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Cake, pasta, and smiles: IIT Kharagpur professor celebrates birthday with students, serves them lunch himself. Netizens say, 'How do I send to my professor?'
ET Online | April 23, 2026 12:19 PM CST

Synopsis

A heartwarming video from IIT Kharagpur is going viral. Professor Aurobinda Routray celebrated his birthday with students. He cut a cake and then personally served them a meal. The spread included pasta, ice cream, and more. Students enjoyed the food in a garden setting. This act of kindness resonated online, creating lasting memories beyond academics.

IIT Kharagpur professor's warm gesture wins internet's heart. (Instagram-@unseen_iit)
In a world where classrooms are often defined by lectures, deadlines and formal boundaries, a simple act of kindness can stand out in the most unexpected way. A heartwarming video from a premier engineering institute is now going viral, not for academic brilliance, but for something far more human. A professor celebrating his birthday with students, not just by cutting a cake, but by personally serving them food, has left the internet smiling and wishing for more such moments.

The video, shared by a student from IIT Kharagpur, captures a cheerful birthday celebration of Professor Aurobinda Routray with his class. It begins with the professor cutting a chocolate cake as students gather around, clapping and celebrating the occasion with visible excitement. The atmosphere feels less like a formal academic setting and more like a close-knit community coming together. But what truly made the moment special came next.

The video shifts to a spread of food laid out for the students. The menu included pasta, ice cream, rice, pooris, dal, and much more, turning the celebration into a full-fledged meal rather than just a symbolic gathering.



Students were seen enjoying the lunch in a large garden area, adding to the relaxed and joyful vibe of the occasion. Instead of stepping back after hosting, the professor remained actively involved, personally serving food to students and even bringing them cutlery. That gesture, simple yet rare, is what struck a chord online.

The clip quickly gained traction on Instagram, where viewers reacted warmly to the professor’s approach. Many praised the gesture as thoughtful and refreshing, noting how such moments create lasting memories beyond academics. The on-screen caption of the video highlighted the uniqueness of the situation, pointing out that it was the professor inviting students to celebrate his own birthday with them.

Internet reacts

The post quickly picked up attention online, with users jumping in to identify the professor and share their own experiences. One user mentioned that he is Aurobindo Routray from Odisha. Another said their college professor believed the content might actually be AI-generated, adding a surprised reaction to the discussion.

A different commenter shared a more personal experience, saying they were selected for a summer internship under him and described him as very friendly and responsive over email. Another user recalled college days, saying the reel brought back memories and that Routray sir had even invited students to his place during a project. One more comment jokingly asked how they could forward or send it to their professor.


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