Category Archives: Education

Can El-Fateh claim victory for the city?

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Science & Technology, Sports, Travel
Students showcase the All Terrain Vehicle, made using a 305cc Briggs and Stratton engine, at the Muffakkam Jah College of Engineering and Technology on Monday. Photo: P.V. Sivakumar
Students showcase the All Terrain Vehicle, made using a 305cc Briggs and Stratton engine, at the Muffakkam Jah College of Engineering and Technology on Monday. Photo: P.V. Sivakumar

The All Terrain Vehicle, engineered by 25 students of Muffakkam Jah College of Engineering and Technology, will now compete on an international platform

In all of three months, 25 students of a city engineering college toiled to come up with a fine product. Their All Terrain Vehicle, named El-Fateh, will now compete on an international platform and vie for top honours.

Crafted by students of mechanical and production engineering students at Muffakkam Jah College of Engineering and Technology (MJCET), the ATV has been selected for Mahindra BAJA SAIENDIA, which will be held in Indore later this month.

Weighing about 270 kg, the ATV can cover 100 feet in 4.03 seconds and has a top speed of 52 km/hr. It uses a 305cc Briggs and Stratton engine, producing a torque of 19.5Nm, which is mated to an Alfa Mahindra transmission. Students involved in the project say the vehicle also has a first-of-its-kind mechanical paddle shifting mechanism, which is aimed at smoother shifts and ease of driving.

“This is a great practical experience for the students and they did a good job. We are confident of doing well in the event,” said Mohd. Viquar Mohiuddin, faculty advisor to the project.

“We spent 14 to 16 hours in the college every day for the last few months. There were times when we even slept in the college premises to complete the deadline of building the vehicle,” said Abdullah Zakria, a final-year mechanical engineering student.

Outlining the vehicle’s strong points, the team’s captain Mohd. Abdul Haq said, “One of the eligibility requirements was that the vehicle has to climb an inclination of 27 degrees but we managed to drive it over step sand boulders with about 40 degrees inclination.”

Cost Rs.4 lakh

The vehicle costs, which amounted to around Rs.4 lakh, and other expenses were borne by the college and private sponsors.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Staff Reporter / Hyderabad – February 17th, 2015

5 City Students Selected for Global Business Competition

Education, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Hyderabad :

Five high school students from Hyderabad got a unique chance to compete in the TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TyE) global business plan competition for their innovative project ‘TICH’, which will provide online services even to those who don’t have access to the Internet.

Keshav, Rishi Reddy, Neha Acharya, Yagna Agarwal and Zayaan will compete in the global competition where the winners will be awarded a cash prize of $10,000. The best project will also receive funding from top corporate companies, according to Safir Adeni, president of TiE Hyderabad. The children earned this rare opportunity for developing a professional business plan for an innovative idea to provide online services through a call centre.

According to the plan, a call centre will be set up where customers can call and seek various services. This will process the requests of the customers and send the results to them. The services include online shopping, ticket booking and applying for jobs and admissions.

This project was developed by the children as part of the TYE Hyderabad business plan competition where the best team was selected to be sent for the global competition.

Other participants in the Hyderabad competition have also come up with innovative business ideas which included app-based services to manage booking of playgrounds in the city and a techno-glass which is similar to the Google glass. Around 25 children, who participated in the competition in Hyderabad, were mentored by experts from prestigious institutes like Indian School of Business (ISB) and International Institute for Information Technology and some experts from industry. During the 16-week course they were trained in several business-related topics such as conducting market research.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / February 02nd, 2015

‘Kosambi broke with the past, pioneered a new methodology’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education

Historian Uma Chakravarti said Kosambi was a pioneer in social history at a time when the basic writing of history was either colonial or nationalistic

Eminent historian Damodar Dharmananda Kosambi made path-breaking contributions to historical analysis through his methodology, noted well-known feminist historian and civil liberties activist Uma Chakravarti.

During her talk on Kosambi’s Approach to History here on Monday, Prof. Chakravarti said Kosambi was a pioneer in social history at a time when the basic writing of history was either colonial or nationalistic. This was stated in an introduction to a Telugu translation of D.D. Kosambi’s An Introduction to the Study of Indian History by N. Venugopal.

Though emerging as an antidote to the colonial narrative, the problem with nationalist history was that it constantly evoked a “glorious past”, and its reluctance to look at caste and gender meant disengagement with the present, Prof. Chakravarti noted.

Indologists who narrowed down their tools to texts have typically left the history before 1200 AD to the realm of mythology, which offered nothing in terms of caste and gender.

