ITBHU.org Editor @ 01:54 PM

This article is a submission from Yogesh Upadhyaya (CHE77) who is from the first batch admitted to the Institute through JEE. Yogesh takes us back in time and provides insight into how the Institute was perceived back then, and how it became part of the IIT system, but not quite ...

Hopefully this submission would encourage posting of comments from other old timers about the glorious past of our Institute and start a fresh infusion of ideas as to how we may proceed for a full inclusion within the IIT act so our institute gets the much deserved resources and increased quality control.

Editor ITBHU.org

IT vs. IIT-Varanasi

I am inspired to write something about the IT vs. IIT campaign after reading the article written by my batch-mate Dinesh Sharma. I joined chemical engineering in 1972 through JEE, the very first batch at ITBHU. I shall briefly explain the situation prevalent during that time and the opportunity and constraints for converting our institute into an IIT.

Introduction

In 1971, the union government decided to affiliate some of the leading technical institutes with IITs so as to improve technical education in the country. Many central and state universities, including the University of Roorkee, rushed for the affiliation. Based on strict standards of quality education, international reputation, and availability of diversified engineering branches of national importance, the Board of Governors for IITs selected ITBHU. The first batch joined IT through JEE in 1972.

Immediately, under the leadership of director Dr. S.S. Saluja, the institute implemented steps to bring it at par with IITs. It included measures such as limiting the batch strength to below 40 students per branch, introducing a semester system instead of yearly, revamping the syllabus, replacing outdoor surveying with electronic circuit design and so on. There was an unconfirmed rumour that the IT administration planned to convert IT into an IIT with technical collaboration from GDR (East Germany), but the University did not want to part with its only engineering college and that the IIT constitution prevented setting up an IIT in the same region as another IIT (IIT-K already existed in the central region consisting of UP & MP). Nonetheless, everybody hoped that by the time they graduate, the institute will become IIT-V.

It might be interesting to know that at that time ITBHU was known as a premier institute run by the central government. The image was somewhat tarnished by the yearly sine die closures (violent strikes by politically motivated students from other faculties), apathy of university administration toward English and its location away from a metro. Electronics engineering seats would fill up by rank 600 (the only other institute offering Electronics was IIT-KGP). Engineering mathematics was taught by professor emeritus Dr. Bose, son of S.N. Bose (of the Bose-Einstein principle of Quantum Mechanics fame). Dr. Gopal Tripathy, the first Indian gold medalist at MIT, was the head of the chemical engineering department. Heads from several other departments were internationally renowned. The Electrical department had just purchased a "state-of-the-art" IBM computer, first in India, that used endless paper rolls for Input/Output instead of tedious punched cards.

IIT- a political decision

Establishing a new IIT requires major political decision. For example, IIT-Gauhati was established as per the agreement of the All Assam Students Union with Rajiv Gandhi to call off the Assam agitation. IIT-Roorkee was established after the creation of the Uttaranchal state. Any proposal to convert IT into an IIT shall require strong backing from the UP state government as well as the union government.

IIT- a financial decision

It costs a substantial sum to establish a new IIT or to convert an existing institute into an IIT. IIT-Guahati was the latest and the costliest of the IITs costing over Rs. 1,000 crores (1 crore = 10 million). Converting University of Roorkee into an IIT is estimated to cost Rs. 150 crores. Conversion of ITBHU into an IIT may cost about Rs. 100-200 crores, mainly to upgrade lab and teaching facilities, a central computer system, campus wiring, and creating new buildings and facilities which are being shared with the university at present. A typical IIT requires central funding of about Rs. 100 crores per year, significantly larger than what ITBHU gets. Recently 16 states contacted the Human Resources Ministry to set up an IIT in their own state. However, the Ministry rejected the idea stating the high cost of about Rs. 500-1,000 crores for a new one. Instead, the existing RECs shall be converted into National Institutes of Technology at a cost of about Rs. 50-100 crores per college. They shall be second-tier institutes of excellence and admit students from the IIT-JEE merit list.

Steps required to convert our institute into an IIT:

• Convince the University to pass a joint resolution to convert IT into an IIT
• Lobby the state assembly to approve it
• Forward the approval to the Human Resources Ministry and the Planning Commission
• Lobby the Members of Parliaments and Cabinet Ministers

Conclusion

ITBHU is the country's most deserving institute to benefit form the resources that come with an IIT label. It has had three-decades old collaboration with the IITs and have followed the guidelines for quality education. A strong political push is required to achieve that dream. Finance seems a minor problem. If India Today magazine refineed its methodology, ITBHU would be among the top five engineering institutes in India along with IIT-B, IIT-K, IIT-KGP & IIT-M.

