IIITH to mark silver jubilee with lectures, conferences, other events over 18 months

Hyderabad: The International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIITH) launched its silver jubilee celebrations with a lecture series that featured an inaugural session by Dr. Gullapalli Nageswara Rao, founder of the LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) who spoke on "Institution Building—Some Lessons and Reflections."

Dr. Rao commended IIITH for being a true public institute and for making research and innovation a part of its DNA which he said helped it reach where it is today. Quoting Albert Einstein he said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge." Stating that India is a country of disparities that doesn't allow many opportunities, he said the Covid-19 pandemic brought many challenges. We do well in mission mode but fumble in sustainable efforts, he added.

Dr. Rao shared LVPEI's success story and how they became a team with over 3,000 members today touching 35 million people, treating over 5 million children, and becoming the world's biggest corneal transplant centre. He drew parallels between IIIT-H and LVPEI for inspiring, innovating, and being socially conscious in their work. He also launched IIITH's commemorative silver jubilee logo designed by Pratyay Keda Suvarnapathaki, a third-year student from the dual degree program in computer science and engineering program. IIITH had organised a contest to choose the logo and his design was chosen.

IIITH's silver jubilee celebrations will be celebrated over 18 months and will consist of various events, interactive activities, fundraisers, and contests that will bring together alumni, faculty, students, staff, and other members of the IIITH fraternity.

Commenting on the important milestone of 25 years, Prof. P.J Narayanan, the director of IIITH, said, "The institute has built strong foundations for academic excellence through the efforts of its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. However, tough challenges lie ahead if we have to rise to be among the top global institutions. The silver jubilee is an opportunity to connect ever more strongly with all stakeholders: students, parents, alumni, industry, government, well-wishers, and the society at large. The institute has planned celebrations over the next 18 months with activities and events that capture the spirit of connecting with the society more."

Prof. Raj Reddy, the chairman of IIIT-H Governing Council, addressed the gathering remotely from the US and reminisced on the founding of the institute and the various people who helped set it up. He also congratulated the institute for its extremely unique achievement of being ranked among the top 10 institutions in the country in a short span of just 25 years.

Updating the audience on the institute's silver jubilee plans, Vipul Kedia, alumnus and vice-chair of the silver jubilee committee, shared that a series of events have been planned for the next 18 months—conferences, distinguished lectures, cultural events, social initiatives, alumni meet and engagements, alumni-led conferences, social gatherings, and sporting events.