- Prof Rajat Moona calls on IITGN community to power India’s rise as a global science and technology leader
- ‘Our work must feed directly into the vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat,’ he says
- Semiconductors, AI, sustainable energy and public health flagged as key arenas for national progress
- IPAS launched as Institute celebrates research, academic excellence and dedicated service
NE EDUCATION BUREAU
GANDHINAGAR, AUG 16
With the Tricolour soaring high and a campus full of youthful energy, IIT Gandhinagar turned its 80th Independence Day celebrations into a spirited call to action for the country’s next generation of scientists, innovators and nation-builders. In a stirring pep talk, IITGN Director Prof Rajat Moona urged the Institute community to transform India’s aspirations for global leadership in science and technology into indigenous capabilities that deliver tangible benefits to society.
The celebrations, held on August 15, brought together students, faculty, staff and the wider IITGN community to commemorate the nation’s Independence and celebrate the contributions of those helping build the Institute.
The programme began with the assembly of the Institute community, followed by the rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’, hoisting of the national flag and the National Anthem. Prof Moona hoisted the Tricolour and took the salute, setting the tone for a celebration centred not merely on India’s journey since Independence but on the responsibilities that lie ahead.
Addressing the gathering, Prof Moona delivered a powerful message on the role of institutions such as IIT Gandhinagar in shaping India’s scientific and technological destiny.
“As India moves towards becoming a global leader in science and technology, institutions like ours carry a growing responsibility. Whether in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, sustainable energy, or public health, our work must feed directly into the vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, a self-reliant India that earns its place on the world stage through indigenous strength, not isolation.”
A pep talk for the next generation
Prof Moona also turned the spotlight on the younger generation, urging students to embrace service, integrity and responsibility as they prepare to shape India’s future.
His message was particularly significant for an institution whose academic and research ecosystem spans science, engineering, technology and the humanities. He stressed that India’s progress must be powered by innovation that strengthens society while advancing the country’s standing globally.
The Director’s address gave the Independence Day celebrations a distinct purpose: to remind the IITGN community that the freedom secured by earlier generations places a continuing responsibility on today’s youth to build a stronger, more prosperous and self-reliant India.
IITGN goes digital with IPAS
Adding a technology-driven dimension to the celebrations, the Institute launched its Institute Process Automation System (IPAS), aimed at making institutional processes more efficient, streamlined and user-friendly.
Prof Nithin V George, Acting Registrar, IITGN, said IPAS would simplify existing institutional processes and make them faster and easier to navigate. Its personalised dashboard brings pending approvals, recent activities and the calendar together at a single location, with further enhancements planned in subsequent phases.
Celebrating commitment and excellence
The celebrations also became an occasion to salute the people behind IITGN’s growth. The Long Service Awards recognised the dedicated contributions of Prof Atul Dixit (2015), Dr Neeldhara Mishra (2015), Dr Vineet Vashisht (2015), Dr Dilip Sundarvasaram, Dr Manoj Gupta (2016), Dr Kaustubh Rane (2016), Prof Rishi Singh (2016), Nirmal Kumar Jha (2016), Hemant Kumar Gupta and Indu Shukla (2016).
The Bhalodia-Khetan Summer Research Excellence Awards honoured outstanding summer research by Saumya Kansara in Humanities and Social Sciences, Vaishali Chauhan in Science and Rathin Mahesh Ghivari in Engineering.
The UG Research Showcase – Best Poster Awards recognised Om Gupta in Chemical Engineering; Suhani in Computer Science and Engineering; and Shah Nihar Dharmesh, Prachand Aditya Prashant and Pavitr Chandwani in Electrical Engineering.
The Dean’s List Awards were also presented to students for their academic performance.
The programme concluded with refreshments and an informal interaction among members of the IITGN community, bringing a warm close to a celebration that blended patriotic spirit with a forward-looking message on research, innovation, service and nation-building.
