HISTORY OF THE ACADEMY

The Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) was formally inaugurated on 11^th April 1988 at New Delhi by the then Prime Minister, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi at a colourful Foundation Function in New Delhi.

Prof. CS Jha, Educational Adviser (Tech), Department of Education remarked in a meeting in August 1983 that in the absence of a single body representing all engineering professions, the Government of India finds it difficult to consult Professional  Institutions and have the benefit of their advice.  This led to the concept of establishing a National Academy of Engineering in a note dated  5^th October 1983 from Prof. SN Mitra, Past President, the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers, (IETE) to the IETE Council. 

Prof. CS Jha  convened a meeting on 17^th May 1984 of all the recognised Professional Bodies for discussing various problems on technical issues confronting the Ministry.  He said that there was an urgent need for a coordinating body at the  highest  level  whom the Government can consult on all matters pertaining  to engineering  and  supported  the creation of a National Academy of Engineering as suggested by Prof. Mitra who had earlier submitted  a working paper to the Ministry of Education.

In a similar vein, Prof. Mitra wrote to The Institution of Engineers (India), (IE(I)) on 14^th June 1984 as follows :

"As the very name signifies, it will be a body of intellectuals of excellence in their respective profession.  It may not be out of place to mention that the first Academy was a pleasure garden in Athens which is supposed to have belonged to an ancient attic hero named Academus.  The garden was walled by Hipparchus, and eventually bequeathed as a public pleasure ground by Cimon to his Fellow citizens in Athens.  In this garden, the Greek philosopher Plato taught for nearly 50 years and the Academy thus started and  lasted from the days of Plato to those of Cicero for over 300 years.

We see thus that the original Academy, dated from about 400 B.C.,  was a garden utilised for philosophic teachings and discussions.  It was essentially a place where any branch of knowledge could be discussed  and was completely different from our specialised societies of today. In this original Academy, the philosophers  must have discussed arts, and letters, mathematics and science as well as philosophy strictly so-called : so that a true Academy, without qualification, should be on a broad  basis.  Another point is that an Academy is essentially a place where philosophers  could meet and discuss problems, the solutions sought for being  essentially suited for local utilisation, and that is precisely what we are aiming today - to set up an Academy of Engineering where famous engineers and technologists of India and abroad will meet and discuss problems that beset our country today, and  apply their mind to the fact that, in India with the fourth largest technical and scientific manpower, our industrial growth is of a very low order inspite of heavy investment by the Government.

We have Professional Societies, each working after its own interest.  But, we still need a coordinating body.  Obviously, this body should not compete with Professional Bodies in a way that harms them.  The objectives of the Academy would be such as to encompass all activities in the field of engineering and technology in a broad manner without having any conflict with any of the Professional Institutions and Societies.

The Academy which we are contemplating will consist of  highest professional experts in the field of engineering and technology and will consist of men of excellence who have established themselves as pioneers in their respective fields of endeavour.  The Academicians will have no parochial  interest and will be men and women of professional standard and integrity befitting the Indian National Academy.  The Academy's only interest will be to ensure that the disciplines of engineering and technologies are promoted  with consequent rapid industrial growth in India.

There are similar Academies of Science and Engineering in other countries where these Academies are constituted precisely in the same manner as Plato did before the birth of Christ....... An argument may be advanced  that when there is an Indian National Science Academy which has a Sectional Committee of Engineering and Technology, where is the need to set up another Academy of Engineering and Technology ?  But as the facts would reveal, INSA gives much greater emphasis on basic sciences than their application in the fields of Science and Technology.......  One would notice that the words 'Engineering and Technologies' are absent in its objectives."

Reacting on the background note of Prof. Mitra, a Senior Member of the IE(I) felt that the formation of a National Academy of Engineering as a sister Institution of the Indian National Science Academy would admirably be able to create the appropriate climate for emerging new disciplines.  He cited the example of a similar Academy set up in the United States  in 1964, distinct from the National Academy of Science, but both working under the common umbrella of the National Research Council.  He felt that by striving to develop a membership which spans the spectrum of engineering accomplishments, the Academy will serve to distinguish and honour those individuals whose personal efforts and  technical achievements have raised engineering to the highest levels.  In addition, such an Academy will enlist those individuals, whose organisational and leadership abilities have brought engineering potential to the service of mankind and whose talents are critical to the fulfillment of the Academy's mission of service to the nation.

