2021 - Harcourt Butler Technical University | Commemorative Coin

The 3rd commemorative coin of 2021 was released to mark the Harcourt Butler Technical University Kanpur Centenary Celebrations.

Harcourt Butler Technical University (HBTU) Kanpur stands as one of India’s oldest and most distinguished institutions of technical education, with a legacy deeply intertwined with the nation’s industrial and scientific progress. Established in 1921 as the Government Research Institute, Cawnpore, it was envisioned to support the growing demands of industrial development during the early twentieth century, particularly in the fields of chemical sciences and applied research. Over the years, the institution evolved into Harcourt Butler Technological Institute (HBTI), named after Sir Spencer Harcourt Butler, the then Governor of the United Provinces, and later attained the status of a technical university in 2016, marking a new chapter in its century-long journey.

From its inception, HBTU became a pioneering center for research and innovation in areas such as oil technology, paint technology, leather, plastics, and food technology—disciplines that contributed significantly to Kanpur’s emergence as an industrial powerhouse. The institute’s academic excellence and industry-oriented approach fostered generations of engineers, technologists, and researchers who played vital roles in India’s industrialization. Kanpur’s reputation as the “Manchester of the East,” the “Leather City of the World,” and a major industrial hub can be traced, in part, to the scientific expertise and skilled manpower nurtured by this institution.

HBTU’s evolution into a university strengthened its commitment to advanced research, multidisciplinary studies, and societal development. The centenary year in 2021 marked a moment of pride and reflection, coinciding with India’s celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav—75 years of independence. This symbolic convergence highlighted the institution’s contribution to nation-building across an entire century. While the university gained recognition for its remarkable achievements, the centenary also underscored the aspiration to reach new heights in academic excellence, innovation, and global relevance.

With an aim to elevate its standing in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) and other global benchmarks, HBTU continues to strengthen its curriculum, research capabilities, and industry partnerships. It places emphasis on entrepreneurship and technological innovation, encouraging students to become job creators and active contributors to India’s economic progress. The university also strives to promote greater participation of women in technical education, recognizing their invaluable role in shaping a technologically advanced and inclusive society.

As HBTU advances into its second century, it remains firmly committed to its founding ideals of scientific inquiry, industrial relevance, and intellectual leadership. With a rich heritage and a forward-looking vision, Harcourt Butler Technical University stands as a testament to India’s enduring belief in education as a catalyst for national development, and as an institution poised to shape the technological landscape of the future.

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