I do not know any of the present or past students of our institutes, but they seem to be doing very well. Prof. B. B. Bansal is also doing a great job of alumni coordination and students placement.

Any comment or criticism of the article is appreciated.

-- Yogesh Upadhyaya CHE77

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Comments from the alumni :

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This is an article from Times of India. It talks about not NITW but Osmania University being pushed by AP Govt for IIT in AP.

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An expert committee from the Union ministry of human resources development will visit Hyderabad shortly to assess the facilities available at the Osmania University College of Engineering following a request by the state government to upgrade it into an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).

The government has for long been pitching for an IIT in the temple town of Basar in Adilabad district and has presented its case to Prime Minister and his colleagues. It has already acquired land for the purpose. But the Centre has instead upgraded the Regional Engineering College , Warangal , as a National Institute of Technology (NIT).

Since the Centre has decided to create five new IITs in the country by upgrading some premier institutions, the state government has been pushing the case of the Osmania University College of Engineering.

During his recent visit to New Delhi , chief minister Chandrababu Naidu took up the matter with the Prime Minister and the human resource minister and strongly pleaded for an IIT in Andhra Pradesh.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Naidu said students from the state have been registering spectacular success in the entrance exam for the IITs, securing 12 per cent of the seats every year on an average.

He added that the state capital has many research and development institutions and is a leading centre in the field of information technology and biotechnology.

The chief minister told the Centre that Osmania University was one of the oldest universities.

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The url of this article is

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/365725.cms

Since AP Chief Minister carries a lot of weight in NDA Govt at New Delhi, it clearly shows that NITs are not going to be upgraded otherwise NITW would be the first in the running.

I think IT-BHU is going to make it. Keep it up.

Bye

Rohit

Posted by Rohit Prasad at January 9, 2004 05:14 AM

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What was the main reason that in the last round Roorkee got thru and ITBHU was caught toally offgaurd. If we are not able to find out that reason we might still not make it :

To me the following are the most plausible reasons :

-Affiliation with BHU and not an autonomous Institute

-Absolute indifference on the part of faculty/office of IT/BHU on the conversion issue. For all I know they might not have been aware of it that the Govt. was planning to convert another Instituttion to an IIT.

-UP having one IIT in place.

-A very low profile of the Institute and its alumini. Inspite of the excellent infrastructure and a strong and successful alumni base the Institute and its Alumni do maintain a very low profile. Maybe the 'chalta hai' attitude of Banaras is to blame.

Until and unless we are able to figure out what was the reason BHU lost to Roorkee, we might still lose to other high profile/autonomous institute on the same reasons.

Ajay Sharma

Posted by Ajay Sharma at October 9, 2003 12:47 PM

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competition is not so easy...read this article http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=35990633&sType=1

Parma

Posted by Parmanand at October 9, 2003 12:10 PM

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Flash News:

I read in Times of india's online edition (dated 1st october), about Prime Minister announcing 5 more IITs. While inaugurating new BIo-Chemical building complex at IIT Kanpur, PM said that he is impressed with progress made by IITs. He also added that 5 new IITs (not NITs) will be set up by modernizing existing reputed institutes having nececessary infrastructure and academic standard.

Will some one having contacts with government verify that BHU-IT is among those institute or not? We should lobby very hard before the list is finalized and announced. If we are excluded, then we have to start movement demand inclusion of our institute.

Yogesh Upadhyaya Chemical 1977
Posted by yogesh upadhyaya at October 1, 2003 06:04 AM

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From variuos discussions on this site, I believe that HRD ministry is actively considering converting IT into an autonomous institute, i.e. separate from BHU. We have to wait for press release from ministry or an official announcement by an IT official. This may take some time. I consider this as 30% progress towards becoming IIT-V. I do not know whether govt. is offering autonomy instead of IIT status; or whether this is a first step towards IIT. In any case, we should welcome the announcement and thank government, students/alumni, IT officials and to all who worked rowards this goal.

