->Skullcinema at 11:21, 9 October 2021

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{{short description|Indian academic (born 1953)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Ashok Jhunjhunwala
| image =
| caption = Dr. Ashok Jhunjhunwala
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1953|6|22}}
| birth_place = [[Kolkata]], [[India]]
| nationality = [[India]]n
| field = [[Electrical Engineering]] and [[Telecommunications]]
| work_institution = Department of Electrical Engineering, [[IIT Madras]], TeNeT Group
| alma_mater = [[IIT Kanpur]], [[University of Maine]]
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] (2002)
}}
'''Ashok Jhunjhunwala''' (born 22 June 1953) is an Indian academic. He received his B.Tech. (Electrical Engineering) from the [[Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur|Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur]] and PhD from the [[University of Maine]]. He has been a faculty member at the [[Indian Institute of Technology Madras]] since 1981, where he is currently Institute Professor.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ashok|first=Jhunjhunwala|title=Professor Ashok Jhunjhunwala Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Madras|url=http://www.ee.iitm.ac.in/~ashok/|access-date=2 August 2020}}</ref> During his career, he has contributed extensively to technology innovation and adoption in the Indian context.

==Early life==

Ashok Jhunjhunwala was born in Kolkata on 22 June 1953 in a Marwari family. His grandfather was a Gandhian and a close associate of [[Vinoba Bhave]], working with [[Mahatma Gandhi]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Lakshmi|first=Krupa|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-metroplus/the-sky-is-his-limit/article4294292.ece|title=The sky is his limit|date=10 January 2013|work=The Hindu|access-date=3 March 2015}}</ref>

He studied in [[St. Lawrence High School, Kolkata|St Lawrence High School]] in [[Kolkata]] (formerly Calcutta) in India, completing the Higher Secondary examination in 1970. He did his B.Tech degree from [[IIT Kanpur]] and MS and PhD from University of Maine, USA and was a faculty member at [[Washington State University]].

==Academic career==
Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala’s first appointment was in [[Washington State University]], USA from 1979 to 1980. Prof. Jhunjhunwala then joined [[IIT Madras]] in 1981 in the Department of Electrical Engineering. His research areas include Optical Communication, Computer Networks, Wireless Communication, Decentralized(DC) Solar and Electric Vehicles, where he has significantly contributed in various dimensions.

Over the last few decades he has looked at cost and affordability of various components of the telecommunications and the Internet network, especially in the Indian context.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sridhar|first=Varadharajan|title=The Telecom Revolution In India: Technology, Regulation, and Policy|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2011|isbn=0198075537}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=A|date=1999|title=Affordable fibre access network for developing countries|journal=International Conference on Integrated Optics and Optical Fiber Communication|volume=1|pages=47-49}}</ref> He has worked on techniques to enable communication networks to reach remote parts of rural India.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=A|last2=Ramamurthi|first2=B|last3=Gonsalves|first3=T.A.|date=1998|title=The role of technology in telecom expansion in India|journal=IEEE Communications Magazine|volume=36|issue=11|pages=88-94|doi=10.1109/35.733480}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=A|date=March 2002|title=Challenges in Rural Connectivity for India|journal=ASCI Journal of Management|volume=31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=A|date=2003|title=Drivers of Telecom in India|journal=IETE Technical Review|pages=279-287|doi=10.1080/02564602.2003.11417085}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=A|last2=Sangamitra|first2=R|date=August 2005|title=Rural Connectivity in India|journal=Computer Society of India (CSI) Communications Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=A|last2=Rangarajan|first2=J|date=July 2011|title=Connecting the Next Billion: Empowering Rural India|journal=IT Professional|volume=13|issue=4|pages=53-55|doi=10.1109/MITP.2011.58}}</ref> In recent times, he has made some significant contributions in Solar-DC and in battery systems for Electric Vehicles.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=A|date=28 August 2017|title=Electric Vehicles are the future of Transportation|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/electric-vehicles-are-the-future-of-transportation/article19574026.ece|access-date=12 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=A|last2=Mehta|first2=T|date=12 July 2019|title=Can India make the transition to electric vehicles?|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/can-india-make-the-transition-to-electric-vehicles/article28390189.ece|access-date=12 June 2020}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=A|last2=Lolla|first2=A|last3=Kaur|first3=P|year=2016|title=Solar-dc Microgrid for Indian Homes: A Transforming Power Scenario|journal=IEEE Electrification Magazine|publisher=IEEE|volume=4|pages=10-19|doi=10.1109/MELE.2016.2543950}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kaur|first=P|last2=Jain|first2=S|last3=Jhunjhunwala|first3=A|date=2015|title=Solar-DC deployment experience in off-grid and near off-grid homes: Economics, technology and policy analysis|journal=2015 IEEE First International Conference on DC Microgrids (ICDCM)|pages=26-31|doi=10.1109/ICDCM.2015.7152004}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=A|last2=Kaur|first2=P|last3=Mutagekar|first3=S|date=Dec 2018|title=Electric Vehicles in India: A Novel Approach to Scale Electrification|journal=IEEE Electrification Magazine|volume=6|pages=40-47|doi=10.1109/MELE.2018.2871278}}</ref> He has guided more than 70 M.S. and Ph.D. students.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Professor Ashok Jhunjhunwala|url=https://www.nae.edu/178238/Professor-Ashok-Jhunjhunwala|access-date=15 June 2020|website=National Academy of Engineering}}</ref>

