The National Institute of Technology, Patna, will hold its alumni meet on February 2. Chief minister Nitish Kumar will be the chief guest and rural works minister Bhim Singh guest of honour.
Nitish, a 1973 batch alumnus, has never missed the alumni meet. G.K. Chaudhary, general secretary of NIT Patna alumni association, said: “It is the day when the chief minister takes out time from his busy schedule to visit his alma mater and meet his friends and teachers.”
Nitish was there last year, too, though he reached late. Institute sources said during alumni meets, the chief minister refrains from talking politics and takes greater interest in sharing his experience of college days.
It was because of the chief minister’s initiative that Bihar College of Engineering (BCE) was upgraded to status of NIT. Also, it was on Nitish’s directive that NIT got 100 acres of land at Bihta for its campus. Construction work at the new campus would begin soon and the campus shift to Bihta by 2017.
The alumni association general secretary, Chaudhary, said alumni of the 1954, 1964 and 1989 batches would be felicitated by being recognised as Diamond, Golden and Silver Jubilee batches. Nitish and Bhim Singh apart, many alumni have confirmed they would attend the 2014 alumni meet. Among those who have given consent is Atomic Energy Commission chairman Ratan Kumar Sinha, Rajesh Kumar (IAS), Arun Kumar Sinha (IAS), railway board former member A. P. Mishra, energy adviser to Bihar chief minister P.K. Roy and executive director of Mecon, Ranchi, Shashi Bhushan Prasad.
Chaudhary also said: “The alumni association will also felicitate toppers from seven different branches at NIT Patna.”
On the alumni meet day, alumni and their spouses can also avail of a free health check-up at a programme organised by eminent doctors of Astha Lok Hospital in Kankerbagh, and at Neodent Dental Clinic.
In recent years, National Institute of Technology, Patna, has embarked on a number of social welfare activities in and around Patna.
In this regard, a free health check-up camp (open to all) and a free eye cataract operation camp (for a limited number of patients from BPL families) is being organised on January 19 at Pensioner Bhavan, Patliputra.
They would also distribute blankets and winter clothes among the poor in January. Also, a bonfire would be lit at select sites for pavement dwellers.
