From academics to sports, IIT Bombay aims for an Olympic Gold

The Rs 20 crore target for the Gymkhana project was achieved through major contributions of ex-students like the CEO of Syntel, Bharat Desai (Rs 7.2 crore) and the Silicon Valley entrepreneur, Dr Hemant Kanakia (Rs 4.8 crore).

“The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have always been known as the `islands of excellence’ and the students have time and again proved to be winners in the field of engineering scinces. But on the occasion of our silver jubilee reunion of the Class of ’75, we thought why not contribute for an IIT Gymkhana with the hope of producing at least one world class sportsman,” remarked Bharat Desai while talking to Mumbai Newsline. He is based in Troy, Michigan, US.

The Gymkhana Project includes the main complex, which will house world class basketball, badminton courts, indoor track, tennis courts and an Olympic size swimming pool. “I am pleased to have Syntel associated with IIT Bombay’s vision of achieving excellence in all walks of life and setting the goal of having an Olympic medal associated with IIT Bombay by the end of the decade,” added Desai, very sure of bagging that elusive Gold before 2010.

The IIT Bombay Director, Prof Ashok Misra, said: “I am thrilled that the Class of ’75 has shown enormous interest in raising the standards of our institute and set a high bench mark for the other classes to follow. The outpouring of support, with 100 per cent participation from all the 75 Alumni attending the reunion shows strong commitment and bonding of our alumni to IIT.”

The second highest contributor Dr Kanakia, added: “I am excited to support the vision of having a world class infrastructure sports complex. If we can be world leaders in technology, then I’m sure we can have at least one top sportsman too.”

Prof Misra further informed that that the project could not have been possible without the contribution of the IIT Bombay Heritage Fund — especially Nandan Nilekani, Anil Kshirsagar, Prashant Ranade, Paritosh Choksi and Raj Mashruwala.

The IIT Bombay Heritage Fund was founded in 1996, and is a non-profit organisation to support the institute in order to make it among the best learning centres. With a registered membership of 4000 worldwide, the heritage fund has already raised US dollars 10 million, and plans to raise more than 100 million dollars over the next five years. It started with a trickle of contributions five years back when the old boys’ network in the US decided to do something for their alma mater in Powai.