OVERSEAS ROORKEE ALUMNI

Shamsher Prakash (CE54)
President, Roorkee Alumni Association-North America
Professor Emeritus,
University of Missouri - Rolla
Rolla, MO 65409 USA
Email: prakash@umr.edu

Roorkee University has been a true temple of learning and an institution of excellence in engineering in Asia for over a century and a half. Roorkee has been recognized as above all along by the profession and the governmental agencies, i.e. the University Grants Commission, All India Council of Technical Education, and others, but tangible and due recognition has come now with the charter of the INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY.

The glorious past has been the subject of many university and public reports and articles in this souvenir. I will therefore dwell on overseas alumni particularly in North America.

We are about 700 Roorkee alumni at this time (2001) in North America with an active association; Roorkee University Alumni Association-North America, with 11-chapters from California to Massachusetts. We maintain our web page at: www.ruaa-nac.com.

The association had been conceived in the 1970s with the then President Jagdish Narain (CE48). A first formal National get-together was held in Chicago (IL) on July 4, 1976. I happened to participate in it from Roorkee. The responsibility for this get-together was primarily on Purnima Gupta (B. Arch ) and Sher Bahadur (FAC) since Jagdish Nairain had to be in India for Nandinis' wedding. This was a marvelous event with about 90 families from far and near. Similar get-togethers have continued at intervals. In addition every chapter holds their own programs and keeps the fellowship alive.

I understand that there are smaller groups in other countries; in Australia, Kuwait, England, and in other countries. WE have been dreaming to bring all overseas alumni under one umbrella of "OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION"!

During these twenty-five years, the then young alumni in the seventies have matured; some have since retired and have deliberated over the future of our great almamater. "Giving" back to the almamater was the major concern. All the alumni in North America are well to do financially and are willing to give back. Therefore, this question was discussed again and again in several forums of the chapters, executive committee and in private meetings. Major effort was to pick credible programs and channels, for "giving." By the way we have amongst our alumni billionaires also. Therefore, it will be no small giving.

Our target is twenty-five million U.S. dollars in ten years. As we mature (grow older), we begin to identify our roots of Roorkee, the education and training we received, the fellow-feeling we developed, and the dedication to duty. These are our assets in maturity. Therefore "giving" is natural. Only a start was needed. Thanks to the efforts of H.S. Agarawal (CE--) and Sushil Chardra (CE57) and promise of U.S. $1 million by Rajber Singh (EE68) is a good starter. We are identifying willing alumni who will contribute one time large sums and/or sizable contributions every year. We are also in contact with all alumni to join this effort to whatever extent they want. No contribution is too small for a good cause.

After the charter of IIT to Roorkee University, one of our foremost concerns should be "how to keep almamater at the top in excellence amongst all the IITs. It deserves so because of its traditions and simply over 150 years of rich life. With the changing emphasis on new areas of learning, we need to give directions to our efforts to plan ahead.

The most important thought which has kept us going all along with handicap of resources is the "Roorkee zeal", "I will do it" and the basic sermon we learned in Roorkee: "SHRAMAM VINA NA KIMPI SADHYAM"

I along with all our fellow almni in North America salute the almamater in this new setting and dedicate ourselves to its service.

MAY GOD BLESS INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, ROORKEE.

Rolla, November 15, 2000

Dear Alumni and Friends, 

I have taken over president effective October 8, 2000. I must thank the out going President Arvind Gupta for steering the Association for four years. In June 1999, he invited for an alumni to take over him. Ultimately it fell on me. 

I accepted to be President for the third time in all humility and decided to achieve the following before November 15, 2000.

   1.      Post this issue of Multifaria on Web

2.      Correspond with all the members by E-mail.

3.      Issue E-mail lists of the Alumni, Chapter wise on the web.

      There are 9- active chapters at this time.

4.      Designate an Executive Committee of the National Chapter. 

I am grateful to the Michigan Chapter with whom I met in Detroit at a very short notice on October 8, 2000, who helped me crystallize my thinking and arrive at the above decisions. Another decision in this meeting refers to the formation of on Executive Committee  (EC) of the Association. EC will have 2-members nominated by each chapter for a 1-3-years term. One third of the member will retired each years.  We are constituting this EC at this time and drafting by laws. Constitution of the Association will be revised as necessary.  

I take this opportunity to thank all the Alumni and Chapter offices who provided me list of members which have been posted on the Web.  

I Appeal all the members to send me news of members and chapter activities by E-mail ( prakash@umr.edu)  periodically . I propose to update the web page once a month. 

I look forward to cooperation for each and every Alumni to make our Association successful. 

It was also decided to host the National Get together in 2001 or 2002 either in Chicago or Detroit. 

I have appended agenda and minutes of the October 8, 2000 meeting in Detroit. I will refer to these minutes in this issue and in future also.

 I will be gone to India (including Roorkee) , Taiwan and Japan November 20, 2000 to January 12, 2001. Multifaria will be looked after my Assistant in my absent. So please keep on communicating. 

WISH YOU ALL HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A PROSPERIUS NEW YEAR.