Play active role in building society, IITians told

IITians need to play a larger role in nation building and contribute to society. This could vary from mentorship, creation of jobs and broader wealth creation, said Nandan Nilekani, co-chairman and co-founder of Infosys Technologies Ltd, during the weekend. In his remarks at an IIT annual alumni meeting organised by the Bangalore Chapter of IIT Kharagpur’s Technology Alumni Association (TAA), Nilekani noted that the education system needs to be revamped radically.

Nilekani was joined at the meet by fellow IIT-Kharagpur alumni Parameshwar P Iyer, IISc, Bangalore, Amit Patra and S Sastry. Parameshwar P Iyer, outgoing president of TAA-Bangalore Chapter, said, “There are over 2,500 IIT alumni in Bangalore. We are looking at strengthening linkages between the institute and the alumni, besides strongly exploring areas where IITians can contribute to the larger cause.”

According to Amit Patra, dean of Alumni Affairs and International Relations, IIT-Kharagpur, a new website http:ô/www.alumnet.iitkgpernet.in will be launched soon and “all alumni will be electronically linked to provide an effective platform for sharing ideas and contributing

together.” S Shastry called on all IIT alumni to work towards evolving a good and low-cost education system. IIT alumnus Srikant Rao made a presentation on the village adoption initiative of the KGP Chapter Special Interest Group.

The event saw participation from over 150 alumni with spouses and children. S Devarajan was elected the new president of the TTA-Bangalore Chapter.

IIT-Kharagpur, spread over 2,100 acres, is the oldest of the seven IITs. The institute also has two other smaller campuses at Bhubaneswar and Kolkata.