1 word. money. On a more serious note - opening of the IITs allowed mathematically gifted students to become sought-after engineers who emigrated to the US and

1 word. money. On a more serious note - opening of the IITs allowed mathematically gifted students to become sought-after engineers who emigrated to the US and made loads of money (atleast for the people back home). Thus it's all relative, engineering as career option bloomed because of IITs were set up. Other disciplines haven't had the same 'luck'.