Throughout his distinguished career, Prof. Tokekar held several prestigious positions, including Director of IET-DAVV for multiple terms, Professor and Head of the Department of Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering, Head of the School of Data Science and Forecasting, Member of the Executive Council of DAVV, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, and Chairman of the Board of Studies. His leadership has been instrumental in transforming IET into one of the country's leading engineering institutions.
An accomplished academician with a Ph.D. in Electronics Engineering from DAVV, Prof. Tokekar has inspired generations of students through his dedication to teaching and research. He has supervised 19 Ph.D. scholars, while several research scholars continue their doctoral work under his guidance. Notably, many faculty members presently serving at IET-DAVV earned their Ph.D. degrees under his supervision, and numerous faculty members working in engineering colleges and universities across Madhya Pradesh and other states proudly acknowledge him as their research guide. His academic mentorship has thus created a lasting impact extending far beyond the boundaries of IET.
Prof. Tokekar has published over 100 research papers in reputed national and international journals and conferences, making significant contributions in the areas of Computer Networks, Computer Architecture, Wireless Communication, VLSI, Artificial Intelligence, Embedded Systems and Performance Evaluation of Computer Systems. His research excellence has earned recognition at both national and international levels.
His tenure as Director witnessed several landmark achievements. Under his visionary leadership, IET-DAVV secured the prestigious ₹1 Crore Chip-to-Startup (C2S) Project from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, resulting in the establishment of an Advanced VLSI Laboratory and the launch of the M.Tech. programme in Microelectronics and VLSI Design. He also spearheaded the establishment of the DAVV Incubation Centre, which attracted nearly ₹5 Crore in funding from the Department of Science and Technology and has already nurtured over 50 technology startups, strengthening the University's innovation ecosystem.
Prof. Tokekar also played a pivotal role in introducing new academic programmes, modernising curricula, strengthening laboratories, expanding infrastructure, and promoting international collaborations. His services as an expert for NBA, NAAC, AICTE, UGC, UPSC and several universities across the country have further enhanced his reputation as one of the country's respected academic leaders.
The occasion witnessed an overwhelming response from the academic fraternity. Hundreds of heartfelt farewell messages poured in from faculty members, alumni, former students, research scholars and academicians from engineering institutions across the country. Colleagues remembered him as a visionary leader, while his students described him as a mentor who patiently nurtured talent, encouraged innovation and always remained approachable. Many credited him for shaping not only their academic careers but also their professional values.
Director's Tribute
Paying rich tributes to Prof. Tokekar, Dr. Pratosh Bansal, Director, IET-DAVV, said:
> "Prof. Dr. Sanjiv Tokekar's contribution to IET-DAVV is truly unparalleled. His visionary leadership, academic excellence, administrative wisdom and unwavering commitment to quality education have transformed the institution in remarkable ways. Beyond infrastructure and academic achievements, his greatest contribution lies in the generations of teachers, researchers and students whom he has inspired and mentored. His legacy will continue to guide IET-DAVV for decades to come. On behalf of the entire IET family, I express our heartfelt gratitude for his invaluable service and wish him a long, healthy, peaceful and fulfilling retired life."
As Prof. Dr. Sanjiv Tokekar steps into a well-deserved new phase of life, the entire IET-DAVV fraternity salutes a teacher whose career exemplifies dedication, integrity, scholarship and visionary leadership. Though he retires from active service, his legacy will continue to live through the institution he helped build, the research he advanced, and the thousands of students and faculty members whose lives he transformed.
The IET family extends its heartfelt gratitude to Prof. Dr. Sanjiv Tokekar and wishes him good health, happiness and many more years of meaningful contribution to society and academia.
