Newsdigest for the IITD Alumni Association

1. Outstanding Contribution to National Development

Dear Friends,

The IIT Delhi Alumni Award

for

Outstanding Contribution to National Development

The IIT Delhi Alumni Award for Outstanding Contribution to National Development was instituted in 1999 to honour nominated and selected IIT Delhi Alumni. The award is conferred each year by the IIT Delhi Alumni Association on one or more alumni at its Annual General Meeting. It consists of a plaque and a citation

The Purpose:

• To recognize outstanding contribution of IIT Delhi alumni to National development.
• To enhance the awareness of achievement and contributions of IIT Delhi alumni in various aspect of national development.
• To develop greater networking and interaction with outstanding IIT Delhi alumni to further enrich the activities of IIT Delhi Alumni Association.

Selection Criteria:

• Exceptional achievement and excellence in the chosen field.
• Leadership role / Role Model Status.
• Impact on national development.
• Contribution in developing of talent.
• Pioneering effort.
• Commitment to ethics and values.

On behalf of the Selection Committee for the award, I have the pleasure to invite you to nominate one (or more) IIT Delhi alumnus who in your opinion has made outstanding contribution to national development, and should be considered for the prestigious award. All those who have obtained a degree from IIT Delhi are eligible.

The nominations may be sent by email / Post / Courier/ fax.

Kindly send the nominations in the enclosed format; together with a summary of his/her distinguished achievements/contributions. It would be helpful

if you would also send to us a resume of the nominee. Please feel free to contact me if you need further information in this regard.

We would appreciate your early response but the last date for receipt of nominations is 15^th February 2007.

A list of the previous awardees is enclosed.

With regards,

Yogesh Andlay
President, IITDAA

___________________________________________________________________________

FORMAT FOR NOMINATION FOR IITD ALUMNI AWARD FOR

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Name of the nominee:

IIT Delhi Degree (s):

Current position/ title:

Nominee address, phone, fax, email address:

Brief sketch of nominee’s career and achievements:

Proposed by:

Name:

Signature:

Address, phone, fax, email address:

Kindly send nomination to:

The Convenor, Selection Committee

“Outstanding Contribution to National Development”

IIT Delhi Alumni Association
Nalanda House,
Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110 016
Tel: 2686 8523/2659 7178/2659 6953
Fax: 2651 4177
E-mail: iitdaa@gmail.com or office@iitdalumni.com
___________________________________________________________________________

In the past, this Award has been conferred upon:

1999-2000
Dr. Kiran Bedi, Indian Police Service
Mr. Pradeep Gupta, MD, Cyber Media (
India) Ltd.

2000-2001
Mr. Rohit Chand, Executive Chairman, IT&T Ltd.
Mr. Vijay Mahajan, MD, BASIX
Mr. Arjun Vinoo Caprihan, President, Caprihan Interscience
Mr. Nabankur Gupta,Group President & Wholetime Director, Raymond Group of Companies.

2001-2002
Dr. A.K. Chakravarti, Advisor Ministry of IT
Mr. Satish Tandon, MD, Alfa Laval (India) Ltd.
Dr. E.A.S. Sarma, IAS,
Mr. Prabhat Agarwal, CEO, Parsec Technologies
Dr. Satya Narayana Dasa, Chairman, Jiva Inst.of Vaisnava Studies

2002-2003
Dr. Prem Vrat, Ex-Director, IIT Roorkee
Mr. Satish K. Manocha, Chairman & Managing Director, ITI Limited
Mr. Ashok K. Manchanda, Director, NUCON Engineers Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. Surya Kant, Vice President, TCS

2004-05

Mr. Yogeshwar Kumar, Senior Consultant, DST & IREP

Mr. Pravin Kumar Purang, President & CEO, Global Consulting Associates.

