The name Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur means many things to many people.

To the visionaries of modern India, it symbolised a dream come true: the first world-class technical institute of a newly independent India. To generations of students and teachers who have lived and studied at the Institute, spent years in its dynamic classrooms and devoted years of research to its laboratories and research centres, it is alma mater beyond par. It is a symbol of their nurture, culture and identity, a part of their selves. To outsiders, it is a symbol of reverence and an Institute of National Importance.

From its early beginnings in Calcutta after Independence—as the Eastern Higher Technical Institute—to its current base in Kharagpur, the Institute has come a long way and has witnessed a glorious past. It currently houses 34 departments and schools, a state-of-the-art central research facility, one of the finest technical libraries in the country, and a specialised sponsored research and consultancy unit to manage the Institute’s huge sponsored research and consultancy jobs. It also has the country’s only cryogenic engineering department. About 2,000 students of various streams pass through its doors every year.

This Diamond Jubilee commemorative volume brings the sixty-year journey of IIT Kharagpur to life, in full colour. It invites everyone to join in the joyous celebration of the landmarks, the growth and prosperity of the Institute, the dreams and aspirations of its students and teachers, and their devotion and dedication that has made the Institute what it is today.