A group of eminent philanthropists, including IIT Bombay’s Distinguished Alumni – Mr. Rizwan Koita (Co-Founder and CEO of CitiusTech), Ms. Rekha Koita (Co-Founder, Koita Foundation), and Mr. Shridhar Shukla (Co-Founder, Chairman, KPOINT Technologies) – met with the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, as part of the President’s Visitor’s Conference 2023 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
President Murmu hailed the philanthropists who have been working tirelessly to eradicate inequality and improve the educational conditions in India. She said that she was elated to be in the company of donors who are improving the health and education of the financially constrained in the country and added, “You have been doing great work.” She thanked the eminent group for paying it forward to society selflessly and urged them to continue giving back to their nation.
The three distinguished alumni from IIT Bombay were joined by other very eminent personalities and their spouses including:
Shri Ajay Piramal, Chairman of the Piramal Group
Shri T.T. Jagannathan, Chairman of TTK Prestige
Shri Rakesh Gangwal, Co-Founder of Indigo Airlines
Roshni Nadar, Chairperson of HCL Technologies and Trustee of Shiv Nadar University
Shri Muktesh Pant, Former CEO of Yum China
Shri Subroto Bagchi, Co-founder of Mindtree
Shri Prashanth Prakash, Co-Founder and Partner, Accel India
Shri Nemish Shah, Co-Founder of ENAM and Board of Governor of FLAME University
IIT Bombay is in awe of the outstanding efforts of its alumni community as they address key societal issues plaguing the country. By tackling the root causes of inequality and harnessing the power of education through their philanthropy, our alumni continue to transform lives and ignite a spark of hope across the nation. The Institute congratulates Mr. Rizwan Koita, Ms. Rekha Koita, and Mr. Shridhar Shukla for their selfless journeys that leave behind an enduring impact on the world around us.
IIT Bombay signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Class of 1970 to set up a Translational Research Accelerator (TRA) Fund at the Institute.
The key motivator behind the class of 1970’s substantial donation is to support and foster India’s autonomous technological advancement in vital domains of national significance, notably in defence. The TRA Fund will identify and hone research projects with translational potential even as it will empower students and faculty to become entrepreneurs, help commercialise their technologies, and take them to market.
The class of 1970’s vision for the TRA Fund also includes enabling the conversion of research findings into tangible real-world implementations. Consequently, this will significantly impact and transform the livelihoods of substantial cross-sections of the Indian populace.
This enduring initiative established by the class of 1970 has strengthened IIT Bombay’s dedication to closing the divide between pioneering technological advancements and their successful commercialisation in the marketplace.
IIT Bombay is extremely grateful to the Class of 1970 for their remarkable generosity, unwavering commitment, and visionary support that will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of technological advancement and innovation for generations to come.
The IIT Bombay Faculty Grove Project kicked off on August 26th when a group of IIT Bombay alumni and faculty – led by IIT Bombay alumnus Shirish Deodhar & Prof. Gudi, Dean ACR – came together in Khed, Maharashtra, and planted trees in honour of faculty members who embraced this initiative. Padma Shri recipient and IIT Bombay faculty member, Prof. Deepak B. Phatak inaugurated the grove.
The IIT Bombay Faculty Grove project is among IIT Bombay’s crucial initiatives to promote ecological conservation and sustainability practices by planting trees and through ecology-related projects, even as it is a deeply personal idea to pay tribute to the fulcrum of the Institute – its faculty members (past and present).
Prof. Ravi Gudi read out a message from the Director of IIT Bombay, Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri, who said, “On behalf of all my faculty colleagues and the entire fraternity at IIT Bombay, I congratulate all the alumni who have gathered here on this august occasion of the inauguration of the IIT Bombay Faculty Grove. This initiative is an important and much-needed step in the conservation of our ecology and restoration of natural capital, and I am very happy that IITK Distinguished Alumnus Shri Pravin Bhagwat from the 14Trees Foundation has been spearheading this. I extend my congratulations to him as well as to Shirish Deodhar for his participation and financial support to the IITB Faculty Grove. It is really heartening to see IIT alumni rising up to global challenges, being socially responsible, and inspiring several generations of alumni, students, and citizens. I am also thankful to Prof. D B Phatak for inaugurating the grove. I understand that he arrived at the venue driving his own car. This is really very inspiring. I am sure the grove will serve as a test bed for many scientific and ecological studies. Once again, I express my congratulations and best wishes to all the alumni gathered there and wish the function all joy and success. I look forward to visiting the site in the future.”
