A REPORT ON GAABESU SCHOLARSHIP, AFE & RESEARCH AWARD DISTRIBUTION CEREMONY 2025-26

A REPORT ON GAABESU SCHOLARSHIP, AFE & RESEARCH AWARD DISTRIBUTION CEREMONY 2025-26

• GAABESU
• 22/02/2026
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Scholarship, Research & Alumni Fellowship for Excellence Awards Distribution Ceremony 2026

GAABESU Scholarship, Alumni Fellowship for Excellence Award, Research Award Distribution Ceremony was successfully held on February 14, 2026 at Alumni Seminar Hall, IIEST, Shibpur. 

The Global Alumni Association of IIEST, Shibpur (GAABESU) continues to elevate its flagship Scholarship Awards Program—an initiative that began as a modest effort in California and has grown into a global movement supporting students of the institution formerly known as Bengal Engineering College.

The program originated in 1999 when few alumni in San Francisco established a nonprofit to provide need‑based scholarships to the students of their alma mater. What began with nine scholarships of ₹8,000 each has expanded dramatically over the past 26 years. With the formal establishment of GAABESU in 2005, the initiative gained new direction and purpose, transforming alumni engagement from primarily social interactions to a sustained culture of philanthropy and institutional support.

Over the years, the program has broadened its scope. In 2008, the Alumni Fellowship for Excellence (AFE) was introduced to honor students for merit and achievements in sports, music, leadership, and other extracurricular pursuits. In 2012, the Research Fellowship Award was added to support students engaged in research and innovation.

The 2026 cycle marks a significant milestone. GAABESU is awarding 136 scholarships this year—amounting to approximately ₹34 lakh—with more than half of the recipients being female students, reflecting a meaningful stride toward gender representation and academic empowerment on campus.

The program’s funding model blends perpetual funds held in fixed deposits in India with annual contributions from alumni worldwide. U.S.-based funds continue to grow through tax‑efficient mutual fund investments, benefiting from favorable dollar‑to‑rupee exchange rates. The original U.S. scholarship fund remains a major contributor, supporting 35 scholarships, 6 AFE awards, and 7 Research Awards annually.

The program was graced by the presence of Acting Director & Dean-IRAA of IIEST, Prof. Anirban Gupta along with distinguished alumni spanning the 1957 to 2000 batches. Alumni from North America, Qatar, Delhi, and Mumbai also joined the event online, underscoring the GAABESU community's truly global spirit. 

Following GAABESU officials and eminent personalities were present at the ceremony: 

• Sri. Amitabha Datta (1974 CE) – GAABESU President
• Sri. Manoj Kar (1980 ETC), Working President- GAABESU
• Sri Sukanta Roy (1977 ETC) – Vice President - GAABESU EC (over ‘Zoom’ link)
• Sri. Prosenjit Chakraborty (1987 EE) Secretary – GAABESU, Member-SSC,
• Lt. Col. Anjan Kumar Ghosh (1976 ETC), former Dean-SA, IIEST, Chairman of Scholarship Sub Committee (SSC), GAABESU
• Sri Malay Niyogi (1980 EE), Treasurer, GAABESU
• Sri Vinod Singh (1999 ME), Joint Secretary – GAABESU
• Prof (ex) Arabinda Roy (1976 ETC), Member GAABESU EC
• Prof. Arun Deb (1957 CE), Ex-President – GAABESU
• Sri. Achyut Ghosh (1961 ME) , Ex-President – GAABESU
• Dr. Prabir Neogi, (1962/CE) Ex-Member GAABESU EC
• Sri. Syama P. Datta, (1967/CE) Ex-President, GAABESU
• Mrs. Anjana Ganguly Roy (1977/ETC), Ex-President of GAABESU (over ‘Zoom’ link)
• Prof. Partha Pratim Chattopadhyay, (1984 MET) Professor-IIEST and Member of Research Award Team
• Prof. Sudipto Dey (1989 ME), Professor-JU and convener of Research Award Team
• Prof. Prasid Shyam, (1984/EE) Professor of Electrical Department
• Prof. Netai Chandra Dey, (1986/MIN) Professor & HoD of Mining Department
• Sri Debal Banerjee (1984 EE), (over ‘Zoom’ link)
• Prof. C.R. Mahata (1961 EE)
• Mr. Dilip Bhattacharya (1961 ME)

The program was conducted by Mr. Prosenjit Chakraborty.   He welcomed the dignitaries to the dais. GAABESU President welcomed the guests and students and appealed to the students to join in order to carry forward this movement for support of future generations of students. Chairman of Scholarship Committee Lt. Col. Anjan Ghosh spoke about the history of this scholarship program, his own involvements in it during his tenure as Dean-SA in then BESU and also requested the students to join GAABESU and also send acknowledgements to respective Donors. In his speech, the Acting Director thanked alumni & GAABESU for continuing the support and handholding the students for last 26yrs. He also specifically mentioned that wherever the Institute needs support from alumni, GAABESU came forward for help. 

The table of the Scholarship and Awards are given below: 

Out of these, 35 scholarships, 6 AFE awards and 7 Research awards were funded by USA Donors through USA Scholarship Fund. Though the number of net scholarships awarded has been reduced by few, the total award amount is so far, the highest, unprecedented. All thanks to the Donors.

Thereafter the Scholarship award distribution ceremony started, at first Research awards followed by Excellence Awards and lastly Scholarships.  All present dignitaries handed over the awards to the recipients. Some of the Donors, who (or their representatives) attended physically, were also called for handing over the awards for themselves. Some Donors joined over ‘Zoom’ link, online. For the award instituted by the Batch of 1984, many alumni from that batch were present and handed over the award by themselves. Donors from different batches, like those from 1961, 1964, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2003, provided for scholarships as a Class group. 

Some of the Donors, including Debal Banerjee (over Zoom from Canada) & Dr. Saibal Sarkar, (both 1984 EE batch), Barit Roy Sarkar (1988 batch), Tamnoy Sabud (1991ME batch, over Zoom from Doha, Qatar) also addressed. They all encouraged the students, requested the students to remember, acknowledge supports of the alumni and join this movement after their graduation. In turn, students were also requested to provide their feedback and two of the students came over to express their gratitude and commitment to join GAABESU activities after passing out.

The ceremony concluded with vote of thanks to the chair given by GAABESU Working President Sri Manoj Kar. He thanked all present dignitaries, EC members, Students, GAABESU staff and IIEST Authority to make the Scholarship Distribution Ceremony successfully. 

After the program a small refreshment was handed-over to all students, alumni and present dignitaries. 

We are pleased to inform you that a feature and news article on this Scholarship Program has been published in various newspapers.

We are delighted to share this proud moment with all of you.

https://www.sakalershironam.in/ (Page 8) 

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14ShuqRj9WN/

https://anandosangbadlive.com/gaabesu-carries-the-legacy-of-brotherhood/

https://anandadinmagazine.com/gaabesu-carries-the-legacy-of-brotherhood/

https://epaper.sangbadpratidin.in/epaper/m/1015826/6990dbb89488d

Report by: Prosenjit Chakraborty, Secretary-GAABESU