In contrast, Kosambi, a mathematician by profession, was incredibly eclectic and used all tools at his disposal, including numismatics, statistical derivatives and archaeology to study ethnography, and brought out a set of questions that had not been seriously considered before 1956.

The observation that India did not need slavery thanks to its caste system and debt bondage, and that the Indus Valley could have been a static civilisation as its script remained unchanged for 800 years, were remarkable examples of his historical understanding. His study of Buddhism and State formation were brilliant, Prof. Chakravarti remarked.

“I don’t think Kosambi should be treated as God. The method he followed made him open to analysis…Nobody has adopted his methodology, but just want to follow the line he gave,” she pointed out.

She also noted that Kosambi made a gendered analysis of history in Myth and Reality , even though gender was a dimension much ignored.

I don’t think Kosambi should be treated as God. The method he followed made him open to analysis…Nobody has adopted his methodology, but just want to follow the line he gave

Prof. Uma Chakravarti

Historian

Historian Uma Chakravarti said Kosambi was a pioneer in social history at a time when the basic writing of history was either colonial or nationalistic

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Staff Reporter / Hyderabad – January 27th, 2015

Arts College turns 95, not 75!

Education, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All

Last week, the media was abuzz with reportage on the launch of ‘Platinum Jubilee’ celebrations of the Arts College of Osmania University. Deans, heads of departments, faculty and students and several former principals and alumni of the college participated in the event to mark the 75th year of the Arts College. But the fact is that Arts College completed 95 years of its existence on 28th August this year itself. This prestigious institution would be completing its centenary in 2019, just a year after the centenary of Osmania University.

The seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, had issued a firman for the establishment of Osmania University on 26th April 1917 for offering higher education through Urdu medium in the erstwhile Hyderabad State. The University became functional in 1918. Under the aegis of the University, the Arts College was inaugurated on 28th August 1919 and it was temporarily housed in eight rented buildings in Gunfoundry area in the city.

A faculty of 25 lecturers was recruited and 225 students were admitted in Intermediate first class in the first academic year of the college. Incidentally, Sir Ross Masood, grandson of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and founder of Aligarh Muslim University, was the first principal of Arts College. Degree and postgraduate courses were started in 1925 and PhD programme in several disciplines in 1938.

The government acquired a vast extent of land (about 2,000 acres) at Adikmet for development of the campus of Osmania University in 1928. Engineer Ali Nawaz Jung and Architect Zain Yar Jung were sent abroad to study and suggest a model plan for the campus. Monsieur Jasper, a Belgian architect, prepared the detailed plans for the campus buildings. The Nizam laid the foundation for the Arts College building on 5th July 1934. The imposing building, in Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, was built in a record time of 5 years. The Arts College building was inaugurated by the Nizam on 4th December 1939.

The majestic and elegant edifice in pink granite stone retains much of it charm even today, though it has seen vicissitudes of fortune over the last 75 years. The college, being 20 years older than the building, has been witness to many more changes. While departments in modern disciplines as well as classical and Indian languages were opened, the medium of instruction was changed from Urdu to English, soon after police action in erstwhile Nizam State in September 1948. The Arts College made its name all over the globe for its academic excellence by producing eminent alumni and employing renowned academicians.

In 1973, degree courses were discontinued in Arts College and it became an exclusively postgraduate college, offering PG and advanced diploma courses and research studies in various disciplines. Though it was the hotbed of Telangana movement during 1968-71 and several Mulki agitations earlier, Arts College scaled new heights in the 1970s and 1980s. The college made its mark in both arts and social sciences, including economics, history, geography, political science, public administration, psychology, sociology, English and other foreign languages, classical and Indian languages and communication & journalism, linguistics, Islamic Studies and philosophy.

Those who studied in the Arts College or served on its faculty brought laurels. The alumni include not only great academicians but also bureaucrats, political leaders and educational administrators. Many of the erstwhile faculty or alumni of the college went on to become vice-chancellors of eminent universities in the state as well as other prominent universities across the country. Some made their mark abroad. Apart from its alumni in many other disciplines, the Arts College also produced many eminent media persons who studied at its department of communication and journalism.

Yet, after the mushrooming of colleges offering professional courses such as Engineering, MBA, MCA, B.Ed etc, there has been a marked drop in the students seeking postgraduate courses in social sciences and arts subjects. The severe financial crunch due to inadequate funding of the university through block grants by the government has led to a situation where the Arts College is forced to discontinue some courses or to keep several posts of faculty vacant. This is having its own impact on the academic excellence of the college. In the last few years, Osmania University campus witnessed intense agitation by students for separate Telangana State. Now, Telangana is a reality and it is time to strive hard to win back fame and pristine glory for Arts College before it celebrates its centenary in 2019.

