The History of Indian Institute of Technology

 History of Indian IITs 

    The thought establishment of IITs was of Sir Ardeshir Dalal from the Viceroy's Executive Council.  His forelook that the future prosperity of India would depend on technology was the inspiration for the establishment of IITs.  For this he believed that the need of conceptualized institutes which would train suck work forces in the country.  This led to the foundation for the Indian Institutes of  Technology.  Dr. Humayun Kabir who played an important role in the establishment of IITs.  He emboldened Dr. B.C Roy, the Second Chief Minister of West Bengal to think about Sir Ardeshir’s proposal of IIT.  In 1945, The Sarkar Committee was set up to study the establishment of IITs.  Dr. Kabir Sing, Sir Jogendra Sing of Viceroy’s Executive Council (Department of Education, Health and Agriculture) set up a committee with 22 members.  And Sir Nalini Ranjan Sarkar was the chairman for this Committee. In 1945 the Sarkar Committee recommended establishing at least 4 Higher Technical Institutes across the country.

     After Independence the first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who became a torchbearer, established the Indian Institute of Technologies to produce manpower with trained technical personnel of international class to the nation who would act as leaders in technology for the newly independent India.  Nehru believed that Science and Technology had a prominent role to play in modernizing India.  As per Nehru these institutes would provide scientists and technologists, who would engage in research, design and development to build the nation towards self-reliance in India’s technological needs.  The institutions were to be designed with the necessary dynamism, flexibility and capacity to adapt expanding knowledge and changes in the socio economic requirements of modern society.

    The first Indian Institute of Technology established in India was Kharagpur IIT. In May 1950, the institution was established in the site of Hijli Detention Camp, where British rulers had prisoned the political leaders of the independence struggle. It was inaugurated on 18th August, 1951 and named as “Indian Institute of Technology”. After the launching of the first IIT, within a decade four more were established and they are IIT Bombay in 1958, IIT Madras in 1959, IIT Kanpur in 1959 and IIT Delhi in 1961.  After decades IIT Guwahati launched in 1994.  Now 23 IITs throughout the country are educating the students.  All the IITs provide various degrees, and work with various famous universities from the developed countries like Russia, United Kingdom and United states. 

    For the past 70 years Indian IITs are the top most institutions in India, and provide world class education. IITs having recognized internationally based on excellent infrastructural facilities.  The faculty and alumni of IITs have a great impact in all sectors of society.  Outstanding manpower is coming out with extraordinary caliber IITs.  Top most companies in the world are picking IIT students with lakhs of salaries, and this is the best example to show the Capacity of India Institute of Technologies. 

List of IITs and Year of Establishment

1.  IIT Kharagpur-1951

2.  IIT Bombay-1958

3.  IIT Madras-1959

4.  IIT Kanpur-1959

5.  IIT Delhi-1961

6.  IIT Guwahati-1994

7.  IIT Roorkee-2001

8.  IIT Ropar-2008

9.  IIT Bhubaneswar-2008

10.  IIT Gandhinagar-2008

11. IIT HYderabad-2008

12. IIT Jodhpur-2008

13. IIT Patna-2008

14. IIT Indore-2009

15. IIT Mandi-2009

16. IIT Varanasi-2012

17. IIT Palakkad-2015

18. IIT Tirupati-2015

19. IIT Dhanbad-2016

20. IIT Bhilai-2016

21. IIT Jammu-2016

22. IIT Goa-2016

23. IIT Dharwad-2016