Harcourt Butler Technical University
Harcourt Butler Technical University, formerly Harcourt Butler Technological Institute, is a reputed and old STEM college currently functioning as a public technical university, and is located in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. Established in 1921, it is one of India's oldest engineering institutes, India's second institute for industry-oriented applied science, and also India's first technological institute for higher research in technical chemistry.
It is named after its visionary and relentless proponent-in-chief Sir Spencer Harcourt Butler, a highly regarded ICS officer and Governor in British India, who preferred to be addressed as "Harcourt Butler". As an advocate of industrial advancement, Sir Harcourt was a promoter of technical education in general, and the patron of "Technological Institute" in particular. Originally, the institute aimed to train science graduates for pursuing career as technologists, or starting their own industrial venture.
It has historical and foundational connections to many scientific entities. It is the parent of the National Sugar Institute which operated from HBTI campus from 1936 to 1963. The Central Control Laboratory started in HBTI in 1937. HBTI also housed ICAR's Sugar Technologist, and provincial govt's offices of Glass Technology and Alcohol Technology. It assisted three new state-govt colleges - Rajkiya Engineering College Bijnor, REC Kannauj, and REC Mainpuri,. And, when IIT Kanpur was established in 1959, its classes, starting 9 August 1960, were initially held in HBTI until IITK had its own campus.
History
Origins
In early 1900s, there was a need for application of science in industry in the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, and technical education was paramount. On the initiative of Harcourt Butler, the Secretary to Industrial Committee and DC of Lucknow, the 1907 Industrial Conference at Naini Tal convened by the Lt.Gov. of the province, Sir John P. Hewett,, recommended establishment of a Technological Institute at Cawnpore. Therein, Thomason's Principal Sir Edwin H.deV. Atkinson,, opined on location of the institute, and views of Upper India Chamber of Commerce were expressed by their Secretary, Alexander B. Shakespear,.The conference approved teaching and research via four chemical sections in industries of leather, sugar, acid-n-alkali, and textile-n-papermaking. In 1908, Sir Harcourt left UPA&O, and the provincial secretary, Sir Robert W. Gillan,, submitted the scheme to the government. But, the India Secretary deferred, and sought opinions from Dr. Morris W. Travers,,, among others, regarding overlaps with IISc, and relevant areas of instruction and enquiry. However, it was generally accepted that a colloquial Central Higher Technical Institute be set-up in two branches. The Rurki Branch would take over Thomason's engineering courses while the Cawnpore Branch would be the industrially accessible Technological Institute.
By 1914, the idea of starting it as a British Polytechnic was abandoned, and industry-oriented applied research became the keynote, with some provision of teaching courses of practical importance to regional industries. Deferments also happened due to World War I, apart from differing opinions, and lack of funds. By mid 1910s, an IISc-like central higher research institute under Imperial control in North India was steadily demanded not only by industrialists and professionals, but also by officials like the Director of Industries A.H. Silver.
Indian businessmen wanted training in leather chemistry as Kanpur had leather industry since 1800s. Contrarily, officials like Director H.R.C. Hailey,, and Offg. DI & DD Sir Bryce C. Burt,,, concurred with European industrialists and UICC that the proposed institute should focus on research in applied chemistry, and offer special branches only on demand. The Indian Industrial Commission headed by Sir Thomas H. Holland,,, recommended that technological institutes should be controlled by provincial Director of Industries to facilitate research in regional industries. A representative committee recommended that training be provided for research chemists, and technical chemists.
GRI and GTI
Sir Harcourt returned to UPA&O in 1918 as Lieutenant-Governor, and expressed dismay at the delays in starting the institute. Ultimately, Government Research Institute, Cawnpore, was launched in January 1920, offering industrial research without teaching any courses. It was headed by the Agricultural Chemist Dr. Harold Edward Annett,,, then the Principal of Opium Research Laboratory, of which GRI was an adjunct. It was housed in two rooms of Sher Wali Kothi, a British era bungalow near Nawabganj.The distinguished dye scientist Dr. Edwin Roy Watson,, Professor at Dacca College, was appointed as Research Chemist. Dr. Watson had been research assistant to Charles T.R. Wilson, and Siegfried Ruhemann at University of Cambridge. He was aided by two Asst. Res. Chemists - his DC colleague Kshitish Chandra Mukherji,, and Dr. Nitya Gopal Chatterji, . Dr. Watson became the Principal of GRI as Dr. Annett was appointed Officiating Principal of Govt Agricultural College.
