IISc Turns 110

On May 27, 1909, the Government of India published a Vesting Order and a Scheme for the Management of the Institute in the Gazette of India, officially creating the Indian Institute of Science. The years preceding and following this saw a flurry of activity: designs for new laboratories, construction work to build new departments, plans […]

Building the Institute

The photos here are part of a series marking IISc’s 110th anniversary. Early construction at IISc was done by TCW Skipp, with whom the institute signed a contract in 1908. Before the end of that year, most of the drainage and sewer system had been laid by Pallonji Edulji & Sons. This photo shows the […]

Important Events Marking IISc’s Initial Days

The photos here are part of a series marking IISc’s 110th anniversary. The Viceroy of India, Lord Hardinge, visited the Institute around 1913. IISc decorated its campus to welcome him. On 1 February 1911, the Maharaja of Mysore, Krishnaraja Wadiyar, laid the Foundation Stone of the Main Building. The occasion saw speeches made by Morris […]

Early Academics at IISc

The photos here are part of a series marking IISc’s 110th anniversary. When IISc opened its doors to students in 1911, over 500 applications were received. Of these, only 34 students were selected to join the departments that existed then – General & Applied Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Electrical Technology – though not all of […]

Famous Visitors to IISc

Since its inception, IISc has hosted several distinguished scientists as well as politicians, diplomats and celebrities from around the world. For most of the Institute’s existence, it has maintained a ‘Visitor’s Book’, in which signatures and words of encouragement are collected. To mark IISc’s 110th anniversary, here is a small selection of signatures from IISc’s […]

IISc’s First Promoters

The photos here are part of a series marking IISc’s 110th anniversary. JN Tata (left), his sons, Dorabji (centre, seated) and Ratanji (right, standing), and RD Tata – JRD Tata’s father. JN Tata was an industrialist who wanted to create an institute of higher learning in India, and began working towards this in 1889. He […]