Historical Development and Current Status of Metallurgy Education in Banaras Hindu University

A sequential growth of Metallurgical Engineering education at Banaras Hindu University is discussed. The far-sighted vision of the founder of this great centre of learning is ascribed to the creation of the first-ever Department of Geology, Mining and Metallurgy as early as 1919. The beginning of a full-fledged undergraduate curriculum in metallurgy dates back to 1923. Three distinct phases of materials education in this centre of learning are deliberated. The erstwhile Institute is recently upgraded to the Indian Institute of Technology–a premier group of institutions that still maintains its heritage of materials education. The setting of the Department in the centre of the University is shown to have facilitated an effective interface with the physical, medical and life sciences Departments. This feature of the campus strategy in providing a great uniqueness in the trans-disciplinary teaching and research programs in materials relevant to society is clearly brought out.