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 (1907-08) 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 (UICC) were expressed by their Secretary, Alexander B. Shakespear, . The conference approved teaching and research via four chemical sections (of four students each) in industries of
leather,
sugar,
acid-n-
alkali, and
textile-n-
papermaking (
dyeing,
bleaching, etc.). In 1908, Sir Harcourt left UPA&O,), 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. 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 (DI) A.H. Silver. Indian businessmen wanted training in leather chemistry as Kanpur had leather industry since 1800s. Contrarily, officials like Director (LR&A) H.R.C. Hailey, , and Offg. DI & DD (Agri.)
Sir Bryce C. Burt, , , concurred with European industrialists The
Indian Industrial Commission (1916–18) 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 (in
oil, textile, and leather). , c.1934
GRI and GTI Sir Harcourt returned to
UPA&O in 1918 as
Lieutenant-Governor, and expressed dismay at the delays in starting the institute. 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 (who won
1927 Physic Nobel prize), and Siegfried Ruhemann (who discovered
Ninhydrin in 1911) at
University of Cambridge (1903-04). 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 (first)
Governor of UPA&O. The institute started with two
Chairs each in three areas of applied chemistry: oil, tinctorial, and leather. On 25 November 1921,
Sir Spencer Harcourt Butler, , formally laid the
foundation-stone of the
Main Building.).
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 (first)
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 (Applied) 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.
Dr. Gilbert J. Fowler, , , who held the
Chair of
Biochemistry at
IISc (first in India and
The East), 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 (written and oral). The head(s) of technology section(s) worked
de facto as area
Expert(s) 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, 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 (A.H.B.T.I.), and a further two years of studies for a
Fellow of HBTI (F.H.B.T.I.). 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 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 The state's industrial-advisor and
MIT/
SEAS alumni
Dr. Chittaranjan "CR" Mitra became Principal in 1962. The departments of Physics and Mathematics were started in 1961, while those of mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering were started in 1964-66. India's first courses in Biochemical Engineering and Chemical Engineering Practice were launched in 1964 and 1965 respectively. And, HBTI organised India's first
seminars in Biochemical Engineering ('67) and Biomedical Engineering ('68) under the pioneer Dr. Tarun K. Ghosh. On 26 March 1965, the
GoUP made HBTI an autonomous institution registered as a
society. Accordingly, it got a
Board of Governors, and the post of
Principal raised to
Director. Dr. Mitra became the first Director in 1965, and remained till 1969 (when
G.D. Birla invited him to lead
BITS Pilani). The college's affiliation was transferred to
Kanpur University in 1967 on the latter's inception. On AICTE's 1967 recommendations,
GoI sanctioned grants for development of HBTI, which led to many new infrastructure projects by 1972-73. By 1970s, HBTI had transformed from an instructor in chemical branches to a prominent institute of
higher education in STEM fields. The ''Science & Technology Entrepreneur's Park'' (STEP-HBTI) was launched on-campus in 1986 to encourage entrepreneurship, sponsored by
DST (GoI),
ICICI, and
IFCI. In 1991, all B.Sc. (Engg/Tech) courses were changed to four-year
B.Tech., and all M.Sc. (Tech) were changed to two-year
M.Tech., in keeping with the times.
21st century In 2000, the GoUP established the
Uttar Pradesh Technical University (UPTU), and HBTI was affiliated to it in 2001. This made HBTI lose the autonomous status which it had retained in previous affiliations. However, HBTI worked for, and later became the only STEM college in Uttar Pradesh to be granted the
academic autonomy by the
University Grants Commission on 27 February 2008, a status it had lost a decade earlier. While still affiliated to UPTU administratively, the institute could now conduct its own internal academic affairs independently, viz., syllabus, exams, grading, etc. By 2000s, HBTI's infrastructure had become inadequate and degraded. There was also worsening of
student–teacher ratio due to unfilled vacancies, faculty leaving for new
CFTIs, etc. Mismanagement and failures increased even in important activities. Hence, its reputation suffered against some
NITs. The alumni offered financial assistance to resolve immediate issues, but it could not be initiated due to government regulations. UPTU plans to develop it as a STEM
CoE did not materialize either. In this period (2001-21), HBTI did not have any long-term permanent head, either short-term ones or mostly temporary "Acting" ones. On 1 September 2016, HBTI was raised to the status of a technical
state-university by the
UP HBTU Act, 2016 (dated 7 April 2016), and its name was modified to
Harcourt Butler Technical University. Prof. M.Z. Khan was appointed as the first
Vice-Chancellor. HBTU obtained administrative autonomy, and some much needed infrastructure upgrades were started. In 2021, the college completed its centenary, and the then VC Dr. Samsher requested the
President of India to make HBTU a
central university. == Campus ==