A music concert by Padma Shri Avasarala Kanyakumari, a classical violinist was organised by the Cultural Wing of Student Life Committee in coordination with Center for Exact Humanities and Silver Jubilee organising committee on 18 November at Tarangini-Amphitheatre.
Padmasree Avasarala Kanyakumari is one of the topmost Indian classical violinists today. She is a recipient of some of the most prestigious awards in the field - the Sangeetha Kalanidhi award from the Madras Music Academy, the Sangeet Natak Academy award from the Government of India as well as the Padma Shri award from the Government of India. She has been performing all over the world for over six decades and is a top ranking artist of the All India Radio. She has several innovations to her credits - new ragas (seven ragas named after the seven hills of Tirumala), Tristhayi Sangamam (3 violins playing simultaneously in 3 different octaves), Vadyalahari (combination of violin, veena, and nadaswaram) to name a few. In addition to being a renowned performer, she is also credited with creating the "Kanya baani" and has honed innumerable students.

Video:
SJC_SLC_Violin_Concert_by_Padma_Shri_A.Kanyakumari.mp4

The Cultural Wing of Student Life Committee (SLC) in coordination with the Silver Jubilee Organizing Committee conducted the first ever filmmaking workshop from 30 September to 2 October on IIITH campus. The workshop was for students/people keen on exploring filmmaking as a career; amateurs and young professionals who may be interested in gaining familiarity with the fundamentals of the craft. The participants were shown and taught the basics of filmmaking like plot a scene, read an image, shoot, and edit. Exposure to veterans and experienced voices and their expertise helped the participant in the understanding of cinema and its making.

As part of IIITH’s silver jubilee celebrations Prof Rajeev Sangal released his book - Transforming Academic Institutions, My Experiments with a Human Touch on 3 September.
The book is based on the experiments and experiences of Prof. Rajeev Sangal when he was the Director of IIT(BHU), Varanasi, and where he also held the charge of Vice Chancellor of BHU for a few months. He brings with him the knowledge and insights gained earlier by being Director IIIT Hyderabad, and Professor IIT Kanpur.

Here are the author's note about the book:

There are three layers in an institution: (1) systems, (2) culture, and (3) values. The first layer which connects with offices and processes is the most visible one. As a result, work gets done on the former, and the latter two are ignored. This book addresses all the three layers and describes how they can be aligned.
The book is about managing and leading academic institutions by connecting with people, being sensitive, gaining confidence by one's behaviour and actions, and taking people along through dialogue and understanding. It would be of general interest because the situations occur in everyday life.
Young people running startups or working in jobs can learn how to lead or collaborate with people by connecting with them. The book also describes many interesting real-life incidents.

View the book release function with many insights about the book:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0p7TuAl0mg

The book can be bought at:
https://www.banyantreebookstore.com/product-page/transforming-academic-institutions

The Concept: When Prof. Indranil Chakrabathy approached the IIITH Art faculty to create an Art Production, involving students, faculty members and professional artistes, for the Silver Jubilee Celebration, it got the Art faculty pondering over the apt theme for the event. While IIITH has played a very important and life changing role in the lives of many young minds of the country, it has silently witnessed not only the development of IT in this part of the world but also the evolution of education and its values in India. Therefore the Art production work sought to address questions raised such as – what are the educational values the institute has stood by, the challenges it faced during the growth phase, how it has served as a witness to all the events that unfolded within itself and without itself.

The Artistic Framework: In order to narrate the idea through the eyes of the ‘witness’ or ‘Sakshatkar’, a need was felt for an entity on which IIITH’s narrative could be pinned. The locus of the narrative was Gachibowli and the indigenous Banjara culture it has conceived, fostered and inherited. The wisdom of the Banjara community, its response to the sprawling educational services of Hyderabad, the pride it takes in standing for life values, its proximity towards nature and in response its respect for an ever-expansive banyan tree was taken as a motif. Incidentally, the banyan tree which is the logo of IIITH stands as the symbol for expansive wisdom. The root of the banyan tree stands for the intangible values of the institute – the three Cs, namely, Creativity, Competence and Care which served as the three major episodes of production. The balance between the three Cs is considered to be the highest form of wisdom to which the institute stands tall as a living Sakshatkar, a witness.

