IIT-Kgp director focuses on ‘failures’ in his last convocation address ‘Couldn’t Start Hosp, Malaysia Campus’

IIT-Kgp director focuses on ‘failures’ in his last convocation address ‘Couldn’t Start Hosp, Malaysia Campus’ 

Dipawali.Mitra@timesofindia.com 31.12.2024

Kolkata : Besides highlighting the achievements and rankings of IIT-Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) over the past few years, the institute’s director VK Tewari also emphasized on some ‘failures’ during his tenure while addressing its 70th convocation ceremony on Monday, when his term at the IIT also came to an end. Tewari spoke about the failure to set up the IIT Malaysia campus and start medical education at IIT-Kharagpur. “We wanted to start IIT Malaysia but due to some technical reasons we failed in that. So I take the responsibility. We also failed in getting medical education…The hospital was ready in 2018 itself but I think there were no ef forts. When I took over, Covid also took over and from that time, I was trying to set up the medical college but failed four times,” said Tewari, while he was referring to the medical college named as Dr BC Roy MultiSpecialist Research Centre

Referring obliquely to the recent controversy regarding the shifting of BC Roy Technology Hospital (BCRTH) to Syama Prasad Mookerjee Superspeciality Hospital (SPMSH), Tewari said they tried to start SPMSH and only the OPD services began. “We are in the process of starting the IPD (in-patient department) services at the superspeciality hospital,” said the outgoing director, adding, “We failed in answering questions of some of our friends because the requirements were something different.” Earlier, the campus had witnessed protests from students, campus residents, and teachers over the relocation of the BCRTH to SPMSH, which is four kilometres from the campus. Amidst pressure, the administration kept the relocation “in abeyance.” In Sept, the IIT Teachers’Association wrote to the union education minister alleging that the director had failed to start the hospital, medical college and the overseas campus projects. This letter sparked a rift between teachers and authorities. 

Highlighting the positive aspects, Tewari said in three-and-a-half years, the institute had achieved 400 patents. According to him, the institute is diligently working towards the G-20 declarations in 12 major areas. Tewari shared that during his tenure he ensured that the IIT campus became a safe and secure zone with monitoring at the entry and exit points. He also said that he was able to solve the water crisis, which was a perennial problem at the campus. Chancellor of the University of California, San Diego, Pradeep K Khosla, who is also an alumnus of IIT-KGP, was the chief guest. Former vice-chairman of UGC and national research professor, ministry of Ayush, Bhushan Patwardhan, was the guest of honour. 

A total of 3,456 degrees comprising 480 PhDs were conferred. Thirteen distinguished alumni awards, seven Life Fellow Awards, and one Lifetime Achievement Award were also given. IIT-Varanasi head as interim director Director of IIT-Varanasi, Amit Patra, has been given the additional charge of IIT-KGP as its interim director until further order or new appointment after the tenure of VK Tewari ended on Monday. “The handover is likely to take place on Tuesday,” sources said. Patra was also the deputy director of IIT-KGP. Interview for the next director already took place.