Considering the need of developing technical manpower from local area for growth of industry, a group of prominent Industrialists, Professionals and Educationists in Kolhapur came together and established Kolhapur Institute of Technology in May 1983. This institute, right from its inception has been a role model for evolving need based education through active collaboration of industry. Founder chairman Late Shri. Shivajirao Desai gave his factory premises for this institute.
Now a days, everybody talks about environment, but about 25 years back, it was not having such an importance or glamour. It was an insignificant topic in science and only one paper in civil engineering degree course. It was then that the founders of KIT envisioned the future crises in development and environmental protection and wisely took a decision of starting a degree course in Environmental Engineering. It was a very bold and risky decision, as no other engineering institution elsewhere in India was having such a course. Being a student and faculty of environmental engineering, I got fascinated by this decision and developed a great respect for the management of the KIT College. Starting with 30 students intake, the course has now got full strength of 60 and overwhelming response
Myself and Prof. Gadgil used to go as guest faculty to KIT and had developed a good rapport with students and faculty. Fortunately most of the faculty of KIT were past students of my college ie Walchand College of Engineering. The first Principal Hardikar was very disciplined and managed to run the institute with limited resources. The institute progressed fast and was shifted to present new location. The innovative design of the institution building gives a rich new experience of unified centre of learning befitting historical city of Kolhapur surrounded by hills and forts. I had occasion of visiting the college many times during this transformation when my close friends and colleagues, Dr. S. S. Karandikar and Dr. Madnaik were holding posts of principal. I always had a feeling of homeliness.
My relations with KIT were strengthened when one of my students, Late Prof. B. V. Kulkarni became Principal of KIT. I was very proud of his achievements and encouraged him to pursue studies for Ph.D. He registered with me, but due to administrative duties of principal, he had to discontinue it. His desire to do Ph. D. was so strong that he stepped down from principal's post and accepted post of HOD of Env. Engg. and reregistered for Ph.D. with me.
My visits to the college as Guest adjunct faculty became more frequent and I took keen interest in growth of environmental engineering dept.. My company Dnyandeep Infotech Pvt. Ltd signed an MOU with KIT. Considering the pioneering role of KIT in environmental engineering, I proposed to launch a portal website for environment named www.envis.org as a joint venture project. To my delight, management extended full support for the idea and a new website came into existence. The idea was to develop knowledge and human resource database in environmental field which would serve as a common platform for exchange of information and form liaison between students and prospective employers. Though the website could not catch up expected growth rate initially, it has now assumed a prominent status. We conducted a seminar on “Use of Solar Energy in Building”. This program was a grand success and I felt the need of more direct efforts for education and public awareness in environment which resulted in establishment of our Dnyandeep Education & Research Foundation.
I have observed how KIT management started Biotechnology Engineering, invested heavily, built a prestigious modern laboratory with latest instruments and amenities. It was when, even the word ‘Biotechnology’ was also foreign to common man. The far sighted vision, risk taking attitude and sincere efforts to enhance quality of education have given a unique position to KIT in engineering education. The past students of the college are holding important prestigious positions in industry and govt. bodies. KIT College has played proactive role in solving environmental problems in the area. There is a great scope for development of consultancy services which would help in strengthening college financially as well as exposing the students to real life problems and molding them into capable engineers.
Prof. B. V. Kulkarni completed the thesis work with great zeal and dedication. However, it was of a bad fate of destiny that he could not fulfill his cherished dream of getting Ph.D. and just few days before final viva, he had fatal heart attack. The event has left a deep scar and a sense of guiltiness in my mind. Though he is not amongst us, whenever I enter KIT premises I feel his presence and that binds me to the KIT’s future aspirations of growth. I always get warm welcome and respect from all faculty and principal and I immediately become one of them seeing the world through KIT’s viewpoint.
I have a vision that in near future, KIT will develop itself into a centre of excellence in education of Environmental and Biotechnology Engineering. I look forward to a day when Dnyandeep Education & Research Foundation and KIT will establish quality distance education courses.
Now a days, everybody talks about environment, but about 25 years back, it was not having such an importance or glamour. It was an insignificant topic in science and only one paper in civil engineering degree course. It was then that the founders of KIT envisioned the future crises in development and environmental protection and wisely took a decision of starting a degree course in Environmental Engineering. It was a very bold and risky decision, as no other engineering institution elsewhere in India was having such a course. Being a student and faculty of environmental engineering, I got fascinated by this decision and developed a great respect for the management of the KIT College. Starting with 30 students intake, the course has now got full strength of 60 and overwhelming response
Myself and Prof. Gadgil used to go as guest faculty to KIT and had developed a good rapport with students and faculty. Fortunately most of the faculty of KIT were past students of my college ie Walchand College of Engineering. The first Principal Hardikar was very disciplined and managed to run the institute with limited resources. The institute progressed fast and was shifted to present new location. The innovative design of the institution building gives a rich new experience of unified centre of learning befitting historical city of Kolhapur surrounded by hills and forts. I had occasion of visiting the college many times during this transformation when my close friends and colleagues, Dr. S. S. Karandikar and Dr. Madnaik were holding posts of principal. I always had a feeling of homeliness.
My relations with KIT were strengthened when one of my students, Late Prof. B. V. Kulkarni became Principal of KIT. I was very proud of his achievements and encouraged him to pursue studies for Ph.D. He registered with me, but due to administrative duties of principal, he had to discontinue it. His desire to do Ph. D. was so strong that he stepped down from principal's post and accepted post of HOD of Env. Engg. and reregistered for Ph.D. with me.
My visits to the college as Guest adjunct faculty became more frequent and I took keen interest in growth of environmental engineering dept.. My company Dnyandeep Infotech Pvt. Ltd signed an MOU with KIT. Considering the pioneering role of KIT in environmental engineering, I proposed to launch a portal website for environment named www.envis.org as a joint venture project. To my delight, management extended full support for the idea and a new website came into existence. The idea was to develop knowledge and human resource database in environmental field which would serve as a common platform for exchange of information and form liaison between students and prospective employers. Though the website could not catch up expected growth rate initially, it has now assumed a prominent status. We conducted a seminar on “Use of Solar Energy in Building”. This program was a grand success and I felt the need of more direct efforts for education and public awareness in environment which resulted in establishment of our Dnyandeep Education & Research Foundation.
I have observed how KIT management started Biotechnology Engineering, invested heavily, built a prestigious modern laboratory with latest instruments and amenities. It was when, even the word ‘Biotechnology’ was also foreign to common man. The far sighted vision, risk taking attitude and sincere efforts to enhance quality of education have given a unique position to KIT in engineering education. The past students of the college are holding important prestigious positions in industry and govt. bodies. KIT College has played proactive role in solving environmental problems in the area. There is a great scope for development of consultancy services which would help in strengthening college financially as well as exposing the students to real life problems and molding them into capable engineers.
Prof. B. V. Kulkarni completed the thesis work with great zeal and dedication. However, it was of a bad fate of destiny that he could not fulfill his cherished dream of getting Ph.D. and just few days before final viva, he had fatal heart attack. The event has left a deep scar and a sense of guiltiness in my mind. Though he is not amongst us, whenever I enter KIT premises I feel his presence and that binds me to the KIT’s future aspirations of growth. I always get warm welcome and respect from all faculty and principal and I immediately become one of them seeing the world through KIT’s viewpoint.
I have a vision that in near future, KIT will develop itself into a centre of excellence in education of Environmental and Biotechnology Engineering. I look forward to a day when Dnyandeep Education & Research Foundation and KIT will establish quality distance education courses.
