philanthropy
K. Subramonian Centenary Memorial Building
Biological Sciences Annexe | Molecular Biophysics Unit • Completed
About the Building
Watch the whole inauguration event on YouTube here!
K. Subramonian Centenary Memorial Building (Biological Sciences Annexe), established with support from the Lakshan Foundation, was completed at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to house labs and facilities belonging to the Division of Biological Sciences, specifically the Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU), as well as other research facilities in the division. Spanning a total area of 5,882 square metres, the building includes 15 laboratories, 9 central equipment rooms, 1 lecture hall, and 4 conference/classrooms. The researchers who will benefit from this building include 13 faculty members, 100 PhD students in MBU and 100 UG and PG students from other departments, and project staff in the division.
About K. Subramonian: 19 April 1922 – 29 June 1989
Born on April 19, 1922, in southern India, K. Subramonian was one of ten children. After losing both parents in his teens, he was raised with care by his eldest brother and sister-in-law in Karamana. After graduating in the mid-1940s, he left home in search of a central government position, beginning as a temporary clerk before, with determination and the support of his young wife, securing an officer’s post in the Indian Railways — the start of a distinguished career.
A railway career meant frequent transfers, with K. Subramonian serving in cities across India and playing a pivotal role in staffing at the newly established Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. Over the years, he worked in Personnel, Finance, and Accounts, while also contributing in related roles — such as serving as Chairman of the Southern Railway Co-operative Bank and spending time as a member of the Scouts movement. Through dedication and integrity — sometimes at the cost of advancement — he rose to senior positions before retiring in 1980 to his Chennai home, where he lived till his passing on 29 June 1989.
About Dr. Subramonian Shankar
Dr. Subramonian Shankar, a visionary techno-entrepreneur, is the Founder and former President & CEO of American Megatrends Inc. (AMI), a global leader in motherboard design and firmware. Born in Chennai, he earned his B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering from IIT Madras (1971) and went on to pursue his MScEng in Electrical Engineering at the University of New Brunswick (UNB), Canada (1976), where his exploratory research laid the foundation for his pioneering contributions to the computer industry.
In 1985, Shankar co-founded AMI, which became the world’s leading BIOS manufacturer and a household name in computing. Shankar served as its President and CEO until 2019. IIT Madras awarded him its Distinguished Alumnus Award, and UNB recognized him with the Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award. In May 2025, UNB conferd upon him an Honorary Doctor of Science.
Beyond technology, Shankar has made transformative contributions to philanthropy. In 2019, he established the Lakshan Foundation, supporting education, health, and hunger alleviation. His initiatives include the Subramonian Shankar Block at IIT Madras, the Subramonian Shankar Computer Science Laboratory at UNB (2022), and the Shankar Center of Excellence in Diabetic Research (SCoEDR) at IIT Madras, in collaboration with Emory University’s Global Diabetes Research Center.
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