Nurturing Innovation: IIT Kanpur Alumnus Donates ₹1.6 crore to Propel Excellence in Electrical Engineering
In a heartwarming act of generosity, Ashish Karandikar, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK), currently based in the United States, has contributed a substantial amount of $200,000, equivalent to a whopping Indian Rupees 1.6 crore to his alma mater. The purpose behind this benevolent gesture is to establish three endowed programs, each designed to foster innovation, excellence, and academic growth within the Electrical Engineering department at IIT Kanpur.
The announcement was made via a press release from the institute, highlighting the tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Ashish Karandikar, IIT Kanpur, and the IITK Foundation, USA. Ashish, a graduate of the Electrical Engineering class of 1995, happens to be the brother of Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and a former Director and alumnus of IIT Kanpur.
The three endowed programs are as follows:
- Smt. Lata and Shri K.G. Karandikar Faculty Chair:
This program aims to empower IITK faculty members to spearhead groundbreaking research and mentor the next generation of engineers. - Karandikar Best Ph.D. Thesis Award:
Recognizing exceptional scholarly contributions, this award celebrates outstanding doctoral theses, encouraging innovation and academic rigor among doctoral candidates. - Karandikar Student Scholarship:
Geared towards nurturing and supporting students, this scholarship provides financial assistance, enabling them to pursue academic endeavors and make significant contributions to the field of electrical engineering.
Prof. S. Ganesh, Director of IIT Kanpur, expressed gratitude to Mr. Ashish Karandikar for his generous contribution, emphasizing that these endowed programs will open new avenues of growth for faculty, researchers, and students within the Electrical Engineering Department. This, in turn, contributes to the flourishing research and development ecosystem at the institute.
Ashish Karandikar, currently serving as the Vice President at NVIDIA, shared his belief in the transformative power of education and acknowledged the significant role IIT education played in his life. Passionate about electrical engineering, Ashish, along with his brother Abhay, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to give back to the Electrical Engineering Department and IIT as a whole. His donation stands as a testament to the profound impact education can have on shaping lives.