rush to the city to enjoy yourself. You enjoy your life, set-up you own life, make friends and do things that you normally may or may not do when you are in a city. When I was there, I played games, acted in plays, was in debates, quizzes etc. both at the institute and at the department level and in the hostels. So make friends, I think this is great opportunity. I will be there in campus on January 2025 around spring festival time. It is a 60th year of joining and over a hundred of my batch mates will be there just to tell you about the bonds that living few years in IIT Kharagpur creates among people. So I just want to say, it is great to have you at Kharagpur, all of you please enjoy your stay…there will be lots of issues but you should have lots of fun and I look forward to meeting many of you then and there in January next year. All the very best.” – From Arjun Malhotra (1970/B.Tech/EC/RP)

Arjun Malhotra has been a prominent figure in the Indian IT entrepreneurial scene. He is widely renowned for his instrumental role in co-founding the HCL Group, way back in 1975. After an illustrious career in HCL, he went on to successfully build and exit companies such as TechSpan and Headstrong. Malhotra’s wisdom has helped in building several organizations worldwide as well as eminent institutions, such as ISB, Hyderabad, and IIT (Kharagpur) Foundation. His contributions to the Indian IT industry were recognized with several distinguished awards, including the Albert Einstein Technology Medal in 2001 and the DQ Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. Altysys, a data and cloud-first start-up with deep expertise in the healthcare IT consulting and services ecosystem has appointed Arjun Malhotra as the chairman of its advisory board.

“I am extremely excited and honored to have joined Altysys as the chairman of the advisory board. Altysys has the potential for rapid growth and innovation. Together, we shall drive innovation, foster digital solutions, and prioritize data security, all with a steadfast dedication to improving patient outcomes and shaping the future of healthcare,” said Arjun.

Malhotra, acclaimed for his distinctive insights into IT industry, was the first leading Indian entrepreneur to relocate to USA who took over HCL’s US operations (now known as HCL Technologies) in 1989 and grew it to nearly $100 million annual revenues. He has a long string of entrepreneurial successes. He has served as Chairman of Headstrong’s Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of TechSpan. He is on the Board of Governors of ISB, Hyderabad and IIT (Kharagpur) Foundation. Arjun’s contributions to the Indian IT industry were recognized with several distinguished awards, including the Albert Einstein Technology Medal in 2001 and DQ Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. Arjun is presently an Advisor in a number of start-ups in Education and healthcare verticals.

Reacting to the news, Abhinav Mishra, the CEO of Altysys said, “We are absolutely thrilled that Arjun has agreed to chair our advisory board. His vast expertise will undoubtedly steer Altysys toward unprecedented growth and success. With his guidance, we are poised to revolutionize healthcare technology services and deliver innovative solutions that will transform the industry and positively impact countless lives.”

“Altysys, under the guidance of Malhotra, will be aiming for the next orbit of growth. The company is already growing exponentially as it serves multiple clients from the healthcare and insurance industries to facilitate their data, AI/ML, and cloud initiatives, improving patients’ and HCPs’ outcomes,” he added.

The company founded by executives with several years of experience in technology consulting and services, is a provider of healthcare technology consulting and solutions. Headquartered in Bengaluru the company is a data and cloud-first company with deep expertise in health clouds, data interoperability, data analytics, GenAI, and AI/ML-enabled technology solutions, serving Payers, Providers, Health Techs, and Pharma.

Media Courtesy:
https://startup.outlookindia.com/sector/saas/altysys-appoints-arjun-malhotra-as-new-chairman-of-advisory-board-news-9454

By : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

Follow us on: Facebook – IIT Kharagpur; Twitter – @IITKgp;  Instagram – @iit.kgp; LinkedIn – Indian Institute of Technology
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‘Our classes were held where freedom fighters were locked up,’ says Narasimhan Venkatesan Patel, Alumnus of the First Batch at IIT KGP

Mr. Narasimhan Venkatesan Patel, Former Member of the Railway Board and an Electrical Engineering Alumnus (1951-55) of IIT Kharagpur, shares some interesting anecdotes about the faculty and how IIT Kharagpur took special tutorials of students who appeared in Class 12 exams from different boards or syllabi. The Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur was established in 1951 and is the oldest among all the IITs in the country. As the institute was set up in the Hijli detention camp of West Bengal, it has a link with the freedom fighters of India.

