IIT Roorkee was the centre of attraction when it celebrated its 175th Foundation Day. The moment was apt to recollect the history of the institution that stands to be highly admired.

The Roorkee College was established in 1847 AD as the first engineering college in the British Empire. The College was renamed as The Thomason College of Civil Engineering in 1854.

It was given the status of University by Act No. IX of 1948 of the United Province (Uttar Pradesh) in recognition of its performance and its potential and keeping in view the needs of post-independent India.

Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, presented the Charter in November 1949 elevating the erstwhile college to the First Engineering University of Independent India.

On the 21st September 2001, the University was declared an institute of national
importance, by passing a bill in the parliament, changing its status from University of
Roorkee to IIT Roorkee.

Thus another jewel was added into the already glittering crown in the History of this Institute. The journey began in a humble way for this great institute, but as the time moved ahead, IIT Roorkee turned into one of the most admired institutions of the country.

‘Work with determination’ is the mantra that made this organisation what it is today. Moments turned more special as Chief Guest Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan addressed the gathering.

IIT Roorkee has done a great amount of good work, said Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The organisation has done significant effort when it comes to research and innovation, he said. The latest ranking (NIRF) of IIT Roorkee has witnessed improvement.

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As far as Architecture category is concerned, IIT Roorkee was ranked No 1 in the country, said Union Minister. There is another area where this institution has done commendable work.

When it comes to establishing collaboration between industry and academia, the organisation has done work that is praiseworthy, he said. Professor Ajit K. Chaturvedi, director of IIT Roorkee launched web page about the organisation’s 175 year celebration.

IIT Roorkee director said the celebration of this momentous occasion is also a time for them to recollect the great accomplishments and commit to the point of sustaining the good work done in the years to come.

He further pointed towards collaboration. IIT Roorkee director said all the higher education institutions located in Uttarakhand and those situated within 200 kilometre radius of Roorkee to come together for knowledge creation and also to foster sharing with regards to R and D activities.

The focus was also on school children. One day tour initiative to IIT Roorkee was launched for students of schools nearby. Biodiversity Report of Wildlife Institute of India (WWI) was also launched.

IIT Roorkee accomplishments

Even as IIT Roorkee celebrated its 175th Foundation Day, it would be interesting to note that the institution has won the Smart Move Innovative Urban Mobility Challenge held on November 8 by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

The challenge was held in collaboration with Smart Cities Mission, National Institute of Urban Affairs and GIZ India. The special point was that the team from IIT Roorkee developed an interactive passenger information system to predict the crowding levels in the public transit system.

There is another special thing to this great institution. IIT Roorkee professors featured in 50 inspirational women in STEM education by CII.

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Roorkee), celebrated its women professors, who have contributed phenomenally with their research in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects.

Their active participation in the field has proven exemplary in promoting and transforming women’s role in STEM subjects.

It is a matter of great pride for the institution that four of its professors have been featured in the compendium by the Confederation of Indian Industry -CII on women achievers from India in STEM.

There is yet another accomplishment for IIT Roorkee. A professor from the institution got counter terrorism innovator award for blast resistant helmet design.

Professor Shailesh Ganpule has received the ‘NSG Counter-IED & Counter-Terrorism Innovator Award 2021′ for his design of a blast-resistant helmet.

The award was conferred to the professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department (MIED) in a ceremony held at NSG Campus at Manesar in Haryana.

IIT Roorkee Professor, Startup won DRDO’s Innovation Challenge. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee Professor Sudipta Sarkar and Log9 Materials, a startup incubated at the institute, have won the “Dare to Dream 2.0” innovation contest organised by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).

S. Vishnu Sharma

S Vishnu Sharmaa now works with collegechalo.com in the news team. His work involves writing articles related to the education... (Full bio)