Over the course of his career Jhunjhunwala has served as Chairman and member of various government committees. He has been on boards of several private companies and educational institutions in the country. He was on the boards of the [[State Bank of India]], [[Bharat Electronics Limited|Bharat Electronics Ltd]], Hindustan Teleprinters Limited, NRDC, [[IDRBT|Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT)]], [[VSNL]] and [[BSNL]] as well as Tata Communications, [[Mahindra Electric]], [[Sasken]], Tejas Networks, Tata Teleservices Maharashtra Ltd, Intellect and Exicom. As of 2020 he is on the board of [[Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council|Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)]] and is the Chairman of Technology Advisory Committee of [[SEBI]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=Ashok|title=Board of Directors, BIRAC|url=https://birac.nic.in/bod.php|access-date=13 June 2020|website=BIRAC}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=Ashok|title=Technical Advisory Committee, SEBI|url=https://www.sebi.gov.in/sebiweb/about/AboutAction.do?doMember=yes&committeesId=14|access-date=13 June 2020|website=Securities and Exchange Board of India}}</ref> In 2017 - 18, Jhujhunwala was on sabbatical from IITM, serving as the Principal Advisor to the Ministry of Power in the Government of India, and the Ministry of Railways in the Government of India, New Delhi.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|date=22 November 2018|title=Ashok Jhunjhunwala|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/corporate-excellence-award/jury/ashok-jhunjhunwala/articleshow/66359974.cms?from=mdr|access-date=13 June 2020}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

== Contributions in technology innovation and adoption ==

=== Industry-Academia Intervention and Incubation ===
When Dr. Jhunjhunwala joined IIT Madras in 1981, as an academician he observed that there was not enough interaction between industry and academic institutions. Industries did not invest in R&D of their own and preferred to import knowledge and technology. This resulted in unaffordable products and services which were available to only a section of the society.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=National Research Council, Policy and Global Affairs, Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy, Committee on Comparative Innovation Policy: Best Practice for the 21st Century|title=Understanding Research, Science and Technology Parks: Global Best Practices: Report of a Symposium|publisher=National Academies Press|year=8 September 2009|isbn=0309145465|pages=61-66}}</ref> He recognized that if products and services were to be used by the bulk of Indian Society they had to be made affordable. His idea was to develop technology in-house by mutual participation of both academia and industry. To further this objective Dr. Jhunjhunwala initiated the setting up of the IITM Research Park, adjacent to the IITM campus.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|last=Ravindranath|first=Sushila|date=6 November 2019|title=Working on solutions for ‘very’ Indian problems|work=Financial Express|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/food-cafe-working-on-solutions-for-very-indian-problems/1755527/}}</ref> The 1.2 million sqft space today has about 60 R&D centres of industries, working closely with IITM, thus creating an eco-system where faculty, students and industry professionals interact in a formal and informal manner. <ref>{{Cite web|title=IITM Incubation Cell|url=http://www.incubation.iitm.ac.in/home|access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref> He believes that such interaction is the key to technological innovations and entrepreneurship. Prof Jhunjhunwala's approach of collaboration of with industry has resulted in development and adoption of technology at the grass-roots level.

