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(We are grateful to Prof. N.K. Mukhopadhyay, Department of Metallurgical Engineering for forwarding us the Newsletter with the permission from the Foundation. Prof. Mukhopadhyay can be contacted at: mukho.met@itbhu.ac.in or mukho.nk@gmail.com.)
We are pleased to publish the recently newsletter (March 2009) issue, published by Mahamana Malaviya Foundation (http://www.mahamanamalaviya.org/).
A PDF link of the newsletter is provided here. mahamana_newsletter.pdf
The newsletter contains some stunning photographs of our institute during 1920’s. It has also some archived articles (such as speech by Dr. Gopal Tripathi in 1968) and current events (IIT conversion issue). We are reproducing some photographs and articles here with the kind permission from Mahamana Malaviya Foundation.
The newsletter is compiled with great efforts by Dr. Umesh D. Tiwari. Dr. Tiwari did his MA (1983) and Ph. D (1988) in Hindi from BHU. After that he was appointed as Fellow (a special award of BHU) for three years, to work on Mahamana's philosophy. He founded the Mahamana Malaviya Foundation (outside BHU) in 1992. He is based in varanasi and can be contacted at mmfbhu@gmail.com.
Many of our faculty/alumni are members of this foundation. The aim of the foundation is to spread the message of the ideals and thoughts of Malaviyaji throughout the world. Dr Tiwari is General Secretary of the foundation and devoted most of his time for working towards the foundation. Presently there are about 1000 members to the foundation. There are 24 books published by the foundation on Mahamana Malaviya. Dr. L. C. Singh, of Nihilent Technologies (www.nihilent.com) and alumnus of our institute (1970 Chemical) is the President of the foundation. Our Director Prof. S. N Upadhyaya was also president of the foundation few years back.
The website for the Newletter shall be started shortly. Then readers can view the Newsletter online. Currently about 2,500 copies of each issue are published and distributed to readers. The Newsletter is published quarterly. The next issue will come out in June.
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Excerpts from the Foundation Newsletter
With the kind permission from Dr. Umesh D. Tiwari, we republish a part of the newsletter here. Complete Newsletter can be viewed here. mahamana_newsletter.pdf
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The Handicaps Facing the IT-BHU
Various Disabilities And Disparities Between The IITs And IT-BHU
(Edited portion of the Lecture delivered on March 9, 1968, on the occasion of Annual Function, College of Technology, BHU, by Late Prof. Gopal Tripathi, the Principal-College of Technology from 1950, and Director- I.T , BHU from 1968)
In this era of technological revolutions and scientific break-throughs, technical education is fast changing its pattern and offering more challenges than ever.
For the last several years I have been trying to draw attention to the various handicaps which the technical colleges of our University have to face, vis-a-vis, the IITs set-up by the Govt. of India. As you are aware the Banaras Hindu University has been the pioneer in the field of technical education in this country and has played a leading role in the training of graduates who could take-up positions of responsibility in industry and education.
I have repeatedly drawn attention to the various disabilities and disparities that exist between the IITs and the technical Institutions of the Universities regarding the facilities available, namely capital and recurring grant, the flexible nature of the cadres of staff, the high percentage of free-ships and studentships that obtains in the IITs and the denial of the same to us etc. and I have been pressing for an early removal of such discrimination. Just to quote a few figures, on an average, on every one of the IITs about 8.3 crores of rupees have been spent with regard to building and equipment. The cost of engineering education per student in the three types of institutions according to the official figures of the U.G.C. are given as follows: IITs- Rs. 16,886/-, Regional Engineering. Colleges-Rs 6468/-, and
Technical Colleges of the Universities-Rs. 3,013/-.
Realising the disparities of expenditure between IITs on one hand and the technical colleges of the universities on the other, the U.G.C appointed a Committee consisting of Dr. T. Sen, Union Minister of Education, Dr. P. K. Kelkar, Director IIT, Kanpur, Dr. Gopal Tripathi, Principal- College of Technology, BHU, and Shri K.L. Joshi, Secretary, U.G.C. to examine the disparities and suggest remedies. The Committee observed that the objectives of technical education are the same in all institutions in the country including the IITs and University technical colleges; the students after completing the courses take the same types of jobs, and they have to appear for the same competitive examinations and tests conducted by the Govt., and Industry for recruitment to different posts. It would, therefore, be reasonable to support the technical institutions for teaching and research work on an equitable basis and so a certain minimum quantum of grants is essential for every institution for equipment, staff, scholarship, etc. At present differences exist in the assistance being given for this purpose to the IITs on the one hand and University institutions on the other. The Committee recommended certain measures which are yet to be implemented.
