IIM Sambalpur: Dr. Girish Mohan Gupta has achieved new success in his life by obtaining an MBA degree from IIM-Sambalpur. He has also started preparing for the next academic journey for a PhD.

Girish Mohan Gupta: Age is not a limit but just a number for Dr. Girish Mohan Gupta. At the age of 84, when most people get tired and live as retired people, the senior scientist and entrepreneur has achieved new success in his life by obtaining an MBA degree from IIM-Sambalpur. Not only this, he has also started preparing for the next academic journey for PhD in Management.

'There is no age limit for studies'

After receiving the degree from the prestigious institute last week, Gupta said, "There is no age limit for studies. As long as you are curious and interested, a new opportunity awaits you every day." Gupta topped his batch in the MBA for Working Professionals Programme with an impressive cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 7.4. Attending classes amid his other responsibilities was no easy task, but discipline and passion kept him going.

"I have never let age come between me and my curiosity. I love sports, I regularly swim and play badminton. Fitness and studies are an integral part of my life," he said, adding that he was often among the first to reach the campus for classes. Born in pre-independence Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur district, Gupta's remarkable journey from a small town to India's premier atomic energy institute inspires determination and lifelong learning.

Studied at Aligarh Muslim University

After graduating in mechanical engineering from Aligarh Muslim University, he rose to senior positions at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), where he contributed to key projects related to fast breeder reactors, a highly sensitive area of ​​nuclear research. “During my initial stint at BARC, I was tasked with designing sodium-based equipment for breeder reactors. We had to innovate with limited resources, and the spirit of ‘Make in India’ was still very much alive,” Gupta recalls.

After a successful career in nuclear research, Gupta diversified into industrial innovation and set up ventures developing security and automation products for the Indian Railways, defense establishments, and private sector companies.

Created over 345 jobs

Through his flagship company - Geno Engineering - and subsidiaries such as Bova Global and N FMCG, Gupta has created over 345 jobs, filed several patents, and contributed significantly to indigenizing manufacturing processes, saving hundreds of crores of rupees in foreign exchange.

Gupta was awarded the National Award by the then President of India R. Venkataraman in 1986 for his contributions. He developed the 'Punched Tape Concertina Coil', an important high-security fencing product used during the insurgency on the Indo-Pak border in Punjab in 1984-85. This product played a major role in countering Sikh terrorism.

Honoured with several awards

For the past several decades, Gupta has been considered one of India's top innovators in the fields of defense, nuclear energy, and railway technology. In 2022, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) awarded his company Global Engineers Ltd the Industrial Innovation Award, recognizing it as one of India's most innovative enterprises.

Despite his achievements, Gupta remains humble. "Degrees, awards, and designations are milestones, not destinations. True success lies in staying relevant and maintaining a hunger for knowledge," he said. Now preparing to pursue another PhD, Gupta shows no signs of slowing down. "If you are passionate about learning, life becomes your classroom. I want to keep learning till my last breath," he said, with a strong voice and a sparkle in his eyes.