=== Innovation in Telecom Networks ===
In the mid 90's his work on development of the corDECT Wireless Local Loop (WLL) allowed India to move to wireless communication systems at much lower cost.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=A|last2=Jalihal|first2=D|date=26 March 2015|title=Wireless in Local Loop—Some Fundamentals|journal=IETE Journal of Research|volume=46|issue=6|pages=421-433|doi=10.1080/03772063.2000.11416187}}</ref> Both the capital and operational cost were significantly lower than those of any technologies prevalent at that point of time. corDECT enables wireless access solution for telecom networks with integration of both voice and Internet services.<ref>{{cite patent
| country = IN
| number = 198261
| status = patent
| title = A LONG RANGE RELAY BASE DECT SYSTEM
| pubdate = 2005-03-25
| gdate = 2006-05-19
| fdate = 1997-02-19
| inventor = Indian Institute of Technology
| invent1 = Indian Institute of Technology
| invent2 = Ashok Jhunjhunwala
| invent3 = Bhaskar Ramamurthi
}}
</ref> He was conferred the [[List of Padma Shri award recipients (2000–2009)|Padma Shri in 2002]] for his work on Wireless Communication Systems.

His other initiatives like setting up of the [[Cewit|Centre for Excellence in Wireless Technology (CEWiT)]] and the [[TSDSI|Telecom Standards Development Society of India (TSDSI)]] have enabled India to export IPR in telecom.
=== Innovation in Electric Vehicles ===
Since 2016, Prof Jhunjhunwala is leading the efforts of bringing EVs in the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pluginindia.com/blogs/india-is-ready-for-the-ev-revolution-are-you|title=Ashok Jhunjhunwala – India is ready for the EV revolution. Are you?|date=11 Nov 2017|website=PlugInIndia}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite patent | country= IN | number= 198261 | status= application| title =A method and system for maximizing power efficiency in a solar DC system
| pubdate = 2016-07-01
| fdate = 2014-11-06
| inventor = Indian Institute of Technology
| invent1 = Indian Institute of Technology
| invent2 = Ashok Jhunjhunwala
| invent3 = Bhaskar Ramamurthi
| invent4 = Lakshminarasamma, Krishna Vasudevan, Sai Ram Marmar
}}
</ref> He mentors several startups and groups to develop new batteries and EV models. He aims to make Electric Vehicles affordable. This will reduce India's import bill of oil and promote a greener technology.

He has come up with various innovations such as reducing the size of batteries, battery swapping, using environment friendly zero–effluent recycling of spent Li-ion batteries which have resulted in significant enhancements in energy efficiencies of EVs .<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/iit-madras-testing-prototype-swappable-electric-battery-1502573973.html|title=IIT Madras testing prototype of swappable electric battery|date=27 January 2018|website=The Statesman}}</ref>

=== Innovation in Solar Decentralization ===
Since about 2010, Dr Jhunjhunwala has focused his research on the power problems of India which affect the masses.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=A|date=31 January 2017|title=Innovative Direct-Current Microgrids to Solve India’s Power Woes|url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/renewables/innovative-direct-current-microgrids-to-solve-indias-power-woes|journal=IEEE Spectrum}}</ref> He developed solar roof-top and DC power-line at home along with the use of DC-powered appliances as an answer to these problems. This innovative technique reduces power consumption.<ref>{{cite patent|country=IN|number=|title=PROVIDING UNINTERRUPTED POWER SUPPLY TO CONSUMERS|status=patent|pubdate=2015-09-04|fdate=2014-01-27|pridate=|gdate=|inventor=Indian Institute of Technology|invent1=Indian Institute of Technology| invent2=Ashok Jhunjhunwala|invent3=Bhaskar Ramamurthi|invent4=Krishna Vasudevan|inventor1-first=|assign1=|assign2=|url=https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/054393689/publication/IN334CH2014A?q=pn%3DIN334CH2014A|class=}}
</ref>

