A retrospect: Glimpses of my association with
Directors of IIT Kharagpur
By B.P. Biswas
[N.B. : This article has been abridged by the webmaster]
India became independent in 1947. The central Government under the leadership of Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehru had a difficult task: "to keep pace with developing countries we
should strive to join the great race of excellence and one day become world leaders of the
race". As per the Sarkar committee recommendations, IIT Kharagpur was started in
1951.
After saying good-by to my numerous friends and colleagues at Writers' Building and
Calcutta, I landed at Kharagpur railway station on March 3, 1953 on a bright sunny
morning. The IIT campus was almost a jungle with snakes and scorpions all around. Soon I
was introduced to the Registrar, Shri P.N. Sengupta and the founder Director, Sir J.C
Ghosh. On stepping into Director's room I was quite charmed by his affectionate reception.
He was a man of great personality, a renowned scientist, a visionary, a planner and an
able administrator.
In October 1955 Dr. Ghosh asked me to take over the work of his PA, as Shri Sen Chowdhury,
his former PA had decided to go back to Delhi. Since then I was continuing to hold the
fortress of Director's office, and I remember numerous memorable events.
Once in connection with the job of a person, Dr. Ghosh had commented "if a few lines
from me helps a person why should I not do that -- please write to the personnel manager
and put up the letter for my signature". My hats off to the startling qualities of a
great scientist. Lady Ghosh too was a very pious lady and commanded respect from all
cross-sections of people of the campus. Dr. Ghosh used to say, "the aim of the
Institute should be to turn out graduates for the service of the nation, who will live and
die for the cause of the country. It should produce a young band of men and women with
qualities of leadership who serve the masses".
On March 2, 1953 Dr. Ghosh returned from Delhi. In the meantime, there was a rumour all
around that Dr. Ghosh was leaving us to take another assignment at Calcutta at the
instance or Dr. B.C. Roy, Chief Minister of West Bengal and Chairman of our Board of
Governors. The next morning when Dr. Ghosh was engrossed with files and papers I politely
asked him, "Sir, is there any basis in the rumour"? With a pleasing smile he
simply nodded. At last it came true and Dr. Ghosh handed over charge to Dr. S.R. Sengupta,
the then Principal of Bengal Engineering College, Howrah on 12 March. A students'
deputation met Dr. B. C. Roy and appealed to him not to withdraw Dr. Ghosh from IIT
Campus. But Dr. Roy patted the boys and said that the die had already been cast. "You
will soon find a very able Engineer-Administrator who will replace Dr. Ghosh" -- said
he. It was understood that Dr. Roy was trying to induct Dr. Ghosh as his Deputy in the
West Bengal Cabinet but that was not possible because of some opposition form his
colleagues and ultimately Dr. Roy appointed Dr. Ghosh as the Vice Chancellor of the
Calcutta University. There he did some pioneering work for the good of the university and
opened a number of students' homes for the poor and needy students. Subsequently, Sir J.C.
Ghosh went to Delhi as a member of the Planning Commission.
Dr. S.R. Sengupta took over as Director of this Institute and reached the campus on 12
March 1993. He was a hard-core administrator with strong personality. He belonged to the
generation of Indians, which put duty above everything else and became great builders. In
fact, one after another, the construction of the Main Institute building and the
Departments were completed during thirteen years of his tenure (1955-67). The Main
Institute Building was designed by the renowned architect, Sri Akshay Bose of M/s
Ballardie, Thomson and Mathews, Calcutta and constructed by Dalmia & Co. Soon after
taking over charge in a meeting with some faculty members, he said, "A true
administrator is one who is hundred percent impartial. He, who can train his students and
others in courage, fearlessness, fair play, justice, truth, can pilot the ship well to the
destiny. A bamboo can be bent when it is green and not when it is mature. So good or bad
is the outcome of the habit inculcated right from childhood".
Some significant changes were introduced soon after Dr. Sengupta joined the Institute. By
an Act of parliament in 1956 the Institute became an autonomous body and was declared
'Institute of National Importance'. Then he introduced Entrance Examination for admission
to the Institute, JEE, which was followed by all IlTs since then.
On April 12, 1956 the first convocation of Institute was held -- Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
delivered the convocation address. Dr. B.C. Roy, our Chairman, Dr. J.C. Ghosh, the founder
Director of the Institute and other dignitaries were present.