Prof. Trilochan Sastry, Professor, IIM, Bangalore

Mr. Navyug Mohnot, Chief Executive Officer, QAI India

2005-06

Rear Admiral Ravinder Mohan Bhatia, Chairman & MD, Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai, (Retired on 31^st December, 2005)

Mr. Yogesh Kumar Singhal, Project Director, GSAT-2/Project Director, INSAT-4A

2. Cooperative Housing Scheme for Noida and Greater Noida

Dear Alumnus,

In 1998-99 IITDAA NCR(East) had floated a concept of constituting a
cooperative housing society in NOIDA and Greater Noida for
constructing housing complex for the benefit of our alumni. First an
association and then a cooperative society were registered for this
purpose. Unfortunately for various reasons the objective was not
properly pursued and when Greater Noida allotted plots in 2001 we
missed the bus and could not avail the opportunity in spite of the
fact that we had the two organisations already registered in 2000.

After that for five years things remained dormant. In July 2005 I
came to know that GNIDA is contemplating to develop some plots for
cooperative societies and asked the EC of NCRE to activate the
cooperative society so that when the offers are invited we do not
miss the bus this time.

Unfortunately over these five most of the office bearers of the
cooperative society moved out of the NCR area and lost interest in
the project. In spite of our best efforts we could not get the
society regularised as yet. The older lot has lost interest in the
project and the newer lot does not know where to start. Old office
bearer say that they are willing to hand over the baton to a new
team provided sufficient alumni come forward and show interest in
reviving the project. Last year some fifteen alumni showed some
interest but none of them came forward to initiate effective steps.

I have been informed that the authorities have firmed up the plans
and shortly are going to invite applications from registered
cooperative societies which are entitled to get plot at concession.
If we can regularise the two registered bodies many alumni may be
able to realise their dream of having a house in and around Delhi.

It is true that most of us who are from senior batches may not be in
need of a house but the younger generation will certainly be looking
for such opportunity. We the older lot will be doing a great
service to our younger alumni if we can play a positive role in
realising the dream of IIT Alumni housing project.

Those who are interested may please send me an e-mail
<suresh_stva@yahoo.co.in>.

Regards

Suresh Srivastava

We have got his complete medical check up done & he will work with Suzlon in Pune after his treatment is over, in another 3 weeks or so. Here is the report on developments, for your information. There is a specific appeal to all of you at the end as well for help.

Developments: " Praphull Chiplunkar has completed all his medical tests today. His ECG & other important tests are ok. Blood & others show deficiencies and weakness due to sustained malnutrition, but he is improving with regular home cooked food now and has begun to eat well now. Most importantly, docs are happy with his progress over days.

He is strong willed and wants to work, in non conventional energy area, hence the proposed arrangement with Suzlon in Pune, as soon as he is able to articulate better and walk with a stick. Other suggestions & opportunities are welcome.

Mr. Rohtash Mal has provided mobile phone and printer, Mr. Dinesh Awasthi provided computer and Dr. Amit is a Psychiatrist, which has helped Praphull a lot, in just single sitting itself. Mr Ramesh Suri has also offered to take him up with him personally if Suzlon does not work out well for Praphull. He is also planning some direct financial support. Prof Manoj Datta, Dean Alumni Affairs is also planning to take up for discussion with the Director IIT Delhi, to explore some options of support. Mr. Sunil Parekh has helped a lot and suggested need to raise about Rs 2 lakhs from all of us, for his future financial needs, before he gets into some job with Suzlon in Pune.

Several alumni who have expressed their feelings and best wishes for his full recovery.

Mr. S.P.Karna, 2001, M.Tech. IITD and as Sr Manager (CenPEEP) at NTPC Noida.

have been felicitated with the following awards at a function in New Delhi.

Bharat Jyoti Award 2006 by India International Friendship Society, New Delhi for Meritorious Services, Outstanding Performance and Remarkable Role at a seminar on Economic Growth & National Integration at New Delhi on 9^th Dec’06

Glory of India International Award 2006 by Friendship Forum of India, New Delhi for Outstanding Performance and Remarkable Role at a seminar on Economic Growth & National Unity at New Delhi on 16^th Dec’06.

