Bengaluru : The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) celebrated its 67th Foundation Day on 2 November 2026, commemorating the Institute’s journey and recognising the contributions of its alumni, faculty and members of the wider academic community. The celebrations were held at the Main Auditorium, IIT Kanpur, with Professor Partha Pratim Chakrabarti, Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and former Director of IIT Kharagpur, attending as the Chief Guest.
The Foundation Day celebrations brought together members of the IIT Kanpur community to mark the Institute’s journey and recognise individuals whose contributions have strengthened its legacy. A total of 23 recipients were honoured across four categories, acknowledging their achievements in academia, research, public service and other fields. The honours included the Institute Fellow Recognition, Distinguished Alumni Awards, Satyendra K. Dubey Memorial Awards and Young Alumni Awards.
In his welcome address, Professor Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur, reflected on the Institute’s legacy and shared his vision for building on its strengths in research, academics and technology development. He said, “As IIT Kanpur celebrates its 67th Foundation Day, we take pride in the legacy built through the contributions of generations of our faculty, staff, students and alumni. Our focus remains on advancing technology development, strengthening world-class fundamental research, creating a forward-looking academic ecosystem and developing a future-ready campus. We are working to build an environment that encourages intellectual curiosity, supports outstanding students and faculty, and fosters collaboration across disciplines. Having recently unveiled the ‘Greater Than Us’ campaign, with a goal of mobilising US$1 billion, we aim to bring together the resources and support required to strengthen the Institute’s research, academic and technology development capabilities. Our responsibility is not merely to preserve what has been built, but to carry it forward with purpose and vision.”
Addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest, Professor Partha Pratim Chakrabarti, Former Director, IIT Kharagpur, congratulated IIT Kanpur on its 67th Foundation Day and commended its contribution to engineering education and scientific research in India. He said, “IIT Kanpur is a pioneering institution and one of the finest achievements of independent India. Over the years, its faculty have made significant contributions to science and technology, while its teaching, enriched by research, innovation and creativity, is comparable with the best in the world. The dedication of its staff and the achievements of its students and alumni have also played an important role in shaping the Institute’s standing. Institutions of this stature are built through the vision and commitment of successive generations. I extend my heartiest congratulations to IIT Kanpur and to all the Institute Fellows, Distinguished Alumni Awardees and award recipients. I wish the Institute continued excellence and success in inspiring young minds, advancing knowledge and contributing to society and the nation.”
The Institute Fellow Award, recognising excellence in academia, research and contributions to the wider community, was conferred on Professor Indranil Manna and Professor V. Chandrasekhar for their contributions to materials science and chemistry, respectively.
The Distinguished Alumni Awards celebrated 15 alumni whose work and accomplishments across diverse fields have carried forward the spirit of IIT Kanpur and brought distinction to the Institute. The recipients were Prof. Prakash Panangaden, Prof. Upmanu Lall, Prof. Ravi Ahuja, Prof. Harish Chandra Verma, Dr. Panganamala Vijay Kumar, Prof. Dipendra Prasad, Dr. Josyula Ramachandra Rao, Mr. Ravi Agrawal, Mr. Lokvir Kapoor, Dr. Tushar Deepak Chandra, Prof. Sanjay E. Sarma, Dr. Vigyan Singhal, Dr. Satish Chandra, Mr. Rajat Verma and Mr. Abhishek Vinod Singh.
The Satyendra K. Dubey Memorial Award was conferred posthumously on late Dr. Guru Das Agrawal, a Former Professor and Head, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur, and on Shri Babloo Kumar, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Lucknow, in recognition of their commitment to professional integrity and human values.
The Young Alumni Awards recognised Professor Anindya De, Dr. Nitish Srivastava, Professor Faez Ahmed and Mr. Nikhil Kurele for their achievements and contributions in their respective fields.
The celebrations marked not just 67 years of IIT Kanpur, but also the contributions and collective efforts of the many generations that have shaped the Institute’s journey. The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Vishwa Ranjan, Registrar, IIT Kanpur, followed by the National Anthem.
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