Institute Time Capsule

1840-1849

1842 : Roorkee was still a village on the banks of river Solani

1842 : Construction of Ganga canal started

1845 : Training school at Saharanpur started under the supervision of Baird Smith

1847-1947 : The college remained as Thomason College of Engineering

1847-1852 : Duration of first tenure of R Maclagan, the first Principal

23 Sep 1847 : Sir James Thomason proposed for an Engineering College

25 Nov 1847 : College Prospectus was issued for the first time

1 Jan 1848 : Roorkee College starts functioning

25 Nov 1847 : Notification by the government of North Western Province establishing college of Engineering at Roorkee

1850-1859

29 Aug 1851 : Plan for expansion of Roorkee college was submitted to the Governor General1852Printing Press established in the campus

21 Sep 1853 : Sir James Thomason, L T Colonel of the government of NWP dies and the College was renamed as Thomason College of Civil Engineering

7 Nov 1853: Bengal Sappers and Miners moved to Roorkee

1855: Central instruments depot established

1857: Entrance test for the College was started

1860-1869

1860 : ECS Williams functions as the Principal

1861: Municipality of Roorkee was created

1863: J G Medley was appointed as the Principal

1863: Professional papers on Indian Engineering was started by Principal Medley

1864: Roorkee College was affiliated to Calcutta University

1869: Coopers Hill college opened in England to train civil Engineers for services in India

1870-1879

1870: Publication of college calendar starts

1871: AM Lang was appointed as the Principal who functioned till 1877

1871: Engineering students mess was established properly

1872: Football introduced into the campus

1872: Polo introduced in the campus

1873: Hockey introduced in the campus

1873: Annual athletic meet introduced as an annual feature in the campus

1875: Coopers Hill college renamed as Royal Indian Engineering college

1875: Fees structure changed

1877: Many tennis courts were made

1878: Change in session from Nov-Aug to May-March

1878: Military section of the college was abolished formally

1879: Government of India proposes closure of Coopers hill college at England

1879: Lower subordinate group divided into Group A and B

1880-1889

1880: Course for the Engineering students revised

1880: Gymnasium was set up

1882: Annual athletic meet temporarily abolished

1883: Post of Professor of geology and experimental science was abolished

1883: Assistant Engineers exams were suspended

1883: Establishment of printing press was reduced

1886: Publication of professional paper ends

1886: Professional papers on Indian Engineering ceased publication

1889: Tennis club established by Indian students

1890-1899

1890: Swimming was started as a sport in the campus

1891: Branderth relinquished charge

1891: F D M Brown took charge as the Principal

1892: Short course for the revenue officers set by the college

1893: Course on Telegraphy Engg. was started

1894: Roorkee College affiliated to Allahabad University

1894: Orchid house was built

1896: Lt Colonel Sir A P Macdonnel visits college to investigate plans to reorganize and expand it

1896: Clock presented by Sir Bir Shamsher Jung Bahadur of Nepal set on the dome

1896: Electrical and Mechanical apprentices class were started

1897 : Two posts of assistant Principals abolished

1897 : F W Sidwick joins as an instructor for Electrical Engg.

1897 : Engineering courses were extended to three years from two years with civil and electrical disciplines

1898 : Electricity comes to college

1899 : W D Mclaren joins as an instructor for Mechanical Engg.

1900-1909

1901 : Fortnightly test were replaced by end of term exams

1902 : Roorkee college wins Hockey shield six time in a row in the university tournament

1905 : Affiliation to Allahabad University ends

1907 : Royal Indian Engineering college closed down

1909 : Electrification of the college is completed

1909 : Courses on Electrical and Mechanical Engg. were started at par with Civil Engg. courses

1909 : Chemical, Physical ,Mechanical and Mineralogical laboratories, Photomechanical Department, Power installation and electric light was inaugurated

1910-1919

1910 : A course on Textile Engg. was started

1912 : Roorkee College was divested of all low level technical classes

1913 : Association of the old boys of Thomason college was formed and called as the Thomason college Engineers Association

20-Dec-17 : Whole Gymnasium and Convocation hall burns down due to faulty electric wiring during a red cross show

