Prof. Ipshita Chanda from EFLU (English and Foreign Language University), Hyderabad and Prof. Mini Chandran, the Head of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences IIT Kanpur
G.P. VARMAKanpur, 7 February, 2024: The Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Kanpur (IITK), organised its first two-day national research scholars’ conference Anviksha. The theme for this multi-disciplinary conference was “Boundaries” and examined diverse domains associated with it, including modes of sociality, political discourse, identity formation, and literary and aesthetic production.
The conference brought together more than 500 submissions from across the country, out of which 48 abstracts were selected for the final presentation through a blind peer review process. The conference had 12 panels focussing on themes- Gender, Conflict, Digital Frontiers, Urbanisation, and Knowledge.
A keynote speaker, Prof. Janaki Abraham from the Delhi School of Economics engaging with the participantsThe Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Kanpur successfully conducted its first two-day national research scholars’ conference, Anviksha
Prof. S. Ganesh, Director, IIT Kanpur, said, “The Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at IIT Kanpur has taken a significant step forward by hosting this conference to address critical cross-disciplinary frontiers that affect society as a whole. Anviksha, the department’s first national research scholars’ conference, highlights our commitment to informed and inclusive education by facilitating insightful dialogues and thoughtful conversations among emerging scholars. It has paved the way for discourses that cross ‘boundaries’ in the literal sense and can have far-reaching consequences in the humanities and social sciences.”
On the inaugural day, Prof. Mini Chandran, the Head of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, welcomed the participants by sharing insights into the conceptualization of the theme and expressed optimism about the conference evolving into an annual academic highlight for scholars nationwide.
Prof. Ipshita Chanda from EFLU (English and Foreign Language University), Hyderabad gave the keynote address on the need for ethically engaging plurality. She emphasised how humanities research, to be meaningful, must end in a realisation about the nature of the human through a relation of self to the world and needs to break through fixed ways of thinking about lives.
Prof. Janaki Abraham from the Delhi School of Economics, as a keynote speaker for the second day, derived from her fieldwork to question rule-based boundaries of rituals and customs, turning a sociological eye to wedding rituals. She argued that recognising the practice of rituals, which includes innovation, subversion and the invention of new traditions, could enable us to see micro–processes versus notions of static customs.
With the scale of participation and the quality of insights presented, Anviksha marked an outstanding debut for IIT Kanpur in convening a forum to showcase the best of young talent in humanities and social sciences research nationwide.
G.P. VARMAKanpur, 05 February, 2024: The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) has successfully established and tested India’s first Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility, a major achievement that puts India amongst only a handful of countries with this advanced hypersonic testing capability. The facility, named S2, is capable of generating flight speeds between 3-10 km/s, simulating the hypersonic conditions encountered during atmospheric entry of vehicles, asteroid entry, scramjet flights, and ballistic missiles. This makes it a valuable test facility for ongoing missions of ISRO and DRDO including Gaganyaan, RLV, and hypersonic cruise missiles.
The S2, nicknamed ‘Jigarthanda’, is a 24-meter-long facility located at IIT Kanpur’s Hypersonic Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory (HEAL) within the Department of Aerospace Engineering. The S2 was indigenously designed and developed over a period of three years with funding and support from the Aeronautical Research and Development Board (ARDB), the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and IIT Kanpur.
Commenting on this, Prof. S. Ganesh, Director, IIT Kanpur, said, “The successful establishment of S2, India’s first hypervelocity expansion tunnel test facility, marks a historic milestone for IIT Kanpur and for India’s scientific capabilities. I congratulate Prof. Sugarno and his team for their exemplary work in designing and fabricating the hypersonic research infrastructure. S2 will empower India’s space and defence organizations with domestic hypersonic testing capabilities for critical projects and missions.”
Prof. Mohammed Ibrahim Sugarno, Associate Professor, Department of Aerospace Engineering and Centre for Lasers & Photonics at IIT Kanpur said, “Building S2 has been extremely challenging, requiring in-depth knowledge of physics and precision engineering. The most crucial and challenging aspect was perfecting the ‘free piston driver’ system, which requires firing a piston at high pressure between 20-35 atmospheres down a 6.5 m. compression tube at speeds of 150-200 m/s, and bringing it to a complete stop or ‘soft landing’ at the end.”
“However, with our expertise, we were able to overcome this. Our team is proud to have designed, built, and tested this one-of-a-kind facility, cementing India’s position in the elite global hypersonic research community,” he added.
Prof. Tarun Gupta, Dean, Research and Development, IIT Kanpur, said, “S2 highlights IIT Kanpur’s research excellence, positioning the institute at the forefront of innovative research and opening doors to groundbreaking advancements in aerospace technology. I am pleased to acknowledge the crucial support received from ARDB and DST.”
Prof. G. M. Kamath, Head, Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Kanpur, said, “With S2, we advance our research horizons, inspiring a new generation of aerospace enthusiasts and fostering innovation and exploration in this exciting field. Being the first in India to develop such a facility enables us to set a new benchmark for hypervelocity research in India and beyond.”
