ALUMNI GIVING
Dr. Jay Lala (B.Tech., Aerospace Engineering, 1971)
Image Courtesy: Dean ACR Leadership Circle Page
IITB Distinguished Alumnus Dr. Jay Lala (B.Tech., Aerospace Engineering, 1971) inaugurated the newly established High-Speed Flow Diagnostics Lab, featuring a state-of-the-art Stereo Particle Image Velocimetry (SPIV) system at the Institute’s campus. The advanced facility, made possible through his generous contribution, marks a significant addition to the Department of Aerospace Engineering.
Reflecting on the occasion, Dr. Lala shared, “Everything I learned here has served me extremely well… At some point, I felt I should give back.”
Click here to listen to why Dr. Lala chose to give back to his alma mater in his own words.
Class of 1997
IIT Bombay Inaugurates 9Tea7 Shack
Image Source: Dean ACR LinkedIn
IIT Bombay recently inaugurated 9Tea7 Shack, a vibrant new café within the Project Evergreen Complex, made possible with the generous support of the Class of 1997. The name is a play on the number 97 and is a tribute to the fun and spirit of the Batch of 97.
For more on this story, click the Dean ACR LinkedIn Post here.
Transformative Property-Based Legacy Donations
IIT Bombay’s legacy of excellence rests not only on its faculty, research, and students, but also on the steadfast support of its alumni and well-wishers. In a remarkable gesture of commitment, several individuals have made transformative property donations to the Institute, ensuring that future generations continue to learn and thrive. Their words, shared here, capture the spirit behind these generous gifts.
Mrs. Parvathy Ayyar (Wife of Late Prof. R.S. Ayyar, Civil Engineering Department) and her Daughters (both IIT Bombay alumni) – Ranjani, and Jayashree
About her father, his daughter, Ms. Jayashree, said, “Prof. Ayyar’s life was deeply intertwined with IIT—professionally, academically, and personally. He took immense pride and joy in being part of the institute. To honor his legacy, it was fitting to ensure he remains connected to IIT. He always hoped future generations would be lifelong learners serving society with meaning and integrity.”
Mr. Rajendra Desai (B.Tech., Civil Engineering, 1970) and Mrs. Rupal Desai
Speaking on his transformative donation, Mr. Rajendra Desai said, “IIT Bombay transformed me from a shy kid into an individual eager to face the challenges of developing India. Now we want IIT Bombay to prepare the young students to tackle the challenges of the “other India”, and also the unprecedented challenges of climate change. This prompted us to launch a new course a year ago, focusing on climatically appropriate vernacular and alternative building technologies with a smaller carbon footprint. It is now time to take the next step to strengthen this effort by creating a chair that will focus on taking these ideas forward.”
Mr. Praful Dand (B.Tech., Chemical Engineering, 1971) and Mrs. Chetna Dand
Speaking on his extremely generous contribution, Mr. Praful Dand said, “Our always trusting and encouraging parents helped us personally in overcoming the ups and downs of life and guided us to get through different levels of tests put forth by nature after graduating and settling in the US with two kids. Our encouraging son, daughter, and family members, inspiring teachers/professors, and faith in spiritual guidance motivated us in donating our Indian property (which we could not contemplate using, having settled in the USA) to IITB, who could benefit from the funds they would receive by selling it and putting it to better use. Finally, the education received at IITB gave us the ability to solve and the necessary confidence in tackling many complex projects and completing them successfully at work and at home. The future generation should also enter life after graduation from IITB with solid self-confidence and belief in their abilities to tackle any problem in life or work with available resources at the time and do the best they can. They should accept success or failure with the same grace, respectively, and do their best in helping others as much as possible. This is the philosophy Chetna and I believe in and have tried to practice in life.”