Kripa Shanker

About

Prof. Kripa Shanker was born on July 1, 1949, and passed away on August 10, 2026. 

Prof. Kripa Shanker earned his B.Sc in Mechanical Engineering from BHU, where he was a Gold Medalist, followed by an MTech in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Kanpur. He subsequently pursued an MS in Operations Research and a PhD in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering from Cornell University, USA.

Prof. Kripa Shanker joined IIT Kanpur as a faculty member in the Department of Industrial and Management Engineering in 1978 and was promoted to Professor in 1987. As one of the pioneering founders of the IME Department, he played a pivotal role in shaping management education and research at IIT Kanpur, notably advancing teaching and research in manufacturing systems management, supply chain and logistics management, quantitative and statistical decision models, and initiating the institute’s two-year MBA programme. His efforts significantly strengthened management education within IIT Kanpur’s distinctive analytical and technological ecosystem.

Beyond his academic contributions, Prof. Kripa Shanker held several key leadership roles at IIT Kanpur. He served as the Head of the Department of Industrial and Management Engineering for two terms, from 1989–1992 and 2001–2002, as Dean of Student Affairs from 1994–96, and as Deputy Director of IIT Kanpur for two consecutive terms from 2002 to 2008.

His leadership extended beyond IIT Kanpur when he served as Vice-Chancellor of Uttar Pradesh Technical University, Lucknow, from July 2009 to September 2012. Through his involvement with academic institutions, professional bodies, accreditation boards, and national-level committees, he contributed significantly to the broader landscape of engineering and management education in India.

Yet, beyond the positions he held and the accomplishments that marked his distinguished career, Prof. Kripa Shanker will be remembered most profoundly for his dedication to education, institution building, mentorship, and the generations of students and scholars whose lives he influenced.

The Department of Management Sciences and IIT Kanpur fraternity deeply mourn the loss of a valued member of its family and pray to the Almighty for the eternal peace of his soul. His contributions to IIT Kanpur and to the larger academic community will be remembered with deep respect and gratitude.