Upgradation of IT-BHU to IIT

The Hon. Minister for
Human Resources Development and Science & Technology
Government of India
New Delhi

Honourable Sir ,

We, the ex-students of Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, are writing to you on a matter of great importance, and one that concerns our illustrious institute. It is to present a very well deserved and valid case for the upgradation of our Institute to the level of the IITs, which your esteemed ministry is planning and also has been announced by the H'ble Prime Minister in the Independence Day Speech and other public functions.

As you are aware, Sir, Banaras Hindu University is one of the oldest institutions that started engineering education in India. The three technical colleges established under the umbrella of BHU, viz. Banaras Engineering College (BENCO), College of Mining and Metallurgy (MINMET) and Technical College (TECHNO), made India self-reliant in the engineering education much before the countrys independence. You are also aware, Sir, that our Institute (Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University) came into being by merging these technical colleges, and that it is one of the best engineering institutes in the country, fulfilling the need of the country for engineers and technocrats who can lead the important task of nation building. That our Institute has provided yeoman service to the nation since its inception in 1919 is evident from the number of its alumni working in various organisations. Many of them are leaders in their respective organisations, be they private or public companies or government departments. Several others have chosen to spread out across the country, utilising their technological and managerial skills to ameliorate the lot of the poor and downtrodden. The unique sense of pride in our institution and the country that gave birth to it, imbues in each of us a strong desire to lead this country to a position of global eminence. Whether we look back into the past or peer into the future, the alumni of this Institute has and will play a significant role in Indias march to prosperity.

The Institute, which has been selecting its undergraduate students along with the IITs, using the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) system since 1972, has been steadily moving up the technical school rankings over the past few years. The last major survey ranked it 8th in the country, right along with the IITs. The Institute boasts of one of the best placement records in the country and continues to provide leaders to all segments of the industry. With an enviable list of distinguished alumni and extremely well equipped laboratories and workshops, IT- BHU is well poised to retain its status of a leading Centre of Research and Excellence in Engineering and Technology. The Ganga Action plan, the pathbreaking work on semiconductors and the many leading CEOs of both public and private sector firms that it has produced, is a testimony of the potential of this institution, carefully nurtured over decades of hard work and sincere effort.

We, the alumni of this illustrious Institute founded by Mahamana Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviyaji, are concerned that in the last few years, this cherished institution, a national symbol of heritage and modernity and a pioneering Institute of Engineering and Technology, is faced with a lack of focus and dwindling resources. Autonomy and greater financial resources can bring about innovation, adaptability and creativity, all of which are essential for competing as a technical education institution of international standards and indisputable excellence. In our strong and well-considered opinion, the best way to bring IT-BHU to the forefront of international institutes would be to change its status to an IIT. This, we feel, is the only way it will get the necessary resources, autonomy and visibility that it can justifiably claim. As alumni of Institute of Technology (erstwhile BENCO, MINMET and TECHNO), we are writing this letter to you, so that this matter of great national concern be taken up on priority by your Ministry. We are convinced that this appeal will find full support from you, and that you will be able to help launch IT - BHU into its new avatar as an Indian Institute of Technology. We request you to consider the following proposals, to be taken up on priority basis for implementation:

1. To name the Institute of Technology at the Banaras Hindu University (IT
- BHU) as Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Varanasi.
2. To allocate to it funds and resources at par with other IITs in the country.
3. To constitute an independent governing body for the institute with full
autonomy for administrative, financial and academic decisions.

Thanking you in anticipation.

As an Alumni of IT BHU