S2 represents a tremendous achievement for IIT Kanpur and a major capacity boost for India’s space and defence sectors. With sophisticated hypervelocity testing capabilities now available domestically, India is better positioned to develop advanced hypersonic technologies and systems.
Kanpur, 10 January 2024: A research paper and study on the use of a special alloy that could make it easier and affordable to convert and store energy from renewable sources by Prof. Krishanu Biswas of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur and a team of multi-institutional researchers has been highlighted by Nature, the world’s leading multidisciplinary science journal, as one of the ‘high-impact research papers from India that are shaping science’.
Prof. Krishanu Biswas and fellow researchers from IIT Mandi, IIT Kharagpur and IISc Bangalore, conducted research on a special kind of material called a high entropy alloy (HEA), comprising a mix of five elements; Cobalt, Iron, Gallium, Nickel, and Zinc, for its use in splitting of water into oxygen and hydrogen. Water splitting is essential in many technological applications such as electrolyzer, fuel cells, and catalysis. The most important aspect of water splitting is its ability to efficiently separate water, abundantly available on the earth, into hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen is considered a clean substitute for fossil fuels with net-zero emissions. This research categorically demonstrates the effectiveness of this innovative alloy, surpassing the performance and durability of expensive materials such as ruthenium oxide, currently used for the same purpose. The materials of the study are made up of earth-abundant elements, making it sustainable and easy to fabricate for application. The research paper titled ‘Low-cost high entropy alloy (HEA) for high-efficiency oxygen evolution reaction (OER),’was published in the Nano Research Journal in its edition dated 2022, 15 (6) https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12274-021-3802-4 .
The study has wide ramifications in green hydrogen economy in which energy-rich hydrogen is extracted from water through electrochemical water-splitting. Electrochemical water splitting is a highly promising sustainable and pollution-free approach for green hydrogen and oxygen production. The process requires two electrodes being immersed in an electrolyte solution. The chemical reactions at the electrodes driving the production of oxygen and hydrogen gas require efficient bifunctional catalyst. However, the process was not commercially viable so far, as most electrochemical systems use rare and expensive metals that restrict their use in large-scale applications. On the other hand, lower-cost systems were not being able to achieve efficient catalysis. The novel alloy catalyst designed, developed, and tested by Prof. Biswas and his collaborators can make this process easier and more affordable by using low-cost high-entropy alloy to store energy from renewable sources, allowing the use of clean energy. This could further aggravate our stride towards a cleaner environment, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and mitigating global warming.
Prof. Krishanu Biswas, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur
In addition to Prof. Krishanu Biswas, the other researchers on the team included Dr. Nirmal Kumar Katiyar from IIT Kanpur, Prof. Aditi Halder and Dr. Lalita Sharma from IIT Mandi, Prof. Chandra Sekhar Tiwary and Dr. Rakesh Das from IIT Kharagpur, Prof. Abhishek K. Singh, Dr. Arko Parui and Dr. Ritesh Kumar from Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.
Details of the article in Nature Magazine: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03913-7 Nature 624, S34-S36 (2023)
January 5, 2024, Kanpur: The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) has achieved a breakthrough in biomedical research, with their study of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and chemokine receptor D6, shedding new light on the potential treatment of cancer and brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. The researchers visualized the atomic details of the receptors. The information from this major advance opens up the possibility of designing new drug-like molecules to modulate these receptors under disease conditions. This landmark work has been recognized internationally with its publication in the prestigious international journal, Science.
Prof. S Ganesh, Director, IIT Kanpur said, “The path-breaking research opens the doors to a new era in targeted medicine that can deliver solutions for cancer and neurological conditions for millions across the world. These diseases, which cause immense suffering and economic burden, could see a new era of effective treatment developed based on these findings! The success of this research project is also a testament to our successful collaboration with scientists across the world. This project saw the team from IIT Kanpur working with researchers from Japan, the Republic of Korea, Spain, and Switzerland. Hearty Congratulations to Prof. Arun Shukla and team, who have been doing outstanding research in GPCRs Biology!”
This collaborative effort, involving international researchers not only enhances the understanding of complex diseases but also cements India’s position as a leader in innovative biomedical research and highlights IIT Kanpur’s commitment to addressing some of the most pressing health challenges.
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are like tiny antennas on the surface of brain cells which help them to communicate and play a key role in many brain functions. When these receptors don’t work properly, there are issues with communication between the brain cells leading to diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. This leads to the symptoms and progression seen in these diseases. Similarly, the chemokine receptor D6 functions in the immune system and is involved in the response to inflammation. In cancer, the receptor can influence the tumour environment, affecting how the cancer cells grow and spread.
The findings of the new research from IIT Kanpur will help in a greater understanding of the working of these receptors and lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches and targeted treatments for conditions such as Alzheimer’s, which affects over 50 million people worldwide, and cancer, responsible for over 10 million deaths annually. The results of the research will now facilitate the development of new drug-like molecules that can be tested for their therapeutic potential in animal models.
The researchers used a high-tech method called cryogenic-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to create detailed three-dimensional images of the receptors. This allowed them to study the 3D images of the receptors at the molecular level in great detail, helping to identify and design new drug-like molecules to correct problems with these receptors that cause disease conditions.