==Awards and Honours==
*[[Padma Shri]], India, 2002: distinguished service in science and engineering, telecommunications
*[[List of Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize recipients|Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award]], India, 1998: for outstanding contributions in the field of Engineering Sciences
*JC Bose Fellowship, India, 2010<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ee.iitm.ac.in/~ashok/|title=Ashok Jhunjhunwala Biography IITM|access-date=3 March 2015}}</ref>
* Member, [[National Academy of Engineering]], USA, 2018: innovation and development of affordable technology solutions in communications and energy<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nae.edu/178238/Professor-Ashok-Jhunjhunwala|title=Professor Ashok Jhunjhunwala|date=7 February 2018|work=National Academy of Engineering, USA|access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref>
*Fellow, [[Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers|IEEE]], USA, 2009<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://services27.ieee.org/fellowsdirectory/getdetailprofile.html?custNum=dA92PPZJ%2Ft9u34O8mTGXjA%3D%3D&bccaptions=Alphabetical%20Listing%20&bclocations=%2Ffellowsdirectory%2Fhome.html|title=IEEE Fellows Directory|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=Ashok|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref>
*Fellow, [[Indian Academy of Sciences]] (IAS), India, January 2007: Engineering & Technology<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fellows.ias.ac.in/profile/v/FL2007011|title=Fellows, Indian Academy of Science|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=Ashok|url-status=live|archive-date=22 April 2020}}</ref>
*Fellow, Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi, India, 1999<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.insaindia.res.in/detail/P00-1278|title=Fellow, Indian National Science Academy|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=Ashok|access-date=23 April 2020}}</ref>
*Fellow, National Academy of Sciences, India, 1999<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasi.org.in/fellows.asp?RsFilter=J|title=Fellow, The National Academy of Sciences|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=Ashok|access-date=23 April 2020}}</ref>
* Fellow, Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), India, 1994<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inae.in/search-fellow/|title=Fellow, Indian National Academy of Engineering|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=Ashok|access-date=23 April 2020}}</ref>
* Lifetime achievement award by [[TiE]]
* Dronacharya award by The IndUS Entrepreneurs ([[TiE]]), Chennai, November 2011
* Silicon India Leadership Award 2001 for Excellence and promise in Business & Technology Academics
* Bernard Lown Humanitarian Award, 2009<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.umainealumni.com/bernard-lown-42-alumni-humanitarian-award/|title=Bernard Lown Humanitarian Awardees List|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=Ashok|access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref>
* Fellow Wireless World Research Forum, 2007<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwrf.ch/work-packages/fellows.html|title=Fellow, WWRF|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=Ashok|access-date=23 April 2020}}</ref>
* Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Lecture Award, [[Indian National Science Academy]] (INSA), India, 2006<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.insaindia.res.in/recipients.php|title=INSA Awards Recipients|access-date=22 April 2020}}</ref>
* 27th IETE Ram Lal Wadhwa Gold Medal by the [[Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers]], India, September 2004: outstanding contribution in the field of Electronics and Communication Engineering in the broadband sense, during the last ten years <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iete.org/IETE-Awards.htm|title=Details of the IETE Awards|access-date=22 April 2020}}</ref>
*[[Om Prakash Bhasin Award]], India, 2004: Science & Technology
*UGC Hari Om Ashram Trust Award by [[University Grants Commission (India)|University Grants Commission]], India, 2003: Outstanding Social Scientists for interaction between Science and Science and Society<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ugc.ac.in/page/Honours-and-Awards.aspx|title=UGC- Hari Om Ashram Trust Awards|last=Jhunjhunwala|first=Ashok|access-date=22 April 2020}}</ref>
*[[H K Firodia awards|H.K.Firodia Award]], India, 2002: for excellence in Science and Technology
*Millennium Medal by [[Council of Scientific and Industrial Research]], India, during Indian Science Congress, January 2000<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Indian Science Congress 2000 – A Report|url=https://www.niscair.res.in/jinfo/JSIR/JSIR%2059(6)%20(Report).pdf|journal=Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research|volume=Vol.59|pages=487–505}}</ref>
*Distinguished Alumnus Award by IIT Kanpur, India, September 1999<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dr. A. Jhunjhunwala, Distinguished Alumnus Awardees 2000|url=https://www.iitk.ac.in/dora/index1.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=644|access-date=23 April 2020|website=Dean, Resources and Alumni, IIT Kanpur}}</ref>
* Copper Excellence Award for Technology Innovation<ref>{{Cite web|title=COPPER EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION|url=https://copperindia.org/3rd-india-copper-forum-press-release/|access-date=17 June 2020|website=International Copper Association India}}</ref>
* Dr.Vikram Sarabhai Research Award, India, 1997: towards the contributions and achievements in the field of Electronics, Informatics, Telematics and Automation<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prl.res.in/prl-eng/list_awards_hoa|title=Hari Om Ashram Prerit Vikram Sarabhai Research Award Awardees List|access-date=23 April 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061106080136/http://www.tenet.res.in/Aboutus/People/Faculty/personalPages/ashok.php Biography of Dr. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, TeNeT Group, IIT-Madras]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120818064656/http://www.ee.iitm.ac.in/facs_ashok Biography of Dr. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Department of Electrical Engineering,, IIT-Madras]
*[http://www.rediff.com/ The Rediff Interview/Professor Ashok Jhunjhunwala]
{{SSBPST recipients in Engineering Science}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Science & Engineering}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jhunjhunwala, Ashok}}
[[Category:Indian academics]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in science & engineering]]
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Rajasthani people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in Engineering Science]]

Ashok Jhunjhunwala - Revision history

->Skullcinema at 11:21, 9 October 2021