Prof. Souradyuti Paul
Dear members and well-wishers of the IIT Bhilai Computer and Data Science communities, It is a great honor and privilege for me to assume the headship of this excellent department, and even more so to succeed Prof. Santosh Biswas. It is also a matter of enormous responsibility to have my departmental colleagues repose their faith in me as the Head. Our department houses two major engineering disciplines — namely, Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) and Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI). It is hard to overemphasize the enormous power of these disciplines in shaping our cultural and civilizational progress. Be it the installation of a precision camera on a GPS satellite, the detection of gravitational waves, or the forecasting of weather hazards, the penetration of computer and data science innovations into all aspects of our daily lives is deep and permanent. Initially offering academic programs only in Computer Science and Engineering, the department quickly realized the immense importance of data science in driving industrial and economic productivity, as well as the necessity of having dedicated academic programs in this discipline. As a result, undergraduate and postgraduate programs in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI) were launched in 2020. Since then, even within this short period of existence, the DSAI programs have continuously offered diverse and advanced courses to our students. This has been made possible by our energetic faculty members, who have literally bent over backwards to make it happen. In sum, strongly supported by highly professional administrative bodies, our departmental growth and output — in both quality and quantity — have been admirable so far, despite occasional setbacks. I invite you to visit our faculty profiles to gain an understanding of the broad spectrum of research and teaching activities we undertake in the department. We carry out research and teaching with the ambition of ultimately serving the humanity around us in whatever way possible. Our determined pursuit of societal benefit — both immediate and long-term — is ingrained in the cultural chromosome of our institute, and our department naturally inherits this DNA. It is only a matter of time before the ideas generated in our hallways and seminar rooms help solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges and make it a better place to live. If talk of our DNA and our seriousness in achieving professional goals begins to intimidate you, you should also know that two things we greatly value in life are good humor and human kindness. There is certainly no dearth of fun activities that fill our days. Our department is young in both letter and spirit, and I must warn you that this overflow of youthful energy is highly contagious. It will be difficult not to be swept up by the department’s positive vibes as you walk down the corridors of Level 4 of ED1, our humble abode. Do not be surprised to discover a faculty member in a seminar room, chalk in hand, passionately debating small details of an age-old computing problem with students, or to find yourself completely ignored by a junior researcher engrossed in configuring a novel programming environment to reduce the runtime of her code by a microsecond! This intensity and flurry of activity, combined with humane and respectful interpersonal relationships among faculty, staff, and students, form the bedrock of our steady journey toward a bright future. As a student of CSE or DSAI, if you are looking for a place to give flight to your inner ambitions — fueled by a passion to serve society and the nation — or if you seek honest and meaningful mentorship to guide you toward achieving your life goals in a constructive and productive manner, look no further. Make the CSE department your academic home. I am here to help you. Please do not hesitate to speak with me. I will consider it a privilege if there is any way in which I can add value to your life. Prof. Souradyuti Paul Department Head, CSE. Date: 26 February, 2026