Pursuant to the decision taken on 17^th May 1984, the Presidents of the Professional Bodies and their representatives met under the ageis of the Institution of Engineers (India).  At this meeting setting up a National Academy of Engineering and Technology as an intellectual forum for the profession was accepted.  In a second meeting of 17^th November 1984, which Prof. CS Jha also attended, a new idea was mooted by the Aeronautical  Society of India for the creation of a National Association or Federation or Council of Professional Institutions.  It was decided that three representatives, one each from IE(I), IETE and the Aeronautical Society of India, should be asked to prepare a paper on the above Federation.  The representatives from IE(I) and IETE could not attend this meeting and they disagreed with  the proposal by Aeronautical Society of India.  The third meeting on 8 March 1985 hosted by IETE was chaired by Mr. CR Alimchandani, President of the Institution of Engineers (India) and  was attended by  Dr. VS Arunachalam, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister and President of the Aeronautical Society of India, amongst others.  It decided to set up an Academy of Engineering and Technology.  A sub-committee was also formed with IETE as Convener with  IE(I), Aeronautical Society of India and the Institute of Architects as Members, to draft the Articles of Association and By-laws for the formation of the National Academy of Engineering and Technology.

In a meeting on 23^rd May 1985 in which  Prof. CS Jha was a special invitee, it was decided that the Academy should be named as the  "Indian National Academy of Engineering".  Prof. Jha said that of  the two concepts (i) Academy of Excellence and (ii) Federation of Professional Bodies, the Academy should be given the first preference for creation.  The Professional Societies were requested to send their comments on the draft Articles of Association and Bylaws being prepared by the Sub-committee constituted for the purpose.

The fifth meeting held on 30^th September 1985 was hosted by the Institution of Surveyors and was chaired by Air Vice-Marshal NK Nair, Honorary Secretary, Aeronautical Society of India.    In a complete volte-face,  the decisions taken by previous meetings were reversed and the proposal to establish Federation of Professional Bodies was again invoked.  This decision evoked sharp reaction both from IETE and IE(I).

Since the meeting of the  Professional Societies could not arrive at a unanimous decision on the establishment of the Academy, Prof. Mitra, Past President of IETE and Prof. A Bhattacharyya, Past President of IE(I) got together on 30^th September 1985 and decided to jointly sponsor the Academy as was originally envisaged by IETE.  They were joined by Dr. GR Toshniwal, Past President, IETE, Mr. KN Majumdar, Deputy Director General, IE(I) and Maj Gen JC Ahluwalia, Secretary, IETE to finalise the draft Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations of the Academy which were submitted in early 1986 to the Registrar of Societies for approval and registration of the Academy.  The operative Ministry for the Registrar of Societies was the Ministry of Civil Supplies to whom the case was sent for approval, who further sent the Memorandum of Association and the Rules and Regulations as drafted to the Department of Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

Prof. Ashoka Chandra, who succeded Prof. CS Jha as Educational Advisor (Tech),  Department of Education,  called a meeting towards end of 1986 which was attended by Prof. SN Mitra, Prof. AB Bhattacharyya of IIT Delhi, Mr. KN Majumdar of IE(I) and Maj  Gen JC Ahluwalia of IETE.  The Ministry wanted that in the objectives and the Rules and Regulations of the Academy, emphasis should be laid upon Government of India's National Education Policy 1986.  After suitable amendments, the Ministry of Human Resource Development gave approval to the word "National" and the "Indian National Academy of Engineering" was registered on the recommendation of the Ministry of Civil Supplies on 20^th April 1987 by the Registrar of Societies with Prof. Jai Krishna as its President.  Other Members of an adhoc Council were Dr. VS Arunachalam (Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister), Dr. GR Toshniwal (Chairman, Toshniwal Industries Pvt. Ltd.), Prof. SN Mitra (Technical Director, Toshniwal Bros. (Delhi) Pvt. Ltd.), Prof. AB Bhattacharyya (Head, Centre for Applied Research in Electronics, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi), Prof. GS Sanyal (Director, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur), Prof. Ashoka Chandra (Educational Adviser (Tech), Department of Education), Dr. Bharat Singh (Vice-Chancellor, University of Roorkee), Prof. A Bhattacharyya (Jadavpur University), Dr. AM Michael (Director, Indian Agriculture Research Institute, New Delhi), Prof. BR Nag (Institute of Radio Physics and Electronics, Calcutta), Prof. NM Swani (Director, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi), Dr. S Varadarajan (Chief Consultant, Planning Commission, New Delhi) and Col. SP Wahi (Chairman, Oil and Natural Gas Commission).

The first meeting of the Council was held on 9^th May 1987 at India International Centre, New Delhi.  Prof. Jai Krishna presided.  Dr. Satish Chandra, President, IE(I) and Shri YL Agarwal, President, IETE were special invitees to the Council.  Both the Presidents offered secretarial help in functioning of the Academy.

As mentioned earlier, the Academy  was formally inaugurated on 11^th April 1988 by the then Prime Minister, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi at a Foundation Function in New Delhi.  The other invitees were Mr. PV Narasimha Rao, Minister of Human Resource Development and Mr. KR Narayanan, Minister of Science and Technology. 

In his Presidential Address before the august gathering at the Foundation Function, Prof. Jai Krishna said that the Academy has been established in response to the desire of the fraternity of engineers, engineer-scientists and technologists to be a “Peer” organisation composed of the best talent from the entire spectrum of engineering in the country and to promote all round excellence.  The Academy would provide a Forum for futuristic planning for the country’s development requiring engineering and technological inputs and bring together specialists from such fields as may be necessary for comprehensive thinking of the needs of the 21^st Century.  The Academy would further be concerned with the issues of academic excellence, achievements and growth of educational systems which would finally reflect the quality and reliability of performance and products.

