Daily Archives: July 9, 2015

Lessons in a Container

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Education

Stack them, put them alongside or line them up in a row – Safeducate’s mobile school concept uses re-cycled freight containers to erect schools overnight in the rural belts of the country. Divya Jain, CEO of Safeducate (the education and learning arm of logistics firm Safexpress), says, “It’s like Lego blocks. You can add space or remove, depending on the need of the area.” Showing us pictures of the said containers, she tells us that a school could vary from a single classroom to six containers. To begin with, their first container school set up on their own piece of land, commissioned two weeks ago in Ambala, will have 189 logistics students, who are all over 18 years old.

In the box

“Learning logistics is difficult in a closed environment. But with these movable classrooms we can take the students as close to their working environment as possible,” says Jain, adding that this idea came to them two and a half years ago. “Since then, we’ve done extensive research on cooling methods, insulations and checked the containers for life, rusting, etc. They have been checked though seasons to see how they withstand the elements,” Jain adds about the background work that has gone into ensuring that these ISI certified containers are safe for their students. “This is just our first draft and we are looking at making them even more self-reliant with solar panels,” she says, pointing out that this will especially be handy when setting up in rural places that have minimal access to electricity. Other points that work in favour of these 40-foot containers is that they can be turned into classrooms, labs, libraries or even toilets or bedrooms and require an investment of as low as `8 lakhs.

While these container schools will initially be set up in around 20 places like Bihar, Agra, Hyderabad and Chennai (in two months, we’re told), Jain is confident that it is the answer to setting up schools in rural areas. Given that they are already converted into offices and hotels outside the country, it might not be long before we come up with many more uses for them. “We see these being used as schools for children and even as hospitals – especially on highways, where emergency services are poor,” Jain concludes.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express Features / July 09th, 2015

A 7-decade tryst with the canvas

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education
A view of JNAFAU cillege of fine arts at Masabtank which is celebrating 75 years . Photo: G. Ramakrishna
A view of JNAFAU cillege of fine arts at Masabtank which is celebrating 75 years . Photo: G. Ramakrishna

To mark the 75 years of JNAFAU, the department of painting is coming up with an all-women show of its former students titled ‘Viewpoint’

Hyderabad :

Come next week, the painting department of the Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University (JNAFAU) College of Fine Arts in Masab Tank will step into realms of history for celebrating womanhood with an art show by its former women students covering seven decades. The occasion is 75 years celebration of the college and the department headed by Priti Samyukta deemed to bring together all the works of women artists starting from 1942. The idea was conceived by Priti to let the young students understand and see the works of its alumni. But why only women artists? “This is a patriarchal society and women artists often go unnoticed. In fact, women artists have to put in extra effort to be noticed and recognised,” points out Priti and adds, “We are saluting all those women, those unsung heroes who strived hard to make a mark. And, the way the artists have evolved is tremendous with new mediums, thoughts and styles keeping up with the trends.”

Priti Samyukta, Head of the Department of painting at JNAFAU college of fine arts Photo: G. Ramakrishna
Priti Samyukta, Head of the Department of painting at JNAFAU college of fine arts Photo: G. Ramakrishna

The show titled ‘Viewpoint’ and to be held at Nehru Art Gallery inside the college premises features artworks by women who are practising artists, women who shifted gears, students-turned-teachers, recent pass outs and artists, who killed their interest in art due to different reasons. Priti, a former student from the college says she hit upon the idea in January. “As an in-charge, I wanted to take the department to another level. This is an indirect way of teaching the students. We initially thought of holding the show in March to coincide with Women’s Day but the work was exhaustive and required more co-ordination. Since the College completed 75 years, the display found an ideal reason,” she smiles.

The work involved constant co-ordination with women artists spread out across the country and even abroad. While thanking artists who parted with their works, Priti mentions about all her colleagues in the department who played a major role. “I am excited as this is my baby but everyone is taking care of it,” laughs Priti.

The title was chosen to give a different perspective to the exhibition. “The title is secular and women’s views are not always heard or part of any conversation,” she says.

Overall, 43 artists are participating starting from Freny Behmanshaw from the ’42 batch. “Freny mam was also the first woman teacher of the college and is currently in Bengaluru.

A painting by artist Kavita Deuskar
A painting by artist Kavita Deuskar

Kavita Deuskar and Anjani Reddy are also student-turned-teachers and even headed the department, whose works will be showcased. Lydia Victor, who lives in the US sent her work through a print,” explains Priti.

A painting by Anjani Reddy of the 1971 branch
A painting by Anjani Reddy of the 1971 branch

Pointing towards a canvas, Priti says, “This is Hoor Girglani, a ’75 batch student’s work done in egg tempera. Many artists do not work in this medium now.”

A painting by Hoor Girglani of the 1975 branch
A painting by Hoor Girglani of the 1975 branch

The fascinating feature of the exhibition is that students featured are from every decade since ’42. Besides Priti’s work, the display includes works of old students like Kusum Viswanath, Laxmi Reddy and Padma Reddy and the young clan is represented by Priyanka Aeley, Afza Tamkanath, Vineela, and Annapurna. “We have tried to represent as many students as we can,” says Priti.

Kavita Deuskar, a former head of the department remembers her student days. “We were taught a lot of techniques by our teachers. Freni mam’s (Freny Behmanshaw) uniqueness was her beautiful drawings and she would work in water colours. The depth in leaves, petals and flowers had a different feel,” she states.

On a parting note, Priti, who is curating the show says, “I feel privileged and honoured to be able to bring across the works of such wonderful artists on a single platform. The show to begin by next week will continue at Nehru Art Gallery, JNAFU, for 20 days.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Society / by Neeraja Murthy / July 09th, 2015