IIT Bhubaneswar Celebrates its 10th Institute Day

IIT Bhubaneswar celebrated its 10th Institute Day on 22.07.2017 in the Community Hall at the permanent campus of the Institute, Argul.  Nine years ago, on this day the first batch of B.Tech students of IIT Bhubaneswar started their academic activities at the campus of IIT Kharagpur, the mentor IIT.  Shri R. Subrahmanyam, IAS, Additional Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) graced the 10th Institute Day function as the Chief Guest.   Prof. Sudhakar Panda, Director, Institute of Physics, and Acting Director, NISER, Bhubaneswar was the Guest of Honour. Nearly 500 students along with several alumnus of IIT system faculty, staff and guests congregated in the Community Hall to participate in the celebration.

In his welcome address, Prof. R. V. Raja Kumar, Director, IIT Bhubaneswar narrated the fast-paced growth of the Institute in recent years, and Institute’s dream to march ahead along with senior IITs.  He also mentioned the initiative of the Institute to hire Professors of foreign origin, who are adding to the international outlook of the Institute.  Prof. Raja Kumar thanked MHRD for its support towards the Phase-II construction worth more than Rs.1000 crores.  He assured that the Phase-II infrastructure will be ready by March-2019, as targeted. He reiterated the initiatives made by PM Modi ji  for making India digitized.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. R. Subrahmanyam, Chief Guest  emphasized the emergent need to connect knowledge-economy with innovation, and urged the students to take up the challenge.  He also elaborated the various initiatives taken up by MHRD, one of which is in the area of Student driven Technology Solution.  Mr. Subrahmanyam also asked IITs to be globally completive yet locally relevant.

Guest of Honour Prof. Sudhakar Panda, while delivering Instiute Day lecture called upon the students to orient themselves in critical thinking, and ensure smooth handshake between Science & Technology.  He also emphasized the need to have meaningful student-teacher interaction to improve upon the education system.  He also shared about the collaborative research and other activity that is happening among IIT, IOP and NISER with the audience.   

The function concluded with vote of thanks by Prof. Sujit Roy, Dean (Faculty).

Thereafter, a tree plantation programme was undertaken.