Dr. Anantha Chandrakasan Felicitated by Indian Consulate in New York and Indian-American Community in New England Following Historic Appointment as a first Indian-American as MIT Provost

In a heartfelt evening marked by pride, unity, and celebration, the Indian-American community of New England, in partnership with the Consulate General of India in New York, honored Dr. Anantha P. Chandrakasan on July 1, 2025, following his historic appointment as the Provost of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The felicitation dinner, held at The Treasury – Indian and Greek Kitchen in New York, brought together diplomats, academic leaders, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and members of the Indian-American diaspora to recognize a groundbreaking milestone: Dr. Chandrakasan’s appointment as the first Indian-American Provost in MIT’s illustrious history.

Delivering the evening’s keynote address, Ambassador Binaya S. Pradhan, Consul General of India in New York, praised Dr. Chandrakasan’s trailblazing achievements.

“We are immensely proud of Dr. Chandrakasan’s journey. His appointment as Provost not only reflects personal excellence but also the rising contributions of Indian Americans in global education and innovation. We look forward to deeper India-MIT collaborations in research, entrepreneurship, and emerging technologies,” said Amb. Pradhan.

Also in attendance was Ms. Shruti Purushottam, First Deputy Consul General of India in Boston, who conveyed her congratulations and highlighted the Boston diplomatic community’s support for fostering stronger academic and cultural partnerships.

Representing the organizing body, Abhishek Singh, President of the Foundation of Indian Americans (FIA), emphasized the significance of Dr. Chandrakasan’s leadership for the next generation.

“This is a moment of immense pride. Dr. Chandrakasan’s accomplishments will inspire countless young Indian-Americans to dream bigger and lead boldly,” Singh said.

Celebrating Excellence and Vision

Dr. Chandrakasan, known globally for his contributions to low-power electronics and academic leadership, currently serves as Dean of MIT’s School of Engineering and has led several interdisciplinary initiatives around AI, computing, and innovation. His new role as Provost makes him one of the highest-ranking academic leaders in the world.

The evening featured tributes from a distinguished roster of guests, including:

· Sushil Tuli, Chairman, Leader Bank

· Dilip Patel, Chairman, Jamson Hotel Chain

· Prashanth and Anuradha Palakurthi, music lovers and philanthropists

· Sandeep Asija and Inder Kaul, community leaders and philanthropists

· Brij Bhushan Garg, chip design researcher and Bell Labs veteran

· Sanjay Gokhale, Vice President, Foundation of Indian Americans (FIA)

· Manju and Deepak Seth, podcast hosts and founders of Dev Patel Hospitality

Representing the organizing body, Abhishek Singh, President of the Foundation of Indian-Americans (FIA), emphasized the significance of Dr. Chandrakasan’s leadership for the next generation.

“This is a moment of immense pride. Dr. Chandrakasan’s accomplishments will inspire countless young Indian-Americans to dream bigger and lead boldly,” Singh said.

MIT Colleagues and Faculty Pay Tribute

Several colleagues from MIT joined the evening’s celebrations, reflecting the deep respect Dr. Chandrakasan commands within academic circles:

· Prof. Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal

· Prof. Sana Ayer, historian specializing in South Asia

· Prof. Jenny Liu, Vice President, Development, Boston Children’s Hospital Trust

· Ms. Tia 

In his address, Dr. Chandrakasan expressed profound gratitude for the recognition.

“I am deeply grateful for this honor. The support from this community has played an integral role in my journey. As Provost, I am committed to advancing excellence in research, innovation, and education. Together, we will shape a future defined by meaningful progress and global impact,” he said.

The evening, rich with cultural warmth and shared aspirations, served not only as a celebration of one man’s remarkable achievements but also as a testament to the growing influence and promise of the Indian-American community in shaping global innovation and education.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WtRTtAKnx3KYJL80aSQ_pNczIlvy_rSz?usp=sharing

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