Message from the Director:

by Prof.M.S.Ananth

The major events during this quarter were the Convocation, the Inauguration of the Golden Jubilee celebrations and the Celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of Indo-German Co-operation in Higher Education. All three functions were held in the Students Activities Centre which has been provided with airconditioning when necessary. Until now this was not an economical proposition. What made to provide airconditioning was a central chilling unit which serves the purpose of airconditioning the library and the IC&SR buildings. Cooling water lines have been laid from the chilling unit which is located opposite to the Central Library to the SAC so as to enable the airconditioning to be diverted on special occasions to SAC. The airconditioning of SAC provided a great boon to the 3000+ audience on three occasions, the Convocation, the inauguration of the Golden Jubilee celebrations and the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of the Indo-German Co-operation in Higher Education.

The Convocation held on July 25, 2008 saw the graduation of an unprecedented number of students (1367). The Chief Guest was the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major who urged the students to take up a career in the air force.

On the 31st of July, 2008, IITM kicked off the inauguration of the Golden Jubilee year. The Hon’ble Minister for Human Resource Development, Shri Arjun Singh, could not be present due to indisposition and was represented by the Hon’ble Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Smt. D. Purandeswari. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Dr. Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi graced the occasion. The German Ambassador to India, Shri Bernd Mutzelburg, and Shri R. P. Agrawal, Secretary, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) delivered felicitation addresses. The highlight of the day was a dance performance called ‘Charishnu’ organized by Kalakshetra. It was an exquisite orchestration of dances from different parts of India into a marvellous and thoroughly enjoyable whole.

On September 8, 2008, IITM together with German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) organized the celebration of the Indo-German Cooperation on Higher Education. The Hon’ble Federal Minister of Education and Research, Government of Germany, Dr. Annette Schavan and the Hon’ble Federal Minister of Science and Technology and Ocean Development, Government of India, Shri Kapil Sibal, were the Chief Guests for the day. Both the Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Dr. T. Ramasami and the Charge d’ Affaires, German Embassy, Mr. Christian – Matthias Schlaga graced the occasion. Mr. Seshasayee and Mr. Viswanathan, Managing Directors of Ashok Leyland and Bosch who had supported the new Engineering Design programme to the tune of Rs.8 crores were present to inaugurate the new building for the department. The National Centre for Catalysis Research (NCCR), so generously supported by DST to the tune of Rs.16 cores was also inaugurated on this occasion. A flyer announcing the Journal “Journal of Engineering Science and Applied Mathematics” was also released by Shri Kapil Sibal and handed over to Dr. Annette Schavan.

The inauguration of the celebration of Indo-German Cooperation on Higher Education on September 8th, 2008 was followed by an 1-1/2 day Indo German Workshop on Sustainable Development. The highlight of the celebrations was a dance drama titled ‘Flame of the Forest’ by Gowri Ramnarayan. Inspired by late Kalki Krishnamurti’s epic novel ‘Sivakamiyin Sapatham’, ‘Flame of the Forest’ is an original play in English that combines history and fiction. The audience thoroughly enjoyed the grand performance.

On the last two occasions, books prepared by Dr. Ranjith Daniels, one titled “200+ Plants of IITM” and the other titled “150 Animals of IITM” were released. These books are pocket guides with photo / pencil sketch illustrations of the flora and fauna in this beautiful campus. It is hoped that these pocket guides will sensitize our campus residents as well as visitors to the beauty and fragility of our campus and help us in preserving its biodiversity.

The Golden Jubilee celebrations that have taken off to a great start will end on July 30, 2009 with the 46th Convocation. Prof. Jagadish N. Bhagawati, the famous economist from Columbia University has agreed to be the Chief Guest and will also be conferred the degree of Doctor of Science Honoris Causa by the Senate of IIT Madras.

I invite our alumni to visit us during the Golden Jubilee year to participate in our celebrations, in the reunions and in the PAN IIT celebrations that will be held this December on our campus.

(M. S. ANANTH)