BITS Pilani alumni couple donates Rs 8.40 crore for institutional development

NEW DELHI : The Birla Institute of Technology And Science Technology (BITS), Pilani, recently announced receiving a donation from alumni couple Ravinder Kumar Bhat (from the 1978 batch) and Sumita Desarkar (from the 1981 batch) towards institutional development. The fresh pledge takes BITS Pilani’s commitment to endowment to more than $18 million, an official statement from the institute said.

The proposed donation is part of the $100 million BITS Pilani endowment fund aimed at “driving institutional growth and supporting innovation”, the statement added.

The fund will facilitate the upgrade of labs, infrastructure enhancements, research initiatives, and an overall educational experience for students across BITS Pilani campuses. The initiative aims to help the institute achieve its mission of academic excellence and innovation.

“This donation under the’ Sumita Desarkar and Ravinder K Bhat Fund for Institutional Development,’ is part of the proposed $100 million BITS Pilani Endowment Fund,” added the note.

As per the official statement, both Desarkar and Ravinder Kumar Bhat are entrepreneurs based in the UAE. Since their two-decade residency in the UAE, the couple has established businesses across various sectors, including construction, commodity trading, infrastructure, oil and gas equipment, and event management.

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BITS Pilani alumni contribution

“BITS Pilani has profoundly shaped our personal and professional journeys not only through its world-class educators, and instilling a strong work ethic, but also through the network which we developed and still strongly maintain. We are honoured to give forward to the institute that laid the foundation for our careers and growth with the hope that this contribution will further the legacy of excellence and create new opportunities for future generations,” the alumni couple added.

Professor V Ramgopal Rao, vice-chancellor of BITS Pilani, expressed gratitude and said: “We are deeply grateful for this support. This fund will greatly enhance our efforts towards academic and infrastructural development, pushing the institute toward new horizons.”

Professor Arya Kumar, dean of alumni relations, said: “This contribution is a testament to the enduring relationship between our alumni and the institute and their love for the institution. The impact of Sumita and Ravinder’s generosity will resonate for years to come”.