“We mostly had classes in the old Hijli Central Jail building during the first two years. A big hangar inside the compound served as the workshop. Our staff, some of whom had served in the prison administration as Jailers, mentioned that our classrooms were the rooms where prisoners who were great freedom fighters were locked up, and some were tortured and later died,” remarked the Alum.

To bolster the country’s growth and make it self-reliant, the government started establishing IITs, IIMs and AIIMS. Like other IITs, the classes of the first batch commenced on a half-constructed campus.

“Since our hostel, Patel Hall, was half ready when the first year started, we had to share rooms. Interestingly, as there were differences in syllabus levels in different universities at intermediate science where students took admission, tutorials of Math and English were organised after dinner in the hostel for the first two terms of the first year,” Patel said.

“The initial struggles and our saviour”

IIT Kharagpur campus was spread over 2100 acres in the vast tree-laden campus. Along with a tough syllabus, the initial batches had to struggle with wildlife. “There were snakes around the hostel under construction and our beloved director Dr. J C Ghosh, also a famed Indian scientist, ordered the cutting of drains around and spraying of carbolic acid. The humane and kind approach of Dr. J C Ghosh made us withstand many hardships. In the third year, we moved to the classes in the new building,” he said.

Dr. J C Ghosh left IIT in the third year to join as the Vice Chancellor of Calcutta University. A student delegation from IIT met Dr. B. C. Roy the then Chief Minister of West Bengal to plead with him the need for continuing Dr. J C Ghosh, revered as a father figure by the students. Dr. B C Roy is stated to have quipped, “We will send another father figure to you.”

Dr. B R Sengupta, Principal of Shibpur Engineering College, was appointed as the next director for IIT Kharagpur. As per Patel, Dr. Sen Gupta was a strict disciplinarian and a stickler for targets.

Despite being the first batch, the students, were fortunate to have the best faculty possible. “Dr. Krause Mechanical Engineering, Prof Malonowsky, Production Technology (UNESCO support) on the mechanical side and Prof. Keshav Murthy, Prof Srinivasan, Dr. Menon gave us deep insights into Electrical Engineering. They took us to much higher heights in the subjects that I could see the difference in when I joined DVC as an assistant engineer in the Maithon Hydel Project after college in 1955 and Indian Railways in early 1957,” Patel informed.

iit newsFirst convocation at IIT-Kharagpur. The first batch is sitting with the then PM Nehru.

The Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) was established in 1951 and is the oldest among all the IITs in the country. As the institute was set up in the Hijli detention camp of West Bengal, it has a link with the freedom fighters of India.

An electrical engineering (1951-55) alumnus, Narasimhan Venkatesan Patel (former member of the Railway Board) shares some interesting anecdotes about the faculty and how IIT-Kharagpur took special tutorials of students who appeared in Class 12 exams from different boards or syllabi.

“We mostly had classes in the old Hijlee Central Jail building in the first two years. A big hangar inside the compound served as the workshop. Our staff, some of whom had served in the prison administration as jailors, mentioned that our classrooms were the rooms where prisoners (many great freedom fighters) were locked up, and some were tortured and later died,” he told.

To bolster the country’s growth and make it self-reliant, the government started establishing IITs, IIMs and AIIMS. Like other IITs, the classes of the first batch commenced on a half-constructed campus.

“Since our hostel, Patel Hall, was half ready when the first year started, we had to share rooms. Interestingly, as there were differences in syllabus levels in different universities at intermediate science where students took admission, tutorials of Math and English were organised after dinner in the hostel for the first two terms of the first year,” Patel said.

The initial struggles and our saviour

IIT Kharagpur campus was spread over 2100 acres in the vast tree-laden campus. Along with a tough syllabus, the initial batches had to struggle with wildlife. “There were snakes around the hostel under construction and our beloved director Dr JC Ghosh, also a famed Indian scientist, ordered the cutting of drains around and spraying of carbolic acid. The humane and kind approach of Dr JC Ghosh made us withstand many hardships. In the third year, we moved to the classes in the new building,” he said.

DR JC Ghosh left IIT in the third year to join as the Vice Chancellor of Calcutta University. A student delegation from IIT met Dr BC Roy the then chief minister of West Bengal to plead with him the need for continuing Dr JC Ghosh, revered as a father figure by the students. DR BC Roy is stated to have quipped: “We will send another father figure to you.”

iit kharagpur photosAn old photo of IIT-Kharagpur

DR BR Sengupta, principal of Shibpur Engineering College was appointed as the next director for IIT Kharagpur. As per Patel, Dr Sen Gupta was a strict disciplinarian and a stickler for targets.

