# AISSMS Institute of Information Technology

AISSMS (All India Shri Shivaji Memorial Society's) Institute of Information Technology is a private engineering college located in Pune, Maharashtra, India. The college is affiliated with the Savitribai Phule Pune University and was founded by Chhatrapati Shri Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur, leading to the college's establishment in 1992. The institute is located close to the Regional Transport Office and shares its campus with a pharmacy college, polytechnic, and business school.

## Location and campus

AISSMS IOIT is located in the heart of the city in the area of Shivajinagar. The college is located on 11 acres (45,000 m$^2$) of lands.

### Hostel facilities

Each hostel accommodates up to 100 students of the respective gender.

## Departments

* Artificial Intelligence and Data Science: The Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) program in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science is designed to cater to the growing demand for AI and data science professionals in the industry.
* Computer Engineering: The B.E. in Computer Engineering is provisionally accredited by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA), New Delhi. The course was started in the year 1998 with an intake of 120 students.
* Electrical Engineering: The department offers a B.E. program in "Electrical Engineering" since 1992 and a postgraduate program M.E. in "Power Electronics and Drives" under affiliation with Savitribai Phule Pune University.
* Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering: The course leading to a bachelor's degree in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering was started in the year 1992 with an intake of 60. The department has also started a Post Graduate Program in Electronics and Telecommunication in Microwave (M.E.) having an intake of 18.
* Information Technology: The Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) program in Information Technology is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills required in the IT industry.

## History

On November 10, 1917, Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj announced his proposal to establish a Memorial of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Pune. The proposal included a central hall with a life-size statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and a hostel for a hundred Maratha students. This institute aimed to serve as a rallying center for Maratha activities across India, supporting the advancement of the Maratha community.
Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj sought the support of various Maratha rulers and sent Pawar and Khaserao Jadhav to garner their backing. Khaserao Jadhav, who was deeply interested in Maratha education, was tasked with overseeing the project. By the end of November 1917, Khaserao visited Pune, estimating the cost of the memorial at three lakhs rupees.
On December 27, 1917, Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj presided over the 11th session of the Maratha Educational Conference in Khamgoan, where further discussions about the memorial were held. Subsequently, 7.5 acres of land were acquired in Bhamburda village (now Shivaji Nagar) for one lakh rupees.
Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony On September 1, 1921, Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj wrote to Lord Reading, the then Governor-General of India, requesting the Prince of Wales to lay the foundation stone of the Shivaji Memorial. Despite initial reservations, the Viceroy was persuaded to ensure the Prince’s presence.
The foundation stone laying ceremony on November 19, 1921, saw thousands of people welcoming the Prince of Wales with great enthusiasm. The Prince was escorted through the crowds, and a grand procession accompanied him to Bhamburda. In his speech, Shahu Maharaj praised the Royal House of England for its liberal educational policies and celebrated Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s contributions to Indian history.
The Prince of Wales, during the ceremony, acknowledged Shivaji’s role in founding an empire and creating a nation. The Times of India highlighted Shahu Maharaj’s contributions during the Great War and his description of Shivaji as a figure embodying the essence of humanity.
Completion of the Memorial Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj convened a meeting of the All India Shivaji Memorial Society on May 25, 1922, but passed away on May 6, 1922, before the meeting could take place. The responsibility for continuing the work fell to HH Alija Bahadur Madho Rao Scindia, who also passed away on June 5, 1925.
Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj then took on the task of completing the memorial. He aimed to unveil the statue by June 16, 1928, the reputed 300th anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s birth. Initially, the statue was to be created by Rao Bahadur Mhatre and Nanasaheb Karmarkar. However, due to slow progress, the entire project was reassigned to Karmarkar.
The statue, measuring 13.5 feet in height and weighing 15 tonnes, was cast at Mazgaon Docks on June 1, 1928. The casting process involved 175 workers and was a historic achievement in Indian foundry work. The statue’s transportation was a complex task due to its size, requiring special arrangements to pass through the Khandala tunnel.
The statue arrived at Bhamburda on June 10, 1928, and was unveiled by Sir Leslie Wilson, the Governor of Bombay, on June 16, 1928. The Memorial Hall, the current main building of the residential school and society office, was completed by October 1931 at a cost of Rs 4,65,000. It was inspected by Field Marshal Sir Philip Chetwode and deemed fit for a military school.
Establishment of the Military School In his speech on November 16, 1931, Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj advocated for the building to be utilized as a military school, given its prominence and the legacy of Shivaji Maharaj’s military prowess. The Shri Shivaji Preparatory Military School was formally inaugurated on September 20, 1933, by Sir Frederick Sykes, the then Governor of Bombay.
In September 1934, the All India Shri Shivaji Memorial Society acquired 25 acres of land near the confluence of the Mullah and Mutha rivers to promote the military school’s ideals.

## Expansion and modernization

In 1972, the Society expanded its educational offerings by starting a day school and junior college. By 1992, the Society ventured into higher and technical education, establishing ITI, Polytechnic, Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Pharmacy, and Engineering Colleges, as well as a Management College. All these institutions, except the Polytechnic, offer undergraduate and master’s programs affiliated with Pune University.

## Student life

AISSMS’s Institute of Information Technology offers a broad spectrum of clubs and organizations designed to cater to various student interests and skill sets:

## Student publications and activities

AISSMS IOIT encourages students to participate in extracurricular activities and express their creativity through various publications. One such platform is the college magazine, Aayam, which showcases the literary and artistic talents of students. The magazine covers a wide range of topics, including technology, culture, and student achievements. T

## Events and conferences

AISSMS IOIT actively hosts and participates in several national and international conferences. One of the major events held at the college was the "ESCI 2021 (2nd International Conference on Electronics, Communication and Aerospace Technology)", which took place from March 5, 2021.