In a gesture of exemplary philanthropy, IIT Madras received its single-largest donation ever—Rs 228 crore—from one of its distinguished alumni, Dr. Krishna Chivukula. This is not only a befitting gesture on the part of Chivukula, who contributed to his alma mater through this gigantic donation, but also one of the largest donations to be given to an educational institution in India.

Dr. Chivukula, who graduated with an MTech in aerospace engineering in 1970, has made a name for himself as the founder of INDO US MIM Tec, a company that is at the forefront of the Metal Injection Molding (MIM) technology. His firm, which is likely to post a turnover of almost Rs 1,000 crore, gives credence to the fact that he is truly the pioneer in the field. In recognition of this gift, an academic block in the IIT Madras campus will be named after him as the Krishna Chivukula Block.

Impact of the Gift

The proceeds from this historic gift will be used for a number of activities that will enrich the academic experience at IIT Madras. These include:Scholarships to international students—especially those from SAARC countries.A Grant for Excellence in Research to support innovative research.An Undergraduate Fellowship Program for the incoming students.Support for a Sports Scholar Program and the development of Shaastra magazine.

Maintenance of newly renamed Krishna Chivukula Block among other activities.

IIT Madras Director Professor V. Kamakoti said, “That our alumnus still remembers his Alma Mater after several decades reinforces the fact that education is the only immortal wealth that we can give to mankind. This donation will benefit several future generations of students in their pursuit of knowledge.”

A Record Year for Fundraising

The donation came at a time when the philanthropic support is at an all-time high for IIT Madras. In FY23-24, it raised a total of Rs 513 crore as against Rs 218 crore in the previous year. The number of donors contributing more than Rs 1 crore has also increased. As many as 48 persons, including 16 alumni and 32 corporate partners of the institution, came forward to donate.

This inflow is part of the growing trend of donations from alumni, individual philanthropists, CSR, and grants from Indian and multinational firms. The total funds raised with the help of alums touched Rs 367 crore, a highly appreciable increase of 282 percent over the previous year.

Conclusion

The generous gift of Dr. Krishna Chivukula underlines a very long-lasting relationship between alumni and their institutions; simultaneously, it also sets precedence for such future contributions. As IIT Madras continues to flourish further and add more programs to its educational basket, this historic gift will be sure to leave a lasting impact on generations of students to come.