Despite being the first batch, the students, as per Patel, were fortunate to have the best faculty possible. “Dr Krause Mech Engg, Prof Malonowsky, Production Technology (UNESCO support) on the mechanical side and Prof Keshav Murthy, Prof Srinivasan, Dr Menon gave us deep insights into electrical engineering. They took us to much higher heights in the subjects that I could see the difference in when I joined DVC as an assistant engineer in the Maithon Hydel Project after college in 1955 and Indian Railways in early 1957,” Patel informed.

‘IITs should consider dual degree programmes’

These days, IITs are coming up with courses to skill up their students. In IIT Kharagpur, however, this has been introduced in the initial years. “One noteworthy feature of the course was the attempt to include Humanities in the course and we had the benefit of Business Management courses in two terms by Prof Nanjundiah. If IIT had allowed more courses in business administration, it would have sent the right mix of engineer managers to the industry,” Patel added.

On the issue of regular engineers drifting from core subjects to computer sciences, he said the problem is similar to losing engineering graduates seeking IIM post graduate pursuit “sometimes ending up selling cigarettes and soaps with lucrative emoluments.”

“One way would be to send out core engineers with a Diploma in Computer Sciences as well, IITs may consider shifting to dual degree programmes. AIIMS Delhi has already set up a strong IT department recognising the importance of IT in genetics health care,” he said.

An Indian Express Exclusive Story

https://indianexpress.com/article/education/iit-kharagpurs-first-batch-our-classes-were-held-in-where-freedom-fighters-were-locked-up-jeemain-2024-advanced-8969298/

Edited By : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

Follow us on: Facebook – IIT Kharagpur; Twitter – @IITKgp;  Instagram – @iit.kgp; LinkedIn – Indian Institute of Technology
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Prof. Sudhakar Yedla, Alumnus of IIT Kharagpur is appointed as the Director of NIT Srinagar

Prof. Sudhakar Yedla, an Alumnus of IIT Kharagpur (1996/M.Tech/AG/2000/PhD CE) is appointed as the Director of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar. A Professor at IGIDR and a Former Vice-Chancellor of Dravidian University, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India, Prof Yedla is a Civil Engineering graduate from Andhra University who completed his Masters and PhD from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur in the area of Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering.

Joined IGIDR in 1999, Prof. Yedla is a Civil Engineer with Masters and PhD in Environmental Engineering from IIT Kharagpur. He is also trained in Environmental Economics and Development Policy from World Bank Institute, USA and International Environmental Law from UN Institute in Switzerland and has served international institutions & universities such as Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Japan as a Policy Researcher; New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Newark, USA as a Visiting Scholar; University of Ulsan, South Korea as Professor; Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand as Visiting Associate Professor and Professor. He has been serving as international consultant (SDG, GEF and Sustainable Cities) to a number of international and development agencies such as UNDP, Egypt, UNESCAP, UNEP, UNEP-RRC, ADB, World Bank, Sida etc.

Prof. Sudhakar Yedla
Director
National Institute of Technology, Srinagar

For the past 20 years, he has been associated with a number of academic institutions as board member and some important academic bodies such as Academic Senate of NIT Warangal, Executive Council of IGIDR, Academic Council of IGIDR and NIT Warangal. He published extensively in international journals and books and is invited by the peers in India and abroad on more than 125 occasions and participated in another 120 national and international conferences.

Guided 20 graduate students and served in Editorial Boards of a number of International Journals, Prof. Yedla has served as Court Member as the MHRD Nominee for the Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi. As a Vice-Chancellor of a State University of Government of Andhra Pradesh, he is popularly known for his strict, dynamic and reformative administration with a great vision for the University. He works in the areas of Environmental Economics, Valuation of Environment and Pollution, Urban Environmental Policy, Climate Change Mitigation, Sustainable Mobility, Urban Waste Management, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Sustainable Cities and Development of Eco-Industrial Parks.

In his first address, Prof. Yedla acknowledged the remarkable legacy of NIT Srinagar, “Throughout its history, this institution has been a beacon of knowledge, a haven for intellectual curiosity, and a catalyst for positive change. Today, as I step into this role, I am fully aware of this responsibility and the immense potential that lies within our NIT Srinagar’s walls. My vision for NIT Srinagar is to make it one of the leading Institutes in the entire country,” he said.