In 1921, Sir Harcourt became the Governor of UPA&O. He appointed Sir C.Y. Chintamani,, the Chief-Editor of The Leader newspaper, as the Minister of Education and Industries. With active support from the keen minister in UPA&O Legislative Council, the institute secured funding for and started teaching three-year postgraduate diploma courses apart from their activities in applied research, and became the Government Technological Institute.
The institute started with two Chairs each in three areas of applied chemistry: oil, tinctorial, and leather. Dr. E.R. Watson was appointed as the first Principal of GTI. On 25 November 1921, Sir Spencer Harcourt Butler,, formally laid the foundation-stone of the Main Building. Sir Harcourt had envisioned to make it a full-fledged technological university, but had to leave charge in UPA&O to go to Burma in 1922.
Initial years
The first batch of PG Diploma in Technology consisted of three students each in two courses of General Applied Research, and Oil Chemistry & Technology. Due to lack of infrastructure, they were sent to the Govt Technical School in Lucknow for a six-month preliminary course in mechanical engineering. The first classes & laboratories were held in two buildings of the old govt soda factory, and the first hostel was a Nawab's bungalow in Souterganj near the Govt School of Dyeing & Printing.In 1922 the institute moved its operations to the new bungalows in Luxman Bagh - Bungalow No. 1 for "Gen Res", Bungalow No. 2 for workshop, Bungalow No. 3 for "Oil Tech", and Bungalow No. 4 for hostel. By 1925, the north-wing of Main Building was completed, and a temporary hostel was constructed behind the central hall. In 1926, under the then Minister of Industry, Sir M.A.S. Khan,, the generically monikered GTI took the name Harcourt Butler Technological Institute in honour of its patron, though Sir Harcourt was absent, working as the Governor of British Burma.
As Richardson Committee prioritized leather over sugar, a third course of Leather Chemistry & Technology was started in 1922 under Madhav Balkrishna Hudlikar. A course in Tinctorial Chemistry was also considered. In 1924, the Department of Chemistry was established, and all six students of the first batch also received their PG diplomas. Though, grading and classification criteria based on test scores was only finalised a year later in 1924-25. A fourth course of Sugar Chemistry & Technology was started in July 1926. Dr. Gilbert J. Fowler,,, who held the Chair of Biochemistry at IISc, became the Officiating Head of chemical research in 1926, and then Principal of HBTI in 1927.
Academically, the first-year included a short course in mechanical engineering followed by instructions in applied chemistry. Second-year onwards, special branches were taught. HBTI emphasised practical training in simulation plants and commercial factories. Admissions were done through competitive exams. The oil course developed an excellent reputation while the sugar course became popular. Post-diploma courses, two-year studentship and three-year fellowship, were also introduced within the first decade. The head of technology section worked de facto as area Expert to the Industries Department, while the head of chemical research worked as Industrial Chemist to the provincial government.
Reforms
During ministership of Sir J.P. Srivastava,,, the Director of Industries was made the ex-officio Principal in 1932, and an Acting Principal was to be the head. NASI Founder-Fellow and industrial researcher Dr. H.D.H. Drane,, was the last British Principal, and Dr. J.A.H. Duke, the Oil Expert, was appointed the first Acting Principal of HBTI. Also, the three-year "Dip.Tech." was replaced by a two-year PG course for an Associate of HBTI , and a further two years of studies for a Fellow of HBTI . The "Gen Res" and leather courses were discontinued in 1932 on the recommendations of the second Mackenzie Committee. Short courses and non-diploma courses were also started in 1932-33 session.In 1932-34, ICAR was proposed to takeover the oil section to make an all-India institute of oil technology, and in 1936 the sugar section was taken over to establish the Imperial Institute of Sugar Technology on the recommendations of Indian Sugar Committee, and others. Student enrolment crossed the three-figure mark to 106 in the year 1936-37. The first Indian Actg. Principal, Rao Saheb Dattatraya Yeshwant Athawale, officiated from 1937 to 1947, followed by Dr. D.R. Dhingra,, in the first decade post-independence from 1947 to 1957. An R&D scheme, and a short-course on essential oils were started in the latter's tenure
In 1952, a committee headed by Sir J.C. Ghosh,, advised that HBTI operate as a university college with IIST, GCTI, and GLI as integral parts, and offer new courses. But, it was not implemented, except for a course in Chemical Engineering in 1954. AICTE review in 1955 suggested teaching reorganisation, and in 1956, faculty posts separate from Experts/Chemists were sanctioned. Dr. Hrishikesh Trivedi became the first Indian-origin Principal when the post was revived in 1957. HBTI was affiliated to Agra University in 1958, and AHBTI/FHBTI diplomas were converted to degrees: a four-year B.Sc. to be pursued post I.Sc., and a three-year B.Sc. post B.Sc.