In one of the largest philanthropic gestures in the history of Indian academia, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur Class of 2000 has committed ₹100 crore to establish a pioneering academic unit: the Millennium School of Technology and Society (MSTAS).
The landmark announcement was made during the batch’s silver jubilee reunion, marking 25 years since they first entered the gates of the prestigious institute.
A New Frontier: Technology Meets Society
The proposed Millennium School of Technology and Society (MSTAS) is designed to bridge the gap between technical innovation and human impact. While IIT Kanpur is globally recognized for its prowess in engineering and pure sciences, MSTAS will focus on:
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Public Policy & Ethics: Navigating the governance of emerging technologies.
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Societal Impact: Addressing how tech-driven change affects communities.
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Interdisciplinary Leadership: Training the next generation of leaders to think beyond code and hardware.
The school aims to serve as a long-term institution-building effort, ensuring that technological advancement is coupled with a deep understanding of its broader implications.
The ‘Millennium Batch’: A Powerhouse of Innovation
The Class of 2000, frequently referred to as the “Millennium Batch,” has built a reputation as one of the most successful cohorts in IIT history. Their track record includes:
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Unicorn Factories: The batch has produced three unicorns—InMobi, Glance, and NoBroker—the highest count from any single IIT Kanpur graduating class.
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Startup Ecosystem: Alumni have founded or co-founded industry leaders such as Yulu, Knowlarity, and Card91, and held pivotal roles in global ventures like Cohesity and WhatsApp.
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Global Corporate Leadership: Members of this cohort hold senior executive positions at tech titans and financial giants including Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, Intel, BCG, Morgan Stanley, and GIC.
Individual Leadership in Giving
Leading the philanthropic charge is Naveen Tewari, Founder and CEO of InMobi and Glance. An alumnus of the batch, Tewari has individually committed ₹30 crore toward the collective ₹100 crore pledge.
“This partnership marks a milestone for Rays Power Infra and reinforces our vision of creating renewable energy infrastructure at scale,” stated the alumni group during the reunion, emphasizing their desire to give back to the ecosystem that fueled their global success.
Looking Ahead
The establishment of MSTAS marks a shift in Indian IIT philanthropy, moving from infrastructure-focused donations (like hostels or labs) to the creation of entire academic disciplines.
IIT Kanpur is expected to release a detailed roadmap, including the construction timeline and operational framework for the school, in the coming months.
