!["I am what I am because of IIT Bombay," says Nandan Nilekani.](https://img.etimg.com/thumb/msid-102172418,width-650,height-488,imgsize-53440,resizemode-75/i-am-what-i-am-because-of-iit-bombay-says-nandan-nilekani-.jpg)
Located on the picturesque Powai campus, the five-storeyed Nandan Nilekani Main Building has offices of the institute's functionaries and administrative staff.
This development comes after Nilekani donated a whopping Rs 315 crore (approximately $38.5 million) to IIT-B, last month, to support its vision to be a global leader in technology and engineering.
Expressing gratitude for the remarkable acknowledgement, Nilekani told ETimes, "I am deeply grateful to the board of governors of IIT-Bombay for this incredible honour. IIT-Bombay has immeasurably shaped my life, and I acknowledge the contributions of the team at the institute, alumni and everyone else who has enabled me to give forward to the institute. I dedicate this honour to every student who walks by the iconic building."
Taking to social media, Nilekani also said that he returned to IIT-B, five decades after he first entered the institute. Calling it a "special day," he credited the institute for developing his personality and identity.
"A special day for me: Returned to IIT Bombay 50 years after I first entered the institution. I am what I am because of IIT Bombay. I am confident that this hallowed institute is on its way from being India's best to being one of the world's best," Nilekani wrote in his tweet alongside pictures from the renaming ceremony.
The Rs 315 crore donation marked the 50-year association between Nilekani with IIT-B. The donation will be instrumental in fostering world-class infrastructure, stimulating research in emerging areas of engineering and technology, and nurturing a deep tech startup ecosystem at IIT-B.
With previous grants of Rs 85 crore, the cumulative value of the 68-year-old's contribution stood at Rs 400 crore.
The founding chairman of UIDAI joined the prestigious institute in 1973 for a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. This is also one of the largest donations made by an alumnus in India.
Nilekani has always stayed connected with the institute in multiple roles. From 1999 to 2009, he served on the Board of the IIT Bombay Heritage Foundation. He was also on the Board of Governors from 2005 to 2011. Nilekani was also awarded the prestigious Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1999, followed by an Honorary Doctorate in 2019 as part of the 57th convocation of IIT-B.
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