Tortuous Procedure
I have already mentioned the tortuous procedure for the receipt of grants from the U.G.C. for the technical institutions in our Universities. The IITs on other hand, have supreme advantage of receiving their grants directly from the Central Govt. There is no appreciable time lag between the assessment of their needs and the receipts of the grants from the Central Govt. The Technical Colleges of the University have no direct dealing with the Govt., although their needs have still to be scrutinized by the All India Council for Technical Education. But since they form a part of the Banaras Hindu University Complex their grant is controlled by the U.G.C. which is not always alive to the needs of the technical Colleges, or to the prompt release of funds. Further, whatever financial and other advantages are given to the IITs. by way of increased emoluments, better grade of salary and huge numbers of scholarships and stipends, cannot be easily given to the technical Colleges of the University because of the fear of introducing discrimination between these technical Colleges and the other constituent Colleges of the University.
Another supreme advantage enjoyed by the IITs is the one of foreign collaboration. Each of the IITs has a foreign partner who is prepared to flood the IITs with equipments and participation in the adventure of setting up new laboratories. The University institutions are practically starved out in this respect. To import any equipment is like chasing the will-of-the-wisp. One's energy is all spent up in inviting quotations, struggling for import license, justifying the demands for additional grants, etc. All this in addition to lack of adequate teaching staff is truly frustrating."
(BHU Gazette, March, 23, 1968)
Future Plans: New Departments
In the interest of technical education and industrial development of the nation some new types of departments, viz. Industrial Engineering and Management, Materials Science and Materials Technology, Nuclear Engineering, Instrumentation Engineering, Applied Geology, Computer Centre, Aeronautical and Space Engineering, and Architecture & Town Planning Engineering may be also established under the auspices of the Institute of Technology so that our nation may not lag behind the other developed countries in the race of technological and scientific development.- Prof. Gopal Tripathi, 17.5.1969, BHU-NEWS
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CONVERSION ISSUE OF IT-BHU INTO AN IIT
The Text of the BHU-Executive Council Resolution passed on Feb. 21st, 2009
The Vice-Chancellor appraised the Executive Council of the deliberations he had on the issue with the Ministry Officials regarding retention of the Integral Character of the University.
The Director, IT appraised the Executive Council of the chronological developments on the issue. It was also apprised that to formalize the grant of IIT status the Ministry of Human Resource Development expects the University to suggest inter-alia the methodology for establishing the Indian Institute of Technology-BHU, Varanasi.
The Executive Council noted with pleasure the recent development in connection
with the granting of IIT status to the existing IT-BHU and felt that this would be a vital enabling factor in improving the quality and access of technical education to the students of this region, in particular and the country, in general, commensurate with the objectives of the University and the vision of its founder. It also noted the feelings of the faculty, students and alumni of IT-BHU.
The members of the Executive Council were of a unanimous opinion that the integration of IT-BHU into the IIT should be so made that it remains an integral part of the Benares Hindu University having functional autonomy as provided to other IITs.
After deliberating over the matter at length the following was resolved-
Resolved that the decision to grant the IIT status to the ITBHU be welcomed and concurred with appreciation subject to the condition that on integration with the IIT system it should remain an integral part of the Banaras Hindu University.
Resolved further that on incorporation into the Institute of Technology Act, 1961, IT-BHU be named as Indian Institute of Technology-BHU, Varanasi and it be governed under provisos of the Institute of Technology Act, 1961 subject to the following-
1. In respect of the proposed IIT-BHU, Varanasi, the Body Corporate be the Banaras Hindu University. Acknowledging the composition of the Corporate Body as provided for in the Institutes of Technology Act-1961, the BHU Act be appropriately expanded to include Chairman and members of the Board of Governors and Director of the proposed IIT-BHU.
