HarperCollins India to publish Prabhat Kumar’s book tracing the evolution of IITs
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar unveiled the official teaser of IIT: The Story of India’s Most Prestigious Educational Ecosystem, an upcoming non-fiction title authored by Prabhat Kumar, during the Pan IIT Bangalore Summit 2026 held at Taj Yeshwantpur on May 16.
The summit brought together IIT alumni, students, startup founders, policymakers and industry representatives under the theme “Sovereignty in Technology”.
The book, scheduled for publication by HarperCollins India on 20 June 2026, examines the evolution of the IIT ecosystem from the establishment of the first IIT campus at Hijli, Kharagpur, to the present-day role of IITs in technology, entrepreneurship, research and public policy. Using the tagline “From Silicon Valley to Indus Valley”, the publication places the IIT system within the broader context of India’s economic and social development.
The teaser was released during an address by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar before an audience that included policymakers, corporate leaders and IIT alumni. During the event, he extended blessings to IITs and their alumni while emphasising the importance of combining technical expertise with social responsibility.
The book documents the transition of the former prison building at Hijli into India’s first IIT in 1951 and follows the expansion of the system into 23 institutes with a global alumni network exceeding 500,000 members. It covers topics including entrance examinations, coaching systems, academic and hostel life, research, entrepreneurship, startup ecosystems and international career pathways.
According to the publisher, the narrative also addresses ongoing discussions around access to education, gender and regional diversity, mental health and the movement of graduates between India and other countries.
Prabhat Kumar described the work as an updated account of IITs in the present decade, incorporating developments related to newer campuses and recent policy changes.
“From the first campus at Hijli to 23 IITs and a global alumni network building Viksit Bharat 2047, the IIT story is not just about an exam or a degree. It is about how India chose to bet on knowledge, science and young people,” said Prabhat Kumar.
Sachin Sharma said: “As both an IITian and the chairman of the Pan IIT Alumni Association, Prabhat Kumar offers a vantage point in narrating the story of IIT – one of the world’s most influential technical education ecosystems. This book takes readers from Kharagpur, where it started, to Silicon Valley and major Indian startup hubs, where the impact of IIT alumni is widely visible.”
The teaser is currently available on the digital channels of Pan IIT Alumni India and the author. Pre-orders for the book have opened on Amazon ahead of its official release.
