Kalluri Ramalinga Sarma

Professor Kalluri Ramalinga Sarma, affectionately known as ‘KRS’, can be best described as a creator of institutions. He joined the Electrical Engineering Department at IIT Kanpur in 1961 after completing B.Tech (Hons.,1957), M.Tech (1958) from IIT Kharagpur and Ph.D. (1961) from Cornell University. Working closely with Prof. Kelkar, the visiting Professors from KIAP program and young colleagues, Prof. Sarma put together a curriculum that became a bench-mark for other institutions in the country. He was the Dean of Research and Development at IIT Kanpur and was also the Head of EE-ACES (76-79). Professor Sarma strove to build the institute in its research activities. His contributions dot the campus in the form of ACES, LTP, CAD Centre and the Television Centre. His latest addition in this list is the Samtel Centre for Display Technology, a unique blend of academic, industrial, and government collaboration.

In 1988 he moved to the DST in Delhi and played a key role as an advisor in National Programs in Instrumentation, Lasers and Robotics. From 1991-97 he was the Director of the Central Scientific Instrument Organization (CSIO), Chandigarh. After retiring from CSIR, Prof. Sarma joined the Samtel Group as an Advisor. Professor Sarma is a recipient of the first Outstanding Teacher Award at IIT Kanpur. In recognition of his outstanding contribution, the Board of Governors of IIT Kanpur conferred upon Prof. KR Sarma the title of Honorary Institute Fellow of IIT Kanpur in 2007.

In Aug’2014 he joined Mahindra University École Centrale School of Engineering as Adjunct Professor/Instructor.