Production Work: ‘Avva’, a Banjara woman of experiential wisdom, was chosen to be the narrator of the story. As the story was located in Hyderabad, the idea of Hyderabad, its existence and service was sung, danced and showcased. When two young birds, pitta and pitti, refuse to eat the grains that Avva serves in the foyer of her residence, she is bemused. Avva talks to them and listens to their pangs. They say that they are in search of a wisdom-ful tree in the deep forests of Gachibowli, where wisdom is served. The Banyan tree whose colours expand from the colour of the earth, to the colour of the sky serves as the suggestive stage backdrop. The birds, depicted through hand gestures, serve as an active backdrop, coming alive whenever Avva gives a sermon to them. They reside in the branches of the Banyan tree. Avva discusses the importance of the three ‘C’s, that is, Creativity, Competence and Care to the young birds, especially when it comes to education. At the end of the conversation, the timeless wisdom that is imparted is that education is not about competence building but finding a balance in all the three Cs. The birds also revere the role played by the Banyan tree as a timeless witness.

Production Device: In order to narrate the story, various lyrical forms of poetry and music were used such as a poem of Kabir, a Bengali song from Rabindra Sangeet, a poem from Tirukkural, a Kannada song by B M Srikanthan, three songs composed by Dr. T K Chudamani , a portion of Tyagaraja’s Endaro mahanu bhavulu, a sloka from the Bhagavad Gita composed as a Tillana, and the three-note song of Ilayaraja.

• Concept: S. Jayachandran and Dr. T K Saroja




• Music composition: Dr. T K Saroja




• Choreography:S Jayachandran




• Stage Backdrop design: S Jayachandran




• Stage Backdrop execution:Shajil Padiyoor, Taposhi Nath, Puja Chauhan




• Music orchestra: Dr. T K Saroja, Dr. T K L Sujatha (Guest Artiste), Praveen (Guest Artiste), Uday Kumar (Guest Artiste) and students of IIITH




• Dance:S Jayachandran, Shajil Padiyoor, Taposhi Nath, Madhavi Goruganti (Guest Artiste), Rajeshwari Aravind (Guest Artiste) and students of IIITH




• Voice over: Dr. Kavitha Vemuri and students of IIITH




• Stage Power Point Presentation:Students of IIITH




• Production Assistance: Dr. T K L Sujatha (Guest Artiste)




• Stage Decor, Lights and Sound:Narsing Khadke and team




Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Lxg1_4RU78

Mr. T V Devi Prasad, Head of Placements, a talented vocalist whose musical journey spans decades gave a concert on 1 September at Tarangani Amphitheatre. Mr. Devi Prasad was accompanied by Sri. D. Jayakumar Acharya on tabla and mridangam, Sri. O Guruprasad on keyboard and a few artistes on rhythm pads and flute.
Mr. T V Devi Prasad trained in Carnatic and Hindustani music, honed his skills under legends like Sri Muralidhara Charyulu, Smt. Kovela Shantha, Kum. Srirangam Gopalarathnam (Carnatic vocal) and Sri Jangiah (Hindustani vocal). His mellifluous voice earned him AIR awards, including Akkineni Nageshwar Rao Award in 1993, 1994 and 1997. He was recognised as an All India Radio ' A' Grade Artiste in Light Music. Devi Prasad's artistry extends beyond music. He is recognized for acting and playback singing for ETV serials, composed by Telugu film music director Sri R P Patnaik.

A Humble Entry: Representation of IIITH through resumption.There are three things that the letter "I" denotes.Here the letter "I" is likened to an abstract representation of eyes.

1) Seeing - We comprehend what we see;

2) Eye of Knowledge - Experimenting and discovering new things

3)Vision -is the ability to see how to use technology to create things that are beneficial to society. It also alludes to the eye of awareness and perception.

