Prof. Indrajit Basak passed away on April 21st, 2025, following severe injuries sustained while conducting an experiment in his lab. Prof. Basak leaves behind a legacy of kindness, dedication, and inspiration. His contributions to the academic and research community were deeply valued, and his unwavering commitment to excellence touched the lives of many. He will be profoundly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.

Prof. Indrajit Basak passed away on April 21st, 2025, following severe injuries sustained while conducting an experiment in his lab. Prof. Basak leaves behind a legacy of kindness, dedication, and inspiration. His contributions to the academic and research community were deeply valued, and his unwavering commitment to excellence touched the lives of many. He will be profoundly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.

Prof. Kanwar Singh Nalwa, Associate Professor in the Department of Sustainable Energy Engineering, and an alumnus of IIT Kanpur (BT/MME/2007) passed away on June 12th 2024. Renowned for his pioneering educational efforts and excellence in research in battery technology, particularly in developing low-cost, high-performance sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries, he was an excellent young academician in sustainable energy solutions..His leadership in key projects related to solar energy and batteries made significant contributions to the field. He joined IIT Kanpur as a faculty in 2019. Prof. Nalwa was not only a brilliant researcher but also an inspiring teacher and dedicated mentor who left a lasting impact on his students and colleagues. Known for his wit, sense of humor, and warm personality, he touched the lives of many. Beyond academia, he was an enthusiastic traveler and an avid motorcyclist who embraced life with passion and joy.

Mr. Anil Kejriwal, a distinguished alumnus of IIT Kanpur (BT/CHE/1974), passed away on August 15th 2024. Mr. Kejriwal was a visionary venture capitalist and serial entrepreneur. He launched his first start-up, Technocrats Paperchem, in 1975 in Jamshedpur, pioneering the manufacture of paper chemicals in India. In 1981, he founded Ramtech, which grew to become a leading global company in personal computers. Throughout his career, Mr. Kejriwal was a passionate advocate for technology and entrepreneurship. He actively mentored numerous start-ups across multiple IIT batches, significantly contributing to the growth of India’s start-up ecosystem. His legacy as an innovator, mentor, and leader will be remembered with great respect by the IIT Kanpur community and the broader entrepreneurial landscape.

Prof. Sangram Mudali, Director of the National Institute of Science & Technology (NIST), Berhampur, and a distinguished alumnus of IIT Kanpur (BT/ME/1985) passed away on August 2nd, 2024. A visionary educationist and philanthropist, Prof. Mudali dedicated his life to expanding technical education and uplifting marginalized communities in Odisha. After earning his B.Tech. from IIT Kanpur and an MS from the University of Houston, he worked with leading companies in the US and India before founding NIST, the first engineering college in South Odisha. Under his leadership, NIST became a top-ranked institution, and through initiatives like Diganta, he provided free education and boarding to hundreds of tribal children. Honored with the IIT Kanpur Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2017, Prof. Mudali’s legacy of service, innovation, and compassion will continue to inspire generations.

Prof. Arvind Mithal , Charles W. and Jennifer C. Johnson Professor in Computer Science and Engineering at MIT and a distinguished alumnus of IIT Kanpur (BT/EE/1969) passed away on June 17th, 2024, at the age of 77. Prof. Mithal was celebrated for his groundbreaking work in dataflow computing, formal verification, and the development of parallel programming languages. Elected to the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he was also a fellow of the ACM and IEEE, and received the IEEE Harry H. Goode Memorial Award in 2012. Over nearly five decades at MIT, Prof. Mithal was a highly respected teacher, mentor, and leader whose enduring legacy will continue to influence the field of computer science for generations to come.

Mr. Ranjit Shahani Former Managing Director and Vice Chairman of Novartis India Ltd and a distinguished alumnus of IIT Kanpur (BT/ME/1970) passed away on March 9th 2024 at the age of 74. Mr. Shahani’s career spanned leadership roles at Imperial Chemical Industries, Roche Products, and JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals. He was President Emeritus of the Organization of Pharmaceuticals Producers of India (OPPI) and played a pivotal role during Novartis’ landmark Glivec patent case. Renowned for his vision, integrity, and commitment to the healthcare industry, Mr. Shahani’s legacy will continue to inspire generations of professionals.

Prof. Sameer Khandekar, a distinguished faculty member of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Kanpur, passed away on 22 December 2023, leaving the academic and research community in deep mourning. An alumnus of Government Engineering College Jabalpur (B.E., 1993), Prof. Khandekar began his career in the shipping industry before transitioning to academia. He earned his M.Tech from IIT Kanpur in 2000 and Ph.D. from the University of Stuttgart, Germany, in 2004. Since joining IIT Kanpur in 2004, he established himself as an internationally recognized expert in heat pipes, electronics cooling, and energy systems. Prof. Khandekar was a Fellow of INAE and the Institution of Engineers, and served on the editorial boards of several leading journals. Beyond research, he held numerous administrative roles at IIT Kanpur including Head of Department and Dean of Student Affairs. He was also the president of Shiksha Sopan, a social initiative for underprivileged children.

Mr. Anil Bhandari, Chairman of the Wheels Global Foundation Advisory Board, and an alumnus of IIT Kanpur (BT/ME/1969) passed away on April 22nd, 2023, in Miami, Florida. Renowned for his philanthropy, he instituted the Gopal Das Bhandari Memorial Distinguished Teacher Award at IIT Kanpur and played a pivotal role in constructing the Outreach Building on campus. Deeply involved in alumni activities and PanIIT outreach, Mr. Bhandari’s dedication and generosity left a lasting impact on the IITK community and beyond.

Dr. Rathin Datta a distinguished alumnus of IIT Kanpur (BT/CHE/1970) passed away in Chicago, USA, on April 17th, 2023, at the age of 74. A renowned chemical engineer, Dr. Datta devoted over 40 years to developing and commercializing innovative process and product technologies, especially in the field of renewable resources for energy and chemicals. He was celebrated for his leadership in creating and guiding organizations toward sustainable solutions and commercialization. Dr. Datta’s legacy as a visionary technologist and mentor will be remembered by the global scientific and IITK alumni communities.

Mr. Pawan Kumar , a distinguished alumni of IIT Kanpur (BT/CE/1969), passed away on February 6th 2023. A 1969 graduate in Civil Engineering, Mr. Kumar was a respected angel investor, mentor, and advisor. He was known for his entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to nurturing startups and young professionals. His legacy as a guiding force in the business and alumni community will be fondly remembered by all who knew him.

Prof. Meenakshi Narain Professor of physics at Brown University and a distinguished alumna of IIT Kanpur (MSC2/PHY/1984) passed away on Jan 1st. 2023. She was a prominent high-energy experimentalist and was deeply involved with the CMS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. She was instrumental in discovering the top quark, the heaviest fundamental particle in 1995, and co-authored/authored over 850 articles in leading physics journals.