As IIT-Kanpur loses its ‘most kind professor’, campus in shock over his sudden demise

Khandekar (52) suffered a cardiac arrest while speaking at an alumni meet on Friday. Before he collapsed on the podium, he was talking about ways to maintain good health.

As his body was cremated on Sunday evening, the IIT campus was in a state of mourning and shock. People remembered him as “one of the kindest people” on the campus who was always full of positive attitude and looked forward to challenges.

“He (Khandekar) was one of those people one would approach when a problem or a difficulty arises. We would all be sure that Sameer would have a solution. He never backed out of challenges and always looked positive. He was always full of life,” said Prof Shalabh, Dean of Academic Affairs, IIT-Kanpur.

Hailing from Jabalpur, Khandekar started teaching at IIT-Kanpur in 2004. He was a professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT-K with specialisation in “thermal — fluid engineering sciences”.

His research included thermal management, passive heat transfer, heat pipes, and energy systems. Khandekar won the Young Scientist Award by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India in 2005. He was also awarded the P K Kelkar Research Fellowship from IIT Kanpur (October 2009 – September 2012). With a PhD from the University of Stuttgart in Germany, the professor had an MTech degree from IIT-Kanpur and a BE degree from Government Engineering College, Jabalpur (MP).

“He was always mentoring and helping students who didn’t come from affluent backgrounds. His approach towards students was similar to how parents deal with their children. In his approach towards students, he had the right mix of kindness and strictness,” said Prof Shalabh.

Khandekar, who held the post of Dean of Student Welfare, also ran “Shiksha Sopan” — a registered non-governmental organization (NGO) run by members of IIT-Kanpur for the uplift of underdeveloped sections of society through education. He ran the NGO with another retired IIT-K professor.

A student at IIT-K said that Khandekar was always available for the students and that he never said no. “If anyone had a problem, they would approach Sameer sir. Before I came here, I was told by a senior that I could seek help from Sameer sir, and I did. Over the years, I realised how kind he was,” said the student.

Khandekar had been suffering from high cholesterol since 2019 and was undergoing treatment. After he collapsed on Friday, he was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

He is survived by his wife Pradyana Khandekar and son Pravah, a student at the University of Cambridge.