TO GIVE OR NOT TO GIVE, THAT IS THE QUESTION!!

October 18 2004:

If Shakespeare were alive today, he would definitely be concerned about why so many KGP alumni are unwilling to give back. The heroes have shown the way: Arjun Malhotra (1970, ECE, RP), Purnendu Chatterjee (1968, ME, AZ), Suhas Patil (1965, ECE, RK), and Vinod Gupta (1967, AGE, RK) have been great role models. So what is it going to take for the rest of us to follow, get involved and put our money where our mouth is?

And why should we get involved?

We would like to make KGP a world-class institution, like MIT maybe. What's the difference -- money -- to hire the best professors, have the best facilities, and attract the best students. Where did MIT get the money -- their alumni, of course!
Once upon a time the Indian Government paid up and took care of everything.
Not anymore! Now it'll have to be the alumni.
We may have the best undergrad students. It will take money to attract the best grad students and doctoral candidates.
We have a world-class Management School, an advanced VLSI lab, the School of Telecommunications, and every room in every hall wired for high speed Internet. It didn't just happen.
A FEW ALUMNI MADE IT HAPPEN!

Where have the rest of us been??? We cannot become an MIT unless all of us start giving back to our alma mater. Maybe we let the Arjun's, Purnendu's, Suhas's and Vinod's cover up for us so far. However giving back is all of our responsibility and we can no longer delay getting involved. I have no doubt all of us have very successful careers because we have been beneficiaries of the greatest education, and most of all an attitude of "can do". Have we forgotten -- THE CREAM OF THE CREAM OF THE CREAM ... Considering the cost our education was insignificant (didly in Texas), it is all the more important that all of us give back to make sure that IIT KGP remains the best.

As proud alums of the real "Best" Engineering School in India, let's show our pride by getting involved. The 2004 Campaign is underway. Our goal is to get 60% participation this year.

WE NEED TO GIVE BACK AND WE NEED TO DO IT NOW ... One at a time We can do it and we will!!!!!!

Can we count on you for a $100 contribution to IIT Kharagpur?

a) $5,200 (@ $100 per week),
b) $1,200 (@ $100 per month),
c) $400 (@ $100 per quarter),
d) $100 (@ $100 per year).

Visit http://www.iitfoundation.org/donate and let's DO IT!

Regards,

Joseph "Joe" Sreshta
Chairman, 2004 Annual Fundraising Campaign
Secretary, IIT Foundation
1972 NA AZ