“......Here in the place of that Hijli detention camp stands this fine monument of India today representing India’s urges, India’s future in the making. This picture seems to me symbolical of the changes that are coming to India.......”
Prime Minister Jawharlal Nehru (April 21, 1956)
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IITKgp) started its journey in the Hijli Detention Camp. The camp was established in 1930 by the then British Government to detain a large number of young freedom fighters who participated in the armed struggle or the non cooperation movement. The camp was finally closed down in 1942. In 1946 a committee was formed to consider the setting up of Higher Technical Institutions for post war industrial development in India. With the recommendations of the committee, the first Indian Institute of Technology was born in May 1950 at Hijli, Kharagpur. The first session started in August 1951 in the historic building of the Hijli Detention Camp. The motto of IITKgp is "Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam." The mission and vision of IITKgp are to be a centre of excellence in education and research and to be a place where knowledge is created in frontier areas of national and global importance.
About Department of Chemistry
Sir J.C. Ghosh, the first director of the institute started the chemistry department in 1952. Ever since the inception, the department has established the tradition of excellence in teaching and research in various aspects of chemistry. The department continues to modernise its multifaceted research activities and acquired state-of-the-art facilities. With the support of a group of highly committed faculty members, the department offers one of the best academic environments in the country.
Research in the department encompasses all fundamental topics of organic, inorganic and physical chemistry; at the same time interdisciplinary areas such as, biophysical, bioinorganic, bioorganic, computational, material, nanomaterials, organometallic, polymer, solid-state etc are given required importance. The department presently has 32 faculty members and 180 PhD scholars. In 2011 (International Year of Chemistry), the department was ranked by the Department of Science & Technology, India as one of the top six chemistry departments in the country.
Place and Climate
Air: The distance from Kolkata International airport to IITKgp campus is about 150 kms and can be reached within 2-3 hours by car. The international airport at Kolkata is well connected with all major cities of the world and almost all parts within India.
Rail: Kharagpur is well connected by a wide array of railway network and can be accessed from any part of India. The distance between Kharagpur railway junction and IITKgp is approximately 4 kms. IITKgp campus can be reached by autos or private taxis.
Road: Kharagpur is also well connected by good road network (NH-5 and NH6 connects Kharagpur with other part of the country) with important metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata.
The climate at Kharagpur during the second half of December is pleasant and dry. Temperature varies between 14-27 °C.