Another function of the Academy would be to recognise young talents who show promise in creative research in innovation and provide support in pursuance of their work.  In fulfilling these tasks, Prof. Jai Krishna felt that it was extremely important that the Academy maintains its objectivity and independence in its technological recommendations to the Government.

The Prime Minister congratulated all the scientists and technologists on whose initiative the National Academy has been established.  This Academy must emerge as a true centre of excellence and as a reservoir of outstanding talent to be placed at the disposal of the country.

Till the mid-18^th Century, in most respects, India was at the vanguard of world technological development and it had held this position virtually without interruption  from about 6^th century BC and perhaps even pre-Aryan India was on par with Sumeria and Egypt.  The National Academy must target India at the forefront development and technology in the least time possible as a national task.

One casualty of our education system has been the scientific teaching.  With some improvement in our human resource development, we can forge ahead to the vanguard of the technological advancement.

In India today, the prime need is a higher and more sophisticated technology to meet the needs of the poorest sections of our society.  The Academy must keep in mind the basic aim of poverty alleviation as a fundamental objective and act as the forum of all indigenous engineering efforts.

The major task of the Academy is to chalk out the future course of Indian engineering using interdisciplinary advantages and the vast and diverse experience that our Fellows have in India and abroad.  The country expects from Fellows of the Academy to demonstrate that India can be innovative, that India can show imagination, and we can orient science & technology to the three basic directions – of indigenous development of imported technologies, of indigenous generation of new technologies and of moving to the frontiers to put Indian science & technology at the front rank in the world.  The Academy’s duty will be to become an instrument for acquiring technological and scientific self-reliance and bridge the gap between what is achievable and what India must achieve.

The Academy since 1989, began a series of engineering programmes by organizing national and international conferences on topics of concern and technology policy issues

The Academy also undertook publishing Newsletters from July 1991 and also introduced an Annual Lecture Series, to be delivered at the Annual Function of Fellows. 

The Academy initiated a scheme to encourage young talents  through an Annual "INAE Young Engineer Award" in 1996 for excellence in design and  technology, innovative development and engineering research. 

A major initiative taken by the Academy in 1996 was to constitute Expert Study Groups on Railways, Metallurgy and Civil Engineering to create an Archives of Indian Engineering Heritage.

The Academy also instituted in 1997 a "Life Time Contribution Award in Engineering" to honour eminent Indian citizens who have made outstanding contributions in ‘Engineering’, regarded as landmarks of technological development and brought prestige to the nation.

The Xth Anniversary of the Academy was organised at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore.  The Key-note Address on “Inevitability of Nuclear Energy” was delivered by Dr. Raja Ramanna, Formerly Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister and Former Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission.  Prof. PV Indiresan gave a talk on Vision  2020 : What India should do ?.  A publication on “A Success Story of Engineering” giving an overview of engineering and technological achievements of independent India to coincide with the 50 Years of Indian Independence was released on the occasion. 

The Academy has been recognised by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (SIRO) and is an autonomous Institution supported by the Government of India,  Department of  Science and Technology since 1995. 

Another scheme on Innovation Potential of Students Projects Award was initiated in 1998, with the object of identifying innovative research projects undertaken by students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the engineering institutions to enable promoting joint projects among industry, research laboratories and academic institutions.

The Academy in 1999 launched a Distinguished Visiting Professorship Scheme jointly with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to promote industry-institute interaction.  

The Academy has been elected as a Member of the International Council of Academies  of  Engineering  and  Technological  Sciences,Inc  (CAETS)   on  28 May 1999.  The mission of CAETS is to foster effective contributions to engineering and technology progress for the benefits of societies of all nations and among its objectives are to provide International Forum for discussion and communication of engineering and technological issues of common concern.

On August 15, 2002, the 55^th Indian Independence Anniversary Day, the Academy paid tribute to its Past President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, on the rare and unique distinction of having been elevated to the highest constitutional office of the nation – the President of India.

From the year 2004, the Academy has instituted two other awards :   Prof. Jai Krishna Memorial Award and Prof. SN Mitra Memorial Award  in memory of its Foundation President and first Honorary Secretary respectively.

From the year 2006 onwards, the Academy has instituted new schemes -  The INAE Chair Professorship, INAE Distinguished Professors/Technologists,  Mentoring of Engineering Teachers by Fellows of INAE and Mentoring of Engineering Students by Fellows of INAE and AICTE-INAE Distinguished Industry Professorship Scheme.

From the year 2008 onwards, the Academy has instituted certain Task Force to undertake studies on important/topical national issues.  These Studies will bring out comprehensive/exhaustive document covering review of existing international and national technological and commercial aspects, analysis of options, future trends and specific implementable policy/recommendations and methodology of execution.