Success is often measured by the companies entrepreneurs build. But for IIT Madras alumnus Dr Krishna Chivukula, success has also meant giving back to the institution that helped shape his journey. More than five decades after graduating from IIT Madras, he donated 46.15 lakh shares of his company, Indo-MIM Pvt Ltd (IUMT), to his alma mater—a gift valued at around Rs 228 crore at the time and the largest alumni donation ever received by the institute.That remarkable gesture has now created another milestone. As Indo-MIM made its stock market debut on July 30, IIT Madras sold part of the donated shares through the Offer for Sale (OFS), realising nearly Rs 112 crore. The transaction is believed to be the largest cash distribution ever received by an Indian university through an IPO, underscoring how one alumnus’s gratitude is now helping strengthen research and innovation at his alma mater.
From IIT Madras graduate to global entrepreneur
Dr Krishna Chivukula completed his MTech in Aerospace Engineering from IIT Madras in 1970 before embarking on an entrepreneurial journey that would eventually create one of India’s leading precision engineering companies.His career has been defined by bold decisions. At just 37, he resigned as CEO of the Hoffman Group of Companies, then valued at over USD 400 million, to pursue entrepreneurship. He invested his entire life savings—around USD 2 million—to establish Shiva Technologies, which was later acquired by EAG Laboratories in 2007 in a deal reportedly worth more than USD 100 million.In 1996, he founded Indo-MIM as a joint venture before eventually acquiring full ownership. Over the next three decades, the company grew into one of the world’s leading manufacturers of precision engineering components using Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) technology.Today, Indo-MIM serves customers in 55 countries, manufactures more than 6,400 precision-engineered products, and caters to sectors ranging from automotive and aerospace to defence, medical devices and consumer goods. In FY26, the company reported Rs 4,320.7 crore in total income and Rs 533.5 crore in profit after tax, reflecting its strong global presence and financial performance.
A historic gift that continues to benefit IIT Madras
On February 1, 2024, Dr Chivukula donated 46.15 lakh shares of Indo-MIM to IIT Madras. The donation, valued at approximately Rs 228 crore, became the largest alumni contribution in the institute’s history and the third-largest alumni donation ever made to an Indian educational institution.The institute honoured him by naming a campus block after him on August 6, 2024.The contribution also helped IIT Madras cross Rs 500 crore in grants during FY24 for the first time, providing a major boost to research, innovation, laboratories and academic programmes.The latest IPO has further amplified that impact. Indo-MIM’s Rs 3,811 crore public issue attracted overwhelming investor interest, with the IPO subscribed 98.47 times overall. Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) subscribed nearly 296 times, reflecting strong institutional confidence in the company.When the shares listed on the stock exchanges on Thursday, they debuted at around Rs 703 on the BSE and Rs 700 on the NSE, representing a premium of nearly 45 per cent over the IPO price of Rs 485 per share. The strong listing has turned Dr Chivukula’s donation into one of the most significant examples of alumni philanthropy benefiting an Indian educational institution.
Giving back has always been part of his journey
Long before making headlines for his record donation, Dr Chivukula had quietly supported several charitable causes. In a rare interview, he revealed that he regularly donated Rs 3 lakh every month to Baptist Hospital, another Rs 3 lakh monthly to the Asha Foundation, and around Rs 50 lakh annually to the Deenabandhu Trust in Mysore.His philanthropy reflects a belief that success should create opportunities for others.Across India, alumni contributions are beginning to play a larger role in strengthening higher education. Donations from distinguished graduates such as Dr Krishna Chivukula and Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani demonstrate how successful entrepreneurs can help universities build stronger research ecosystems and prepare future generations of innovators.
A lesson for students beyond entrepreneurship
For students, Dr Krishna Chivukula’s story is about much more than building a successful business. It is a reminder that education is not simply a stepping stone to personal success—it can become a lifelong relationship.He left a prestigious corporate role to pursue entrepreneurship, invested his own savings to build globally competitive businesses, expanded an Indian company into international markets, and decades later chose to reinvest in the institution where his journey began.Today, as IIT Madras benefits from the proceeds of one of India’s most successful recent IPOs, his journey offers a powerful lesson: the greatest legacy of education is not just the wealth it helps create, but the opportunities it enables for future generations.
