IIIT Hyderabad Chairman’s Biography Chronicles India’s Deep-tech Journey
The book recounts Jhunjhunwala’s work at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, where he promoted industry-academia collaboration and research aimed at solving practical problems.
Hyderabad: The story of India’s deep-tech ecosystem and the ideas that shaped it has been brought together in a new authorised biography of Ashok Jhunjhunwala, chairman of the Governing Council of the International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT Hyderabad).
Titled ‘Roots & Wings: Building India’s Deep Tech Ecosystem’, the book, authored by entrepreneur Saloni Malhotra, was released on Thursday. It traces Jhunjhunwala’s four-decade journey from returning to India in 1981 to becoming one of the country’s leading technology innovators, institution builders and mentors.
The biography goes beyond the life of an individual to document the growth of India’s deep-tech ecosystem, highlighting the role of academia, industry and entrepreneurship in advancing indigenous technology.
The book recounts Jhunjhunwala’s work at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, where he promoted industry-academia collaboration and research aimed at solving practical problems. It also covers his contributions to India’s telecom sector, electric mobility, renewable energy, banking technologies and startup ecosystem, besides his role in establishing the IIT Madras Research Park and mentoring hundreds of entrepreneurs and researchers.
It also captures Jhunjhunwala’s long-held belief that technology should solve meaningful problems rather than chase trends. “The work was always driven by what needed to be done, not by the ambition to create the ‘next big thing’. If something eventually becomes transformative or commercially successful, that’s a byproduct,” he says in the book. The biography also highlights his focus on tackling challenges such as transportation, waterlogging, cybersecurity and public infrastructure through innovation.
Congratulating Jhunjhunwala, IIIT Hyderabad director Sandeep Shukla said the book captured not only his personal journey but also the evolution of India’s deep-tech ecosystem. “His vision and commitment to translating research into societal impact continue to inspire generations of researchers and entrepreneurs,” he said.
The book offers insights for students, researchers, entrepreneurs and policymakers interested in innovation, institution building and technology-led development, while documenting the collaborations and leadership that helped shape India’s modern deep-tech ecosystem.