Dear friends,

The early efforts put in by 'Final Year Mechanical Engineering Group' has now grown to a movement spread over 200 cities in India and across 20 countries.

We salute Dr. Kiran Seth for his tireless efforts, starting from a small concert in Convocation Hall to building up SPIC-MACAY step-by-step.

Should anyone be inspired to connect with this movement again, please get in touch with Dr. Kiran Seth.

With best wishes for a great 2007,

Yogesh Andlay

Dear Friends:

This is the 30th year of SPIC MACAY. We are inaugurating our 30th festival, FEST 2007 in Delhi on the 24th of January with concerts by Pt. Birju
Maharaj and Pt. Rajan and Pt. Sajan Mishra at Delhi University. You are cordially invited for the programme. The newspaper ad and hoarding
designs are in the attachment. Please look through the list of our supporters mentioned and forward this mail with the attachments to them. I am also
sending you an article which you can try to get published in your local papers.

Regards.
Kiran Seth

IT BEGAN AT IIT
ON 30 YEARS OF SPIC MACAY
By Dr Kiran Seth

As IIT students in the late sixties, many of us were into Western music -
in fact everything that was Western. One staff member, every year, would
organize a whole night of Indian Classical Music called the 'Green Amateurs
Night' (I still have to figure out why this name!). It was held in a big pandal and we would go, basically to look at the 'interesting' people who
had come to hear the programme. Classical music was the last priority.

The years passed. We graduated and many of us went abroad. While doing my PhD at Columbia University in New York in the early seventies, I came
across a small advertisement in the 'Village Voice', which announced a Dhrupad recital by Ustad Nasir Aminuddin Dagar and Ustad Zia Fariduddin
Dagar at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York under the aegis of the Asia Society. A group of us said 'Chalo dekhen' (not 'sune'). None of us
knew what Dhrupad was or who the Dagars were. I went into the concert walking on the ground and came out walking an inch above it. A seed
planted during my IIT days had emerged as a wondrous plant. The black box concept in science could describe it quite appropriately. I knew the input to the
box and the output but not what took place inside it. I figured that what happened to me could happen to others too and started conducting concerts
of great classical Indian artistes passing through New York, under the aegis of the India Club of Columbia University; I also started learning
Indian classical music. I joined Bell Labs in New Jersey on completion of my PhD but kept in touch with the concerts and continued with my own
learning process.

In 1976 when I returned to India to teach at IIT Delhi, I remember asking my students if anyone had ever heard just the name of one of the greatest
sitar players who was alive at that time, Pandit Nikhil Banerjee. Not one student raised his hand. We decided to do something about it and set up
MEFORG (Mechanical Engineering Final year Operations Research Group) obviously because I was teaching OR to the final year ME students. We
decided to conduct a programme and we publicized it widely. I was quite sure that we would be able to fill at least half of our convocation hall,
which has a capacity of about 1500. Five minutes before the programme was to begin, there were about 5 people in the hall. When it began, there
might have been about 10 and by the time the first raga got over, we were back to about five. A disastrous start - but we said, never say die. Next year
the whole class got involved, making it a MEFYs (Mechanical Engineering Final Years) presentation. Having learnt from our past mistakes, this programme
was marginally successful. After this the movement spread organically. Students from other colleges agreed to organize similar programmes and a
new catchy name SPIC MACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth) was given to the movement. It spread to
other cities. Schools joined in. Other facets of our heritage like folk, yoga & meditation, crafts, talks by inspired writers, painters, philosophers, social activists & environmentalists, walks to monuments with historians, theatre, film classics and even holistic food were included in the gamut of its activities. As the world started shrinking rapidly, the next logical step was the inclusion of the best of other cultures into the activities of the movement. It is today operating in about 200 towns in
India and about 20 abroad conducting over 1500 events yearly. The aim still remains to bring all that is inspiring, subtle, abstract and most importantly mystical into the lives of young people all over India and abroad.