The research team from the Laboratory of GPCR Biology, IIT Kanpur included Prof. Arun K. Shukla, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Principal Investigator GPCR Lab; Dr. Ramanuj Banerjee, Post-Doctoral Fellow; Dr. Manish Yadav, Post-Doctoral Fellow; Dr. Ashutosh Ranjan, Post-doctoral fellow, currently Faculty at Lucknow University; Jagannath Maharana, Ph.D. scholar now heading to the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology as a post-doctoral fellow; Madhu Chaturvedi, Ph.D. scholar now heading to UCSF as a post-doctoral fellow; Parishmita Sarma, Ph.D. student; Vinay Singh, Project JRF, now headed to IMPRS on Cellular Biophysics, Frankfurt as a Ph.D. student; Sayanatan Saha, Project Research Fellow; and, Gargi Mahajan, Project Research Fellow.
The global collaboration saw researchers from across the world joining hands with IIT Kanpur to ensure the success of this research project. The research team included Fumia Sano, Wataru Shihoya and Osamu Nureki from Tokyo, Japan; Tomasz Stepniewski and Jana Selent from Barcelona, Spain; Mohamed Chami from Basel, Switzerland; and Longhan Duan and Ka Young Chung from Suwon, Republic of Korea.
The research work at IIT Kanpur was supported by the DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance, and Science and Engineering Research Board.
Reference: Molecular insights into atypical modes of β-arrestin interaction with seven transmembrane receptors. Maharana J, Sano F, Sarma P, Yadav M, Longhan D, Stepniewski TM, Chaturvedi M, Ranjan A, Singh V, Saha S, Mahajan G, Chami M, Shihoya W, Selent J, Chung KY, Banerjee R*, Nureki O* and Shukla AK*. Science, 2023.
About IIT Kanpur:
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur was established in 1959 and declared to be to be an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India through an Act of Parliament. IIT Kanpur is best known for the highest standard of its education in science and engineering and seminal R&D contributions over the years. The institute has a sprawling lush green campus spread over 1055 acres with large pool of academic and research resources spanning across 19 departments, 25 centers and 3 interdisciplinary programs in engineering, science, design, humanities, and management disciplines with more than 570 full-time faculty members and approximately 9000 students.
For more information, please visit www.iitk.ac.in
Dr. Rakesh Kumar Singhफरवरी महीने का पहला पखवाड़ा था और अभी भी धूप में गुनगुनाहट कायम थी। बस यूं कहिए कि गुलाबी जाड़ों का मौसम था। यह मौसम सभी वनस्पतियों, वन्य जीवों को लुभाता है और प्रकृति के साथ ही साथ वन्य जीव भी अपने पूरे शबाब पर होते हैं। सूरज भी धीरे-धीरे अस्त होने के करीब था। यही कोई तीन-सवा-तीन का वक्त था। तभी सोशल मीडिया में अचानक ही एक तेंदुए द्वारा कई लोगों को घायल करने के वीडियो वायरल होने लगे। और सूचना मिली कि गाजियाबाद जनपद मुख्यालय परिसर में स्थित जिला न्यायालय के परिसर में एक तेंदुआ, जिसे गुलदार भी कहते हैं, घूम रहा है। सहसा यह अविश्वसनीय सा लगा। यहां तक कि पत्रकार भी इस बात से सहमत नहीं थे कि यह सूचना सही है। भला इतनी घनी आबादी वाले शहर में और वो भी खचाखच भरी रहने वाली जिला अदालत की इमारत में तेंदुआ कैसे आ सकता था। लेकिन बार-बार घनघनाती फोन की घंटी इस खबर को पुख्ता कर रही थी।
