Lucknow: The Alumni Association of Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT), Prayagraj, conferred the prestigious MOTI Awards on eight distinguished alumni during the Global Alumni Convention 2025.
Vice Admiral Ashok Kumar Kalra received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his exemplary service to the Indian Navy.
The Professional Excellence Award was presented to:
- Amitabh, North Western Railway
- Prof. (Dr.) Bharat Raj Singh, School of Management Sciences, Lucknow, for his notable academic and research contributions
- Sharad Mahendra, JW Energy
In the Entrepreneurship and Innovation category, Kuldeep Tyagi, Founder of the Sarsa Foundation, was honored. The Alma Mater and Social Service Award went to Vijay Vachhwan of Panasonic India. The Young Achiever Awards were presented to Srishti Singh, ADM, Ghubri (Assam), and Prashant Gazipur, Senior Vice President at Delhivery.
The ceremony was graced by Naveen Tiwari, Founder & CEO of InMobi and Glance, as Chief Guest, and Ramesh Narayan Mishra, former CMD of SJVN Limited, as Distinguished Guest. In their keynote addresses, they spoke of India’s remarkable transition from “Made in India” to “Imagined in India,” noting that the world is entering one of the most transformative eras shaped by artificial intelligence, climate technology, and bioengineering. They urged young professionals to innovate responsibly and ensure that technology remains human-centric, emphasizing India’s emergence as a key driver of global progress.
Acting Director Prof. Shubhi Purwar described the awardees as “the pride of the institute,” while Prof. Avneesh Kumar Dubey, Executive Chair of the Global Alumni Convention 2025, highlighted the crucial role of alumni in elevating institutions to global standards.
In his address, Prof. (Dr.) Bharat Raj Singh said the MOTI Award stands among the most significant recognitions he has received since beginning his academic journey in 1965. He expressed deep gratitude to his mentors at MNNIT, who, he said, not only imparted knowledge but also instilled strong values and encouraged him to find opportunities amid global challenges.
Prof. Singh reflected on key milestones influenced by these teachings, including the adoption of his work in the U.S. High School (Grades 9–12) curriculum and the inclusion of his climate analysis on NASA’s glacier-melt research portal. He also highlighted his research on reducing carbon emissions—particularly his development of the wind-driven, zero-pollution motorbike engine, “Air-O-Bike”—which he described as a unique platform for scientific innovation.