He was chosen twice to evaluate Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) of UNDP India for 2012-17 programme cycle. Prof. Yedla has been advising Department of Urban Development and Environment and Forest on SDGs, and Sustainable Cities and was appointed as Advisor (Head), Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organization, Government of India.

Prof. Yedla said nothing can be achieved without the support of administrative staff, faculty, colleagues, and students. It is a collective effort and we all have to make NIT Srinagar one of the best institutes of this country. My focus will be on fostering an environment that supports the growth and well-being of the NIT Srinagar and not boosts the interests of individuals. When the organization thrives, individuals also get benefits under its shadow.

He has more than 24 years of teaching and research experience with research focus that includes Climate Studies, Urban Environmental Management, Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Mobility, Waste Management, Provision of Urban Services, Valuation of Environmental Services and Assessment of Environmental and Socio-economic Impacts of Development Initiatives.

Prof. Yedla has done his post-doctoral studies (PDF) at Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand and has a diploma in International Environmental Law (DIEL) from UNITAR, Switzerland with a certification from the World Bank Institute in Environmental Economics and Development Policy (CEEDP).

He has worked at several national and international institutions such as the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), in Japan, the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Newark, USA and Korean Institute of International Economic Policy (KIEP), South Korea. Before coming to NIT Srinagar, Prof. Yedla served NCERT as the Chairperson for the National Focus Group on Environmental Education for the National Curriculum Framework.

Prof. Yedla was nominated twice by MHRD to the Asian Institute of Technology as the Government of India’s seconded faculty member. He served as Project Director for a major regional research program in climate change (ARRPEEC) funded by SIDA and another multinational research initiative by UN-FAO in the area of ‘Roles of Agriculture’.

He has been widely consulted by international development agencies and think tanks and has worked with UNDP-India, UNDP-Egypt, UNESCAP, UNEP-RRC, UNEP-Regional Office, World Bank, Global Environment Facility (GEF), United Nations University, DFID, Research Council of UK and IGES, Japan on various consulting assignments.

Prof. Yedla has won eleven prestigious national and international fellowships and also won awards such as Fast Track Young Scientist Research Grant of DST, Government of India; Fellowship for Best Paper from GEF of the World Bank, Alexandria, and Egypt.

By : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

Follow us on: Facebook – IIT Kharagpur; Twitter – @IITKgp;  Instagram – @iit.kgp; LinkedIn – Indian Institute of Technology
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The Soul Set Free

When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom-filed room
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little – but not too long
And not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love that we once shared
Miss me but let me go
For this is a journey that we all must take
And each must go alone
Its all a part of the Master’s plan
A step on the road to home
When you are lonely and sick of heart
Go to the friends we know
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds
Miss me but let me go.

IIT Kharagpur community bids adieu to Prof. Kailas Chandra Sahu who left for his heavenly adobe on 14th April 2023 from his Los Angeles home. Prof. Sahu received his B.Tech, M. Tech and PhD degree, under the guidance of his revered mentor and supervisor Prof. R. Misra from IIT Kharagpur. He began his teaching career from his Alma Mater IIT Kharagpur and was also the Director of National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE) Mumbai. The Department of Industrial Management Centre was founded in 1973 under the leadership of Professor Sahu.

Among his many accolades, he was the Founding Head and Professor of Industrial Engineering & Management (IE & M) between 1972 and 1996. He was the guide and mentor to countless students at IIT, including 21 PhD scholars. Many of his students have made notable contributions in their careers. Along the way, he published over 135 papers and 8 monograms.“Works Organization and Management”,“Industrial Organization and Management” and “Education and Social Change” are some of the books that he authored and co-authored which made significant impacts. He consulted widely for various public and private sector entities and headed various Expert Committees for government organizations along with active involvement in numerous professional organizations. His memoir “Made in IIT” was published in 2012.

Prof. Kailas Chandra Sahu

Prof. Sahu was an inspiring teacher. He won multiple awards and recognition, including the Distinguished Alumni Award by IIT Kharagpur, the Distinguished Teacher’s Award by IIT Kharagpur Alumni Association, and the Lifetime Achievement Award by the IIT Alumni Association of Southern California. He was the National President at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IEEE),  the National President at Operational Research Society of India (ORSI) and was an Advisor for DRIEMS, a premier technical university in his birth village, Odisha. He has also served as a member on the Board of Governors for IIT.