However, the journey has had and still has today more downs than ups. Facing a losing battle, we had to get our best horses forward. Initially,
it was very difficult to get top artists to perform for a pittance. As an example, I remember going to meet Ustad Bismillah Khan at the Crown Hotel
in Fatehpuri, Chandni Chowk. Despite my telling him a long story of how his help would change the face of the Indian youth, he refused to cooperate when I told him that we had practically no money to offer. But I did not give up and something about the sincerity of my effort might have struck him for he finally agreed to join the SPIC MACAY bandwagon. Pt. Birju Maharaj, Vidhushi Sonal Mansingh, Pandit Jasraj, The Dagar Brothers, Dr. T.N. Krishnan, Shri Lalgudi Jayaraman, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan & Ustad Asad Ali Khan were among the initial set of artists who consented to support the movement. Most of our other great artistes pitched in later and helped it grow further. Despite this great support from the artist community, funds had to be raised
continuously and this has always been a problem. Captains of industry are committed to supporting projects which are more tangible in nature.
Primary education, women and child issues, AIDS, drinking water, the handicapped etc, are all undoubtedly very important areas but very few like Amit
Judge, Arun Bharat Ram, Jauhari Lal, Reita and Vikas Gadkari are prepared to financially support even intangible efforts in a sustained manner.
Similarly in the government just a handful of people like Sabanayagam, Anil Bordia, M.K. Kaw, N. Gopalaswamy, Rajeeva Ratna Shah, Amitabha Pande,
Mano Ranjan and Meenakshi Sharma have gone out of their way to extend support to the movement. Anjolie Ela Menon has been regularly donating her paintings
to SPIC MACAY which has helped raise lakhs of rupees.

6. An Appeal to People

The following request has been sent to us by Shubha Maudgal, 1979 alumnus who works for Cancer Patients Aid Association, Mumbai.

Dear All,

I want to forward you the attached appeal from a very close associate,staying at Pune, whose 7 year old son is suffering from acute Blood cancer and needs a special transplant which is not available in India. He needs to be taken to Europe and the estimated cost of treatment is close to USD 180 K (Rs 90 lacs) .

Kindly go through the attached document and I would like to request you to consider this appeal and try to support him.

If you are interested , please send me your name and contact number. In any case the donations can be made directly,Procedure is explained in the attachment.

In case you wish to make a donation, you can do so online on CPAA website www.cpaaindia.org using a credit card. Simply click on the picture of the credit card and follow the three easy steps. In the field marked "Projects" fill in "For the treatment of Piyush Kolur." Alternately, you can send a cheque or demand draft in the name of "CANCER PATIENTS AID ASSOCIATION" to the address below. Write "For Piyush Kolur" on the back of the cheque.

Shubha Maudgal,
Cancer Patients Aid Association,
Anand Niketan,
King George V Memorial Infirmary,
Dr. E. Moses Road, Mahalaxmi,

Mumbai-400011, INDIA
Phone: 0091-22-24924000
0091-22-24928775
Fax: 0091-22-24973599
URL: www.cpaaindia.org
Email: Shubha.Maudgal@cpaaindia.org

Donations to CPAA are tax exempt under section 80G (50% exemption). You will be sent a certificate of exemption along with receipt and letter of acknowledgement.

For the verification, you may contact Piyush’ father, Maltesh Kolur on the below given address and contact nos.

If you wish to not avail the tax benefit, you may deposit the donations in the following accounts,

In the name of “Maltesh Kolur”

ICICI Account No. : 002701016473

ABN AMRO Bank :Account No. : 971916

CITI Bank :Account No. : 5878718706

# posted by IIT Delhi Alumni Association @ 10:54 AM 0 comments