2. The Vice-Chancellor, BHU be the ex-officio Chairman of the Board of Governors of the proposed IIT-BHU.
3. Two members of the Board of Governors of the proposed IIT-BHU, be nominated by the Executive Council.
4. Three members of the Senate of the proposed IIT-BHU, be nominated by the Chairman, Board of Governors (V.C.-BHU), from the allied fields.
Resolved further that the suggestion for making amendments (annexed) in the BHU Act on the above premise be forwarded to the MHRD for further necessary action with the request that necessary corresponding amendments be made in the Institute of Technology Act, 1961 incorporating the above.
Resolved further that Ministry may also make any other suitable amendments in the corresponding Acts, keeping in view the above, if required for legal reasons.
Resolved further that 500 acres of land be allocated to IIT-BHU at Rajeev Gandhi South Campus, Barkaccha, Mirzapur.
Resolved further that IIT-BHU, Varanasi be relocated at Rajeev Gandhi South Campus, Barkaccha, Mirzapur within a reasonable period of time say, three years from its incorporation in the Institute of Technology Act 1961.
It was further noted that at present IT-BHU runs only the core Engineering courses in addition to Applied Science, Bio-Medical Engineering, Bio-Chemical Engineering, and Material Science. When the establishment of the full-fledged IIT-BHU, Varanasi, it will be required to introduce more inter-disciplinary courses also in humanities, management, etc. to make it a "World Class Institution". This obviously will require large area of land for expansion which is a big constraint at the main campus of BHU. The Banaras Hindu University is already running a number of courses at its South Campus named as Rajeev Gandhi South Campus (RGSC), Barkaccha, Mirzapur having an area of about 2700 acres, under its expansion plan and has already created large infrastructure there. Considering above, the members were of the view that this major constraint of land crunch at the main campus of the University could be over come if the proposed IITBHU, Varanasi is subsequently relocated by allocating 500 acres of land at its RGSC, Barkachha, Mirzapur over a reasonable period say, from the date of incorporation of IT-BHU, Varanasi, in the Institute of Technology Act, 1961. Besides, this will help in the overall development of otherwise educationally and economically backward region of the country. This will also pave way for the access of best quality technical education to the students residing in a vast region incorporating Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Jharkhand.''
AMENDMENT/INCLUSIONS IN THE BHU ACT XVI OF 1915
3. Incorporation
1. The Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor and the members of the Court, the Executive Council and the Academic Council, for the time being, shall be
a body corporate by the name of the Banaras Hindu University.
2. The University shall have perpetual succession and a common seal, and shall sue, and be sued, by the name first aforesaid.
3. Except as aforesaid, the Institute of Technology, established under the Statutes, shall on incorporation under the IT Act-1961, be governed in terms of the provisions of the said Act on and from the commencement of IT (Amendment) Act, subject to the following conditions:-
The IT-BHU, on such Incorporation, be called the Indian Institute of Technology,
BHU, Varanasi.
ADDITIONS/SUBSTITUTIONS IN THE IIT ACT-1961
a) In respect of IT-BHU, Varanasi the body corporate shall be the Banaras Hindu University.
b) Any reference to the Institute of Technology, BHU in any law shall be deemed as a reference to the Indian Institute of Technology, BHU, Varanasi.
c) All liabilities of the IT-BHU shall be transferred to, and be the liabilities of, the IIT, BHU, Varanasi.
d) The Board, as defined in the IT Act-1961,shall have the Vice-Chancellor of the Banaras Hindu University as its Chairman.
e) The Board, as defined in the IT Act-1961, shall have two nominees, in addition to the composition defined in section 11 of the IT Act-1961, to be nominated by the Executive Council of the BHU.
f) The Senate, as defined in the Institute of Technology Act-1961, shall have three nominees, in addition to the composition defined in Section 14 of the IT Act-1961, from the fields of Science, Humanities, Law and Medicine to be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor, Banaras Hindu University.
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Earlier days of Benaras Engineering College, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.
(Photographs-courtesy of Mahamana Malaviya Foundation Newsletter)
The Engineering College BHU started in one single shed in January, 1919. Its Power House was built, and a 20 KW Set (200 Volt DC) was installed in1921, which was augmented by a 100 KW Set in 1923. The Boiler House was erected in 1922.
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(if you having troubles, try posting your comment on this page or send an email to chronicle @ itbhuglobal.org)Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University
Varanasi 221005, UP