The big Felicitation and Valedictory event on November 3 was like the grand finale of our year-long celebration for our Silver Jubilee. It was a day to remember, where we felicitated the trailblazers who made IIIT-Bangalore happen and were a key part of our amazing 25-year journey.
After a melodious invocation song, the event in his welcome address, our Director, Prof. Debabrata Das highlighted that the alliance between the Government and the industry, a partnership that has scripted this remarkable success story of IIIT-Bangalore. The collaborative endeavour has provided a structured IT education to address the then growing IT workforce demands in Karnataka and the wider Indian landscape, he emphasised.
The event’s spotlight was on honoring the legends of IIIT-Bangalore, it began with felicitating our former and current Chairmen. Mr. N Viswanathan, an ex-IAS officer and IIIT-B’s Chairman from 1998 to 2000, played a key role in bringing the institute to life while he was Karnataka’s Principal Secretary. Padma Vibhushan Mr. N. R. Narayana Murthy, Co-Founder of Infosys and Catamaran, chaired the Governing Body from 2000 to 2012, acting as a rock-solid guide during IIIT-B’s formative years and contributing immensely to its well-being and growth. Our current Chairman, Mr. Kris Gopalakrishnan, Co-Founder of Infosys and Axilor Ventures, has been a guiding force for the institute. They were all honored by our Director, Prof. Debabrata Das and our Registrar, Commodore SR Sridhar (Retd).
Our former Director, Prof. S Sadagopan, who took the reins on June 3, 1999, played a crucial role in shaping the institution. He was felicitated by the present Director, Prof. Debabrata Das and our Deans. Mr. BV Naidu, a long-standing member of our Governing Body since the beginning and Mr. Ram Mohan Rao received kudos from our Director and Dean-Faculty. The Director and Registrar also gave a nod of appreciation to former Board members Mr. Vivek Kulkarni and Mr. MN Vidhya Shankar, alongside Mr. Milind Priolkar and the current Board members.
Former registrars who played an important role to streamline operations, enhance institutional efficiency and contribute to the overall success and administration of the academic institution, were honored by the Director and the Registrar; Prof. K V Dinesha, Mr. Ramachandra and Mr. V S Prakash received the felicitation. Unfortunately, Mr. Abraham, a former registrar, was unable to attend the event due to prior personal commitments. Prof. S. S. Prabhu and Prof. Rajagopalan who were monumental pillars in the thriving journey of IIIT-B were also honoured by the Director. Non-teaching staff at IIIT-B, Mr. Durai Murugan, Miss Rama Devi and Mr. Somashekaraiah K whose tireless presence and behind-the-scenes dedication were instrumental in the seamless operation and advancement of the institute were acknowledged and honored by the Director and Registrar to extend their honors to these exceptional individuals.
And a special nod to Mr. Hemachandra, the Alumni Association President, cheered on by the Director and Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Manisha Kulkarni.
The moment when the IIIT-Bangalore anthem was revealed marked a source of pride for everyone present. Crafted around our guiding principle “ज्ञानं उत्तमम्” (Knowledge is supreme) and centered on the pillars of Education, Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, the anthem was composed in Sanskrit by Vidhushi Smt. Dharmashree Iyangar. Serving as a unifying symbol for our campus community, it instilled pride, a sense of belonging, and shared values among students, faculty, staff and alumni. Mr. Kris Gopalakrishnan and Prof. Debabrata Das unveiled the IIIT-B anthem.
The comprehensive 25-year journey of IIIT-B found its encapsulation in the Silver Jubilee Coffee Table book, emerging as a rich source of information. Beyond documenting the institution’s evolution, the book boasts captivating visuals and compelling narratives. Our Director, along with the three Chairmen—Mr. N. Viswanathan, Padma Vibhushan Mr. N. R. Narayana Murthy and Padma Vibhushan Mr. Kris Gopalakrishnan unveiled Coffee Table Book.
The proceedings came to an end with a delightful plantain leaf lunch, featuring a tempting array of delicious dishes.