There was a story about setting up the Institute at Kharagpur. A team of Central
Government visited Mihijam in Bihar and Kharagpur, Kolaghat, Barrackpore, among others, to
establish the first IIT. Dr. Rajendra Prasad persuaded the Government to establish it at
Mihijam. Dr. B.C. Roy, sensing the situation, donated the Hijli Jail building and other
buildings in Hijli, which were being occupied by Eastern Frontier Rifles to the Government
in order to start the IIT right then. Ultimately he won the tussle. The headquarters of
Eastern Frontier Rifles were shifted to Gopali about 3 km away from the campus.
There was an outbreak of hepatitis in mid 1950's among the students and residents of the
campus. Dr. Sengupta brought a team of doctors from Calcutta through the good offices of
Dr. B.C. Roy to curb the menace. In the past we had a good rapport with the Govt. of West
Bengal and the Institute had been immensely benefited but slowly thereafter that sweet
relation had disappeared, particularly after the retirement of Dr. Sengupta.
In 1959, the first Reviewing Committee was appointed with renowned educationists,
administrators and Govt. officials under the Chairmanship Sir Willis Jackson (an
electrical engineer) of U.K., to review the working of IIT Kharagpur and suggest measures
for further advancement to suit the needs of the country. Dr. Sengupta asked me to assist
the Chairman during about one and half month tenure of the Committee. I had to guide the
team at the Institute during their stay here and maintain secrecy. After some spadework at
Delhi the Committee members reached the campus. Before taking up the assignment I politely
asked Dr. Sengupta, "Sir, please tell me, while working with the Committee whether I
will be loyal to Institute or to the Reviewing Committee"? Dr. Sengupta said,
"You should be hundred percent loyal to the Committee". During their short stay
in the campus I had to work almost day and night. My satisfaction was that I could serve
the Chairman and the Committee members and attained their admiration.
In 1960's, a PG Committee under the Chairmanship of Prof. M.S. Thacker, the then Director
General, CSIR and the Education Secretary visited the Institute to collect first hand
information about education -- he had meetings with Director and faculty members. The
postgraduate course was for one year then. When the recommendations were discussed at the
IIT Council meeting at Vigyan Bhavan under the chairmanship of the Education Minister, the
Committee accepted the recommendations of the Thacker Committee. The recommendation was
that from next session onwards the course would be structured for two years instead of one
year. It was against the wishes of Dr. Sengupta. He was not happy and spoke to the galaxy
of educationists and others, "Minister, Sir, I know consensus will prevail but please
record the views of Director IIT Kharagpur that this will not help the students. The
brilliant students will go to USA and other western countries and do their MS in a year
and then go for Ph.D or join service". Finally it was recorded in the minutes of the
meeting and again after some years the Nayadumma Committee restricted it to one and half
years.
Dr. Sengupta was supposed to superannuate in 1967. There were requests from the Secretary,
Education Department, Govt. of India asking him to continue on contract but Dr. Sengupta
declined the offer. Even Minister's request had no effect.
Prof. V.N. Prasad, then Deputy Director took over as Director during 1967 and continued
till 1969. His methodology of working was unlike others. He relied mostly on his few
advisers who were close to him.
In early 1968, a Board meeting was scheduled in Chairman's (Sir Biren Mookerjee) office at
Martin Burn House, Calcutta. Prof Satyen N. Bose, the world-renowned scientist, was a
member of the BOG. He, however, expressed his inability to attend because of
indisposition. But Director very much liked to have his support on two or three very vital
issues. Since Prof. Bose was affectionate to me, I was asked to meet him at his north
Calcutta residence and request him to attend the meeting for sometime at least. On
reaching his residence in the morning I saw he was playing on a violin. He told me,
"Biswas, I am unable to attend the meeting as I am not feeling too well". I
replied, "I do realize your difficulty, Sir, but if you so desire for your
convenience I can send the Institute vehicle to pick you up for attending the meeting for
a while and arrange to drop you back to residence". Prof Bose smiled and told me that
he would attend but at 11 AM (and not at 10 AM). Soon thereafter, I came back and reported
to Director. Against my advice Prof. Prasad rang up Prof. Bose from our Calcutta office
(then at Esplanade East) and requested him to attend at 10 AM. Prof. Bose was very much
annoyed and rebuffed, "You have no consideration for an old and sick man. At the
request of Biswas I agreed to come at 11 AM in spite of my ill health. I don't require
your vehicle, I will come at 11 AM and submit my resignation from your Board of Governors
-- I have no intention to continue". Prof. Prasad felt nervous and even though our
driver reported at his residence, Prof. Bose declined and came by a taxi at 11 AM to
Martin Burn House, sat for an hour or so and submitted his resignation in his own
handwriting to the Chairman, Sir Biren Mookerjee. Though Chairman and other members
repeatedly requested him not to resign, Prof. Bose was final in his decision. Director was
much embarrassed in the meeting itself. Prof. Prasad superannuated in 1969 and settled in
New Delhi.