उधर नजदीक के शहर मेरठ में एक अन्य तेंदुए ऑपरेशन में लगी स्थानीय रेस्क्यू टीम भी इस अचानक आए मेहमान की खबर से बेखबर नहीं थी। एक गुलदार कहीं से भटक कर अदालत परिसर में आ गया था। चूंकि तेंदुआ घबराया हुआ था और भयवश इधर-उधर भाग कर छुपने का स्थान तलाश रहा था और इसीलिए भागते हुए अपने पंजों से आत्मरक्षा में कई लोगों को चोट पहुंचा चुका था।
हमारी स्थानीय टीम अविलंब उस स्थान पर पहुंच चुकी थी। और रेस्क्यू ऑपरेशन के संबंध में स्टाफ को जो कुछ मिला जैसे कि पिंजड़ा, रस्सी, जाल, बांस, केरोसिन, माचिस, रद्दी कपड़े और यहां तक कि तेंदुए को दूर रखने के लिए तेज आवाज करने वाले खाली कनस्तर भी वह ले आए थे। दूसरी तरफ अनुभवी रेस्क्यू टीम अपने साथ डार्ट गन और अन्य सामान लेकर उच्चाधिकारियों के साथ मेरठ से भी चल चुकी थी। अब कुल मिलाकर स्थिति यह थी कि अदालत में कहीं गुलदार छुपा था और यदा-कदा प्रकट हो जाता था। सभी लोग तेंदुए से बचना भी चाहते थे और अदालत के इस नए फरियादी को देखना भी चाहते थे। इस कारण बड़ा ही अफरा-तफरी का माहौल था। अब सबसे बड़ी चुनौती इस विचित्र फरियादी को इतने बड़े परिसर में ढूंढना और रेस्क्यू टीम के आने तक रोकना थी।
यह एक कई मंजिला इमारत थी जिसमें बड़े-बड़े कमरे और लंबे बरामदे थे और हर बरामदों से सीढ़ियां नीचे-ऊपर जाती थीं। फिलहाल थोड़ी देर बाद ही तेंदुआ एक सीढ़ी से ग्राउंड फ्लोर की ओर भागता दिखा। और एकत्रित तमाशबीनों से डरकर संभवतः सीढ़ी के नीचे ही छुप गया। हमारी टीम ने तुरंत सीढ़ी के लोहे के चैनल गेट को बंद कर दिया। अब हमें फुर्ती से काम करते हुए ऊपर के सीढ़ी के रास्ते को बंद करना था। पर समस्या ये थी कि ऊपर ऐसा कोई गेट ही नहीं था। इसलिए इतने चौड़े रास्ते को बंद करने के लिए फटाफट वहां जाल बांधा जाने लगा। साथ ही साथ हमारी टीम ने आपस में बातें करना भी जारी रखा ताकि तेंदुआ हमारी उपस्थिति का एहसास होने से सीढ़ी के नीचे ही छुपा रहे। हमारी युक्ति काम कर गई और हम जाल बांधने में सफल रहे। पर यह एक मनोवैज्ञानिक बैरियर ही था। यदि तेंदुआ जोर लगाता तो निकलने का रास्ता बना सकता था। इसीलिए तेंदुए पर मनोवैज्ञानिक दबाव बनाने के लिये हमारी टीम के सदस्य मशाल और आवाज़ करने का कनस्तर आदि लेकर इस जाल के दूसरी तरफ खड़े हो गए, ताकि यदि तेंदुआ आता भी है तो वे शोर मचाकर या मशाल जलाकर उसे पुनः सीढ़ी के नीचे लोहे के गेट के पास भेज दे, और उसको निकलने नहीं दे।
यहां यह बताना आवश्यक है कि अब तक यह अनुमान ही लगाया गया था कि वह तेंदुआ सीढ़ी के नीचे छुपा है क्योंकि नीचे भागते हुए उस तेंदुए को किसी अन्य स्थान पर किसी भी व्यक्ति ने नहीं देखा था।
इसी बीच मेरठ से रेस्क्यू टीम भी वहां पहुंच चुकी थी और उन्होंने संपूर्ण हालात का जायजा लेना प्रारंभ किया। परंतु तेंदुए ने अब तक अपनी उस स्थान पर उपस्थिति का कोई प्रमाण नहीं दिया था। वहां तमाशबीनों की भी इतनी अधिक भीड़ थी कि तिल रखने की भी जगह नहीं थी। और एक अनार सौ बीमार की कहावत पूर्ण रूप से चरितार्थ हो रही थी।
तभी सीढ़ी के ठीक बगल मे सीमेंट से बने छोटे से स्थान के पीछे छुपे हुए तेंदुए की पूंछ के धब्बे दिखाई पड़ गए। बस इसके साथ ही हमारा “तेंदुआ डार्ट ऑपरेशन” शुरू हो गया था। सबसे बड़ी दिक्कत थी कि तेंदुआ ऐसी जगह छुपा हुआ था जहाँ से उसे डार्ट करना बिल्कुल नामुमकिन था। इसके अलावा वह किसी भी स्थिति में वहां से हिलने को भी तैयार नहीं था।
पूर्व के अनुभव के अनुसार हमने तेंदुए की पूंछ पर छोटा सा कंकड़ फेंका और एक भयानक दहाड़ के साथ वह विडाल वंशी हमारे सामने प्रकट हो गया। एक बात अवश्य हुई कि इस दहाड़ से तमाशबीनों में भगदड़ मच गई। लेकिन इतनी अधिक भीड़ थी कि डार्ट गन को सीधा रख कर निशाना लगाना मुश्किल हो रहा था। परीणाम स्वरूप जिस प्रकार वह गुलदार प्रकट हुआ था उसी प्रकार पलक झपकते ही फिर गायब हो गया। कुछ देर बाद अनियंत्रित भीड़ के शोर से एक बार फिर गुलदार बाहर निकला और सीढ़ियों पर होता हुआ ऊपर पहुंच गया। लेकिन वहां मौजूद मुस्तैद टीम ने शोर मचा कर उसे वहां लगे जाल से निकलने नहीं दिया और तेंदुआ फिर नीचे सीढ़ी के पीछे छुप गया। अब कुछ ऐसा करना जरूरी था कि तेंदुआ भीड़ से ना डरे और कुछ समय के लिए डार्टिंग टीम के सामने रहे ताकी उसपर डार्ट गन से लक्ष्य लेने का समय मिल सके।
