Latest news with #RajeevAhuja
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
IIT Ropar's 'Pookie professor' celebrates graduates with Gen Z vibes on convocation day
The institute's 14th convocation ceremony took the internet by storm, as it had all the ingredients of fun that made it an occasion to remember The graduating class of 2025 at IIT Ropar's 14th convocation were in for a pleasant surprise as the director Prof Rajeev Ahuja, agreed to play along with the youthful mood. Breaking the mould of traditional convocation ceremonies that are usually solemn affairs, Prof Ahuja agreed to multiple requests from the Gen Z graduates to strike cool poses. It was a rare show of camaraderie which made the participants and parents sit up. It all began with a student pulling out black sunglasses as he strode onto the stage to receive his degree. Prof Ahuja agreed to wear the sunglasses, and instead of being flustered, posed for the shutterbugs. What was meant to be a regular photo soon turned viral as he engaged in dabbing (a dance move) and Korean finger heart, matching his students' Gen Z vibes. Another student tried gymnastic moves, one taught the professor fist bump, earning the director the sobriquet of 'pookie professor' as the convocation took the internet by storm. Speaking to Education Times, Prof Ahuja, who is on leave from Uppsala University in Sweden and serving a 5-year tenure as director of IIT Ropar, underlined the relevance of the convocation ceremony as the culmination of students' hard work that demands celebration. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo "During my stint as an academic at Uppsala University, I realised the celebratory mood during the convocation day. The entire village would turn up to celebrate graduation ceremonies and even PhD examinations. I tried to emulate the same as we awarded 720 degrees, out of which 350 students were from BTech, 114 from PhD, while the rest were from MSc and tech-driven fields," he said. The BTech students, who were full of energy and brimming with ideas, were particularly keen to engage in what seemed like full-on entertainment. "This was their day, and I was game for it. The master's and PhD students, on the other hand, were a serious lot," said Prof Ahuja. As an alumnus of University of Roorkee (now IIT Roorkee), Prof Ahuja can barely remember his convocation day. "Many of these occasions turn out to be an exercise in boredom, we chose to take the road less travelled," he added. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Indian Express
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
At IIT-Ropar's convocation, ‘pookie professor' served a reminder that joy belongs on campus
A pookie, by any other name, is someone who gets it. What it means to be young and vulnerable; to crave joy in unexpected places, or to question why solemnity must always march in step with ceremony. At IIT-Ropar's recent convocation, director Rajeev Ahuja, professor of Computational Materials Science, showed he hasn't forgotten the feeling of wavering between hope and anxiety, standing on the cusp of change. The 60-year-old didn't just hand out degrees. He doled out dabs, fist bumps, and Korean finger hearts. Formal, it wasn't. But memorable? Absolutely. The videos of the ceremony on social media, clocking over 30 million views, have earned Ahuja the affectionate moniker of 'pookie professor'. His moves may not have had the Gen Z chutzpah — Boomer shoulders can only shimmy so much — but what mattered was the spirit. In a space often weighed down by formality and hierarchy, Ahuja brought presence, play, and a rare emotional intelligence. He didn't just preside over a convocation, he participated in it. Ahuja met students where they were, and in doing so, made the stage feel a little less daunting and a lot more empathetic. The moment may have been light, but its resonance is far from trivial. Higher education in India is often weighed down by stress, burnout and a sense of alienation. In the endless jugglery of exams, deadlines, institutional pressures and existential dread, a small gesture of warmth — a shared laugh, a playful photograph — can feel like a moment of levity; an affirmation that learning isn't just about instructions, it is also about connections. Ahuja's gesture symbolised a rare kind of academic leadership that institutions could do more with: One that is committed to creating spaces where students can thrive as more than the sum total of their grades; one that values joy over ceremony. Because long after the degrees are framed and the marks forgotten, what stays with students is someone who made them feel seen and heard. Someone like a pookie, on their side.
NDTV
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
"Coolest Professor" From IIT Ropar Goes Viral For His Chill Vibe At Convocation
IIT Ropar Viral Professor 2025: A heartwarming video from IIT Ropar's convocation ceremony is melting hearts across the internet. The clip, which has amassed over 27 million views, captures a wholesome and light-hearted moment between a student and his professor. In the video, a student named Kartik walks up on the stage to receive his degree and while doing so, he asks his professor if he can wear sunglasses for the picture. The professor smilingly nods and gives him the approval. Kartik continues and asks his professor to also wear one. Without hesitation, the professor gestures with a playful "Laao" (Give me), takes off his regular glasses, and puts on the sunglasses offered - instantly winning the crowd with his cool and composed demeanor. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Exploring IITs (@ Internet Reacts To The "Pookie Professor" The internet is loving the professor's vibe, with users calling him the "coolest" and dubbing him the "pookie professor." One viral comment reads, "Coolest professor, for real pookie professor." Another wrote, "Aisa professor sabko mile (Everyone should get a professor like this)". Many praised Kartik on how he first asked the professor for his approval. One of the comment read, "I actually liked that he asked his professor before doing something he wanted to instead of making it a scene !". "The combination of coolest professor and student everrrrr", a comment with over 60 thousand likes showed how much people liked both, the student's respect for his professor and the professor's cool nature. Another comment with over 11 thousand likes read, "Rajeev Ahuja sir is a gem ". This video is a reminder that professors who connect with their students in a relaxed and respectful way often become the most cherished ones - the kind students remember long after graduation.
