For millions of students across India, a low score in an entrance exam can seem like the end of the road. Every year, as the JEE results are announced, countless aspirants wonder if a disappointing result defines their future. But the remarkable journey of V. Kamakoti, now director of IIT Madras, tells a very different story.Long before heading one of India’s most prestigious engineering institutes, or even chairing the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), Kamakoti was just another student facing failure. By his own account, he scored only one in Chemistry and failed to clear the JEE. Few could have imagined that the same student would one day head IIT Madras, receive the Padma Shri and become one of India’s most respected voices in engineering, artificial intelligence and cyber security.
An exam did not decide his future
For many students, failing the JEE feels like a permanent setback. Kamakoti’s story reminds us that it doesn’t have to be this way.Instead of letting an exam define him, he continued to study engineering through other opportunities, eventually finding his way to IIT Madras. There, he earned both his master’s and doctorate degrees in Computer Science and Engineering, laying the foundation for an academic career that would span more than two decades.In 2001, he joined IIT Madras as a professor. Over the years, he became known for his work in computer architecture, VLSI design, embedded systems and information security, leading several technology initiatives of national importance funded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.Ironically, the student who once failed to clear the JEE would later serve as the JEE chairman at IIT Madras, overseeing the very exam that had earlier failed him.
From researcher to one of India’s most respected academic leaders
Kamakoti’s rise through academia has been marked by both research excellence and public service.In January 2022, he took over as the director of IIT Madras, his alma mater. By then, he had already directed the institute’s Microprocessor Development Program, headed national information security initiatives and served on the National Security Advisory Council. He also chaired the Artificial Intelligence Working Group established by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.His contributions have earned him numerous honours, including the DRDO Academic Excellence Award, IBM Faculty Award, VASVIK Industrial Research Award, the Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowship and in 2026, the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour.Yet despite these achievements, Kamakoti has often spoken about something beyond rankings and awards: preparing students for the future.
Why you think the future of engineering is changing
As Director of IIT Madras, Kamakoti has consistently advocated for engineering education that goes beyond textbooks.He has pushed for a greater focus on responsible artificial intelligence, arguing that as AI becomes more powerful, questions about ethics, responsibility and bias become equally important.He has also championed the idea of the Faculty of Practice, bringing experienced industry professionals into classrooms so that students have practical exposure alongside theoretical learning. Under his leadership, IIT Madras has expanded its interdisciplinary focus, strengthened startups and deep-tech research, and worked to attract more international students.For Kamakoti, engineering education is not just about producing graduates, but about creating innovators capable of solving real-world problems.
A lesson every JEE aspirant can take home
Every admission season brings stories of toppers, AIR 1 holders and perfect scores. They deserve to be celebrated.But stories like Kamakoti’s deserve equal attention.They remind students that success is rarely a straight line. A disappointing score, failed entrance exam or even repeated setbacks do not determine the rest of a person’s life. What often matters most is the willingness to keep learning, adapting and taking advantage of the opportunities that come next.Years after failing the JEE, V. Kamakoti didn’t just walk through the doors of IIT Madras: he returned as director, helped shape the future of the exam he had previously failed to clear, and became one of India’s most respected academics.Sometimes life’s greatest success stories begin with an outcome that once seemed like a failure.Exemption from liability: This article is based on publicly available information about the academic journey and professional career of Dr. V. Kamakoti. The claims about his JEE attempt and Chemistry score should be read in the context of publicly reported accounts. Readers are advised to consult official interviews or verified statements for full details.