The IIT Bombay Alumni Grove Project is the brainchild of IITB’s illustrious alumnus, Mr. Shirish Deodhar (B.Tech., Electrical Engineering, 1980), a Pune-based serial entrepreneur.
The 14Trees Foundation is committed to building sustainable and carbon-footprint-neutral ecosystems through reforestation by transforming 200 acres of ecologically devastated wasteland. The foundation is restoring native green cover on ecologically degraded patches of barren hills by planting native trees, digging ponds to store rainwater and trenches to recharge groundwater, and generating livelihood for local tribals. The IIT Bombay Faculty Grove is an example site on land belonging to Dakshana Foundation, an NGO that helps bright and impoverished students predominantly from rural India to prepare for IIT and medical entrance exams.
A few years back, Mr. Bhagwat decided to celebrate his alma mater’s Diamond Jubilee and give back by planting trees in the name of retired IITK faculty members. This inspired Mr. Deodhar to replicate Mr. Bhagwat’s initiative for his own alma mater.
IIT Bombay is delighted to partner with Mr. Deodhar, 14Trees, and Dakshana on this crucial initiative. The trees planted in the name of the Institute’s faculty will stand the test of time and will act as a reminder of the Institute’s commitment to sustainability.
As a special request, if you are in contact with retired faculty members, please let them know about this initiative in case they have not received any communication about it. It will be a great opportunity to reconnect with them.
For more images on the 14Trees Initiative, please click here.
A mere one year after graduating from the Institute, IIT Bombay alumnus Mr. Gurdit Singh Vohra (B. Tech., Mechanical Engineering, 2022) has brought immense honour to his alma mater.
Mr. Vohra has been appointed as a member of the Academic Council at Mumbai University by the Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra. Apart from being an extremely prestigious position, Mr. Vohra is also the youngest-ever nominee for this role.
Mr. Vohra attributes his remarkable journey to the invaluable experiences he gained during his time at IIT Bombay and credits his alma mater as having played a pivotal role in shaping him into the accomplished individual he is today.
This achievement is truly a spectacular honour for such a young alumnus of our Institute.
Mr. Vohra’s remarkable achievement is a reminder to the world of the extraordinary depth and potential within IIT Bombay’s alumni community. His rapid ascent to such a prestigious position underscores the impact that IITB alumni continue to make on the world.
IIT Bombay extends its heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Vohra. The IIT Bombay community wishes him a future filled with continued success and contributions to society. His journey serves as an inspiration even as it reaffirms the lasting legacy of IIT Bombay.
IIT Bombay is delighted to announce that its Distinguished Alumnus, Mr. Adil Zainulbhai (B.Tech., Mechanical Engineering, 1977), has been appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Ropar. This appointment represents yet another significant milestone in his illustrious career.
Mr. Zainulbhai’s impressive journey includes a remarkable 34-year tenure at McKinsey, where he made substantial contributions to the firm’s growth. During his tenure, he led the Washington office and played a pivotal role in founding the Minneapolis office. Upon his return to India after 25 years, Mr. Zainulbhai retired as Chairman of McKinsey India. He served as Chairman of the Quality Council of India and, currently, he serves as the Chairman of the Capacity Building Commission for the Government of India.
Throughout his career, Mr. Zainulbhai has been a driving force behind the success of numerous companies, non-profit organizations, and now, the Government of India. He has worked closely with CEOs and promoters across various domains, including private enterprises and public sector units. His expertise and leadership have left an indelible mark on both the Indian and global business landscapes, even as they showcase the significant impact of his contributions. These include his being on the Board of some of India’s premier companies such as Reliance Industries, L&T, and Cipla.
But irrespective of his busy schedules over the years, Mr. Zainulbhai’s connection to his alma mater continued to thrive. Consequently, he continues to be one of IIT Bombay’s most active alumni.
IIT Bombay is extremely grateful to Mr. Zainulbhai for his invaluable contributions to the Institute. His illustrious career and recent appointment as Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Ropar exemplifies the significance of alumni support in driving excellence and shaping the future of educational institutions.
IIT Bombay thanks Mr. Zainulbhai for being a guiding light to his alma mater.
IIT Bombay signed an MoU with the Class of 1996 to support vital initiatives within the institute. These encompass the promotion of entrepreneurship, bolstering student and faculty well-being, and enhancing campus infrastructure.
