Rs 4 crore-Endowment created at IIT-M in memory of Murugappa Group patriarch

A Rs 4 crore-endowment in memory of Murugappa Group patriarch, the late A M M Arunachalam, was set up at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras here on Wednesday.

Arunachalam was the IIT Madras, chairman, board of governors between 1978 and 1981 and commemorating the occasion, an AMM Arunachalam auditorium was established at the campus.

Murugappa Group advisor M A Alagappan formally unveiled the auditorium in the presence of IIT Madras director Bhaskar Ramamurthi, among others, at a function.

The modern facility can be used for hosting conferences, workshops and seminars for students, researchers and faculty.

The endowment was Rs 4 crore, a press release said.

A cheque of Rs 4 crore was handed over to Ramamurthi by Alagappan on the occasion.

''Knowledge and economic development have always grown together. And in today's fast-paced world of ideas, that linkage has become even stronger.As our country aspires to 'Make in India', we aspire to 'develop in India' and 'invent in India' only then businesses that Make in India be globally competitive'', Alagappan, who also unveiled a plaque on the occasion, said.

IIT Madras through the Centre for Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research (IC and SR) has been a pioneer in facilitating and fostering the links between academia and industry and creating positive results for all stakeholders'', he said.

Bhaskar Ramamurthi said ''captains of industry and doyens of Tamil Nadu like AMM Arunachalam laid strong foundations for IIT Madras to grow into the Institution of Eminence it is today.'' ''Murugappa Group companies have been early partners of IIT Madras in several research and development projects, showing the path of industry-academia collaboration to build strong technological capabilities int he country,'' he said.

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