Academic accomplishments aside, Prof. Sahu immersed himself in student life throughout his tenure at IIT Kharagpur. Being an Azadian himself, he later served as the Warden of Azad Hall, then the President of Gymkhana, and as the Dean of Student Affairs. These prolific roles nurtured his bonds with his Alma Mater and gave a sense of fulfillment.

“Professor Kailash Chandra Sahu, my Guru was a great student friendly teacher par excellence. He was an Institute Builder, a motivator and had a superb personality with all the qualities of a Kgpian. Truly, he was made in IIT Kharagpur for IIT Kharagpur. He considered his students, faculty members and employees of his department as extended members of his family. He was a professional and was regarded at a very high esteem. He was the founder of the current Department of Industrial and System Engineering of the Institute. His contributions to Institution building as President Students Gymkhana and as Dean Students Affairs will be always be cherished and remembered. His loss is truly a loss of gem to IIT Kharagpur and to the Industrial Engineering Community and certainly a personal loss for me,” said Prof. Damodar Acharya, Former Director, IIT Kharagpur. 

Throughout his lifetime, he was a proud IITian and held IIT Kharagpur very close to his heart and would often reminisce about specific moments and times that he spent with his friends and colleagues here. Our sincere condolences to his wife and partner Mrs. Bimala Sahu, their four children Ranajit Sahu, Nivedita Sahu, Sanghamitra Sahu, and Sucharita Sahu, and his grandchildren. May the Almighty give all of them enough strength to bear this irreplaceable loss. We pray for eternal peace for his departed soul. He will always be remembered in our thoughts, prayers and action. IIT Kharagpur will forever acknowledge his contributions to the Institute.

Inputs by: Prof. Damodar Acharya, Former Director, IIT Kharagpur
Email: acharyadamodar94@gmail.com

Edited By : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

Follow us on: Facebook – IIT Kharagpur; Twitter – @IITKgp;  Instagram – @iit.kgp; LinkedIn – Indian Institute of Technology
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A Compassionate Patron

You were the beautiful melody in the rhythm of life where the music of your life lives on
To live in the hearts we leave behind, is not to die…

IIT Kharagpur mourns the loss of our beloved alumni, Mr. Gulab Bhavnani. Though our words can do a little, we hope our prayers will comfort his family and friends in his absence. A man of honour and compassion, Mr. Gulab Bhavnani, encourages all of us in so many ways to be kind and generous. Your Alma Mater will always remember you.

Mr. Gulab Bhavnani, is one of the most eminent alumni of IIT Kharagpur, who left for his heavenly abode on Monday, March 13, 2023. He completed his B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur in 1966 and further proceed with his studies at Wharton School of Business in Philadelphia.

Being an entrepreneur, Mr. Bhavnani was the Program Director of WHEELS which is a partnership program initiated by Capital IIT Association, designed to stimulate social entrepreneurship and encourage skilled professionals to create job opportunities for the improvement of lives of US and Indian citizens.  Mr. Bhavnani was also a Managing Partner of Anchor Systems Corporation, and was the Director of IT Delivery for the American Red Cross.

On the humanitarian ground, Mr. Bhavani always came forward to give his half, be it for any charitable or societal cause or any other initiatives and programs held in his Alma Mater.

In the memory of Late Mr. Gulab Bhavnani, his batchmate Mr. Suresh Shenoy  wrote:
“It is with deepest regret that I report the passing away of our friend and colleague, Gulab Bhavnani.. May his soul Rest in Peace. Gulab was a founding member of WHEELS, and I considered him a solid rock of a supporter and among the most reliable ‘go to’ persons. I don’t remember any time when he said “No” to a request! Gulab was always on call for anything related to IIT – our events, gala, charitable endeavours and each time, he gave it all! 
Gulab will be sorely missed. Rest in peace, my friend.
In sadness, but left with fond and lasting memories of a great friend.”

In the remembrance of Mr. Gulab Bhavnani, IIT KGP fraternity mourns in sadness after hearing the news of his demise. Our sincere condolences to his bereaved family. May almighty give enough strength to his family to bear this irreplaceable loss. We pray for eternal peace of his departed soul. He will always be remembered in our thoughts, prayers and action. IIT Kharagpur will forever carry forward his legacy and acknowledge his contributions to the Institute. 

