Ranchi, July 15: Birla Institute of Technology (BIT) Mesra celebrated its 72nd Foundation Day with grandeur at the CAT Auditorium on Wednesday, with Jharkhand Governor and Visitor to the institute Santosh Kumar Gangwar calling upon students to become job creators and urging technical institutions to lead the country’s journey in research, innovation and entrepreneurship.
The celebration commemorated the institute’s seven-decade legacy of academic excellence, technological innovation and nation-building, while also bringing together distinguished alumni from India and abroad for a special reunion.
BIT Vice Chancellor Prof. Indranil Manna, Tega Industries Chairman and distinguished alumnus of the 1964 batch Madan Mohan Mohanka, IIT Bhubaneswar Director Prof. Shripad Karmalkar, faculty members, students and alumni attended the event. Registrar Rajesh Jain delivered the vote of thanks.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Gangwar said the Foundation Day was not merely a celebration of the institute’s establishment but also a reflection of its achievements and future aspirations.
“Foundation Day is not just a commemoration of an institution’s founding, but also a celebration of its achievements and future commitments,” he said.
Highlighting BIT Mesra’s contribution to the country, the Governor said the institute has produced outstanding engineers, scientists and industry leaders over the past seven decades.
“Over seven decades, BIT Mesra has provided excellent technical education to the nation and the world, producing talented engineers, scientists and industry leaders,” he said.
Emphasising the changing landscape of technology, Gangwar said institutions must evolve beyond conventional education and become centres of research, innovation, startups, entrepreneurship and solutions to societal challenges.
“Technical institutions cannot remain confined to education alone; they must become centres of research, innovation, startups, entrepreneurship and solutions to social problems,” he said.
Referring to emerging sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, robotics, quantum computing, semiconductors, cybersecurity and green energy, the Governor urged students to align themselves with national initiatives including the National Education Policy 2020, Viksit Bharat 2047, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Startup India, Digital India and the India AI Mission.
“Students should aspire to become job creators rather than job seekers,” he said.
He also called upon BIT Mesra to leverage Jharkhand’s rich mineral and natural resources by developing technological solutions for mining, steel, energy, agriculture and sustainable development.
“BIT Mesra should play a leading role in developing technological solutions for mining, steel, energy, agriculture and sustainable development, considering Jharkhand’s abundant natural resources,” he said.
Stressing the importance of values in professional life, Gangwar said technical competence must be complemented by ethics, leadership, discipline and social responsibility.
“Along with technical proficiency, discipline, ethics, leadership and social responsibility are equally essential. A great engineer is one who uses technology for the welfare of humanity and nation-building,” he added, expressing confidence that BIT Mesra would continue contributing towards a developed India through knowledge, research and innovation.
Delivering the keynote address, IIT Bhubaneswar Director Prof. Shripad Karmalkar said technical education must focus on holistic skill development beyond academic knowledge.
“Knowledge alone is not sufficient in technical education; communication skills, collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving and business acumen are equally important,” he said.
He further noted that effective communication meant simplifying complex technical concepts and advocated problem-based learning, industry-academia collaboration and innovation driven by societal needs.
During the ceremony, alumni from the 1986, 1996 and 2001 batches reunited with graduates from India and abroad. Eleven alumni were honoured with the Distinguished Alumni Award for their outstanding contributions across various fields.
Three faculty members—Prof. G.B. Pant, Prof. Utpal Baul and Prof. B.N. Das—were conferred the Distinguished Teacher Award in recognition of their exceptional contribution to academics and research.
Concluding the programme, Registrar Rajesh Jain reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to excellence.
“BIT Mesra will continue to scale new heights in education, research, innovation and nation-building in the years ahead,” he said.
The Foundation Day celebrations reflected BIT Mesra’s enduring legacy as one of India’s premier technical institutions while reinforcing its vision of nurturing innovation, leadership and socially responsible professionals for the future.