There is a long struggle ahead for us to meet our ultimate goal. For example, in July, Andhra Pradesh assembly passed a resolution demanding IIT-H(Hyderabad) and threatened to start agitation if the demand is not met. To this demand, central government ruled out setting up any more IITs, stating that it costs Rs.1,000-1,500 crore to set up a new IIT. Instead, it offered to set up low-cost NITs in 16 states, which will draw students through JEE.

Our case is strong because it will cost a fraction of the amount (about Rs.100-200 crores) to convert IT into IIT-V. We also have long standing association with IITs. Setting up IIT is a political issue. There is no criteria or limitation about where any IIT can be set up. Since the inception of first IIT at Khadagpur, all IITs have been eastablished in those states which exercised political pull on central government. As I stated earlier, official demand for IIT should come from UP state government.

A likely scenerio is that the HRD ministry will end up setting up IIT-V and IIT-H as the last IITs in India.

Yogesh Upadhyaya Chemical Engineering 1977
Posted by yogesh upadhyaya at September 19, 2003 10:42 AM

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Hi Rajneesh,

Since IT will be no longer attached to BHU it make sense to have funding from seperate channel.But before HRD anounces it openly, we can only speculate.Nobody knows for sure how its going to work.As far as changes in degree certificate is concerned ,its a cosmetic thing. If there is no string attached to BHU at all then we can have changes in degree certificate as well.I tried to get first hand information but still to get any reply.

Main thing is , we will have more powerfull director and he won't work under VC.This will cut one layer and allow quick decisions.For example, hiring new faculty,allocation of funding and process of alum contribution in IT will be lot easier.Here, Director might be from outside IT ,just like IIT's.

Coming back to having one IIT in one state logic.I find it political issue only.There is no reservation for state and everyone in india has equal chance of getting in any IIT on merit, So it doesn't make any difference if one state has 10 IIT or none.Secondally, its much easier to upgrade IT-BHU to IIT than having a new one from scratch.But this will require strong political lobying and I am sure some guys are working hard on this.It will take time.Its not going to happen overnight.Meanwhile , we can keep improving the situation in IT-BHU to make a stronger case for IIT.

Cheers,

Rohit
Posted by Rohit Ranjan(CSE 2000) at August 10, 2003 08:47 AM

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Hi,

I have got this mail from BBBansal Sir with respect to autonomy of ITBHU "It has been approved by the Executive council. But it will take time in implementation."

Cheers,
Santosh Pathak
CIVIL 2000
Posted by Autonomy of ITBHU at August 9, 2003 07:15 AM

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Just for kicks... what do folks think about creating another new state for eastern UP comprising of the area around Varanasi, Gorakhpur and Allahabad! This will allow us to have a new IIT there :-) The state can be called 'West Bihar'! What do folks think???

Seriously though, this whole rule about having only one IIT per state is kind of dumb. UP is the most populated state in the country... the number of educational facilities in the country should not be governed by the number of states but should be distributed according to the population of each region, just like election constituencies.

Idea???
Posted by Praveen Bhaniramka at August 7, 2003 10:08 PM

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Rohit,

Are you indicating that now MHRD will give us funding as a separate channel ? What about how will the degree certificate look like ?

/rk
Posted by Rajneesh CSE'95 at August 7, 2003 11:04 AM

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I can't personally confirm the news of IT-BHU being autonomous but I have heard that and one of my junior confirmed it by writing mail to prof.

But to be sure we have to wait till HRD ministry anounces it.We will have the autonomy and it will be better for IT.One thing is not sure , how we will get the funding and what will be the terms?

I hope things will be clear and better in coming few days.

Cheers,

Rohit Ranjan
Posted by Rohit Ranjan(CSE 2000) at August 7, 2003 09:03 AM

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I have heard that we have been declared an autonomous institute and have been freed from the univ. Could someone confirnm this please??

Vishal Bhatnagar
(Ceramic Engg.'02)
Posted by Vishal bhatnagar at August 6, 2003 09:16 PM

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IIT Act is very flexible and can be bent by applying proper political pressure. Except IIT-B,IIT-K & IIT-KGP, rest have come up in unplanned manner. IIT-M was originally planned for Bangalore. IIT-D was supposed to come up in Chandigadh. For IIT-G & IIT-R, regions do not matter, as they were established to fulfill election promises. IIT-V can be established in UP state, provided IIT Act is modified again by pressure from state government.

Yogesh Upadhyaya, Chemical 1977
Posted by yogesh upadhyaya at July 24, 2003 06:23 AM Review and Post Comments (2)