People are urged by these three eyes to perceive the world beyond their physical senses. It exhorts readers to use their minds to perceive the world.

Technology is represented by the letter 'T''.

Hyderabad is represented by the letter ''H ‘’.

IIITH is a unique institute which aspires to work at the crossroads of technology, society and education. It aims to constantly push the boundaries of knowledge further while simultaneously thinking how this knowledge can be fruitfully translated into action in society. The surrounding space, the natural beauty of IIITH campus, its growth and the life in IIITH always makes one think about the importance of imagination in such a space and also the importance of technology in one’s daily life.

This sculpture commemorating 25 years of IIITH’s journey captures the essence of IIITH and reflects its spirit soaring towards higher realms. the origin of this place, its growth, the innovations it made, and the protection it provided to the students. There are two concepts: The first is “Origin” (how and where it started) and the second idea is that of ‘’Saakshi” (witness of the space, who has been seeing the growth of IIITH).

Banyan Tree, the logo of IIITH, is central in this sculpture as the ‘’Saakshi” of this place. The banyan tree has seen the whole life of IIITH. The banyan tree also has a lot of experiences and a unique story to tell. Here the tree has not just been growing. It has been protecting many lives and has been a shelter for others. And over time the root has become wider than the tree. Just as our institution which has been giving opportunities to people to spread knowledge across the world.

IIITH started the journey 25 years ago just like the tree. In a very symbolic and abstract form this artwork is trying to represent IIITH itself.

Technology teaches one to keep in pace with newer needs. If so, what would be the essence of the institute which imparts it for the past 25 years? Ironically still, viewing in all quietude, the ocean of change as a 'saakshi', a witness, not viewing from a comfortable vantage-point, but to participate, to breathe, to sweat yet reinstate its steadiness. Springing from the core of an ever-expanding trunk to the likes of a banyan tree, an embodiment of internal conflict, contemplation, experience and finally offers the fruit of wisdom to its inmates.

Along with the unveiling of art installations there were performances by The Dance Crew and Music Club of IIITH at Research Street. And later in the night there was DJ Night, an unforgettable night filled with pulsating beats and infectious energy. The evnt was open for all, whether a seasoned dancer or someone who just loves to have a good time.

Qualcomm Day@IIITH was held on 29 September to celebrate IIITH’s long association with Qualcomm funded labs, sponsored research, knowledge exchanges, several students hired each year and much more. IIITH always cherishes and recognizes the role of its Industry partner’s in its journey and Qualcomm is one such. On this day Engineers and leaders from Qualcomm, faculty and students from IIITH came together for an evening to celebrate each others association. The following events were held during the event:

• Showcasing some of the emerging technologies/products from Qualcomm




• Research showcase from IIITH side




• Panel discussion with senior engineers at Qualcomm




• Networking dinner

As part of IIITH Silver Jubilee Celebrations Cultural Wing of Student Life Office organised, Jee, Jaisii Aapkii Marzii - a theatre play by Aakanksha Sansthan Jodhpur, Rajasthan on 14 August at Tarangani Amphitheatre. The play was written by Nadira Babbar and directed by Prof. Vikas Kapoor. The team has been invited to perform in five states and more than a dozen cities of India like New Delhi, Rohtak, Kurukshetra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Alwar, Bikaner, Mt. Abu, Patiala, Ahmedabad and now in Hyderabad.

The Cultural Wing of Student Life Committee as part of IIITH’s Silver Jubilee Celebrations organised Joyodhoni - an entertaining evening of music, dance, poetry and art on 13 August at Tarangini Amphitheatre.

Joyodhoni had the following events:

• Darpan by team Aikyam:
  Description: A mesmerizing classical production that showcases the elegance and grace of traditional dance forms.


• 90's Bollywood and mix song performance:
  Relive the nostalgia of the 90s with a blend of Bollywood chartbusters and modern remixes.


• Yudh by team Colours:
  Relive the nostalgia of the 90s with a blend of Bollywood chartbusters and modern remixes


• Poetry recitation:
  An expressive journey through captivating poetry and spoken words.