Prof. S.C. Mitra, Deputy Director (Adm) and the seniormost Professor assumed temporary
charge for a few months until Prof. S.K. Bose, a retired Brigadier and then Director, IIT
Bombay took over charge at Kharagpur in mid-1969. Because of his charming personality and
leadership qualities, he earned respect, admiration and whole-hearted cooperation from the
faculty and staff. He had flair to do good work for the Institute and to the campus
community at large. Mrs. Bose, a very good religious-minded lady, mixed with the campus
community very easily. Prof. Bose once commented that after a long time he came back to
this part of the country and this was an opportunity for him to render services to West
Bengal.
Prof. Bose, through his effort and persuasion, hosted the Indian Science Congress at IIT
Kharagpur in 1970. It was a very successful and meaningful Congress according to the
opinion of the delegates and the foreign dignitaries. The Institute also hosted the UGC
vice-chancellors' conference soon thereafter at the initiative of Director. During his
tenure he put up a proposal before the Sahay Committee, which visited the Institute
towards the late half of 1972, a programme of construction of new buildings. Before
getting the signal of approval he soon started construction of Open Air Theatre and
buildings for housing the Industrial Management Centre, Cryogenics Engineering Centre,
Computer Centre, etc. Being a civil engineer, Brig. Bose used to inspect occasionally the
construction work and hammer the contractors to expedite construction. Ultimately the
Sahay Comniittee and the Ministry of Education approved his proposals and allotted funds
for this purpose.
In 1972-73 some senior people, who did not like Director's attitude tried to create a rift
between Shri A.N. Haksar, then Chairman, BOG (Chairman, ITC Calcutta) and Prof Bose. This
damaged to some extent the reputation of the Institute. The Chairman earlier assured Prof.
Bose that he would have to serve the Institute at least one more year beyond his contract
period. However, he had to leave on completion of five-year contract service in 1974.
The Chairman had appointed one retired officer of ITC to probe into the administrative
functions of the Director, even though there was no such post in the sanctioned cadre.
Director with the approval of the Ministry of Education removed the officer within a short
time after his appointment.
Prof. Bose and his wife Mrs. Sudha Bose were very much religious-minded and ultimately
they happily settled at Prasanti Nilayam in Puttaparthi at Satya Sai Baba's ashram -- and
they disposed of their properties at Howrah.
Once again, being the seniormost faculty, Prof. S.C. Mitra took charge temporarily as
Director of the Institute. He had absolute confidence in me and I wholeheartedly and
sincerely assisted him in the discharge of his duties as Director. Prof. Mitra on many
occasions mentioned to me "you have every right to correct me if I am wrong in my
judgment and decision".
Prof. C.S. Jha, Professor in the electrical engineering Dept. of IIT Delhi, took over as
Director of the Institute on 6 November 1974. At the age of 40 years he was the youngest
director IlTs ever had. A soft spoken person with strong conception Prof. Jha had the urge
to straighten the problems faced by IIT and he did remove some of these intelligently and
tactfully without disrespecting the sentiments of senior colleagues. He was the member of
the Board of Governors at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok as the representative
of Indian Government and earned respect there.
On arrival at Kharagpur on 5 November, before taking over charge Prof. Jha spent the whole
day along with me, visiting the Departments & Centres to pay respect to the seniors
and acquaint himself with some faculty and others and solicited their cooperation for
smoothly running the Institute. Soon afterwards Jagatguru Sankaracharya of Singeri visited
the Institute and addressed the campus community on 9 November at the OAT. Prof. Jha was
requested to receive the Guruji -- he did so bare-footed at the main entrance of the
Institute and garlanded Jagatguru and escorted him to the OAT. Guruji addressed the
jam-packed audience of students, staff and the campus community in Hindi and Prof. Jha was
asked to translate extempore speech of Jagatguru in English. His lucid way of translation
in brief and to the point earned admiration of all. In fact, this was the first public
introduction of the newly appointed Director. He made a good impact among the staff and
students of the institute.
