Bhubaneswar, April 05: The first edition of ‘Pravaah’-the combined Cultural and Technopreneurship Annual Festival of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar has been inaugurated in a grand way on April 3.
As the institute's flagship celebration, the four-day event ‘Pravaah’ embodies the seamless confluence of technology, culture, and entrepreneurship, creating a vibrant platform where innovation meets expression, and ideas flow into impact. With a diverse spectrum of events, experiences, and collaborations, Pravaah envisions shaping the future by inspiring minds and fostering limitless possibilities.
For the first time in the history of IIT Bhubaneswar, the cultural, technical and entrepreneurial events have been merged into one flagship event. The theme of this year’s Fest is ‘SolistraNovarion’, which is based on human evolution with the sun being an inspiration along different stages of life.
Vishal Kumar Dev, Odisha Electronics & Information Technology secretary, graced the occasion as the chief guest, while L.V. Subrahmanyam, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary joined the event as the guest of honour. Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar, Director, IIT Bhubaneswar, Prof. Rajesh Roshan Dash, Dean (Student Affairs), Dr. Srinivas Bhaskar Karanki, Chairperson, Pravaah and Dr.Kodanda Ram Mangipudi, President, Student Gymkhana graced the occasion.
In his address, Vishal Kumar Dev emphasized the institution’s flexibility and growth among the newer IITs.
He highlighted ongoing collaborations between the Government of Odisha, IIT Bhubaneswar, and international institutions in renewable energy and semiconductor development, noting that Odisha’s first Silicon Carbide product is expected by December 2025. Acknowledging the students' achievements, he encouraged them to make use of the most of their academic years and expressed confidence in the institute’s rising reputation and industry impact.
L.V. Subrahmanyam emphasized the need for IIT graduates to contribute to India's growth by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship rather than migrating abroad, urging students to become catalysts for development India.
Speaking metaphorically, he said that we should have more of Niwasi Bharatiyas rather than Pravasi Bharatiyas. Praising IIT Bhubaneswar’s initiatives like the 100 Cube Startup Initiative and the Pravaah festival, he highlighted the importance of active thinking, problem-solving, and startup culture in driving the country’s progress.
Speaking on this occasion, Director Prof. Karmalkar praised the creativity behind naming the festival ‘Pravaah’ and emphasized the art of meaningful naming through an anecdote. He highlighted the unique integration of culture, technology, and entrepreneurship in the festival, distinguishing it from other IITs, and expressed confidence in its success.
Prof. Rajesh Roshan Dash and Dr. Kodanda Ram Mangipudi also spoke on the occasion and inspired the participants. At the outset, Dr. Srinivas Bhaskar Karanki gave an elaborate introduction to the event. K. Aravind, Chief Coordinator of the Fest, proposed a vote of thanks.
The inaugural ceremony enthralled the audience with cultural programmes. On the second day of the Fest, L.V. Subrahmanyam enlightened the students, participants of the event and the members of the Institute with a thought-provoking talk on good governance, followed by exciting competitions such as the ML Hackathon, Web Hackathon, and Startup Expo.
Creative and artistic events like T-shirt painting, face painting, and Kavyodaya (an online poetry event) will add a vibrant touch to the day. The stage came alive with spotlight, Abhinay (theatre competition), and a fashion show, while thrill-seekers enjoyed Robo Soccer and various informal games. Pravaah’25 is also scheduled to featuretalks by experts, the innovation expo, the Battle of Bands (NAAD), and competitions like shipwreck, roborace, and the B-Plan contest, DJ night, competitions like the IPL auction, general quiz, robowars, and a mix of solo and group dance performances in the next two days. The festival will culminate in a star night with singer Laqshay Kapoor on 6th April 2025.
