Few alumni batches have shaped IIT Bombay as profoundly as the Class of 1971.

For decades, its members have remained among the Institute’s most active supporters, contributing to research, education, infrastructure, and numerous initiatives that have enriched campus life. The batch also counts among the highest number of recipients of the IIT Bombay Distinguished Alumni Award, reflecting the remarkable achievements of its members across academia, industry, entrepreneurship, and public life.

Their latest reunion was, therefore, far more than a nostalgic homecoming. It was a celebration of a lifelong relationship with the Institute and of a generation that continues to strengthen IIT Bombay long after graduation.

The occasion carried a special sense of history. On 4 July 1966, the incoming Class of 1971 had first assembled in IIT Bombay’s Convocation Hall, where they were welcomed by the Institute’s first Director, Brig. Bose. Nearly six decades later, the batch returned to the very same hall, retracing the steps that marked the beginning of their IIT Bombay journey.

The reunion programme reflected both the Institute’s continued evolution and the alumni’s enduring engagement with it. Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay, shared the Institute’s vision for the future, while Prof. Upendra Bhandarkar, Dean of Alumni and Corporate Relations, highlighted recent developments and the growing impact of alumni engagement across the Institute.

The gathering also featured a welcome address by alumni Mr. Beheruz N. Sethna (B.Tech., Electrical Engineering, 1971), updates on Frontier Research and the IIT Bombay Alumni Association (IITBAA) from Mr. Raj Nair (B.Tech., Metallurgical Engineering, 1971), and reflections by Mr. Rajaram Krishnaswami (B.Tech., Chemical Engineering, 1971) on the memories and friendships that have defined previous reunions over the decades.

Image and story source: DACR 1971