1919 : Cricket in campus revived

1919 : Thomason college Engineers Association collapses, Thomasonian publication comes to an end

6-Jan-19 : Dispensary struck by lightening

1920-1929

1923 : Courses on Electrical and Mechanical Engineering were closed down

1927 : Withdrawal of Guaranteed appointments to Roorkee boys during the period of Depression

1930-1939

1930 : European student mess closed

1931 : College magazine Lion started

1935 : First batch of Indian commissioned officers from IMA joined the college for Engg education

1935 : Indian students messes were started

1940-1949

1941 : Roorkee university alumni association was established, earlier known as old boys association

1943 : A unit of craftsmen called the technical pioneer force was formed

1943 : A school of military Engg started functioning in the campus

1946 : Electrical and Mechanical Engg courses were started and the college was renamed as Thomason college

1947 : Central Building Research Institute established by CSIR

1947 : The military school was shifted to Pune

1948 : Roorkee university act was passed by the provincial legislature earlier this year

1949 : Thomason college elevated to university status.

25-Nov-49 : the university was inaugurated after 100 years of its establishment

25-Nov-49 : Pandit Pant laid the foundation stone of a new building for the University lib.

1950-1959

28-Mar-50 : Dr.C.A Hart joined the university as Vice Chancellor

10-Feb-51 : Foundation stone of a building of CBRI was laid

1-Dec-52 : Foundation laid for the hall to be added to the student's club

1-Feb-53 : Sri Bijawat became the Pro Vice Chancellor

28-Feb-53 : Dr.C.A Hart resigned

1953 : University staff association and club had it's beginning

1954 : Sri Ajudhia Nath Khosla was appionted as Vice Chancellor

1955 : College Magzine was renamed as Alumni Journal

1-Nov-55 : Refresher course were formally inaugurated by Sri V.T.Krishnamchari

25-Nov-55 : Pandit J.L.Nehru inaugurated WRDTC

1956 : Adarsh Bal niketan came into existence

1956 : Student Aid Loan Fund started

1957-61 : Sri K.N.Kathpalia became the Pro Vice Chancellor

1957 : Technical Assistant Course were run for two years

1957 : Hobbies club came into existence

1-Feb-57 : B.Arch was started in the middle of the session

Jun-57 : Telecommmunication Engg. Was sanctioned

25-Nov-58 : Nehru was honoured the honorary degree of Doctor of Science

1959 : Teacher training programme went on

1959 : Rural housing wing was set up

Mar-59 : Foundation stone of NCC Building was laid

Aug-59 : Detailed scheme to establish Pilot Production-cum -training centre

25-Nov-59 : Dr. Rajendra Prasad was similarly Honoured

18-Dec-59 : Khosla relinquished the post of VC

1959 : Building for a small hospital was built

1960-1969

1960 : SRTEE started functioning

1960 : Duration of BE Courses were increased to 4years from 3 years consequently no batch passed in 1963

15-Aug-60 : Separate departments for mathematics, physics, chemistry, geology and geophysics were constituted

1961 : Department. of Architecture got a separate building for itself

1961 : First award of doctorate was made : 20-Mar-61 : Shri Ghananad Pande joined as VC

1962 : A block of building for geophysics and geology in one wing and another for earthquake was completed

1962 : The chinese war threw the BE courses out of gear.

1962 : The batch due to pass out in 1964 was accelerated to go out 5 months earlier in January

1962 : The batch to be passed in 1965 got out in Nov. 1964

1962 : Employment information and guidance bureau was set up

1962 : E.S recreation was renamed as Univ. Sports Association

1962 : Gymnasium building came up

1963 : The centenary gate was remodeled

1963 : Five more ME courses were added to the existing 9 courses since 1958

1963 : Commission for scientific and technical terminology set up a unit to evolve Hindi technical term, it was wound up in 1967

1964 : Humanities section was started, it became a department in 1973

1964 : Decision to wind up polytechnic, last batch passed out in 1966

May-64 : Department. of telecommunication separated from electrical dept, it was renamed to electronics and communication

16-Jun-64 : The foundation stone of DPT was laid

Oct-64 : IIT's pay scale were introduced in the university

1965 : Painting and sculpture section was added to hobbies club

1966 : The entrance test result was for the first time processed in computers

1966 : Sri pande's term as VC came to an end

1966 : A teachers hostel was built in Vikas Nagar

31-Jan-66 : The teacher's wing was closed

26 Nov 66 : Dr. Zakir Hussain inaugurated the LBS, he was also honoured with degree of D.Sc

18-Nov-67 : Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was honored with the degree of D.ENG, she inaugurated the S.block of E&C Department.

