IIT Kanpur Prof. Sameer Khandekar Passes Away/ IIT Kanpur Prof. Sameer Khandekar Dies Of Cardiac Arrest (Image: X.com/ @karandi65)IIT Kanpur’s senior professor Sameer Khandekar collapsed suffering a cardiac arrest. He was reported as brought dead when rushed to the hospital. Professor Khandekar, was speaking at an alumni meet about good health, when he underwent cardiac arrest. He had begun to sweat profusely and collapsed at the podium before the audience could make sense of the situation, reported the Indian Express.
As Prof Sameer Khandekar was rushed to the Laxmipat Singhania Institute of Cardiology, he was declared brought dead, reported the TOI. Since 2019, he had been undergoing treatment for high cholesterol. The sudden demise was was let known by the Director of IIT Kanpur, @Director_IITK through his X handle post, which read, “with profound grief, we inform you of the sudden & untimely demise of our Beloved colleague Prof. Sameer Khandekar, Dean of Student Affairs & Prof, Dept of Mechanical Eng. We mourn the loss of a humble soul & pray that God gives his family & friends strength to bear this loss.”
Professor Sameer Khandekar, 53, who was the Dean of Students, is known as the most kind professor by students and teachers, as, they would say, “Jiska koi nahi hota, uska Sameer hota hai (for those who have none, they have Sameer).” He is remembered as a professor with a positive attitude who looked ahead to challenges. He has been remembered as a passionate teacher, accomplished researcher, exemplary mentor and as a loving human being.
He began teaching at IIT K from the year 2004, at the Mechanical Engineering Department of IIT-K, specialising in thermal — fluid engineering sciences. Thermal management, passive heat transfer, heat pipes, and energy systems were part of his research. In the year 2005, he was the recipient of the Young Scientist Award by the Government of India’s Department of Atomic Energy. He also received the P K Kelkar Research Fellowship of IIT K from October 2009 to September 2012.
Hailing from Jabalpur, he did his BE degree from Jabalpur Government Engineering College, MTech from IIT-Kanpur and PhD from the Germany’s University of Stuttgart. Professor Khandekar who also graced the chair of Dean of Students Welfare was also part of a registered non-governmental organization (NGO) named, “Shiksha Sopan,” for the upliftment of society’s underdeveloped sections through the medium of education. The NGO was run by professor khandekar, along with another IIT-K retired professor, said the Indian Express.
Abhay Karandikar, former IIT-K Director, in his Xhandle wrote, “it’s unbelievable! The news of my friend Prof. Sameer Khandekar’s (Professor in Mechanical Engineering at IIT Kanpur) sudden and very untimely passing has left us in deep shock and sadness. A cherished colleague always full of energy and enthusiasm. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Rest in peace, dear friend.”
Professor Khandekar, “was one of those people one would approach when a problem or a difficulty arises. We would all be sure that Sameer would have a solution. He never backed out of challenges and always looked positive. He was always full of life,” Professor Shalabh, the Dean of Academic Affairs, IIT-K remembered. Further saying that, “he was always mentoring and helping students who didn’t come from affluent backgrounds. His approach towards students was similar to how parents deal with their children. In his approach towards students, he had the right mix of kindness and strictness.”
A student remembered professor Khandekar as a teacher who was always available for the students. He said, “if anyone had a problem, they would approach Sameer sir. Before I came here, I was told by a senior that I could seek help from Sameer sir, and I did. Over the years, I realised how kind he was.”
The campus is in a state of mourning and grief after his sudden demise. The body was kept at IIT K’s Health Centre until his son, Pravah Khandekar, who is a student at Cambridge University could arrive. Later, on Sunday evening, the body was cremated. He is survived by his wife Pradyana and son Pravah.