This may be one of the most unusual tales in the history of the IITs, and definitely one that other institutes could find inspiration in.
An IIT-Bombay student, Akshay Dhoke, was awarded a posthumous engineering degree on August 10, the institute’s convocation day. Akshay passed away last year after suffering from a rare form of blood cancer.
Akshay was a a sharp-minded, curious, hardworking individual, possessed a sporting attitude with tremendous fighting spirit. The district topper from Nagpur in class 10th and 12th, who ranked among the top 200 in the JEE, was an inspiration for many students in his community, in Nagpur and for everyone at IIT.
He represented Nagpur in state-level cricket. A dedicated fan of Rahul Dravid, he would cite his star’s name often during college discussions. Even the password to his laptop: Rahul Dravid.
An intelligent boy who was always among the toppers right from his school days, Akshay went to IIT Powai in 2009, where he joined the M Tech course in Electrical Engineering (dual degree) with specialisation in Microelectronics. He was a top scorer there too.
He fell ill in the year 2011, his final year of engineering. The tests confirmed that he was suffering from blood cancer. He was advised a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT).
While accepting the degree, Akshay’s father Siddharth Dhoke teared up as he spoke about his son. Dhoke is a loco-pilot with Central Railway. He has now promised to donate an ambulance worth over Rs 4 lakh to GovernmentMedicalCollege, Nagpur, in the memory of his son. Dhoke has also donated Rs 75,000 to Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University to initiate a gold medal scheme for the final topper of BE or B.Tech stream among Scheduled Caste students which would be called the Late Akshay Siddharth Dhoke Memorial Gold Medal.
Akshay succumbed on September 14, 2012.
When Akshay was diagnosed with cancer, not for a moment did his father Siddharth, mother Sarbani, sister Shefalee, uncle Nagsen Dhoke (GGM, RITES), aunty Vishakha believe they would lose him.
While receiving the degree, Akshay’s father said, “On February 17, 2012 a BMT was conducted on Akshay. After such a transplant, relatives are not allowed to meet the patient for 31 days. He was kept in a cube. We were not aware of his condition. We tried to peep from the holes, or tiny windows to have a glimpse. Finally they allowed us in on the 17th day. Akshay looked at us with pale eyes that lit up when he saw me. With a force of desperation, he asked me to sit, he did not want any rules to dominate our meeting. No one can understand what is in destiny’s mind,” said Dhoke.
Dhoke, who has started a trust called the Late Akshay Dhoke Memorial Trust, wants to conduct health and eye check up camps, blood donation camps and offer free medication through this trust.
Siddharth Dhoke and his family are not ready to let Akshay’s memories fade away. And neither did IIT Powai.
Source: http://www.firstpost,com/india/promising-student-lost-to-cancer-iit-awards-posthumous-degree-1060625.html?utm_source=hp-footer
