Amar Singh and Dhanwanti Gupta
My dad was not able to attend college. He worked for the Food Corporation of India and retired at a modest level.
Instead of agonizing over it, he committed enthusiastically to promote education. He encouraged my mother to sign her name (rather than thumb print) in English. Later in life, she could read English newspapers and was a ‘Godlike’ mentor to us. He voluntarily taught and encouraged three young people in our neighborhood to focus on school – each graduated with distinction. His motto, ‘education is the only way to serve at your full potential’. He would say (to his children’s annoyance): ‘effective articulation and curiosity are more important than mastery in physics.’
My dad was unassuming – at 1964 JEE, he hoped but did not think that his child (first to go to college in our family) could be admitted to IIT. My brother, Naren Gupta, came All India JEE # 1! received IIT Delhi President’s Gold medal, was awarded distinguished alumni of IITD and Caltech. My sister too has shown the meaning of ‘love and empathy’.
As a young man, I resisted being him. Later in life I recognized that he never ‘managed’ just ‘led’ – providing only his view but not decision. He was always ‘the last man standing’ – a role model for giving it all.
In the first semester, I got a D in physics. For months I could not see myself in the mirror. IITD taught me the importance of rising from failure and for aspiring beyond my natural abilities. I met heroes – students and faculty – brilliant yet modest – focused on learning and serving.
My wife Anita and I, set up the chair to make his dedication to education, eternal – a theme that ‘personal commitment’ rather than ‘access to resources’ creates the best versions of ourselves. We recognize, as well, the enormity of good that IITD has done to our family and our society.
Ash and Anita Gupta
Graduated 1974, Mechanical Engineering