Prof Jha wished to rope some of his senior colleagues in his fold to help him in
administering the affairs of the Institute. He made his senior colleague Prof. T.C. Bagchi
to take charge as Deputy Director (Adm) and Prof. K.B. Menon, Head of the Dept. of
Electrical Engineering was appointed the Dean (Postgraduate Studies). Prof. Jha was very
happy to say that both Prof. Bagchi and Prof. Menon gave solid support to him in achieving
results. By dint of his perseverance and intellect, he could smoothen the administration
wherever possible. Chairman, BOG was very happy to see the improvement and all were
appreciative of the leadership qualities of the Director. The Chairman, BOG requested him
to stay and steer the Institute for a little longer but Prof Jha had no intention to do so
and wished to get back to IIT Delhi as a faculty.
In the meantime, in 1977, Shri B.P Poddar, an industrialist from Calcutta was appointed as
Chairman, BOG during the regime of Janata Dal Govt. at the centre in place of Shri A.N.
Haksar.
In February 1978, Prof. Jha handed over charge to Prof. Shankar Lal, Head of the
Mechanical Engineering Dept. of Roorkee University and left for Delhi. On the day of
departure Prof. Jha requested me to accompany him to Calcutta so that he could pay his
respect to Dr S.R. Sengupta, former Director, at his Lake Town residence. Dr. Sengupta
entertained us with tea, snacks, etc. He was not too happy to know that Prof. Jha was
leaving the Institute so soon. I saw them off at Howrah Station.
Prof. Shankar Lal started well with grace and ease. One advantage was that he could speak
Bengali and other eight regional and foreign languages. Things were much easier for him to
pilot the affairs because his predecessor did a lot of groundwork to smoothen the
administration of the Institute. A dynamic personality, Prof. Lal made a good impact with
the students, faculty and staff in the beginning. He had an American wife (Yugoslavian in
origin), a sweet spoken lady who preferred to stay in and discharge household
responsibility. They used to lead a very simple life. I had no difficulty in working with
Prof. Lal as I knew him earlier while working with the Govt. of West Bengal at Calcutta.
His father was known to me who was then Director of Personnel at DVC Headquarters, Alipur,
Calcutta. Once I noticed that Prof. Shankar Lal was wearing a stitched bush shirt in
office. When I pointed out to him he simply kept his hand on my shoulder and remarked,
"My eldest son is studying in USA, youngest son and daughter are studying at Roorkee
University and the eldest daughter at Jawaharlal Nehru University at New Delhi -- more
than half of my earnings is spent for their education. So how can I afford to live in
luxuries"? Prof. Lal had smooth sailing with Chairman Shri B.P. Poddar who expired in
London after protracted illness.
Prof. S.N Sen, the retired Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University took over as Chairman
BOG in 1981. At the beginning Prof. Lal maintained good and harmonious relations with the
Chairman. But as days went by, they had some difference of opinion. Prof. Sen then onwards
directly involved himself with faculty and others and even entertained them at his
Calcutta residence. At times Chairman overruled the decisions of Director in
administrative matters. Due to such relation between Director and Chairman, some senior
faculty members desired to support the Director and wished to start a Faculty Forum. Prof.
Lal welcomed the idea to maintain pressure on the Chairman and somehow got the Faculty
Forum approved in a meeting of the Board of Governors in 1982 without the full support of
the Chairman. The Board's decision was circulated the same day to individual faculty of
the Departments / Centres at the behest of Director. I was asked to see that BOG
resolution is circulated to individual faculty in all the Departments / Centres of the
Institute by the same evening -- though it was a Herculean task I did it with the help of
all my colleagues in Director's office. Prof. Lal anticipated that Prof. Sen on reaching
Calcutta might alter the decision and ask the Director not to implement it. It did so
happen that Chairman telephoned him in the evening. Prof. Lal told him it was already
circulated. This action created an unhealthy atmosphere in the Institute for sometime.
Thereafter, Prof. Sen was reluctant to meet Prof. Lal. I had to meet Chairman often at
Calcutta for obtaining his approval, orders or otherwise on important official matters.