In line with their legacy project, the Class of 1996 will establish the ‘SINE Endowment Fund’ to bolster the activities and programs of the Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE). Additionally, they will create a ‘Student Technology Teams Endowment Fund’ to encourage greater student participation in technology competitions, fostering hands-on learning experiences. The batch will also contribute to the Institute’s Retired Faculty Wellness Fund and the Young Faculty Award program.
The Class of 1996 is wholeheartedly dedicated to championing these causes, recognizing their pivotal role in propelling IIT Bombay towards greater heights in its relentless pursuit of excellence.
The Class of 1996 serves as an inspiring example of the invaluable role alumni play in the development of IIT Bombay. Such partnerships are the driving force behind innovation, transformative education, and sustained success. Their active involvement and generous initiatives not only strengthen the Institute’s foundation but also pave the way for a brighter future. It’s with its alumni community’s dedicated and continued support that IIT Bombay continues to excel in its mission to make a meaningful impact on society.
Thank you, Class of 1996, for your enduring inspiration and dedication.
IIT Bombay hosted an Alumni Meet at Nashik on September 16, 2023, at the Radisson Blue Resort and Spa. The event brought together Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri, Director, IIT Bombay, Prof. Ravi Gudi, Dean ACR, and a group of Institute functionaries, along with IIT Bombay alumni, and various stakeholders from academia, industry, and government. The event was a testament to the collaborative spirit of its attendees and explored opportunities for IIT Bombay to partner with Nashik’s diverse stakeholders in projects aimed at societal impact and nation-building.
More than 100+ alumni (and their families) attended the meeting even as the event showcased the potential of collective effort. Prof. Chaudhuri gave the attendees an overview of IIT Bombay’s recent achievements, R&D breakthroughs, and fundraising priorities. The COO of IITBAA gave a presentation on Project Evergreen, IIT Bombay’s ambitious sustainable hostel venture.
In return, local alumni, along with government representatives, civil society organizations, industry leaders, and academic professionals, jointly organized a thought-provoking discussion to explore potential collaborations between the city and the Institute. The event also featured presentations highlighting Nashik’s strengths and aspirations, a fireside chat, and concluded with an engaging Q&A session that sparked insightful conversations.
IIT Bombay expresses its heartfelt gratitude to Nashik City for its warm welcome and appreciates all of the attendees for their enthusiasm. The Institute eagerly anticipates harnessing the power of knowledge, innovation, and collective endeavour for the benefit of society. It was a memorable day of rekindling bonds and networking, and the Institute looks forward to more such enriching gatherings in the future.
IIT Bombay’s Distinguished Alumnus, Dr. Subramanian S. Iyer, AKA Subu Iyer (B. Tech, Electrical Engineering, 1977), and Advisor to SemiX, IIT Bombay, has assumed the role of Director of the National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP) at CHIPS for America’s Research and Development (R&D) Office. Mr. Iyer brings an extensive wealth of industrial and academic experience in microelectronics and packaging to his new position.
After his stint at IIT Bombay, Dr. Iyer earned his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from UCLA. A dedicated IIT Bombay alumnus, he has been an instrumental supporter of SemiX and continues to provide invaluable guidance to the Centre, which originated from an idea conceived during a FAN meeting led by him at Ohio State University in 2022.
He will continue to maintain his distinguished professorship at UCLA and hold the Charles P. Reames Endowed Chair. He is actively engaged in exploring innovative packaging paradigms and device advancements even as his research interests encompass high-performance architectures, in-memory analogue computing, and applications in medical engineering. He also has more than 300 peer-reviewed journal publications and over 75 patents to his credit.
Previously, Dr. Iyer served at IBM, where he held various significant positions, including that of an IBM Fellow and the Director of Packaging. He is credited with pioneering developments such as the first SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistor, embedded dynamic random-access memory (eDRAM), and the initial commercial interposer and 3D memory products.
IIT Bombay extends its warmest congratulations to Dr. Subu Iyer in this next challenging phase of his professional career, even as it continues to be awed at the mammoth strides being made by its alumni community. The Institute wishes him every success in his new role, which is poised to have a profound global impact on the landscape of semiconductor science and technology, not only in the United States but also in partner nations like India.
IIT Bombay formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the distinguished graduating batch of 1997, solidifying their extensive backing for the batch’s esteemed legacy initiative. The batch has made a groundbreaking commitment of Rs. 26.5 crores, the highest ever from a silver jubilee cohort.
The batch of 1997 graduates’ dedication will enrich the academic and social landscape for current students at IIT Bombay. Some of their significant contributions have already been directed towards the transformative ‘Project Evergreen,’ which includes the development of a cutting-edge hostel complex (Hostel 7, 8, and Hostel 21 for female students) along with a modern café situated within the campus premises.