शिकारी वन्य जीवों की एक प्रवृत्ति होती है कि यदि वह गुस्से में हों तो वह हर उस चीज को मुंह से पकड़ते हैं जिससे उन्हें छेड़ा जाता है। टीम का अनुमान था कि यदि ऐसी किसी वस्तु जैसे लंबी पाइप आदि से तेंदुए को यदि धीरे से छेड़ा जाए तो उस पाइप को तेंदुआ मुंह से जरूर पकड़ेगा और छोड़ेगा नहीं। और उस पाइप को यदि टीम अपनी तरफ खींचेगी तो तेंदुआ मुंह से पकड़े-पकड़े अवश्य टीम के सामने तक अपने-आप खिंचता चला आएगा। इस के लिए किसी एक ऐसी पाइप की आवश्यकता थी जो कि तेंदुए तक पहुंच सके। और इतनी मजबूत भी हो कि यदि तेंदुआ उसको मुंह से पकड़े तो वह टूटे नहीं और न ही तेंदुए को मुंह में चोट लगे।
तभी टीम की नजर पास में पड़ी एक पीवीसी की पानी की पाइप पर पड़ी जोकि पर्याप्त लंबी थी। इस पीवीसी पाइप को जब सीढ़ी के पीछे डाला गया तो वह वहां छुपे तेंदुए तक पहुंच गई। और तेंदुए ने गुस्से में उसे मुंह से पकड़ लिया और और टीम के सदस्यों ने उस पाइप को खींचना प्रारंभ कर दिया। और हमारे अनुमान के अनुरूप तेंदुआ गुस्से में पाइप को पकड़े हुए लोहे के चैनल गेट तक खिंचता चला आया। डार्टिग टीम ने उस पर डार्ट गन से बेहोशी की दवा से भरा डार्ट फायर किया। लेकिन टीम की अपेक्षा के विपरीत वह दवा से भरी हुई डार्ट तेंदुए तक नहीं पहुंच सकी। इसके लिए एक दूसरी डार्ट तैयार की गई। लेकिन अत्यधिक भीड़ होने के कारण तेंदुए पर ऐम लेना मुश्किल हो रहा था। यह बड़ी विचित्र स्थिति होती है जब एक वन्य जीव, जिसे बेहोश किया जाना है, आपके सामने हो और आप उस पर लक्ष्य न ले सकें। फिलहाल दूसरी डार्ट काम कर गई और सीधे तेंदुए के पुट्ठे में समा गई। तेंदुआ एक तेज दहाड़ के साथ पीवीसी पाइप को छोड़कर पुनः सीढ़ी के पीछे छुप गया।
अब सबसे बड़ी मुश्किल यह थी कि तेंदुए को किस प्रकार और कहां से देखा जाए कि उसके ऊपर बेहोशी की दवा का असर हो गया है या नहीं। क्योंकि वह अब इस प्रकार छुप गया था कि उस कोने तक हमारी पीवीसी पाइप भी नहीं पहुंच रही थी। तेंदुआ इतना अधिक स्ट्रेस में और भयभीत भी था कि वह वहां से निकलने का नाम ही नहीं ले रहा था। समय बीतता जा रहा था और हमारी व्याकुलता बढ़ती जा रही थी। क्योंकि यदि अगले 15 से 20 मिनट में तेंदुए को बाहर नहीं निकल गया तो वह दुबारा होश में आ सकता था। और इतनी जल्दी पुनः बेहोशी की दवा देना भी उचित नहीं था। यह अत्यधिक असमंजस की स्थिति थी। तभी यह निर्णय लिया गया कि चार-पांच लोग बॉडी प्रोडक्शन सूट, हेलमेट और जाल लेकर चैनल गेट खोलकर अंदर बढ़ेंगे। लेकिन जनता की सुरक्षा को देखते हुए टीम के अंदर जाने के बाद चैनल को बंद कर दिया जाएगा ताकि यदि तेंदुआ होश में हो तो बाहर ना निकल सके। हालांकि यह बहुत ही जोखिम भरा कार्य था लेकिन तेंदुए और जनता की सुरक्षा की दृष्टिगत इसके अतिरिक्त कोई भी अन्य उपाय टीम के पास नहीं था।
डार्ट टीम को यह अवश्य विश्वास था कि अब तेंदुआ उतना आक्रामक नहीं होगा, क्योंकि डार्ट तेंदुए के पुट्ठे में लगी थी इसलिए तेंदुआ दवाओं के कुछ असर के कारण उतनी फुर्ती नहीं दिखा सकेगा। इसी विश्वास के साथ हम पांच लोग जाल लेकर अंदर दाखिल हुए और हमारे अनुमान के अनुसार तेंदुआ पूरी तरह बेहोश नहीं था। वह लगभग बैठी हुई स्थिति में था, लेकिन चल पाने में असमर्थ था। वह अपने पंजे चला रहा था और धीरे-धीरे गुर्रा भी रहा था। ऐसे में उसके ऊपर अगर जाल डाला जाता तो स्ट्रेस के कारण यदि वह जाल से निकलने के लिए प्रयास करता तो लगातार प्रयास के कारण वह अपने शरीर का तापमान बढ़ा सकता था और इसके कारण उसकी मृत्यु भी हो सकती थी।
