Over the last few days, an unprecedented number of news articles have been published from different news outlets on Chemical Engineering Department’s Centenary Celebration, Alumni participation and their donations. However most are around following two areas:

46 lakhs rupees raised by alumni to cover expenses for Centenary Celebrations

Chemical Engineering alumni (1971) Mr. Ravi Prasad is contributing 31 lakh rupees for a pilot plant in the laboratory from the prototype. Six months ago, Mr. Prasad retired as the CEO of Produits Artistiques Métaux Précieux (PAMP) - a leading bullion brand in Dubai.

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Mr. Ravi Prasad for such a kind gesture. We request all alumni worldwide to come forward and help Jadavpur University finan

Below are a few links, FYI -

PC: Arnab Mitra & The Telegraph Kolkata Online

From alumnus of Jadavpur University: Chemical reactor worth Rs 31 lakh: https://www.telegraphindia.com/.../from.../cid/1918960

Reach out to industries to grow: Tip to JU https://www.telegraphindia.com/.../reach-out.../cid/1918997

Alumni raise Rs 46 lakh for Jadavpur University chemical engineering ahead of 100-year celebrations http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articl.../98165795.cms...

Alumni Of JU Department Raise Rs 46 Lakh To Support Academic, Research Activities https://www.outlookindia.com/.../alumni-of-ju-department...

यादवपुर विश्वविद्यालय के पूर्व छात्रों ने शैक्षणिक, अनुसंधान गतिविधियों के लिए 46 लाख रुपये जुटाये https://www.ibc24.in/.../jadavpur-university-alumni-raise...

At the time of Independence in 1947, CET Bengal was virtually functioning as a university. In view of this fact, and in order that the degree of the NCE Bengal might receive statutory recognition, the Government of West Bengal with the concurrence of the Government of India enacted the necessary legislation for the establishment of a University at Jadavpur under the name of JADAVPUR UNIVERSITY, which started life on 24 December 1955. When the Bengal government enacted legislation to establish Jadavpur University in 1955, the NCE transferred all its property and teachers to the fledgling university and the chemical engineering department — along with other departments — came under JU.

The courses of study were under constant review and modification. In the middle of 1940s, subjects like English, Strength of Materials, Industrial & Chemical Engineering Calculations, and Chemical Engineering Home Design were introduced. In the 1950s, Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics was introduced. The recommended book was Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics by Dodge and of Weber and Meissner. In the late 1950s, the subject Applied Kinetics was introduced. The Institute awarded the degree of Chemical Engineering in 1951 and PhD (Eng) in 1966 for the first time. By the way, Chemical Engineering degree became 5 years after 11 years of schooling from 1961.

The brilliant run of Chemical Engineering suffered a jolt because of the Naxalite movement in the late 1960s. In December 1970, then JU vice-chancellor Gopal Chandra Sen was murdered on the campus at the height of the movement. “Like many other departments, our department, too, was in the doldrums and chaos prevailed,” said Ranjit Chakravorti (ChemE 1961) to The Telegraph Kolkata.

Important course modification was done in the 1970s. Subjects like Process Instrumentation and Control, Chemical Plant design, and Project Engineering were introduced. Polymer Engineering and Furnace Technology were introduced at the PG Diploma level. Since 1978, the Chemical Engineering degree (B.Ch.E) became once again a 4-year course after 10+2 course in science.

As Naxalites movement-related disruption ebbed, academic activities resumed, but things were different. The industry ecosystem that helped the department thrive changed dramatically since the 1980s. Bengal ceased to be the hub of industry. Gujarat and Maharashtra emerged as hubs of chemical and allied industries.

The beginning of the 1980s saw major modification of the course in Chemical Engineering, marking a step of modernization. Subjects of Transport Phenomena, Chemical Engineering Mathematics, Numerical Analysis and Computer Programming, and Process Equipment Design Drawing have been introduced. Courses on Unit Operations have undergone a thorough revision and have been divided into Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer, Separation Processes and Mechanical Operations.

For decades, the department has been offering undergraduate (BE), postgraduate (ME) and PhD (Engineering) courses with great success. Since 2011, the department has also been offering a postgraduate course in Bioprocess Engineering (MBPE). Advanced Process Engineering, Process Intensification, Bioprocess and Bioenergy, Membrane Based Processes, Fuel cell, Nanomaterials, Catalysis and Reaction Engineering, Environmental pollution, Waste valorization, Microwave-Assisted Processes, Smart Materials, State-of the-art Extraction Technology, Wastewater Technology, Advanced Drying Technology, Fuel and Combustion, Biofuel, Fuel Additives and Engine Performance and Emission Assessment, Applied Process Modelling, are some of the research areas of this department.

The department has a high-level research infrastructure developed through central funding, namely, UGC-SAP, DST-PURSE, MHRD and TEQIP. Besides, sufficient research funds are received by individual faculty members through national and international projects. This department has provided professional leadership in diverse areas like setting up of the Biotechnology Board of the Government of India, stewarding of the State Pollution Control Board and providing consultancy at large corporate sectors, like IOCL, HPCL and HPL and many major chemical and allied industries in India. The students of all levels trained in this department, are well recognized and consistently accepted by the industries, research institutes, public sectors (e.g. ONGC, HPL, BARC) and National and International academic institutions. The departmental faculty members are active in collaborative research with different National and International Institutions.

Pro-VC Prof. Chiranjib Bhattacharjee, an alumnus of the department, said to The Telegraph Kolkata, “The department’s rich heritage embodies the enlightened path of technical education in Bengal.” The department has 118 BTech seats as of 2023, and HoD is Prof. Rajat Chakraborty.

[The history of the department of Chemical Engineering in Jadavpur University is written based on several published articles and video presentations during centenary celebration (Feb 25 - 27, 2023)]

Ref:

Chemical Engineering Developments in India (1989) https://link.springer.com/cha.../10.1007/978-94-009-2307-2_9

Jadavpur University chemical engineering dept to celebrate its centenary from February 25 to 27 https://www.telegraphindia.com/.../jadavpur.../cid/1918512

https://jadavpuruniversity.in/acade.../chemical-engineering/

Prof. Pinaki Bhattacharya in Chemervescence 2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z_HbhmL4v4

Chemical Engineering department 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQb4CnB4jJU