More on IITs

摘要

The editorial on the 'Indian Institutes of Technology' is both apposite and thought-provoking. As one who has taught both at an IIT and at the Indian Institute of Science, I would like to add a few lines. Hijli is a site of historical importance in India's freedom struggle as pointed out in the editorial. After the tragic incident of September 1931, Tagore made one of his rare political appearances and addressed a mass meeting at the foot of the Ochterlony Monument (now Shaheed Minar) in Calcutta. One of his most heart-rending poems 'Prasna' was also provoked by this tragedy. Mahatma Gandhi visited Hijli to meet the detenus, accompanied by two brothers of Netaji, Sarat and Sunil, on 17 November 1937 - some new records of this visit have recently emerged. It was thus fitting that the Old Building was consecrated as Martyr's Memorial in September 1997 by Lakshmi Sehgal of the INA. This building also houses the Nehru Science Museum.