Chairman used to like me and I had free access to his residence. Prof. Shankar Lal's
contractual agreement was coming to an end in February 1983 and the Ministry of HRD was in
action to find a new Director. Ultimately, they had screened two persons, namely Prof.
A.N. Bose, ex vice-chancellor Jadavpur University and Prof Biswajit Nag, then Chairman of
WEBEL Calcutta and ex-Professor of Jadavpur University.
Chairman had likes and dislikes -- he preferred Prof. Bose for the post but the Ministry
had some reservations because of his age. Prof. Nag, knowing this refused to join
Kharagpur even at the request of the Ministry -- he categorically said that so long Prof.
Sen remained as Chairman he would not be wiling to be at IIT Kharagpur. Ultimately, Prof.
Shankar Lal left the institute in February 1983 after handing over charge to Prof. C.N.
Lakshminarayana, then Deputy Director. Soon thereafter Prof. S.N. Sen suddenly died at
Calcutta after a brief illness.
Shri Russi Mody, then Managing director of TISCO was appointed as Chairman, BOG in April
1983. Prof. Lakshminarayana wanted to have someone as Chairman who had a strong
personality and able administrative quality. I obtained brief bio-data of Shri Russi Mody,
from the Institute library and handed over to Prof. Lakshiminarayana. He wrote a personal
letter to Prof. C.S. Jha our former Director and then Educational Advisor (Tech) in the
Ministry of HRD. Sometime later a telegram was received (April 1983) conveying the
appointment of Shri Russi Mody as Chairman, IIT Kharagpur. In mid-April Prof.
Lakshminarayana and myself went to Calcutta to meet Shri Mody on prior appointment at his
Tata Centre office. He welcomed us cordially. We explained to him the function of the
Chairman and presented a copy of Acts & Statutes and some other documents for his
perusal.
Prof. Lakshminarayana superannuated in June 1983 and handed over the charge to Prof. M.A.
Ramlu, then Deputy director on the advice of the Ministry or HRD.
Prof. G S. Sanyal, a very renowned teacher of IIT Kharagpur was invited by the Ministry of
HRD for discussion and he was appointed as Director in August 1983. Prof. Sanyal had no
difficulty in discharging the responsibilities by virtue of his long association with the
Institute. He maintained excellent relations with all cross-sections of the people. In a
short time, he earned respect from the students, faculty, staff and others.
Mr. Mody had a different style of administration. He was quite humorous too. In the
beginning he used to come to Kharagpur to meet the staff and the students community and at
times he shared meals with the students in the Halls of Residence in a relaxed mood. He
has a soft corner for the students and they too loved and respected him just like 'Dad'.
Shri Mody occasionally helped the students financially in the extra-curricular activities,
spring festivals, etc., and offered employment to quite a number of students after
graduation in TISCO and Tata's other organizations. A very cordial atmosphere prevailed
during the period within the Institute and in the campus. He used to meet the
representatives of Employees Union and Teachers Association and tried to solve the general
problems with the help of Director. Being the Chairman of the Tata Group in later years, a
very busy person moving from east to west and sometimes abroad, he used to monitor the
affairs of the Institute through Tata Bearing Division at Kharagpur.
IIT Hall workers Union was very active in 1970s and 1980s before Shri Modi took over as
Chairman. The hall workers' Union with support of the local political leaders was trying
to put pressure on Chairman to meet their demands. Earlier quite often the union went on
strike just before the examination of the students, thus disrupting the academic
activities and the schedule of the Institute. Once in 1984 just before the mid-term
examination the Union served notice for one day's token strike and the same day at dead of
night they handed over a notice to continue the strike from the next day, i.e., the day
the examination started. Director hurriedly called the contractors to feed the students.
The contractors agreed but the Union leaders threatened them.
Shri Mody was apprised of the situation and as a challenge he asked a catering contractor,
Shri Man Singh from Jamshedpur to immediately proceed to IIT Kharagpur with instructions
to feed the students of the Halls of Residence. The West Bengal Government assured Shri
Man Singh of police protection for any untoward incident. The contractor started a gruel
kitchen in Technology Students' Gymkhana building and served meals to more than two
thousand students not only during their exams. but also for three months and academic
schedule of the institute was maintained as usual. Ultimately, they had to withdraw the
strike unconditionally. Most of the workers, except a few leaders, were taken back to work
after signing a letter of conditions of joining as instructed by Chairman BOG. Since then
there was no strike or suspension of work by the Hall workers and the local political
workers could not poke their nose in the Halls of Residence.
