In a heartwarming gesture of giving back, the graduating class of 2000 from the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), Shibpur, has illuminated the path for future students—quite literally. The alumni batch has successfully raised a substantial sum to install permanent flood lighting at the iconic Lords ground on campus, ensuring students can pursue sports long after sunset.
Project Illumination: Lighting Up Student Lives
The initiative, aptly named 'Project Illumination', saw the batch collectively raise over Rs 23 lakh. The funds were formally announced and inaugurated during the batch's silver jubilee reunion held on a recent Saturday. The project's primary goal was to install high-quality, permanent flood lighting at the Lords ground, a central sporting venue on the IIEST Shibpur campus.
Koustav Biswas, a 2000 batch alumnus now working as a software project manager, shared the batch's motivation. "As we planned our 25-year graduation reunion, we were determined to give back to our alma mater. After discussing with college authorities, illuminating the Lords ground emerged as the perfect fit. It was within our budget and would benefit students across all departments by encouraging evening sports," he said. "The ground is nostalgic for us; we used to rent lights to play there in our student days."
Beyond Lights: A Comprehensive Sports Upgrade
The alumni contribution extended beyond just lights. The batch's generosity also covered the procurement of essential maintenance equipment to ensure the facility's longevity. The purchased items include:
- A pitch roller for ground upkeep.
- A trolley-mounted telescopic tower ladder for maintaining high-mast lights across the campus.
Around 210 alumni contributed to the fund. Of the total amount, approximately Rs 12.4 lakh was allocated directly to the flood lights, pitch roller, and ladder. The remaining sum has been handed over to the institute authorities to support additional planned enhancements, such as fencing and other sports-related facilities for the Lords ground.
Institute's Vision and Future Plans
The institute's administration has welcomed this initiative with open arms. Anirban Gupta, Dean of International Relations and Alumni Affairs, highlighted the project's impact. "This initiative will boost student enthusiasm for sports, giving them the opportunity to play in the evenings after classes. It's a seniors' gift to their juniors," he stated.
Gupta also revealed ambitious future plans, mentioning the possibility of hosting an inter-NIT sports competition. He added that the remaining alumni funds would be pooled with other resources to develop multi-sports facilities, including tennis courts at the Lords ground and an indoor court on campus.
Echoing the sentiment, Asok Adak, an alumnus who is now a professor at IIEST, called the project "a much-needed initiative for the well-being of the students." The permanent lights, roller, fencing, and maintenance ladder address long-standing infrastructure gaps, directly enhancing the student experience.
This collective effort by the IIEST Class of 2000 stands as a powerful testament to the enduring bond between alumni and their institution. Project Illumination does more than light up a field; it brightens the prospects for holistic student development, fostering a culture of health, camaraderie, and spirited competition for generations to come.