(The writer is an MLC and a journalist)

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / by Syed Amin Jafri, TNN / December 08th, 2014

OU Arts College Completes 75 Years

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All
The magnificent building of Osmania University College of Arts and Social Sciences in Hyderabad is gaily illuminated for the platinum jubilee. | EXPRESS PHOTO
The magnificent building of Osmania University College of Arts and Social Sciences in Hyderabad is gaily illuminated for the platinum jubilee. | EXPRESS PHOTO

Hyderabad :

Since 1969 the historic Arts College of Osmania University had become the face of the Telangana movement. In fact, the political atmosphere at the college still remains the same.

But, it is not the politics alone which has made it popular. The Arts College had also been an academic hub in the past. But did the academics remain the same in the college? The veterans of 1969 separatist movement have a surprising answer to this question.

Participating in the platinum jubilee celebrations of the college, some of the former students who took part in the 1969 Telangana statehood movement made an interesting comparison of the olden days of the college with the present. Prof K.Madhusudan Reddy, who studied in the college in 1950, says that it was one of the best colleges in the entire south India in those days. Back in 1969, the students who took part in the agitation also used to equally focus on the studies despite the intense political atmosphere on the campus.

Reddy, who had a closer view of the Telangana movement in 1969 and again in 2014, says that activism had never been the excuse to skip studies during the first movement. “But now the Arts College has more politics and less academics,” he observes. He still remembers how he and his friends managed their studies along with politics.

After spending almost three decades in the college, Reddy has a lot to say about his memories with it. But he chooses to speak only about the academics and the iconic college building. Talking at the very platinum jubilee celebrations, Reddy frankly tells the students and faculty of the college that politics has started dominating academics in the college.

Another former principal of the college, Prof KS Upadhyaya, has also expressed a similar opinion. “Arts College has produced many academicians, leaders and bureaucrats. But where do we stand in the studies now?” he asks. Saying that so far the college has been in the news for various reasons, he reminds the students and faculty that this is the time to bring it in news for academic achievements.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / December 05th, 2014

Acubiz, a perfect platform for students

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education
Students participating in ‘Acubiz 2014’ at Roots, Somajiguda in Hyderabad on Friday, Organised by The Hindu, in association with Roots International School of Business and Management. Phjoto: Nagara Gopal
Students participating in ‘Acubiz 2014’ at Roots, Somajiguda in Hyderabad on Friday, Organised by The Hindu, in association with Roots International School of Business and Management. Phjoto: Nagara Gopal

The two-day AcuBiz-2014, organised by The Hindu and Roots, an international school of business and management, provided the right platform for students from various institutions to showcase their talents in a variety of events.

The event was inaugurated by Roots chairman B.P. Padala who asked the students to utilise the opportunities waiting for them in the business world.

Competitions like these hone students’ skills and shape them to face the tough world outside, he said. The mock stock exchange received tremendous response as students proved their business skills investing and drawing profit. Business quiz proved how smart the students were and the keen interest they showed in the world of business. Students from more than 25 colleges participated.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – November 29th, 2014

A marathon test of fashion skills

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Education
An ethnic creation by Pranaya as part of the Fashion Wall Photo: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo
An ethnic creation by Pranaya as part of the Fashion Wall Photo: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo

The first Nift Fashion Olympiad saw students arrive at quirky ensembles and pieces of art

Pieces of paper, a splash of colours, fabric, unbleached yarn, a handful of buttons, dried leaves, empty tender coconut shells… name it and everything somehow became a part of the design. Students pursuing fashion design, art and management who had come together at the National Institute of Fashion Technology campus for the first Fashion Olympiad last week put everything they laid their hands on to good use.

At different venues of the sprawling campus, one could find students gathered in small groups, sometimes arguing if an orange-yellow colour palette should override a green-blue palette to represent a tropical holiday. These were students taking part in a visual merchandising contest, choosing from the two topics — tropical holiday and retro revival.

Shivani and her friend work on the concept of Tropical Holiday for a visual merchandising contest Photo: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo
Shivani and her friend work on the concept of Tropical Holiday for a visual merchandising contest Photo: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo

Kavya and Kavya Jha are busy putting together a resort wear ensemble against a beach setting, represented by food, drinks and clothing. A few feet away, Shivani and her friend are decorating a bicycle with colourful props. Tender coconuts and other props in pink, orange and red are being worked upon.