Inputs by: Ms. Namrata Sharma, Office of Outreach & Alumni Affairs, IIT Kharagpur
Email: namrata.iit02@gmail.com

Edited by : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

Follow us on: Facebook – IIT Kharagpur; Twitter – @IITKgp;  Instagram – @iit.kgp; LinkedIn – Indian Institute of Technology
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IIT Kharagpur inks MoU with Oil India Limited

Under the aegis of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Oil India Limited on research collaboration in the broader areas of Earth Sciences and Hydrocarbon Exploration. The event was graced by Dr. Ranjith Rath, Chairman & Managing Director, Oil India Limited, senior officials of OIL, Prof. Virendra Kumar Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur, Prof. Amit Patra, Deputy Director, IIT Kharagpur, Prof. Chandan Chakraorty, Dean, Research and Development (R&D); Prof. Paresh Nath Singha Roy, Chairperson, Deysarkar Centre of Excellence in Petroleum Engineering and other senior professors of IIT Kharagpur.

Dr. Ranjit Rath, CMD, Oil India Limited remarked “As a step towards its commitment of ensuring India’s energy security and making India less import dependent, OIL has adopted a 3-pronged strategy of enhanced exploration activities with leap of faith exploration acreage of 50,000 plus sqkm pan India; Mission 4+ to expedite & augment domestic production of crude oil & natural gas; and expand its alternate energy portfolio aimed at achieving Net Zero by 2040”.

The collaborative Research & Development (R&D) between both the organizations will invigorate industrial and inter-disciplinary research and training undertaken at Deysarkar Centre of Excellence in Petroleum Engineering at IIT Kharagpur in Upstream, Midstream and Downstream segments of the Oil and Natural Gas value chain entailing hydrocarbon exploration, development, production, reservoir management including IOR & EOR, pipeline transportation, sedimentary basin analysis, refining & process technology etc.

“The MoU is a step towards Industry-Academia collaboration in advanced technologies in earth sciences and hydrocarbon exploration to cater to the growing demands of hydrocarbon exploration and extraction. Through this MoU, both OIL and IITKGP will engage themselves in various joint research initiatives and advanced technology solutions in energy sector and other areas of mutual interest,” Dr. Rath further added.

Prof. Virendra Kumar Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur remarked, “To support innovation and start-up ecosystem for a sustainable future, we need to indigenize, modernize, and renovate the oil refining industry. The focus should be on domestic exploration of petrochemical production capacity. Application of Geoscience, Engineering & Design, Chemical & Process Technologies, and R&D initiatives along with application of GIS and Remote sensing studies in Oil and Natural gas industry will create investment opportunities through Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Further, Prof. V K Tewari accompanied by a team of professors will visit different exploration sites of Oil India to augment areas of research collaboration and project implementation.

“India contributes 5% share in the global oil demand and has the fourth-largest crude refining capacity in the world. 10% Ethanol-blended petrol which has already been achieved in our country will maximize the dependence on alternative energy,” opined Prof. Tewari.

Media Coverage :

PTI

 The Print Economic Times 
Dainik Jagran Ei Samaye 

India Blooms
IBG News WSquare News Bartaman (Hindi)

               
Dainik Jagran                                                                             Ei Samaye


By : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

Follow us on: Facebook – IIT Kharagpur; Twitter – @IITKgp;  Instagram – @iit.kgp; LinkedIn – Indian Institute of Technology
For news visit: https://kgpchronicle.iitkgp.ac.in/ 

The Unforgettable Soul – Markose Thomas Memorial Award

‘Be in love with your life. Every minute of it’ – Markose Thomas

The loss of a life is always mournful. The pain of losing someone is a shared emotion that we as humans endure with the silent grief of remembrance. No one can heal the heart that lost its purpose of existence, the least we can do is have empathy towards the departed soul. The physical presence may have perished but the aura of their beautiful soul shall remain forever. When we recollect to remember their attributes, we think of the ways they have contributed in our respective lives, the way they were with us be it the first encounter or the last goodbye. We say goodbye to people everyday with the hope to meet them tomorrow but with unsaid goodbyes, we actually feel to miss their everyday presence to remember them again. In remembrance of the Unforgettable Soul of Mr. Markose Thomas, Alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, Mr. Mathew Thomas (brother of Late Markose Thomas) along with Dr. Daibashish Gangopadhay (Markose’s friend) wanted to keep his memory and legacy alive by instituting the Markose Thomas Memorial Award for the best Research Paper from the Department of Computer Science & Engineering of IIT Kharagpur, in the honor of Late Markose Thomas.

