Bhubaneswar: Eminent academic and former principal of Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER) Prof Bira Kishore Sarap passed away on Thursday. He was 89.
According to family sources, Prof Sarap had been ailing for some time. He breathed his last in Bhubaneswar, leaving behind a son, two daughters, and a legacy of significant contributions to technical education and research. His wife had predeceased him.
A distinguished figure in engineering education, he worked as Head of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at IIT Kharagpur for many years and was involved in the designing of some components of the Agni missile developed by DRDO. Earlier in his career, he also served as Principal of the University College of Engineering (Presently Vir Surendra Sai University of Technology) at Burla.
Prof Sarap provided crucial leadership to Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) Deemed to be University in its formative years. As former Principal of ITER, SOA’s flagship engineering institute, his guidance shaped its growth and academic standards.
Prof (Dr) Manojranjan Nayak, Founder President of SOA, expressed his grief and deep sense of loss at the passing away of Prof Sarap describing him as a distinguished academician, visionary leader and dedicated educationist. “His invaluable contributions significantly strengthened the academic foundation and institutional ethos of ITER and SOA. His commitment to excellence in teaching and academic administration inspired generations of students and colleagues alike. He was widely respected for his integrity, wisdom and humane approach to leadership. The SOA fraternity places on record its sincere appreciation for his selfless service and lasting contributions to the institution and the cause of higher education,” he added.
