Ajay Chauhan (BT/CHE/1989) passed away on 8 September 2026. His passing has left his family, his batch and all who knew him deeply shaken. He is survived by his wife Reena; daughters Moha (IIT Kharagpur) and Mahi (IIT Guwahati); and his brother Alok, a decorated IAF fighter pilot (Retd.) who flew in the 1999 Kargil operations. A wife lost a devoted husband, two daughters lost a father who gave them everything, a younger brother lost the companion he had grown up beside, and his batch lost a very dear friend.
Purpose of the Fund
Ajay's batchmates, along with friends from his schools and professional circle, wish to stand by Reena, Moha and Mahi through this fund. The intent is simple: to see both daughters through their degrees without money being a concern, to support the household meanwhile, and to leave Reena some security thereafter. The ₹2 crore fund is intended to cover the family's education and living needs year by year, along with a modest reserve for contingencies and medical expenses. It also provides a corpus to support the family's future financial needs.
"Ajay would never have asked for help, so we are asking on his behalf."
Ajay was born in Jabalpur into an Army family and grew up in the cantonments of Dehradun, Pune, Chennai and Lucknow, moving as his father's postings changed. He finished his schooling in Lucknow before coming to IIT Kanpur. Sport found him early. During his school years in Chennai, he played Sub-Junior National tennis.
Ajay was a champion athlete who made IIT Kanpur shine in sports. He first represented the institute in lawn tennis at the Inter-IIT meets, then turned to the track in his final year, and 1988 became the year that belonged to him. At the Inter-IIT at Madras he took five gold medals and a silver, setting new meet records in the relays.
After graduating from IIT Kanpur he joined Reliance at Patalganga. A few years in he gave up the job to spend the rest of his life on research, a decision that says more about him than anything else. His work ranged across agrochemicals, electronics, naval design, AESA radars and robotics. A chemical engineer by training, he worked just as comfortably in physics, computing and electronics design, and a good number of people around him did well commercially out of ideas he helped them shape, usually without being asked for anything in return. For years he also coached children preparing for the IIT entrance examination, with real dedication and entirely free of charge. He was a frugal, minimalist, and generous man who devoted his life selflessly to science, perhaps above all else.
Note: Contributions in ₹ reflect in the fund's progress within 1–2 days, other currencies may take 5–7 days.
Tax Benefits: 100% tax benefits under Section 80G (India) for the old tax regime and Section 501(c)(3) in the USA via the IITK Foundation. Tax benefits in the UK, Canada, Germany, Belgium, and Australia may also apply as per local regulations.
How funds will be used: Contributions go directly toward tuition and living costs for Moha and Mahi, household support for Reena, and a reserve for contingencies and medical costs.
A few moments from Ajay's life — on the track, at work, and with the family he loved.
