25, raipur,NIT Raipur organized Induction Program for First-Year students, “Along with this, the Hira Auditorium and the Hira VIP Lounge were also inaugurated during this gracious event.” -Public & Media Relations Cell National Institute of Technology (NIT) Raipur organised an insightful Induction Program for the upcoming batch 2025-26 of undergraduate students on 23rd August 2025. The program included the inauguration of the newly developed Smart Classrooms aimed at enhancing digital learning, followed by the inauguration of the HIRA Auditorium and HIRA VIP Lounge at NIT Raipur, designed to support student activities and academic events. The Inauguration ceremony of 02 Smart Classrooms, auditorium & lounge was graced by the presence of Chief Guest Bajrang Lal Agrawal, CMD, Godavari Power and ISPAT Limited, Dr. Suresh Haware, Chairman, BoG, NIT Raipur & IIT Bhilai, S.K. Agrawal, Alumni, NIT Raipur (1975), Shri Umesh Chitlangiya, President, Alumni Association GEC-NIT Raipur, Dr. N. V. Ramana Rao, Director NIT Raipur. All Deans, Hods, Faculty Members, Staff members, and Students were present in this event. At first, in the newly inaugurated HIRA Auditorium Director, Dr. N.V. Ramana Rao, addressed the gathering by expressing gratitude towards Shri Bajrang Lal Agrawal, CMD, Godawari Power and Ispat Ltd., HIRA Group, and S.K. Agrawal for their generous contributions, particularly for the Auditorium, Lounge & Smart Classrooms. Dr. Suresh Haware, called the day a historic occasion, praising the rare unity of alumni in shaping the institute’s future and commending Dr. Rao’s efforts in strengthening alumni relations. Agrawal fondly recalled his student days and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to give back to his alma mater, while Chitlangiya lauded this initiative and highlighted the strong, transparent foundation of the alumni association. The most inspiring moment came from Shri Bajrang Lal Agrawal, who, returning to the campus after fifty years, shared nostalgic memories, spoke of his family’s bond with engineering, and proudly recounted his journey of innovation, from building a cement and steel plant to establishing Asia’s first solar thermal power plant.The induction programme for the new batch of students at NIT Raipur began at the DDU auditorium. The ceremony was graced by the presence of esteemed Guests, including Bajrang Lal Agrawal, CMD, Godavari Power and ISPAT Limited, Dr. Suresh Haware, Chairman, BoG NIT Raipur & IIT Bhilai, Prof. Rajeev Prakash, Director, IIT Bhilai and Dr. N. V. Ramana Rao, Director NIT Raipur. The event began with a warm welcome address by Dr. N.V. Ramana Rao. He acknowledged the presence of distinguished leaders from industry and academia and conveyed to the freshers that this day marked not only the beginning of their engineering journey but also their role as responsible citizens.Prof. Rajeev Prakash, Director of IIT Bhilai, addressed the students, comparing their entry to NIT Raipur to reaching a base camp after a long and challenging climb. He commended them for their hard work and sacrifices, and urged them to set clear goals, always prioritize the nation, and never forget the sacrifices made by their families in their success.Dr. Suresh Haware then welcomed the dignitaries and highlighted the achievements of NIT Raipur’s alumni and professors across industry and academia. He encouraged students to build connections with peers from different states, improve their presentation skills, and gain confidence. He advised them not to blame themselves for failures but to take pride in being NITians, reminding them that dedication, along with the institute’s guidance, would help them achieve great success. Dr. Haware also introduced the idea of Frustration Tolerance Quotient (FQ), stressing that the ability to cope with challenges and pressure defines one’s efficiency. Bajrang Lal Agrawal, in his address, drew from his personal experiences as a former student of the institute. He reflected that while the name and facilities had changed, the spirit, principles, and wisdom of the Institute remain the same. Speaking directly to the new students, he recalled once being in their place and shared how engineering had taught him not only about circuits and wires but also about the power of hard work and dedication to change the world. He emphasized that engineering instils the habit of asking “Why” before “How,” and that failures should be viewed as lessons that build resilience. He called upon everyone to come together in fulfilling the collective responsibility of building the nation.In the second half, students were introduced to the academic system, curriculum, and ordinances by Dr. S. Bhowmick & Dr. S. Ghosh, Associate Deans of Academics. This was followed by an address by Dr. Vivek Gaba, Faculty in Charge, T.P.O., who enlightened students about the placement procedures, internship opportunities, Start-Up India, Digital India, and the numerous innovation platforms available in the institute. Dr. Manoj Kumar Chopkar, Dean (Student Welfare), gave an overview of the Cultural & Club Facilities, sports infrastructure, and other amenities provided by the institute. Interactions were also done by Dr. Ayush Khare, warden (Boys Hostel), for boys and Dr. Pratima Gupta, warden (Girls Hostel), for girls, which focused on hostel rules, safety, and student well-being. To wrap up the day on a cultural note, a grand evening performance of the Hindi historical play “Chanakaya” by famous actor Manoj Joshi along with his team, organised by NIT Raipur in collaboration with IIT Bhilai took place. The program concluded with a closing note, officially marking the beginning of the students’ academic journey at NIT Raipur.
