Maiden Convocation of IIT Bhubaneswar celebrated

--Equip youths with quality education to deal emerging change: Kakodka

BHUBANESWAR: “Quality education that prepares our young people to embrace the changing scenario would be the key to success. They should be equipped with quality education to deal successfully with the emerging change which is going in our country and the world,” said renowned nuclear scientist and former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission Anil Kakodkar while addressing the IITians on the maiden convocation of the newly established IIT Bhubaneswar (IITBBS) here on Friday.

In his speech, Kakodkar said that the people of India are in a way passing through a critical phase. “Are we well prepared for this transformation? How are we to respond proactively to the emerging situation,” he questioned, adding, “Our large youth force must be provided with opportunities for constructive engagement in a manner that fulfils their aspirations. There is a need for some urgent actions in this regard, as otherwise this powerful engine of growth and development could well turn in to a major destructive force.”

Addressing the IITians said the country is expecting more from them as the IIT is now a brand name like other renowned technical and innovation education institutions of the world. IITs have the challenge to lead the way for national efforts to create a paradigm shift in terms of both the capability to usher in domestic technology enabled national development as also to enhance the number of high quality engineering graduates to support nation building, he added.

It may be noted that IITBBS is one of the 8 new IITs which started functioning from the campus of IIT Kharagpur on July 23, 2008 and shifted its operation to the city of Bhubaneswar on July 22, 2009. In the first convocation of the IITBBS, 93 B Tech students of the first batch (2008-12) of the institute got their degree while research scholar Nithin V George became the first PhD degree holder of the institute.

Dr Bhakta B Rath, Associate Director of Research and Head Material Science and Component Technology Directorate, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington DC, USA was awarded Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) in absentia. Governing body member of IITBBS Mohan Das Pai presided over the function and gave away gold medals and awards to the toppers of different departments of the institute.    

IIT BBS director Prof Madhusudan Chakraborty informed that the master plan of the new campus at Arugul has been designed and approved for 10, 000 students, 1000 faculty and 1100 supporting staff to be built over 3-phases in next 10-15 year. First phase construction is targeted to provide facilities for 2500 students. CPWD has started construction of the campus. The institute would move to the permanent campus by 2014, he added.