The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has instituted a Chair for Photonics. The Chair which has been named after Prof Ajoy K Ghatak was endowed by a 1985 batch alumnus Dr. Ramadas Pillai.
Photonics is the branch of science that helps to study light generation, detection, and manipulation through emission, transmission, modulation, and signal processing, switching, amplification, and sensing.
Prof Ajoy K Ghatak completed his MSc from the University of Delhi and Doctorate from Cornell University.
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He also worked at Brookhaven National Laboratory as a Research Associate. He joined IIT Delhi in 1966 and took retirement as an Emeritus Professor of Physics in 2007.
He has written more than 170 research papers and several books in the field. Many awards have been conferred on him for his contribution to the field.
“This extraordinary news is truly overwhelming, and I am filled with extreme gratitude towards Dr. Pillai for his amazing generosity and to IIT Delhi for honoring me with this wonderful gift. I accept this honor with great appreciation,” Prof Ghatak said.
“An outstanding teacher and researcher, Professor Ghatak has inspired generations of students and scientists. I have been fortunate to have him as my mentor for over four and a half decades and continue to learn from him. The Chair in Photonics in his name endowed by Dr. Ramadas Pillai is a great gesture and will go a long way in perpetuating the inspiration for many more generations to come. It is a wonderful way to honor one’s teacher,” Dr. Anurag Sharma, Professor of Physics at IIT Delhi said.
“I am fortunate to represent all those students over generations who got inspired and influenced by Prof Ghatak as a teacher and mentor. This is a humble guru Dakshina from all of us,” Dr. Pillai said.
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