The First Batch

The first batch of the Five-Year Integrated M.Tech in Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology at IIT Delhi was special.

The programme was new—conceived by Prof. Tarun K. Ghose. We ran it with hope more than certainty. Students joined without knowing what the future held. There were no precedents, no guarantees. Yet, perhaps because of that very uncertainty, we received some of the most committed students.

They took it upon themselves to make the programme a success.

The faculty, too, went beyond formal responsibility. We personally approached industries for summer training. Many of the best places opened their doors to our students. Several went on to pursue higher education at premier institutions. Wherever they applied, our students were accepted.

It was a defining moment—not only for them, but also for us as teachers.

Our students did not feel the need to chase the IAS or an MBA to validate themselves. They were confident in their chosen path. Even today, I remain in touch with a few from that first batch—some personally, others through many indirect channels.

Looking back, I feel a deep, quiet happiness. I am glad that I was a teacher.