IIT Kharagpur at 75: How India’s first IIT was born in a former colonial prison

IIT Kharagpur, India's first Institute of Technology, marks its 75th anniversary today. Born out of the urgency to produce skilled engineers for post-World War II industrialization, the institution's roots trace back to a time when India was still under British rule. In 1946, a committee led by Nalini Ranjan Sarkar proposed the creation of four such institutions, with the eastern one to be located in or near Calcutta.

In 1951, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad inaugurated IIT Kharagpur, which initially functioned from Calcutta before moving to its present location in 1950. The site's historical significance was not lost on the institution's founders, as it once served as a detention camp for freedom fighters during India's struggle for independence. Today, IIT Kharagpur stands as a testament to India's commitment to producing top-tier technical talent, with a rich legacy of notable alumni including Sundar Pichai, Arvind Kejriwal, and Arjun Malhotra.