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IITKGP ka tempo high hai!

Prof. Suman Chakraborty Appointed Full-Time Director of IIT Kharagpur

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has officially appointed Prof. Suman Chakraborty as its full-time Director for a five-year term, marking the end of a six-month interim leadership. He succeeds Prof. Amit Patra, who had served as acting director following Prof. V. K. Tewari’s retirement in December 2024.

Prof. Chakraborty, a distinguished Institute Chair Professor in the Mechanical Engineering department and a J. C. Bose National Fellow, received the appointment letter on June 19, 2025. His leadership set a clear tone from day one: “The institute needs a cultural transformation. A healthy environment with positive thinking and free flow of ideas should prevail and the environment of intimidation should be eliminated… My biggest happiness will be to work for IITKGP’s academic progress” (Source: TOI).

With nearly 23 years at IIT Kharagpur, Prof. Chakraborty boasts exceptional credentials:

• Awarded the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize and the National Award for Teachers (2023).

• Laureate of the Infosys Prize (2022) and recipient of the 2026 TWAS Award for Excellence in Engineering and Computer Sciences.

• Renowned for pioneering work in micro‑ and nanoscale flows, he has developed diagnostic technologies—such as COVIRAP—and affordable medical devices aimed at rural healthcare.

• Elected to multiple elite bodies: American Physical Society, Royal Society of Chemistry, ASME, Humboldt, and all major Indian science and engineering academies.

Educated at Jadavpur University and IISc Bangalore, Prof. Chakraborty joined IIT Kharagpur in 2002 and has since held key institutional roles including Head of Medical Science & Technology, Associate Dean and Dean of Research & Development.

Prof. Chakraborty’s first message emphasizes empowering positive culture, free exchange of ideas and addressing past student losses—an indication of his transformative vision for the campus.

As IIT Kharagpur approaches its Platinum Jubilee milestone (1951–2026), alumni and campus leaders have welcomed this appointment.

On behalf of the IITKGPF USA Board of Directors and the more than 15,000 North American alumni it serves, Dr. Asoke DeySarkar, President of IITKGPF, expressed the community’s enthusiasm:

“This is a defining moment for IIT Kharagpur. Professor Chakraborty is a visionary scholar, an inspiring leader, and a compassionate mentor. We believe he will uphold the legacy of IITKGP while bringing in a new era of academic and cultural renewal. The North American alumni stand fully behind his leadership and look forward to contributing to his transformative vision."

Under Prof. Chakraborty’s stewardship, IIT Kharagpur is poised for a renaissance in research-driven impact, student wellbeing, and institutional excellence. His background in bridging fundamental research and practical healthcare applications perfectly aligns with the institute’s mission of societal contribution.

Empower. Inspire. Support.