In an unfortunate incident that took place on 6th July 2018, Mr. Markose Thomas left for the heavenly abode. Mr. Markose Thomas along with his friends went on a camping trip where he died after tragically drowning in a lake. His shocking and sudden death left his family and friends in a great distress.

MARKOSE THOMAS (23rd August, 1983 – 6th July, 2018)

Mr. Markose Thomas, is one of the illustrious alumnus of IIT Kharagpur who was born to Thomas Markose and Sara Thomas in Thiruvalla, Kerala. He was brought up in Bangalore & Kanpur. Mr. Thomas completed his B.Tech and M.Tech in Computer Science & Engineering in 2006 from IIT Kharagpur. A remarkable student of his batch, he took part in numerous well-known coding competitions like ACM and many more. He began his career as a Software Engineer at Google and worked there for 7 years. He was also one of the essential part of the team that started Coheisty in San Francisco. Apart from his work, Markose was really passionate about his interests and made sure he participated in all of them enthusiastically. He kept it real and was grounded. He was a great admirer of the quote “Be in love with your life. Every minute of it.” May the God almighty give enough strength to his family to bear this irreplaceable loss. We pray for eternal peace of his departed soul. He will always be remembered in our thoughts, prayers and action.

The Markose Thomas Memorial Award 2021-22 for the best paper in Computer Science and Engineering was awarded to researchers, Prof. Rajat Subhra Chakraborty, Computer Science & Engineering and Mr. Aniket Roy, M.Tech Student of Computer Science & Engineering of IIT Kharagpur for their paper titled, “ Towards Optimal Prediction Error Expansion based reversible image watermarking,” IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. Video Technol. 30(8): 2377-2390 (2020).

Mr. Aniket Roy
M.Tech in Computer Science & Engineering
IIT Kharagpur 

Mr. Aniket Roy and Prof. Rajat Subhra Chakraborty were elated to receive the award and expressed their gratitude for the same. Mr. Aniket remarked, M. Tech in Computer Science & Engineering remarked, ” Happy & Honoured. It was a privilege to be under the tutelage of Prof. Chakraborty and learn computer vision from Prof. Mukhopadhayay. Thank you will never be enough, I am happy I am sharing the award with you Sir..! A lot of dedication, hard work and determination was required to celebrate this award. I’m grateful to the Institution and the Donor for coming up with this award and encouraging the students for their efforts.”

Prof. Rajat Subhra Chakraborty
Computer Science & Engineering
IIT Kharagpur

While Prof. Rajat Subhra Chakraborty, Computer Science & Engineering, IIT Kharagpur  added,” Thank you for the intimation. I am extremely happy & grateful to receive this recognition.”

Inputs by: Ms. Namrata Sharma, Office of Outreach & Alumni Affairs, IIT Kharagpur
Email: namrata.iit02@gmail.com

Edited by : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

Follow us on: Facebook – IIT Kharagpur; Twitter – @IITKgp;  Instagram – @iit.kgp; LinkedIn – Indian Institute of Technology
For news visit: https://kgpchronicle.iitkgp.ac.in/ 

The Secret of Getting Ahead is Getting Started – Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2023

Entrepreneurship Cell of  IIT Kharagpur  conducted Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2023

Oprah Winfrey said ,”Do not worry about being successful but work towards being significant and the success will naturally flow.” The entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it and exploits it as an opportunity. Entrepreneurship is a state of mind, a can-do attitude, a capacity to focus on a vision and work towards it. Sometimes you have to cross the line of familiarity to explore what holds beneath the generic idea of representation and problem solving techniques considering the other variables. Entrepreneurship Cell, under the aegis of Rajendra Mishra School of Engineering Entrepreneurship (RMSoEE) of IIT Kharagpur organized the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2023 (GES) 2023 from 3rd to 5th February 2023, returning from the virtual mode after last two editions. This year the opening ceremony was inaugurated by Chief Guest Shri Suresh Prabhu, Former Minister of Industry & Commerce, Aviation and Railway and the Chancellor of Rishihood University, Sonipat who addressed the inaugural ceremony in an online mode in the presence of Prof. Amit Patra, Deputy Director; Prof. C S Kumar, Head, RMSoEE, Prof P K Dan, Associate Professor, RMSoEE along with Special Guest Mr. Kanav Hasija, Co-founder & CPO Innovaccer & an Alumnus of IIT Kharagpur.

Shri Suresh Prabhu, Former Cabinet Minister stated, “IIT Kharagpur is one of the earliest IITs established in India and has a strong reputation both nationally and globally. The growth in recent decades has been phenomenal, with new enterprises bringing fresh ideas and challenging traditional practices. While there is wisdom to be gained from the past, it is crucial to recognize and embrace the changing world, which is driven by formative ideas establishing traditional values.”

Shri Suresh Prabhu
Former Cabinet Minister
Government of India

In the 16th edition of Entrepreneurship Summit 2023, the theme for this year GES 2023 was Realm of Renaissance. E-Cell of IIT KGP conducted keynote sessions from eminent personalities like Mr. Karti Kumar Marshan, President & CMO Kotak Mahindra Group; Mr. Abhijit Roy, MD & CEO, Berger Paints India Ltd., and Mr. Akilur Rahman, CTO Hitachi Technologies among many were conducted. Fireside Chats with Mr. Pulkit Jain, Co-Founder Vedantu; Mr. Rohit Kumar, Co-Founder Filo; Mr. Sean Sohn, CEO, Krafton, Mr. Mikhail Gusev, India Representative, Skolkovo Foundation among others invigorated the student with fresh ideations. Workshops, Product Expo, Professor’s Meet, Women Conclave, Million-At-Stake, Entrepreneurship Dialogues and panel discussions made the event a grand affair and a funding commitment were received by two startups, Atreya Innovation and Genexis Biotech.

   

Empresario’23

The closing ceremony was addressed by Chief Guest Mr. Vishal Chaudhary, Founder, Zetwerk & an Alumnus of IIT Kharagpur along with Alakh Pandey Show that grabbed many eye balls. This 3-day conglomeration provided a platform to interact with startup leaders, win exciting prizes and build an enterprising India. Mr. Gaurav Shah, Partner, Arete Ventures, Mr. Suryaprakash Konanuru, CTO, Ideaspring Capital, Mr. Avelo Roy, Managing Director, Kolkata Ventures, Mr. Bhavesh Choudhary, Partner, Venture Catalyst, Mr. Prashant Kataria, Investment Professional, Bharat Fund were the major investors. The summit attracted many footfalls from the academic world and industry experts with a major turnout.

Global Entrepreneurship Summit is annual flagship initiative of the Entrepreneurship Cell of IIT Kharagpur, being one of the biggest inter-collegiate corporate summits in India. It is a unique platform where industry doyens share their insights based on their experiences and entrepreneurial journey. GES is a confluence of aspiring entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, angel investors, new age entrepreneurs, industry experts, academicians and students. It is a platform for young minds to interact, enable them to create innovative ideas and empower them to build awareness amongst their peers about the ever-growing startup evangelism. Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2023 concluded with great aspirations and formative base models for future goals under the able supervision and guidance of Dr. P K Dan, Associate Professor, Rajendra Mishra School of Engineering Entrepreneurship.

Media Coverage :

Indian Express

Campus Varta 

 Telegraph

 

Dainik Jagran 

 

By : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

Follow us on: Facebook – IIT Kharagpur; Twitter – @IITKgp;  Instagram – @iit.kgp; LinkedIn – Indian Institute of Technology
For news visit: https://kgpchronicle.iitkgp.ac.in/ 

Forbes 30 Under 30 – Alumnus Prof. Srijan Kumar

IIT Kharagpur alumnus, Prof. Srijan Kumar has been included in Forbes 30 under 30 in Science,
Class of 2022!

Prof. Kumar is an Assistant Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is a specialist in
AI, ML, and Data Science. In his attempt to make the internet a safer place he is involved in
developing Data Science and Machine Learning solutions to combat fraudsters, trolls, and other
malicious entities. His research has influenced Twitter’s Birdwatch platform. It is also
implemented by Flipkart.

An alumnus of the 2013 batch from the Computer Science and Engineering Department of the
Institute, Prof. Kumar went on to pursue his Masters and a Ph.D. from the University of
Maryland, College Park.

He said that he is ever grateful to the teachers at the Computer Science Department. He specially
conveyed his gratitude to his mentor Prof. Partha Pratim Chakrabarti. He also thanked Prof. Niloy
Ganguly and Prof. Animesh Mukherjee for introducing him to Machine Learning and Data
Science.

Content Writer:- Arkaprabha Pal, Office of Alumni Affairs & Branding

Email: pal18arkaprabha@gmail.com