• Electronic Indie-pop musical performance:
  Groove to the beats of modern Bollywood songs mixed with indie-pop vibes


• Colours of Bengal by team Colours:
  Immerse yourself in the vibrant folk art performances of Bengal, showcasing its rich cultural heritage.

As part of Silver Jubilee Celebrations, a Carnatic Music Concert by Dr. Nishanth Chandran and team was held on 12 August at Tarangini amphitheatre. Violinist Dr. Nishanth Chandran was supported by Kum. Malladi Sindhu Rageswari on Violin, Sri Malladi Sivanand Yasasvi on Mridangam and Sri Mamillapalli Chandrakanth on Ghatam.

Dr. Nishanth Chandran is a Ph.D in Computer Science from UCLA and is currently a cryptography researcher at Microsoft Research. Dr. Nishanth Chandran is a disciple of the renowned violinist Smt. A Kanyakumari, he is also a classically trained vocalist under the guidance of Sri P S Narayanaswamy.

Dr. Nishanth Chandran gave his first carnatic violin performance at the age of 9 and has since then given several concerts all over India and the US. He has several accolades to his name - including the best violinist award from the Music Academy, Chennai (on several occasions) and the best violinist award from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha. Nishanth received the Cultural Talent Search Scholarship from the Government of India at the age of 9 and in the year 2001, he won the All India Radio 1st prize for instrumental music.

Ms. Debjani Ghosh, the President of Nasscom, joined virtually. Mr Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Govt of Telangana graced the event along with Prof Raj Reddy, founding and present chairman of IIITH’s governing council.

Ms. Debjani Ghosh, the President of Nasscom, joined virtually. Mr Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Govt of Telangana graced the event along with Prof Raj Reddy, founding and present chairman of IIITH’s governing council.

The event, which was attended by industry leaders included the felicitation of IIITH’s 6 corporate founding partners namely IBM, Oracle, Metamor, Microsoft, Motorola and Satyam, interesting conversations around research trends, and a showcase of emerging technologies.

The Cultural Wing of SLC organised Qawwali concert by famous Hyderabad Qawwal brothers Nazeer Ahmed Khan Warsi and Naseer Ahmed Khan Warsi on campus as part of IIITH’s silver jubilee celebrations on 18 April 2023.

The Warsi Brothers jointly received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for their contribution to Qawwali in 2014. They have performed concerts in a number of cities in India as well as in many other countries.

A musical event was held on 24 March at Tarangini, the open-air theatre as part of IIIT Hyderabad’s 25th-anniversary celebrations. The event began with a folk music performance by the famous Hirawal troupe from Bihar, followed by two classical music performances. Pt. Anindya Banerjee played the sarod, and Pt. Ramprapanna Bhattacharya played the sitar and Thakur Harjit Singh accompanied them on tabla. Pt Banerjee is from the Senia Maihar gharana and is a disciple of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. Pt Bhattacharya is from the Etawah gharana and one of India’s talented young sitar players.

The Hirawal troupe - Inspired by the farmers’ movement in Bihar's villages and small towns, the music and drama troupe was founded in 1981 by theatre artist Maheshwar. Based in Patna the team has been singing folk songs for the last 40 years with performances in several cities of the country and villages of Bihar.

Pt. Anindya Banerjee represents the Senia Maihar Gharana and is one of the most scholarly and leading sarode players of India.

Recognised for his “delicacy mixed with dexterity” Anindya brings a “distinctive touch and refreshing approach to his music”. Anindya Banerjee’s style of presentation is heavily influenced by traditional styles of sarod playing. He has successfully integrated Rabab, Sursrinagar and Beena elements into his style. He prefers to play rare ragas and compositions. He has made a special effort to collect old compositions and has done research in the repertories of many old masters of instrumental music.

Pt. Ramprapanna Bhattacharya is an Indian classical sitarist of the Etawah Gharana. He began his sitar training at the age of six from his father in Kolkata. He also received musical training from Kashinath Mukherjee and Arvind Parikh, both senior disciples of Vilayat Khan.