Additionally, they are actively championing the Young Faculty Award program, aimed at attracting top-tier faculty members globally. Their support is also directed to the Retired Faculty Wellness Fund, initiated by the esteemed Class of 1984, as an expression of gratitude (‘Gurudakshina’) for teachers who retired before 2004.
The benevolent commitment and spirit of the batch of 1997 stand as a testament to the enduring bond shared between IIT Bombay and its cherished alumni. Their efforts to enhance the academic journeys of students at their alma mater and foster a nurturing environment for the current and future generations at the Institute reflect the profound impact of their generosity.
IIT Bombay is extremely grateful to the Batch of 1997. Their generosity serves as a poignant reminder of the lasting legacy and unwavering spirit of giving that continues to shape and elevate the Institute.
IITB alumnus, Mr. Ashok (Ash) Abhyankar was recently bestowed with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the illustrious Drishti Group during their 9th annual Gala celebrations in British Columbia. The Drishti Team orchestrated a remarkable event even as Mr. Abhyankar’s exceptional recognition unfolded amidst the presence of over 800 leaders, and encapsulated a splendid tapestry of the community’s diverse and vibrant talents.
Receiving this prestigious accolade, Mr. Abhyankar said, “My journey to Drishti was built and ingrained in me at IITB in Powai. It was very humbling to have been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Mr. Abhyankar is no stranger to receiving such prestigious honours. As he says, “ This was a second lucky and humbling experience for me this year, having been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award in May by NAED, the National Association of Electrical Distributors and Manufacturers, representing a $700B+ North American industry.”
The Dean ACR Newsletter profiled his success in the June 2024 Newsletter. Read it here.
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Mr. Ashok Abhyankar’s journey began at IIT Bombay in 1965. And since then he has crafted a narrative of distinction and service. From the hallowed halls of one of India’s premier institutions to a remarkable 56-year career spanning global leadership roles, Mr. Abhyankar’s story is that of a dedicated alumnus whose impact resonates far beyond the realm of technology.
Join us as we trace the several extraordinary chapters of Mr. Abhyankar’s life: as an inspiring tale of an IITB trailblazer, a global professional, and a compassionate force in community service.
Early Years and Career Journey
Mr. Abhyankar started his academic journey with a B. Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Bombay in 1965. He further pursued a Master’s Degree in Chemical Control Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan and graduated in 1967. This marked the inception of what would become a remarkable 56-year career.
Professional Highlights and Achievements
Mr. Abhyankar’s career spanned 26 years at IBM, including leadership roles, two years as the CEO and General Manager of AirCare, and 23 years in Business Advisory roles at leading technology solution businesses. Notably, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from NAED for his significant contributions to the North American Electrical industry earlier this year.
Commitment to Community and Philanthropy
Upon settling in Vancouver 38 years ago, Mr. Abhyankar dedicated a minimum of 10 hours per week to “Give Back & Pay it Forward.” His impactful contributions include managing the first Public/Private partnership initiative in Canada at AirCare, fundraising for Lions Gate Hospital Foundation, and supporting various charitable causes such as the Breast Cancer Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, and Alzheimer’s Society of B.C.
Leadership in Community Organizations
Mr. Abhyankar actively served on various boards, including L’Arche Greater Vancouver, Canadian Internet Registry Authority (CIRA), Business Council of B.C., and Eagles of Tomorrow Education Society (EOTS). His involvement extended to mentorship programs, educational initiatives, and fostering diversity.
A Vision for Continued Contribution
As Mr. Abhyankar enters his 81st year, he remains driven by a passion for learning, contributing to community growth, and mentoring future leaders. He is not “tired” yet and so he is not ready to be “retired” anytime soon. He says, “There is so much left to learn from and contribute to the growth of the community in B.C. and Canada that I am part of.” His goals for the future include maintaining his good health and continue to learn as he mentors future leaders toward their contributions, success, and personal growth.
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Mr. Ashok Abhyankar’s life reflects a rich tapestry of professional excellence, community service, and a profound commitment to uplifting those around him. As an IIT Bombay alumnus, Mr. Abhyankar not only exemplifies the Institute’s commitment to producing trailblazers but also showcases the profound impact individuals can have on a global scale. In celebrating Ashok Abhyankar, we celebrate the enduring spirit of IIT Bombay. His narrative is reflective of the broader IIT Bombay story and one that reflects the collective brilliance of IIT Bombay’s alumni network, and how they continue to shape the world.
