While bestowing national awards, the govt of India overlooked IFFCO MD Dr U S Awasthi’s contributions to the cooperative movement in the country, the alumni of prestigious IIT (BHU) did not. In a glittering event held at the auditorium of BHU in Varanasi Awasthi was given the “IIT BHU Alumnus of the century” Award on Monday. A K Singh, IFFCO Director received the award on behalf of Dr Awasthi.
The Award was given by Manoj Sinha, Minister of State, Railways who himself is a product of BHU. Mild-mannered IFFCO Director Singh expressed gratitude. The auditorium Swatantrata Bhawan was filled to capacity.
A humbled Awasthi tweeted after the award “Today, In a ceremony at @IITBHU_Varanasi My award for “IIT BHU Alumnus of the Century” conferred by the fraternity of @IITBHU_Varanasi was received by Sh. AK Singh, Director #IFFCO & an IIT-BHU alumnus by Sh. @manojsinhabjpji, Cabinet minister & also BHU Alumnus”.
Dr Awasthi could not make it to the event as he had pre-booked overseas engagement, said Singh explaining the IFFCO MD’s absence. “He had prior engagements in Jordon related to our project there; he may not be present in person but he was here in spirit”, said Singh who heads Cooperative Relations at IFFCO and who has spearheaded energy saving mission in IFFCO’s plants across India.
Signed by Nitin Malhotra, Chairman of the organizing committee Global Alumni meet 2019, the citation reads that Dr Awasthi has played a crucial role in setting up several fertilizer projects in the country and was also instrumental in effecting diversion forays of IFFCO which has more than 17 subsidiaries today.
Besides his domestic achievements, the citation also recalls Awasthi’s presentation of the industry point of view at a high-level segment in United Nation during the nineties. It also lists several awards won by the IFFCO MD in the field of social service.
Founded in 1919, the premier institute is celebrating its century year. The event has attracted its alumni from across the globe. The two day event on 10 and 11th February was like reliving the old times, said A K Singh to Indian Cooperative.
In this series only last month one of its alumni Manoj Sinha, Minister of State, Railways led IIT BHU Alumni Association Centenary Walk at Rajpath, New Delhi which attracted a huge response. Several prominent students past and present of the University participated in the Century Walk.
Some of its notable alumni include Krishan Kumar Modi, Chairman, Modi Group, Krishan Kant, former Vice-President of India, Ashok Singhal, former President, Vishva Hindu Parishad and Manoj Sinha, Minister of State, Railways to name only a few.