Prof. Sanyal retired from the service of the Institute in February 1987, and Prof. K.L.
Chopra, a senior Professor and well-known scientist from IIT Delhi took over. Immediately
on joining Prof. Chopra was active to organize the Convocation of the Institute. Prof. S
Nurul Hassan, the then Governor of West Bengal was the Chief Guest and delivered the
Convocation address. Soon thereafter Prof. Chopra went abroad for three weeks as per
earlier commitment at IIT Delhi, of course with the permission of the Chairman. On return,
in the process of settling down at the Institute, I could know his style of
administration. He was a renowned scientist no doubt, but his dealings with the Heads of
Depts., faculty, officers and others were not praiseworthy. The learned Heads and faculty
were slowly trailing behind rather than coming closer to Director. It was due to his
manners, and lack of courtesy -- contrary to what one expects from his leader. On many
occasions I pointed out to him with instances. Temporarily it worked well but it was
difficult for one to change him. Deputy Director, Prof M.N. Faruqui, a very decent
personality, did not find pleasure to work with him. Registrar, Shri S.R. Acharyya, at
times showed his displeasure and protested to Director on few occasions. Ultimately, Prof.
Faruqui left the Institute to join as Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh University and Shri
Acharyya as Secretary at the Costs & Works Institute of India at Calcutta. These were
losses to the Institute. Staff of the Institute and the campus community started to speak
ill of Prof. Chopra. At times I used to tell him the sentiments of the faculty and staff
who expect human relationship from their Director.
Prof. Chopra used to go out of campus very often. He hardly declined any meeting or
seminar, discussions, etc. During my tenure as Secretary to Director a complaint came from
Chairman's office in 1988 about frequent absence of Director. He wanted to know the period
and dates of absence from headquarters. On going through the records in Director's office,
I found that Prof. Chopra was away from the campus for 160 days during that year, and it
was conveyed to Chairman, BOG. On enquiry from Shri Mody, Prof. Chopra said that his
absence did not affect the working of the Institute.
Prof. Chopra had many sided qualities, did good things, cleaned the campus, solved the
housing problems by constructing more flats, brought changes in the academic activities of
the Institute, and diverted the perimeter road for bus, truck and other private vehicles.
He did a lot for the Institute, yet he was not praised for his leadership qualities. He
was in the habit of giving benefits to his 'yes men' in many ways but denied them to
others. He failed to boost the morale of the faculty and others in the Institute. He had a
fascination for putting marble stone on occasions of laying foundation stone, inauguration
of institutional buildings, etc., all around the Institute and campus. Even sensible
people from outside were laughing at it. Prof. Chopra's contractual appointment ended on 3
March 1992 but he got extension for another term till March 3, 1997.
My superannuating date, i.e., 31 May 1988 was coming closer but Prof. Chopra urged me to
stay on for at least two years more on contract. Though I had no inclination or desire to
continue any more, I could not say 'no' to Prof Chopra. I told him politely that I prefer
to withdraw but agreed to continue for one year in the first instance. Unlike others, he
liked to control everything himself, and expected faculty and others to be submissive to
him whether he was right or wrong. Though responsibility, authority and some financial
powers were vested in Deputy Director, Deans and Heads of Departments and Centres, hardly
anyone could exercise these without the knowledge or consent of the Director. Sometime I
had to face many awkward situations and embarrassment due to such a situation and I found
no other option but to submit my resignation from contract service in September 1988. But
Director did not accept it and requested me to continue till the end of my contractual
appointment. I expressed my unhappiness to Registrar who was a good friend of mine.
Director again requested me to continue for another year but politely I refused the
request as I felt one should leave the chair with grace well in time. Then Prof. G.S.
Sanyal, who was then Executive Director of Science & Technology Entrepreneur's Park
(STEP) requested me to assist him. I could not refuse the request of Prof. Sanyal, since
we knew each other for long.
Prof. Amitabha Ghosh joined the Institute after Prof. Chopra left and is doing an
excellent job as Director. To conclude I am extremely happy to note IIT Kharagpur has been
adjudged the topmost Engineering Institute in the country for consecutive years. The
credit goes to all the Directors, teachers, staff and students of the Institute.
I wish great success of IIT in years to come.
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