Eminent academician and former Principal of ITER, Prof. Bira Kishore Sarap, passed away on Thursday at the age of 89. A towering figure in technical education, Prof. Sarap was instrumental in shaping Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) during its formative years.
Prof. Sarap’s distinguished career included serving as the Head of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at IIT Kharagpur, where he contributed to the design of India’s Agni missile components for DRDO. He also served as Principal of VSSUT, Burla.
SOA Founder President Prof. (Dr.) Manojranjan Nayak expressed profound grief, hailing him as a "visionary leader and dedicated educationist" whose integrity and wisdom inspired generations. Prof. Sarap is survived by his son and two daughters. The academic community mourns the loss of a pioneer who leaves behind an indelible legacy in Indian higher education and defense research.