चूंकि आधे बेहोश तेंदुए को हैंडल करना और साथ-साथ डार्ट करना एक वन्य जीव विशेषज्ञ के लिए संभव नहीं था इसलिए टीम के एक अनुभवी वाइल्डलाइफ गार्ड श्री कमलेश पांडे को इस बार डार्ट गन दी गई और हम सभी टीम के सदस्य जाल लेकर तेंदुए के सामने इस प्रकार खड़े हो गए कि अगर वह डार्ट लगने के बाद थोड़ी देर के लिए यदि खड़ा भी होता है तो टीम के सदस्य अपना बचाव कर सकें और उसे वहां से उसे बाहर भी न निकलने दे।
श्री कमलेश द्वारा फायर की गई वह डार्ट एक बार फिर बेहोशी की दवा को तेंदुए के पुट्ठों में पहुंचाने में सफल रही। लेकिन वहां उपस्थित भीड़ द्वारा किए जा रहे अत्यधिक शोर के कारण बेहोशी की दवा का असर तेंदुए पर कम ही हो रहा था। फिर भी पूर्व के अनुभव के अनुसार टीम ने तीसरी बार थोड़ी सी बेहोशी की दवा फिर तेंदुए को दी। लेकिन अत्यधिक शोर के कारण आश्चर्यजनक रूप से तेंदुआ पूरी तरह से बेहोश नहीं हुआ। अब इससे अधिक दवा दिया जाना तेंदुए के लिए घातक हो सकता था। क्योंकि यह एक बहुत बड़ा परिसर था और तेंदुए को रेस्क्यू करने का मौका अब फिर नहीं मिल सकता था। इसलिए टीम के सदस्यों ने जोखिम लेते हुए तेंदुए पर जाल डाल दिया और कुछ सदस्यों ने उसे हल्के से लकड़ी के डंडों से दबा लिया एवं जाल को ही खींचना प्रारंभ कर दिया। तेंदुआ जाल से निकलने के लिए अभी भी थोड़ा प्रयास कर रहा था। पर टीम के सदस्यों ने सुरक्षित दूरी से अत्यधिक बहादुरी दिखाते हुए जाल सहित तेंदुए को पिंजरे में कैद कर दिया।
लेकिन इतनी भीड़ में तेंदुए के पिंजरे को ट्रक तक पहुंचाना एक बहुत ही मशक्कत भरा काम था। जिसके लिए टीम को बहुत अधिक मेहनत करनी पड़ी। गुलदार को देखने के लिए भीड़ इस कदर अनियंत्रित हो गई थी कि टीम के सभी सदस्य तीतर बितर हो जा रहे थे। आखिरकार जब कोई रास्ता नहीं सुझाया तो स्वयं हम सभी को विभाग के कर्मचारियों के साथ भीड़ को काबू करने का कार्य करना पड़ा। और किसी तरह भीड़ से बचाते हुए तेंदुए को ट्रक तक पहुंचाया गया एवं तेंदुए को लेकर टीम तत्काल प्रभागीय निदेशक के कार्यालय में पहुंच गई। यहां भी कार्यालय परिसर का मुख्य द्वार तत्काल बंद कर तमाशबीन लोगों को रोका जा सका। जिससे कि तेंदुए को शांति मिल सके और वह कुछ देर के लिए स्थायित्व प्राप्त कर सके। लगभग आधे घंटे बाद जब तेंदुए का निरीक्षण किया गया तो वह अत्यधिक गुस्से में था और पूरी तरह होश में आ चुका था। उसके शरीर पर कुछ चोटों के निशान भी थे और उसने भीड़ में अपने-आप को स्वयं पिंजरे से टकरा-टकरा कर घायल भी कर लिया था। उसको आवश्यक उपचार दिया गया एवं उसके घावों पर मलहम लगाया गया।
कुछ ही देर में नेशनल हाईवे पर घुप्प अंधेरे को चीरती हुई हमारी जीप अदालत के उस विचित्र फरियादी को लेकर उसके नए घर शिवालिक के जंगलो की ओर बढ़ रही थी। लेकिन वह गुलदार किस फरियाद को लेकर अदालत में आया था यह प्रश्न हमारी टीम के हर सदस्य के मानो-मस्तिष्क को अब भी झकझोर रहा था।
G.P VARMAKanpur, November 21: The Ministry of Education and IIT Kanpur has announced the successful outreach of SATHEE (Self-Assessment Test and Help for Entrance Exams), an innovative online education platform to empower the millions of students preparing for competitive exams across the country.
The initiative marks a significant milestone in the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 and in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4.
Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education,K Sanjay Murthy in an event at Shastri Bhawan in Delhi inaugurated the program in the presence Professor S. Ganesh, Officiating Director, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur; Govind Jaiswal, Joint Secretary, Higher Education, Ministry of Education; Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, School Education, Ministry of Education and Professor Amey Karkare, Principal Investigator, SATHEE Project, IIT Kanpur.
