Who Started the First IIT in India?

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are globally renowned institutions known for academic excellence, innovation, and producing world-class engineers, scientists, and leaders. But how did this prestigious system begin? The journey of the first IIT—IIT Kharagpur—is rooted in post-independence India's vision of self-reliance and technological advancement.

After India gained independence in 1947, the nation faced the daunting task of rebuilding its economy and infrastructure. There was a pressing need to develop indigenous technological expertise to support industrialization and national development.

Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, a staunch believer in science and education as the pillars of progress, envisioned institutes of higher technical education that would rival the best in the world. He saw these institutes as "temples of modern India."

The conceptual foundation for the IITs was laid even before independence. In 1945, the Sir Nalini Ranjan Sarkar Committee, set up by the Government of India, recommended the establishment of four higher technical institutions in different parts of the country, modeled on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA.

The committee proposed that these institutions should offer:

Their report laid the groundwork for what would later become the IIT system.

The Hijli Detention Camp, which once held Indian freedom fighters during British rule, was transformed into a symbol of independent India's intellectual future. The decision to establish the first IIT here was both symbolic and strategic.

The institute began functioning with 224 students and 42 teachers across ten departments. It was later granted the status of an “Institute of National Importance” by the IIT Act of 1956.

Following the successful model of IIT Kharagpur, the government established more IITs across India in subsequent years:

Over the decades, several more IITs were added, and today India boasts 23 IITs across the country.

The IIT system laid the foundation for India’s emergence as a global technology and innovation hub.

The first IIT—IIT Kharagpur—was not just an academic institution; it was a visionary response to a young nation’s need for self-reliant technological growth. Initiated through the efforts of leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Sir N.R. Sarkar, and B.C. Roy, and born out of the ashes of colonial rule, the first IIT marked the beginning of a world-class education system.

Today, the IITs continue to be centers of excellence that not only drive India's progress but also contribute significantly to the global pool of knowledge and innovation.