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Dr. Vinod Kumar Gupta
(1944-2016)
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
It is with profound grief and regret, that the Department of Aerospace Engineering mourns the sad demise of Dr. Vinod Kumar Gupta. He breathed his last on the morning of September 02, 2016.
Professor V K Gupta, son of Mr. Rameshwar Dayal Gupta, was born on December 17th, 1944. He passed his high-school and intermediate from BNSD College, Kanpur in 1958 and 1961, respectively. He took admission in the Bachelor of Technology program at IIT Kanpur in 1961. After the program began, students were invited to opt to the newly formed specialization in Aeronautical Engineering. Along with six other students, Dr. Gupta opted for B.Tech. In Aeronautical Engineering. Dr. Gupta finished his B.Tech program in Aeronautical Engineering in 1966. He joined the M.Tech. Program in the same Department and received his Masters degree in 1968. Dr. Gupta was an excellent scholar. He joined the doctoral program in the same Department in July 1968 and started his research work in Aerodynamics, under the supervision of Prof. S.M. Ramachandra. However, Prof. Ramachandra left the Institute in 1970 and Dr. Gupta had to find a new supervisor. He changed his research area to Structures and started working afresh on his thesis under the supervision of Prof. P.N. Murthy. While pursuing his doctorate, Dr. Gupta also joined the Department as a Senior Research Assistant on a contract basis. He received his Doctoral degree in Aeronautical Engineering in March 1976. In the meantime, Dr. Gupta joined as a Lecturer in February 1971. He was elevated to the position of an Assistant Professor in 1977 and Associate Professor in May 1993. He superannuated in December 2006 and stayed back to teach at IIT Kanpur till June 30, 2007.
Dr. Gupta is very well known in the Institute as an outstanding teacher. He taught several courses in the Institute including the core course “Mechanics of Solids”. His devotion to teaching has inspired many students as well as teachers. Dr. Gupta remained at IIT Kanpur throughout his professional life including during his sabbatical leave in 1991. His area of research was Structural Optimization. He guided seven M.Tech. Thesis and served the Department as a DPGC Convener during 2001-2002. He was an avid badminton and bridge player.
Dr. Gupta is survived by his wife – Mrs. Maya Gupta, his son – Mr. Madhur Gupta and daughter – Somya Gupta. The Department stands by the family to deal with this very untimely loss and prays for peace to the departed soul.
