NIT Rourkela Celebrated its Diamond Jubilee
Bureau,Odishabarta
Rourkela: National Institute of Technology Rourkela, the second-largest government Institute in Eastern India celebrated its Diamond Jubilee (1961 – 2021) on 26th January 2021. The Institute marked its 60 years of existence with a celebration held on 26th January 2021. Honourable Governor of Odisha – Shri Ganeshi Lal, Chief Minister of Odisha,Shri Naveen Patnaik, and Honorable Union Minister of Education, Govt. of India,Shri Ramesh Pokhrial “Nishank” were a part of the event. Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, Chairman of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Govt. of India was the Chief Guest of the ceremony. This virtual event was also joined by distinguished alumni of NIT Rourkela, Shri C. P. Gurnani, (CEO of Tech Mahindra), Mrs. Soma Mondal (Chairperson, SAIL), Sri S. M. Vaidya (Chairman, IOCL), and Professor Prasant Mohapatra (VC, UC Davis, USA).
The celebration started with an invocation song and lighting of the lamp by Director, registrar, and Deans. There was a limited audience as per Covid-19 guidelines. A video was featured showing the journey of NIT Rourkela since its establishment, followed by messages of the Honourable Governor of Odisha, Chief Minister of Odisha and Union Minister of Education. Many notable alumni also shared their thoughts via video messages.
Sharing a video message on the occasion, Shri Ganeshi Lal, Hon’ble Governor of Odisha, said, “NIT has earned global recognition and in times to come it will be an institution of great significance to international and national research and development.”I present my heartiest congratulations on the Diamond Jubilee being celebrated this year. I appeal to the students of NIT Rourkela to make the institute one of the best and top most institutions of the world.”.
Congratulating NIT Rourkela for this achievement Shri Naveen Patnaik, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha, said,NIT Rourkela has evolved as an institute of National and International repute for technology education and research. Your graduates have taken leadership positions in India and abroad and have contributed immensely to the emergence of “New India”.
Our distinguished alumnus, Prof. Prasant Mohapatra (Vice-Chancellor, University of California, Davis, USA) presented an insight into the VISION 2025, which was created two years back with the collaborative efforts between the faculty and alumni members of NIT Rourkela. Prof. Mohapatra proposed a creation of an endowment fund of Rs.100 Cr. which was formally launched by him on the occasion of Diamond Jubilee Year inaugural function, for supporting Vision 2025. This fund would help NIT Rourkela’s pursuit towards global excellence in Engineering, Research and Innovation in a sustainable way. Prof. Mohapatra also called out all the alumni for getting back together for this collaborative initiation and giving back to Alma mater.
During the occasion, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Venkata Narasimham Peri (Distinguished Alumnus of NITR and Sponsor of Poverty Alleviation Research Centre (PARC)) was signed for the upliftment of backward region of Koraput, Balangir, and Kalahandi (popularly known as KBK districts) of Odisha. Through this research project, NIT Rourkela aims to make a significant contribution in reducing poverty in that region.
Speaking on the occasion of the Inaugural Function for Diamond Jubilee year of NIT Rourkela, Hon’ble Union Education Minister, Shri. Ramesh Pokhariyal ‘Nishank’ said, ” It has been an extraordinary journey for NIT Rourkela leading up to this Diamond Jubilee Year. NIT Rourkela has always been an institute of great significance for Nation-building. NIT Rourkela has steadily improved in National and International rankings. NIT Rourkela’s Technology Incubation cell (TIC) and Industry Relation Cell (IRC) both have been successful in curtailing the gap between Academic and Technology development to Market demand. Institutes like NIT Rourkela plays a significant role in India’s call for Vocal for Local, and Local for Global. I appeal to the students to aim to create jobs rather than seeking jobs. I believe this institution is doing wonders, with the help of FTBI (Foundation for Technology & Business Incubation.”
NIT Rourkela has produced more than 25000 alumni in fifty-six batches covering twenty departments. Its alumni have earned a high degree of reputation not only in India but all over the world. Many alumni have reached the pinnacle of success and brought laurels to the Institute. For example, the recent news about Mr. Pranav Khaitan, a 2009-batch alumnus whose team had contributed to the Nobel peace prize. His contribution was acknowledged by WHO, Alumni are a true ambassador of any institute. The NIT Rourkela Alumni Association(NITRA) has a global database. Mrs. Soma Mondal, an alumnus who joined the event is the first woman Chairperson of SAIL. Like her many notable alumni became a part of this historical moment and shared their memories and feelings.
#agencies