1968 : Expansion in post -graduate courses, becoming 21

2-Oct-68 : Mahila work Centre was established . Later renamed as Mahila work and welfare centre

1969 : 25% seats got reserved for direct admission in UG courses Top

1970-1979

1970 : Horticulture and gardening section was added to Hobbies club

1970 : Badminton court was completed

1970 : Alaknanda club was opened, name was given in 1979

1970 : D Class goes to strike on March 1st

1971 : First batch of industrial branch was admitted

1971 : Five year term of Sri Chopra come to an end

1971 : QIP was set up in the university

1971 : Dr . Jai Krishna was appointed as VC in September

1972 : NSS was started

1973 : The Mechanical departmant was renamed the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engg.

1974 : Mangal Ram Memorial Open Billiards Championship started

1974 : STREE was incorporated as one of the university's regular departments in April

1974 : Constitution of RUSA was passed and it became operative in October

1975 : E&C Tower was completed and inaugurated by VC Sri Reddy on 26-November

1975 : Philately and numismatic section was added to hobbies club

1976 : Traditional way of making all admission through exam was resumed

1977 : Dr. Jagdish Narain joined as new Vice Chancellor

1977 : Bloody fight between rival factions of students during RUSA election

1978 : The university broke ground by taking over DPT(Saharanpur)as one of its integral parts

1978 : College Magzine was renamed as Lion

1978 : Stargazing section was added to hobbies club

1979 : NIH was established in the campus of the Roorkee University

1979 : The Roorkee University Regional Computer Centre started functioning in November

1980-1989

1981 : Welding research lab. Was established under Indo-German Technical Cooperation Program

1982 : Centre for Microprocessor Application came into being

1982 : AHEC was set up

1982 : President of Tanzania Mr. Julius Neyrere and his wife visited the campus on 2nd April

1983 : Duration of ME courses were reduced to one and half years from two years

1983 : UG course in Computer Science and Technology was started

1984 : AVRC was established

1985 : Seven more centres were added

1986 : The USIC (university science instrumentation Centre) was recognized as a Instrumentation Centre

1986 : Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology

1987 : E&C dept. was renamed as E&CE

1987 : STEP Roorkee was registered as a society

1989 : Three more centres were set up

1990-1999

9-Jan-90 : The constitution of the Roorkee school for the deaf was approved by the syndicate

1992 : The construction of Rajendra Bhawan was completed

1994 : A community centre was built near the hangar

1996 : Another fifteen centres had been added to the list

1996 : Information Superhighway Centre(ISC) was established

1998 : Department of Manangement studies was started.

2000 - Ongoing

21 Sept 2001: At the turn of the century, the University of Roorkee was converted into an IIT by an act of Parliament. Dr. D.V. Singh, the last vice chancellor of University of Roorkee, took charge as the first director until the appointment of a new director.

Dec 2001: Dr. Prem Vrat took charge as Director of IITR.

2005: Three Centres of Excellence, namely Nanotechnology, Disaster Mitigation and Transportation Systems (CTRANS) established Sports facilities spruced up to international standards for the 41st Inter-IIT sports meet hosted at the institute.

2006: NC Nigam Guest House completed.

2006: Dr. S.C. Saxena joined as new Director on 1st June 2006.

2007: Mahatma Gandhi Central Library set up

2009: IIT Roorkee named the mentoring IIT for IIT Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. Classes for IITM started in Roorkee.

2011: The Greater Noida Campus of IITR launched.

2015: The main building is renamed James Thomason Building.

2022: Mehta Family School for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence launched, ranks among top such schools in its first year.

Oct. 2022: Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant took charge as Director of IITR.