Kumar Shashwat at work for a visual merchandising contest with the theme Retro Revival Photo: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo
Kumar Shashwat at work for a visual merchandising contest with the theme Retro Revival Photo: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo

A stark departure from the play of colours is Kumar Shashwat’s retro revival set up. In between placing a paper microphone on a make-believe stage of a concert, he says, “I am using images of gramophone and an old-fashioned telephone to take people back to the era of Charlie Chaplin.”

The Nift Fashion Olympiad saw students involved in a fashion marathon over two days, testing them for creative and time management skills.

Students get their photographs clicked at a booth as part of Click-o-mania Photo: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo
Students get their photographs clicked at a booth as part of Click-o-mania Photo: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo

A quiz contest, photography contest click-o-mania where students captured fashion trends in the city through their cameras and a large fashion wall that had pieces of art put together by students with the use of different textile techniques were all part of the event.

Ruchika, working on an ensemble put together without stitches Photo: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo
Ruchika, working on an ensemble put together without stitches Photo: Sangeetha Devi Dundoo

In the atrium, we spotted Ruchika designing an innovative ensemble that made use of buttons designed from cola caps. The outfit didn’t require the use of stitches.

Manisha, working with the concept of Midnight Garden, used a mixture of textile yarns and draping techniques to design an outfit without stitches. Elsewhere, Pranaya designed a canvas of an ethnic woman, using layers of different textiles.

Even junk was put to good use to arrive at wearable art pieces or metallic installations in the campus.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Fashion / by Sangeetha Devi Dundoo / Hyderabad – November 02nd, 2014

New Tribal Girls School at Khammam

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features

Khammam:

A tribal girls school established by Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) was inaugurated by Assembly speaker C Madhusudhana Chary in Rompedu village on Sunday. The school was built at a cost of `80 lakh.

Later, he participated in the opening ceremony of a seeds storage godown, ITDA’s sub-office and farmer’s waiting room at Yellandu.

Mahabubabad MP Ajmeera Seetaram Naik, ZP Chairperson G Kavitha, Yellandu MLA K Kanakaiah, ITDA project officer D Divya and other officials were present at the function.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / October 27th, 2014

15-year-old helps save the day

Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Science & Technology
Executive Vice-chairman and Director of National Institute of Amateur Radio S. Ram Mohan and Tom K Jose of Hyderabad who played an active role in the relief works of the recent Hudhud Cyclone. Photo: Nagara Gopal / The Hindu
Executive Vice-chairman and Director of National Institute of Amateur Radio S. Ram Mohan and Tom K Jose of Hyderabad who played an active role in the relief works of the recent Hudhud Cyclone. Photo: Nagara Gopal / The Hindu

Uses his Ham radio skills to gather vital information during Hudhud. One contact talked about trees falling at a Jain temple in Bhimli and resulting in precarious conditions. The young Ham immediately passed on the information to senior officials, who in turn directed their field personnel.

For a week, Tom K. Jose kept his studies aside, travelled to a cyclone-hit city and used his Ham radio skills to contribute to disaster management.

When Hudhud swept through Visakhapatnam disrupting its communication network and a team of amateur radio (Ham) operators from the city were sought, the 15-year-old student of Little Flower Junior College, Uppal, volunteered for the task.

With his call sign, VU3TMO, Tom was stationed in the control room set up at Visakhapatnam Police Commissionerate and spent long hours collecting messages from other team members spread over the cyclone affected areas and passed them on to the administration for relief measures.

The intermediate first year student, who got his Ham licence at the age of 13, along with colleagues, operated under adverse conditions, often skipping meals and spending long hours before the radio, waiting for it to crackle with messages. “For seven days, I was at the Visakhapatnam Police Commissionerate and one day at the District Collector’s office at Srikakulam and made anywhere up to 500 contacts,” says Tom.

One contact talked about trees falling at a Jain temple in Bhimli and resulting in precarious conditions. The young Ham immediately passed on the information to senior officials, who in turn directed their field personnel, and the situation was attended to. Another was a contact from Bangalore who was desperately trying to locate his brother and sister in the Hudhud affected area. “We operated without checking the watch or caring whether it was day or night. We had to just sit in front of the radio and wait for a contact,” he says.

Tom, who got his licence when he was in class 9, explores the Ham world and so far, has contacted more than 150 countries and received appreciations for his operational skills from Ham associations from different parts of the globe, including US, Germany and Japan. He comfortably juggles his hobby with studies and says, “Each night after studies I spend 30 minutes to 45 minutes with the radio apart from a brief tryst in the morning before going to college.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Telangana / by T. Lalith Singh / Hyderabad – October 26th, 2014