This story is from February 27, 2015

‘Malaviya Chair’ at IIT-BHU brings cheer

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu’s announcement of ‘Malaviya Chair’ for Railway Technology at the Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU) was received with cheers by the BHU family and also local citizens. It also somewhat cushioned the disappointment for Prime Minister’s constituency not getting any new train or big project.
‘Malaviya Chair’ at IIT-BHU brings cheer
Varanasi: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu’s announcement of ‘Malaviya Chair’ for Railway Technology at the Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU) was received with cheers by the BHU family and also local citizens. It also somewhat cushioned the disappointment for Prime Minister’s constituency not getting any new train or big project.

“We welcome this gift of the Central government and railway minister. It will motivate us to deliver the best,” said BHU vice chancellor Prof G C Tripathi. “It is the recognition of academic and research environment of the university,” he said adding that it will give extra energy to the scientists in their endeavor.
“The Institute is happy to learn that the railway ministry has identified it for instituting Malaviya Chair for Railway Technology. IIT-BHU will work on development of new materials for the railways,” said IIT-BHU director Rajeev Sangal. “Some of the benefits that are likely to accrue out of this research are: lighter railway bogies, improvement in shock absorbers, safer track, etc. The departments of IIT (BHU) who would be involved are metallurgy, material science and ceramics, etc,” he added.
Prabhu announced constituting an innovation council -- “Kayakalp” -- for business re-engineering and introducing a spirit of innovation in railways besides setting up of technology portal to invite innovative technological solutions. Four Railway Research Centers in select universities for fundamental research have also been proposed besides ‘Malaviya Chair’ for Railway Technology at IIT (BHU), Varanasi. This chair will help in development of new materials to be used in all assets of railways.
While the IIT-BHU director described it as a positive and good gesture of the railway minister, professor of electronics and mahanth of Sankat Mochan Temple Prof Vishwambhar Nath Mishra said that it is a great honour for the institute and the university as well. “It is also the recognition of hard work done by the scientists and researchers in this institution of Malaviyaji,” he said.
“By awarding Malaviya Chair to IIT-BHU the railway minister honoured the vision of the great founder of this university Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya,” said Prof. Priyankar Upadhyaya, UNESCO Chairholder and Coordinator of Malaviya Centre for Peace Research, BHU. “It is an appropriate and timely initiative of the central government,” he added.

“The Central government conferred Bharat Ratna on Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, and now announced Malaviya Chair to mark the centenary celebrations of BHU. We welcome and appreciate it,” said Prof. Kowshal Kishor Mishra, head of the department of political science.
The students of IIT-BHU were also exited with this announcement. Kishan Agrawal and Ashwini Kumar Sahay of the department of metallurgy said that all students of BHU are elated on getting the Malaviya Chair. “The students of department of metallurgy are all the more excited as our department has been chosen for development of an alloy to reduce the weight of the compartment.”
Not only BHU fraternity, but others also hailed the announcement. “Although there is a little disappointment that no new train was given to Varanasi, we are happy that IIT-BHU has been gifted with Malaviya Chair,” said R K Chowdhary, chairman of Varanasi chapter of Indian Industries Association (IIA).
End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA