The Indian
Institute of Science
2009
marks the completion of 100 years of this great Premier Research Institute,
the Pride and one of the enduring landmarks of Bangalore
The
Indian Institute of Science (IISc) was conceived as a 'Research Institute' or
'University of Research' by Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, in the twilight years of
the 19th century. A long period of almost thirteen years was to elapse from the
initial conception in 1896 to the birth of the Institute on May 27, 1909. According
to the journal Current Science, IISc currently ranks first in India in terms of
research output and quality of faculty (citation and impact factor). It also ranks
first among Indian universities (and South Asian universities) in the "Academic
ranking of world universities" conducted by the Shanghai Jiao Tong University,
China.
The
Institute spends the highest amount on research among all universities in India.
Admissions to IISc are highly competitive, consistently admitting only the top
1 percent of those attempting the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE).
IISc has been ranked No. 1 in an article titled "Ranking of Indian engineering
and technological institutes for their research performance during 1999–2008"
that was recently published in the journal Current Science.
The
Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore has been rated the best in South Asia
in terms of visibility and scholarly papers on the net in the latest ranking of
such institutions by Cybermetric Lab, the largest public research institution
in Spain.
The
early history of the Institute is a fascinating chapter in the story of higher
education and scientific research in India. The cast of characters in the drama
that led to the establishment of the Institute includes, in addition to its charismatic
and generous founder J.N. Tata, figures from the pages of Indian history. There
is Swami Vivekananda, whom J.N. Tata befriended on his famous voyage to the United
States, the Maharaja of Mysore, Shri Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV and his mother then
acting on his behalf, and Lord Curzon the Viceroy of India, whose first task on
arrival on December 31, 1898 was to receive a draft proposal prepared by the Provisional
Committee set up to plan the establishment of the Institute.
The
plan was shepherded through many difficult years by Burjorji Padshah, a close
associate of J.N. Tata. Unfortunately, J.N. Tata died in 1904 unaware that his
vision would indeed be realized a few years later. When the British Government
finally issued the Vesting Order in 1909, an unmatched experiment in higher education
and research was launched in India. IISc is truly the first example of a public-private
partnership in this country; an institution, whose evolution over a century is
testimony to the robustness of its foundations. The Institute occupies nearly
400 acres of prime land in Bangalore, generously donated bythe Maharaja of Mysore
in March 1907. Indeed, the contribution from the princely state of Mysore was
the decisive element in determining the location of J.N. Tata's proposed institution.
Remarkably, in a gesture unmatched in the annals of private philanthropy in India,
Tata did not wish his name to be associated with the Institute. His dream was
to create an institution that would contribute to the development of India. The
name, Indian Institute of Science, which was finally chosen, reflects in every
way the wishes of J.N. Tata. Visitors to Bangalore who seek out IISc still have
to ask local residents for directions to the 'Tata Institute', a clear recognition
that Jamsetji Tata's act of generosity has remained undimmed in public memory,
despite the passage of a century.
The
land and other facilities for the institution were donated by Krishnaraja Wodeyar
IV, the Maharaja of Mysore, Government of India, and Tata himself. While the Maharaja
donated 372 acres (1.5 km2) of land free of cost, Tata gave several buildings
and landed properties towards the creation of IISc.[8]
The
constitution of the Institute was approved by the Viceroy Lord Minto, and the
necessary Vesting Order was signed on 27 May 1909. Early in 1911, the Maharaja
of Mysore laid the foundation stone of the Institute, and on 24 July, the first
batch of students were admitted in the Departments of General and Applied Chemistry
under Norman Rudolf and Electro-Technology under Alferd Hay. Within two months,
the Department of Organic Chemistry was opened. With the establishment of the
University Grants Commission in 1956, the Institute came under its purview as
a deemed university.
At
the time of the inception of IISc in 1909, Morris Travers, William Ramsay's co-worker
in the discovery of the noble gases, became its first Director. For Travers, this
was a natural continuation of his work on the Institute, since he had played a
role in its founding. The first Indian Director was the Nobel Laureate Sir C.
V. Raman.
Admissions
to IISc are highly competitive, consistently admitting only the top 1 percent
of those attempting the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE).
IISc,
also popularly known as the TATA Institute is about 35kms from the airport. A
prepaid taxi currently, costs Rs. 750, or a city taxi costs about Rs. 500. The
Institute is just past Mekhri circle and on the way to Yeshwantpura. Shuttle bus
service, operated by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), runs
from the airport to various areas in Bangalore city every 15 minutes.
The
city railway station is about 7 kms from IISc campus. Taxis/Cabs charge about
Rs 150 to Rs.250 from the Railway Station / Majestic,the central Bus stand in
Bangalore which is just opposite to the City Railway station.
Contact
Information
Registrar Phone : +91-80-23600757
General Phone: : +91-80-2293 2004/2228/2001
Fax : +91-80-2360 0683/0085
Registrar's Email : regr@admin.iisc.ernet.in
Website : http://www.iisc.ernet.in/
(Source
: http://www.iisc.ernet.in/content_Aboutiisc.html and Wikipedia.)