SATHEE, now live, offers a comprehensive suite of resources for NEET and JEE aspirants, including video lectures from renowned faculties of IITs and IISc. The platform has commenced with its first 45-day JEE crash course, designed to provide intensive preparation and revision in a short period, ideal for students looking to consolidate their learning before exams.
The platform will also host a series of intensive, expert-designed learning modules along with novel features like an interactive chatbot. Regular doubt-clearing sessions led by students from IITs and AIIMS will enhance the learning experience and maintain a human connect with the students. The SATHEE platform is expected to receive an overwhelming response from students across the nation.
“The outreach of SATHEE marks a significant step towards enhancing accessibility to education in India. The platform opens up new avenues for students preparing for competitive exams, offering quality resources and support. Our goal is to ensure that every student, irrespective of their location or financial situation, has the opportunity to excel in their academic pursuits. SATHEE is a testament to our commitment to educational equity and excellence,” said Prof. S. Ganesh, Officiating Director, IIT Kanpur.
The platform stands out with its multilingual support, offering content in English, Hindi, and various Indian regional languages, ensuring no student is left behind due to language barriers and further encouraging students in their journey towards academic excellence.
“The outreach of SATHEE is an important step towards bridging the educational divide in India. We have created a platform that simplifies and enhances the learning process for competitive exams. Our focus is on delivering quality education in an accessible format. We believe SATHEE will be instrumental in helping students across the country to better prepare for their future, aligning with our mission of educational inclusivity and excellence,” said K Sanjay Murthy.
SATHEE is not just a learning platform; it represents a movement towards equal educational opportunities for all, challenging the monopolization of competitive exam preparation by private classes that either many cannot afford or access easily due to distance. It offers a beacon of hope to millions of students, particularly those in rural areas and financially constrained environments.
G.P. VarmaThree days conference of South Asian Fraternity (SAF)on University in Diversity concluded here on Saturday embodying an ambitious plan of service to humanity.
It was resolved that members should work hard to enhance the participation of young generation to keep the light of human values alive in times to come.
Speakers invariably stressed upon the need that each member should include at least one young member to SAF and popularise its objectives among the school children and all other educational institutions.
President of SAF Satya Paul said” SAF brings the people closer to chalk outcommon plans of development and create an atmosphere of coordination and cooperation instead of confrontation.”
Secretary general Kanpur Chapter of SAF Deepak Malviya said that the vision of SAF was to strengthen the democratic institution and human welfare plans. He urged the members to make the SAF more dynamic and effective with the inclusion of younger generation.
The secretary of lok Seva Mandal Naushad Alam Mansoori urged the people that they should develop “people to people communication system” for the betterment of the world community.”We must honour government assistance in welfare programs but abstain from being completely dependent upon the government efforts as it has to address several other programs”,he said
About thirty nine delegates across the country including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Delhi, Gujrat, Haryana, Kerala, Odisha, Punjab, Telengana , Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring country Nepal participated at conference.
Participants including Rupashree Mohapatra,Sangita Sahu,Mamta ojha, Dr Chitta Ranjan Sahani of Odisha, Gurcharan Singh, Paramjeet Singh Mann,Jasvinder Pal Singh, Pal Singh Sandhu of Punjab, Dr K Ravi Kumar of Telengana, Dr KVbhargava of Andhra Pradesh , Elora Bora of Assam, Sumita Dutta of Haryana and Chithra Sukumara of Kerala presented dances of their respective states to spread the message of unity, harmony and brotherhood .
On the occasion a large number of people witnessed the three days thought provoking sessions and enchanting cultural programs.
Kanpur 9 Nov,2023 : The Department of Political Science, Christ Church College Kanpur, organized a special lecture on “Indian Constitution: Expectations vis-à-vis Practices” as a prelude to India’s Constitution Day on 26th November.
Dr A B Jaiswal addressing the audience
The program started with welcoming the guests and setting the tone of the lecture by the convener, Dr Vibha Dikshit.
Dr Ashutosh saxena addressing the audience
The Chief guest, Prof. Joseph Daniel, Principal and secretary of Christ Church College, shared insightful observations about the role and relevance of the constitution to leading a life with dignity. He emphasized the struggles and contributions of the lawmakers in upholding the value and sanctity of the Indian constitution.
Dr Vibha Dixit and Dr Ashutosh Saxena giving momento to the Dr AB Jaiswal.
The key guest speaker, Prof. AB Jaiswal of the Law Department of VSSD College, delivered an illuminating lecture from a lawmakers’ perspective.
He informed about the uniqueness, dynamism, and adaptability of the Indian constitution for the past 75 years. Prof. Ashutosh Saxena chaired the session and expressed that the constitution was not simply a codebook to run the government but needed proper interpretation, adoption, adaptation, and execution by all the four pillars of democracy.
“The need is to adopt the core philosophical values in the functioning and decision-making of any constitutional government” he added.
The organizing team comprised Hina Azmat, Archana Verma, Sakshi, Ishita, Vivek and Amit. The college faculty and students interacted with the resource persons with great interest.
