Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, paid homage and tribute on Thursday to the institute’s most distinguished and famous alumna – Kalpana Chawla, on her 21st death anniversary.
PEC remembers the first Indian-origin woman in space in 2003, who graduated from PEC’s Aerospace Engineering Department in 1982. She lost her life in 2003 when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entering Earth’s atmosphere.
The Deputy Director of the Institute, Prof. Siby John; Registrar Colonel (Experienced) R. M. Joshi; Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. D.R. Creator; Dean Faculty Affairs, Dr. Vasundhara Singh; Prof. Rakesh Kumar, Head Aerospace Engineering Department; Professor Rajesh Kanda, Head Alumni and Corporate Relations; and Professor Jimmy Carlopia, along with all members of the faculty, paid tribute to alumna Kalpana Chawla. Dr. Rajesh Kanda, Head Alumni & Corporate Relations, with a heavy heart, shared the educational and life journey of Dr. Kalpana Chawla.
He said that Dr. Kalpana will always remain an inspiration in the fields of engineering, aerospace, and dreams. Deputy Director Professor Sibi John paid his tribute to Dr. Chawla. She said, as we talk about women power these days, she proved to be true women power even before the term became popular.
He further said that she will always be in our hearts. Along with this, he also honored PEC’s centennial alumnus, Late S. Bikram Singh Grewal, who passed away on January 31, 2024. Furthermore, Professor Rakesh Kumar, Head of the Department of Aerospace Engineering, shared the life history of Dr. Chawla from 1962 to 2003. She said that before starting school, her name was Montu, then she changed her name to ‘Kalpana,’ which is a symbol.
Former HOD of Aerospace Engineering Department, Prof. SC Sharma, during the time when Dr. Kalpana Chawla was studying in PEC. He said that he still remembers the day when Dr. Kalpana entered the PEC campus.
She was a very confident student with dreams. She was a vigilant guardian of the class. He shared stories with the class during its undergraduate years at the institute. Her red-colored bicycle was an indication that Kalpana was here in the institute. She was a black belt holder. He shared many details of her life, which many people do not know. With a heavy heart, he said, whenever I look at her picture, every memory of her flashback comes before my eyes. In the end, everyone thanked Dr. Kalpana Chawla and S., with a heavy heart. Tribute to Bikram Singh Grewal.