This ex-IITian helped in the development of Internet

Mentally vibrant, characteristically daring and genius. That is how IITians are often described. But this ex-IITian is leading all others in more than one ways.

Mentally vibrant, characteristically daring and genius. That is how IITians are often described. But this ex-IITian is leading all others in more than one ways.

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Meet Abhay Bhushan, the co-holder of 12 US patents, keeping in tradition with IIT and one of the founder members of IIT movement in India and abroad. The movement which traces its origin back in the city of Allahabad was an 'idea' to bring together all the other IIT associations in different cities on a common platform to promote the sense of belonging and share the common cause.

"The movement started in 2000-01, when IIT Alumni Association Kharagpur was planning to celebrate golden jubilee of its formation. But as it was not getting critical mass, we decided to celebrate 50 years of IITs on a common platform.

With the same objective IIT Alumni Association, Allahabad, was formed on May 7, 2000 and with time IITians from Kharagpur, Kanpur, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai joined it. The association culminated into a movement, with five basic objectives, reinforce the brand IIT, alumni to get better jobs and venture into new areas, commitment to work for the society, produce global leaders and help IIT produce a Nobel laureate," said Abhay Bhushan, a native of Allahabad.

In a candid portrait, as we unfold the ordinariness that makes this IIT genius extraordinary, we come out with more valuable information on his life and work.

After obtaining MEE and Masters in Management degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), he contributed to the development of the Internet TCP/IP and was the author of FTP and early versions of e-mail protocol.

He also initiated the Environmental Leadership Programme at Xerox and authored the widely acclaimed 'Business Guide to Waste Reduction and Recycling'.

When asked what opportunities does he see in Allahabad, he smiled and replied, "the city is livable, vibrant and a centre of education. Food processing industries can be set up here and with government liberalising export policies the supply could be made to other countries. Alternative energy sector can also be developed in Allahabad."

Abhay also feels that now less than 20 per cent IITians want to seek job in USA and UK. "Due to two basic reasons, the opportunities have increased immensely in India with higher salaries and the cost of living is much lower. Moreover they don't have to leave their families behind," he said.

Abhay's most endearing quality is that he is completely unaffected and easy with people. He was the founder past president of PanIIT USA and presently the chief financial officer of the IITK Foundation USA. But he is more passionate to talk about his rural development projects in Allahabad in 1978-79.

"That was the best year of my life," he says softly. "Our IIT foundation now focuses on the development of four E's, energy, education, environment and enterpreneurship, with education most important amongst them in India."

For last four years he is also participating in the 42-km run and has a message to boost your morale, "make excellence a habit."