Kanpur, 7 November : The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) crossed a significant milestone in its academic calendar as the Academics and Career Council, Student’s Gymkhana, successfully conducted the second edition of the Institute Research Symposium (IRS). The event witnessed a substantial audience turnout of approximately 500 students, demonstrating the institute’s commitment to academic excellence and knowledge sharing.
The symposium featured distinguished figures from academia and research at IITK including Prof. S. Ganesh, Officiating Director, Prof. Sameer Khandekar, Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Shalabh, Dean of Academic Affairs, Prof. S. N. Tripathi, Organizing Chair, Institute Research Symposium, Prof. Arnab Bhattacharya, Associate Dean of Student Affairs, and Prof. Ark Verma, Faculty Advisor, Academics and Career Council.
The symposium featured three distinguished speakers, each providing valuable insights into various aspects of academic and research excellence. Prof. Y. N. Mohapatra from the Department of Physics, initiated the symposium with a talk on the ‘Interdisciplinary Research in the Present World.’ Drawing upon his extensive experience, Prof. Mohapatra highlighted the importance of transcending disciplinary boundaries to achieve ground-breaking research.
An alumnus of IITK and Founder and CEO of E-Spin Nanotech Pvt Ltd, Dr Sandeep Patil delivered a captivating presentation on “Nanofiber Technology and its Commercial Applications: Future Startups.” Dr. Patil’s insights delved into the commercial potential of nanofiber technology and its pivotal role in fostering startup ventures.
Prof. Kantesh Balani, Dean of Resources and Alumni, IIT Kanpur, gave presentation on ‘Engineering Various Applications of Advanced Nanomaterials.’ Prof. Balani’s presentation shed light on the myriad applications of advanced nanomaterials across diverse fields, underscoring their transformative potential in technology and industry.
Over the course of two days, students from various departments of the institute presented their respective research findings, providing a platform for the exchange of knowledge and ideas. Each presentation was followed by interactive question-and-answer sessions, fostering engaging discussions among the students and the audience.
Kanpur, 6 November : The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) has established a Center of Excellence (CoE) named ATMAN (Advanced Technologies for Monitoring Air-quality iNdicators).
The CoE is a significant step towards the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative of the Government of India, focusing on building indigenous low-cost sensor manufacturing and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) capabilities to enhance air quality across urban and rural areas of the country.
The CoE ATMAN aligns with the vision of the Principal Scientific Advisor of India, aiming to translate sustainable technologies and business models into practical products and services accessible to millions globally.
Supported by philanthropic entities, including Bloomberg Philanthropies, Open Philanthropy and the Clean Air Fund, ATMAN aims to address critical air quality challenges with cutting-edge technology.
Prof. S Ganesh, Officiating Director, IIT Kanpursaid “IIT Kanpur has taken significant strides in the battle against air pollution. This initiative of establishment of the Center of Excellence—ATMAN has firmly positioned the institute at the forefront of efforts to combat air pollution. Through ATMAN, IIT Kanpur is dedicated to the meticulous evaluation of health risks associated with air pollutants, as well as a comprehensive review of air quality standards.”
There are several projects that are currently underway at the ATMAN. The Ambient Air Quality Monitoring of Rural Areas using Indigenous Technology (AMRIT) is a flagship project that will deploy a dense Sensor Ambient Air Quality Monitor (SAAQM) network with 1,400 nodes across rural areas in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. This initiative is the first of its kind to monitor air quality comprehensively in these regions, where data has been limited to cities and towns. The CoE team will be working with the State Pollution Control Board of Bihar and Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of Uttar Pradesh on AMRIT to enhance air quality action in these states.
The Dynamic Hyper-local Source Apportionment (DHSA) is a cost effective approach to source apportionment that is currently being pioneered in Lucknow and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh. The data from DHSA will enable city authorities to make informed decisions in their air quality action planning. The long-term vision is to scale DHSA systems across cities in India to inform about emission and sources of air pollution on a dynamic scale based on this project.
The PM2.5 Prediction and Airshed Management is a project that utilizes micro-satellite imagery, sensor-based ambient air quality networks, and machine learning to predict PM2.5 levels at finer resolutions. Additionally, the CoE is developing an airshed approach to address air pollution on a larger scale with data-driven policy decisions.
The CoE is at the forefront of indigenous air quality sensor fabrication, combining it with artificial intelligence and machine learning models to ensure precise and reliable results. The technology’s optimization involves careful sensor placement to maximize overall citizen satisfaction with air quality information available to the public.
According to Prof. Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India “The CoE ATMAN has been setup to strategize and execute projects in the field of air quality with indigenous sensor manufacturing that is scalable globally. I appreciate the nurturing of Indian start-ups by this Centre. The coordination between science and government agencies is at the centre of citizens’ welfare. I take this opportunity to congratulate IIT Kanpur, the funders, and government agencies for contributing towards this endeavour.”
Prof. Sachchida Nand Tripathi, who heads the Center of Excellence (CoE), expressed enthusiasm for the impactful research that is underway, “CoE ATMAN is spearheading the infusion of Indigenous Technology towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat. Association
