Jagdish Khurana
August 1931 - May 2021
Jagdish was passionately interested in engineering from his childhood days, whether it was working with mechanics to overhaul his father’s cars or travelling with his father on his field trips observing the construction projects of irrigation dams, river bridges etc. After completing his BSc in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering in India, he proceeded on scholarship to Loughborough University do his BTech (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering graduating in 1954. He loved to reminisce his time at Loughborough, his assignment on diesel engines, his favourite sport rowing and that it was the foundation stone for his later life and career.
After graduating he apprenticed with Krupps in Germany, learning not only the ropes of the trade but also to speak fluent German. Experiencing a unique chapter in post-war German history as Germany was being rebuilt, he talked fondly of his time there. Especially the importance of the practical aspects of engineering that one can only learn on the factory floor and the fact that only once a week one could have a hot water bath and enjoy real coffee!
Upon his return to India in 1956, he joined Burmah Shell and was deputed to Deutsche Shell from 1962-1964. There he built an extensive supply chain model for Shell using techniques from operations research which at that time was a discipline in infancy. This model was taken over and successfully implemented in various other Shell companies worldwide.
His experience at Shell was put to good use after India’s oil industry was nationalised and Burmah Shell in India was renamed Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL). He rose to be part of the management committee of BPCL as Head of Planning and Management Services. Given his expertise, he advised the Government of India extensively especially in area of refining and pipelines.
After retiring from BPCL, he worked as advisor to several leading Indian companies always bringing his depth of knowledge and experience in Engineering and Management to bear. He was also keenly involved in several non-profit sector activities in areas such as corporate governance, arbitration and setting up an eye hospital in Delhi as a Rotary member.
In 2014, he had the good fortune to visit Loughborough University again, where he experienced first-hand the tremendous growth and transformation the University had undergone since his days at Loughborough leaving him excited and thoroughly impressed. He kept in touch with the University and was felicitated at the reunions in 2017 and 2019 in New Delhi. He is survived by his wife Raksha, three sons and a daughter.