IIT Kharagpur’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrates a Legacy of Transformation

As IIT Kharagpur celebrates its Platinum Jubilee Year , Union Minister of State for Education and Development of North Eastern Region ( DoNER ) Dr. Sukanta Majumdar hailed the institution as the “Mother of All IITs” , recognizing its unparalleled contribution to India's higher education landscape, technological advancement and nation-building over the past 75 years.

Addressing the Institute's 72nd Convocation , Dr. Majumdar said IIT Kharagpur has evolved from the birthplace of the IIT movement into one of India's premier centres of innovation, entrepreneurship, research and academic excellence . Congratulating the graduating students, he urged them to play a leading role in realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 , emphasizing that India's future growth will be driven by innovators, researchers and technologists working in emerging sectors.

The convocation assumed special significance as it was held during the Institute's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Established in 1950 and formally inaugurated on August 18, 1951 , by India's first Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad , IIT Kharagpur was built on the historic grounds of the Hijli Detention Camp , where Indian freedom fighters were once imprisoned during British rule. The transformation of a colonial detention centre into a world-class institution of learning remains one of independent India's most powerful symbols of progress.

Widely regarded as the institution that laid the foundation for India's IIT ecosystem, IIT Kharagpur today stands at the forefront of research in Artificial Intelligence, quantum technologies, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, clean energy and healthcare innovation . Spread across more than 2,200 acres , it is among the largest academic campuses in the country and has nurtured generations of leaders who have shaped industries worldwide.

Highlighting the impact of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 , Dr. Majumdar said India's education system is being transformed into a multidisciplinary and competency-based model focused on innovation, real-world problem-solving and global standards.

The ceremony was attended by Prof. Nicholas B. Dirks , President and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences and former Chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley, as the Distinguished International Guest and Plenary Speaker. Several eminent dignitaries, including West Bengal ministers, senior scientists, industry leaders and alumni, were also present.

Prestigious honours such as the President's Gold Medal and Prime Minister's Gold Medal were conferred on outstanding students. Degrees were awarded across undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral and professional programmes, including B.Tech (Hons.), B.S., M.Sc., M.Tech, MBA, PGDBA, Dual Degree and PhD courses.

Addressing the graduating class, IIT Kharagpur Director Prof. Suman Chakraborty said the world is being reshaped by AI, intelligent manufacturing, healthcare innovations and quantum technologies . While technology is transforming knowledge creation, he stressed that wisdom, integrity, ethical responsibility and scientific curiosity will remain uniquely human strengths.

The Institute's global influence is reflected in its distinguished alumni, including Sundar Pichai , CEO of Google and Alphabet; Ajit Jain , Vice Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway; Arun Sarin , former CEO of Vodafone; and entrepreneur Vinod Gupta . As it completes 75 years, IIT Kharagpur continues to strengthen its legacy of creating knowledge, nurturing talent and driving technological innovation for India and the world.