8th Foundation Day Celebration of IIT Bhubaneswar on 12th Feb 2016

Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar celebrated its 8th Foundation Day on 12th February 2016 (Friday). Hon’ble Chief Minister, Odisha Sj. Naveen Patnaik has graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Among other dignitaries, Minister of Skill Development and Technical Education Shri Sanjay Kumar Das Burma, Minister of State for Higher Education and Science & Technology, Shri Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy and Hon’ble Member of Parliament Prof. Prasanna Kumar Patasani were present in the function.
 
Prof. R. V. Raja Kumar Director of the Institute welcomed the Chief Guest and other dignitaries to the function and extended his heart-felt thanks to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha Shri Naveen Patnaik Ji for his generous contribution in allocating the prime land to the establishment of IIT and constant cooperation from his Government in making the dream coming true. The Director also showed his gratitude and appreciation to the state administration for all their support and guidance in sorting out the issues related to the construction activities and other development aspects. The Director expressed his satisfaction in shifting the academic activities to the permanent campus which could not have been possible without the support of Govt. of Odisha.
 
The Chief Guest in his address expressed his satisfaction on the progress made by the Institute in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the young minds.  Calling upon the students to take up new initiatives to make India digitally empowered to create the city of Bhubaneswar a smarter city in India. He reiterated the Government’s commitment to extend all support in the endeavor of the Institute to reach greater heights. On the occasion he gave away the Teaching Excellence Awards to the faculty members and students for their achievement in National Level Events. Dr. Satyanarayan Panigrahi was adjudged as the Best Teacher of the Institute based on the students feed back. He along with his Ministers planted saplings in the campus on the memorable day.
 
Minister of Skill Development and Technical Education Shri Sanjay Das Burma thanked the Chief Minister and the administration for making all efforts in fulfilling the dreams of the students of the Institute by allocating the prime land 1000 acres in the districts of Khordha and Puri. 
 
Minister of Higher Education and Technical Education, Shri Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy emphasized the generosity of Hon’ble Chief Minister for his visionary planning in getting IIT in the state of Odisha and reassured the commitment of department of Higher Education for future programme of the Institute. 
 
Hon’ble Member of Parliament Prof. Prasanna Kumar Patasani said smart city like Bhubaneswar is only possible because of smarter Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik and smartest students of IIT.
 
Guest of Honour of the occasion Shri Lalit Mansingh Ji former Foreign Secretary expressed his gratitude while delivering 8th Foundation Day lecture to the Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das for his outstanding contribution in dreaming of a modern Odisha which was realized by Shri Biju Patnaik, former Chief Minister for making four important contributions to the state like Hirakud Dam, Rourkela Steel Plant, Paradeep Port and NALCO. The fifth dream of late Biju Patnaik was fulfilled by his illustrious son Shri Naveen Patnaik in bringing out a world class Petro Chemical Industry in Paradeep. These helped in overall technological development of the state and further can be contributed in establishing of Institute of National Importance like IIT.
 
The function was ended with the vote of thanks by Prof. Subhasish Tripathy, Deputy Director of the Institute.