Have a look at the biography and education of Virendra Kumar Tewari
Check out who is Virendra Kumar Tewari, who’s making headlines in the midst of faculty protests. Not aware of the viral protests? Worry not, we’ve got you covered!
Earlier, social media platforms, especially X/Twitter and Instagram, have been buzzing with viral videos of faculty protests from the IIT Kharagpur.
Who is IIT Kharagpur Director Virendra Kumar Tewari, biography, age, education, qualification, career and caste
Virendra Tewari, IIT Kharagpur director accused of ‘nepotism, arbitrary faculty appointments
As long as such type of person exist in iit we will continue to hear news of casteism and nin placement of iitians pic.twitter.com/veIxQQtIla— Veenu kumar (@jouro2234) December 8, 2024
For context, Virendra Kumar Tewari, who was a professor in the Agriculture and Food Engineering Department at the IIT Kharagpur, was appointed as the director of the institution in 2019, just hours before his official retirement.
At the age of 65, Tewari assumed the role of director, a age that is the standard age of retirement for the faculty members at IITs. However, his appointment was reportedly finalized under the leadership of then-Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal and approved by the President of India.
Now, as his tenure as the director nears it’s conclusion in January 2025, the institute is grappling with escalating tension between the administration and faculty. This conflict stems from the disciplinary actions taken against the members of institutions’ Teachers Association (IITTA).
Who is Virendra Kumar Tewari?
Fresher’s Welcome Function, Batch-9 (2023 – 2025), POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS ANALYTICS (PGDBA), Jointly offered by, IIM Calcutta, ISI Kolkata and IIT Kharagpur
Address by Prof. Virendra Kumar Tewari, Director – IIT – Kharagpur. pic.twitter.com/jhOcDFp3ua
— IIM Calcutta (@IIM_Calcutta) July 26, 2023
Born on January 1, 1955, in Rasra village, Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh, Virendra Kumar Tewari who is a Brahmin Hindu is an agricultural engineer and a professor. Tewari is widely known for his work on farm machinery, ergonomic, and precision agriculture.
The Agricultural engineer is associated with IIT Kharagpur for more than 45 years and has made various notable contribution to the field, with publishing more than 150 papers in national and international peer-reviewed journals.
As per various reports, the 69-year-old professor has previously held the position of interim director at IIT Bhubaneswar.
He is the Director, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur; Former Head of Agricultural & Food Engineering Department and Rural Development Centre, IIT Kharagpur; Professor, IIT Kharagpur; Organizing Chairman, All India IIT-JEE, 2005-06; Vice-Chairman, IIT-JEE, 2004.
He did his B.Tech in 1979, M.Tech in 1981 and Ph.D. 1985 from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
Education
Reportedly, Virendra Tewari, completed his bachelor’s in B.Tech and went to pursue a higher degree in M.Tech in 1981. Later in 1985, he enrolled himself in IIT Kharagpur to earn a degree in Ph.D. Additionally, he held the official position at the institution in 1982 which he served till 2024.
Virendra Tewari as aforesaid, was appointed as the director of the IIT Kharagpur in 2019, preceded by Partha Pratim Chakraborty. His tenure as the director of the institute will end on December 31, 2024.
Beyond controversies, Tewari is a fellow of the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers, the Institution of Engineers, and the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences. His accolades include the Jawahar Lal Nehru Award, NRDC Republic Day Invention Award, ISAE R.K. Jain Memorial Award, and the ISAE Fellow Award.
In 2021, he received the Special Recognition of the Year Award from the Agriculture Today Group for his significant contributions to agricultural mechanization in India.
Awards/Honours: Jawahar Lal Nehru Award, 1986; NRDC Republic Day Invention Award, 1987; ISAE R. K. Jain Memorial Award, 1993-94; ISAE Commendation Medal, 1995–96; ISAE Gold Medal, 2019; ISTE Commendation Medal & Certificate, 2006; ISAE Fellow Award, 2006. Member, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, U.S.A., 1996; Life Member, Indian Society for Technical Education, 1992; Life Member, Indian Society of Ergonomics; Member, Indian Society of Weed Science; Member, Association of Food Scientists and Technology, India. Member, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, U.S.A. (1996); Life Member, Indian Society for Technical Education (1992); Life Member, Indian Society of Ergonomics; Member, Indian Society of Weed Science; Member, Association of Food Scientists and Technology (India).
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