News18
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
‘He‘s Rajeev Ahuja?' Hunt On For ‘Pookie IIT Prof' After His Dab, Korean Heart, Goggles Go Viral
Last Updated: As students came up to receive their degrees, many of them politely asked Prof. Ahuja to strike their favourite poses for a photo. A video from IIT Ropar's 14th annual convocation has gone viral on the internet, and for all the right reasons. The video shows the institute's director, Prof Rajeev Ahuja, happily joining students for quirky poses like the dab, Korean heart and even the trending pookie pose. Internet users can't stop praising the professor for his cool and fun attitude. The convocation ceremony was held recently in Punjab. A total of 720 degrees were awarded this year. But what caught everyone's attention wasn't just the numbers — it was a heartwarming moment between the students and the director. As students came up to receive their degrees, many of them politely asked Prof. Ahuja to strike their favourite poses for a photo. To everyone's surprise, he agreed to every single one of them. With a cheerful smile, he did the dab, made finger hearts, and even posed like 'pookie." One clip shows him putting on sunglasses, which made the crowd erupt with cheers. That one move with the shades became a highlight of the event. The video was shared on the social media page IIT Ropar Diaries, where it gathered over 5 lakh views in just one day. The caption read, 'Convocation fit Degree The internet showered the professor with love and respect. One comment read, 'When your IIT is 2nd gen but the Director is the OG." Another said, 'The professor should live longer… teach longer… God bless him." Who Is Rajeev Ahuja Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, often seen as a serious academic, has now earned the title of 'coolest prof" online. But who is he? Rajeev Ahuja is a renowned Professor of Computational Materials Science at Uppsala University, Sweden. He is currently serving as the Director of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar, India. From November 2023 to May 2024, he also held the additional charge of Director at IIT Guwahati. Prof. Ahuja is among the most highly cited researchers in his field and is ranked among the top five materials scientists in both Sweden and India. He completed his Ph.D. in 1992 from IIT Roorkee, India. In the same year, he joined Uppsala University as a post-doctoral fellow. He was appointed as a Professor at Uppsala University in 2007. view comments First Published: July 18, 2025, 09:32 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
IIT Ropar ranked 12th among top engineering colleges in India
Ropar: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar has secured the 12th position in the top engineering colleges in India 2025 rankings released by the Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF). Out of over 2,500 engineering institutions assessed nationwide, IIT Ropar stood out for its strong performance in research, innovation, and academic excellence. The IIRF rankings are known for their rigorous methodology, evaluating institutions on parameters such as placement performance, teaching-learning resources, research output, industry integration, future orientation, and international outlook. IIT Ropar's placement in the top 15 highlights its growing reputation among the country's premier technology institutes. Reacting to the achievement, Prof Rajeev Ahuja, director of IIT Ropar, said, "IIT Ropar should lead in research and innovation; we have all the ingredients to become the most innovative institute in the country. We are committed to pushing boundaries, advancing research, and fostering indigenous manufacturing to reduce reliance on imports." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The institute is actively involved in several major national-level projects, including a PAIR grant collaboration with seven other institutions, FIST projects, and the establishment of a technology development hub and a deep-tech accelerator funded by the department of science and technology (DST). IIT Ropar is also home to a Technology Business Incubation Center supporting startups and innovators in fields such as defence, semiconductors, and smart agriculture. One of its flagship initiatives, a ministry of education-supported Center of Excellence in digital agriculture, is driving AI-based solutions for precision farming and environmental sustainability. These projects are positioning the institute at the forefront of India's digital and green transformation. Key Achievements: Attracted Rs 600 crore in research funding over the past year from various government and industry sources Published 1,056 research papers in 2024, nearly double the 530 papers published in 2020 Earned a 5-star 'Eat Right Campus' rating from FSSAI, reinforcing its commitment to health and sustainability Demonstrated leadership in cutting-edge domains such as AI, quantum technology, cyber-physical systems, digital agriculture, and energy efficiency MSID:: 121850083 413 | Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
