BIT Mesra proudly announces the launch of the Jagdish Sharma Chair Professor in Electrical Engineering in honor of esteemed alumnus Mr. Jagdish Chand Sharma (B.E. Electrical, Class of 1966, BIT Mesra). Mr. Sharma is a visionary leader in hydro-electric power generation and a true alumnus of excellence. This milestone is made possible by a generous contribution from Mr. Sharma’s family to support excellence in scholarly pursuits in electrical engineering.
This is a proud milestone for Department of EEE, BIT Mesra and BITMAA, a legacy we are honored to share with our fraternity.
Our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Jagdish Sharma for his visionary contribution.
Er. Jagdish Chand Sharma is one of the leading authorities in hydroelectric generation and planning, with a distinguished 34-year career serving the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB). Known for his deep technical expertise and operational rigor, he has shaped the development and modernization of power infrastructure across one of India’s most challenging and dynamic geographies.
Most recently, Mr. Sharma served as Chief Engineer, Generation (1997–1999), overseeing all hydroelectric generation facilities in Himachal Pradesh—spanning over 30 power plants across seven operational circles, with a combined generation capacity of 500 MW. Prior to that, he was Director of Powerhouse & Transmission Planning at HPSEB (1990–1994), where he led strategic planning efforts across the entire state and contributed to major projects such as the planning and construction of the 1500 MW Nathpa Jakhri power project. From 1984 to 1987, he served as Executive Engineer for Hamirpur district and achieved full electrification of the district one year ahead of schedule. Earlier in his career, Mr. Sharma built his technical foundation in construction, testing, and commissioning roles on the Giri Hydro Project (60 MW) in Sirmaur district (1967– 1976) and the Bassi Power Project (15 MW) in Mandi district (1979–1984), where he also served as Resident Engineer for a 40 MW facility.
In addition to his core service with HPSEB, Mr. Sharma brought his expertise to several national and international assignments. On deputation to Engineers India Limited (1977–1978), he worked on construction and commissioning of steam-generating plants for a National Fertilizer Limited (NFL) plant in Panipat. He also served the government of Bhutan (1994–1997) as Superintendent Engineer, supporting the planning of the 1500 MW Tala project, as well as operations and maintenance of the 80 MW Chukha Power Plant. In 1989, he participated in an advanced technical collaboration and training program with the Government of Sweden, focused on hydroelectric generation. He has been an active lifelong member of the Institution of Engineers India (IEI).
Mr. Sharma earned a B.E. in Electrical Engineering from BIT Mesra (1961–1966) and an M.Tech. in Water Resources Development from IIT Roorkee (1988–1989). He comes from a family of priests and Ayurvedic doctors, and like many of his generation in post-independence India, used to walk 8 kilometers each way to attend school. He and his wife, Mrs. Nirmala Sharma, have been married for 56 years and split their time between Himachal Pradesh and Los Angeles.
Mr. Sharma Speaks