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Prof. Humayun Kabir addresses the audience at the foundation stone laying ceremony, 1962

Institute Events , Inaugurations

Prof. Humayun Kabir (Union Minister) was an educationist and politician. He also wrote poems, essays and novels in Bengali. 

He was a renowned orator. In his speech, according to Prof. R. Krishnamurthi’s article in the Fourth Annual Number: “Professor Humayun Kabir referred with appreciation to the work done already during these three years to bring this Institute to its high level of efficiency. A city was rapidly growing up in the campus, dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and to the development of Science and Technology. He recalled how India has owed a great deal to Germany through the years, and how German scholars have been among the greatest interpreters of Indian Culture to the Western World. He paid a glowing tribute to the German people for the wonderful way in which they have re-built their cities and their economy, which had been shattered by World War II. He acknowledged with gratitude how Germany has been giving many evidences of her good will towards the developing country, India, and how this Institute is probably the most important of all such acts of help. He praised German scholarship for its high standards, and for its thoroughness and attention to details. The Indians are well known for their imaginative and speculative achievements.  He expressed the hope that in this Institute at Madras there will be a marriage between these qualities in the cause of peace, and for the service of man. He thanked Dr. A. L. Mudaliar and Dr. Kraus for their abiding interest in the growth and welfare of this Institute, and then requested His Excellency Dr. Heinrich Luebke to lay the corner stone of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.” This was not the first time Prof. Humayun Kabir was visiting IIT Madras. He formally inaugurated the institute in 1959, three years prior to his visit in 1962.
 
In 1932, he was invited by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan to join as a lecturer at the newly established Andhra University. He also served as Chairman of the University Grants Commission in Delhi. Prof. Humayun Kabir was the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Education Minister of India twice, under the Prime Ministerships of Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri. Apart from this, He was also Scientific Research and Cultural Affairs Minister. 

Collection:
Gourishankar Collection
Photograph ID:
001/0259/IMG_0338
Album ID:
Photographer:
C. Gourishankar (1936-2002). A geologist by qualification, Gourishankar started his career as a photographer after working for many years with the Geological Survey of India. In everything that he did, Gourishankar strove to achieve flawlessness and impeccable quality. Thus his photography too was characterised by this drive for perfection. Every photograph that Gourishankar took was meticulously planned and shot and printed with diligence and patience. Gourishankar carried out most of the official photography at IIT Madras in the 1960s.
Event:
Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony
Place:
Open Air Theatre (OAT)
Date:
3 December 1962

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