Author: Ram Kumar

Dr Srajana Kaikini presents at ‘2024 Critical Humanities Workshop on 6G: Genesis, Generativity, Gender, Genetics, Genealogy, Genocide’

Ram Kumar 0 Comment Faculty & Staff Spotlight

Dr Srajana Kaikini, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, SIAS was invited by Asia Theories Network (ATN) to present at their ‘2024 Critical Humanities Workshop on 6G: Genesis, Generativity, Gender, Genetics, Genealogy, Genocide’ held at National Taiwan University, Taipei. She presented her paper ‘Nature’s Face’ at this forum – the third articulation of her philosophical work on the face, as part of a panel on Images : [Un]natural and Supplementary. ATN is a global scholarly network functioning as a platform for exchanges and collaborations among humanities and interpretive social science scholars in Asia and other parts of the world.

Dr Sairam Moturi presents paper at India Management Research Conference 2024

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Dr Sairam Moturi, Assistant Professor of Finance, Accounting and Quantitative Finance, IFMR GSB presented his paper titled ‘Auditor Familiarity and Audit Quality in Business Groups’, co-authored with Professors Vijaya Bhaskar Marisetty and Sanjay Kallapur, at India Management Research Conference 2024. The conference was organised by the Centre for Sustainability and Corporate Governance Research at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and took place from 7 to 9 December 2024.

Speaking with nature: Professor Ramachandra Guha explores India’s environmental legacy and future in his latest book

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On 10 December 2024, Professor Ramachandra Guha, Distinguished University Professor, SIAS, and a renowned historian and writer engaged in an enlightening conversation with Dr Bharath Sundaram, Sundram Fasteners Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, SIAS. The discussion revolved around Professor Guha’s latest book, Speaking With Nature, marking his return to environmental research.  

In this book, Professor Guha challenges the common perception that countries like India, often labeled “too poor to be green,” lack environmental awareness. Through meticulous research, he uncovers a largely unacknowledged prehistory of the global environmental movement rooted in India, extending beyond Western narratives. The book highlights the contributions of ten remarkable individuals — Rabindranath Tagore, Radhakamal Mukerjee, JC Kumarappa, Patrick Geddes, Albert and Gabrielle Howard, Mira, Verrier Elwin, KM Munshi, and M Krishnan — who, long before climate change became a global concern, wrote about critical ecological issues such as deforestation, water conservation and urbanisation.  

The conversation was both thought-provoking and insightful, emphasising the interconnected roles of local, regional, national and global perspectives in environmentalism. It also delved into the contrasting dynamics of stomach environmentalism and livelihood environmentalism across the global south and north. Additionally, the discussion explored the role of social media in shaping societal decisions, questioning whether a single click truly creates a long-term impact.  

Professor Guha shared that one of his motivations for writing this book stemmed from witnessing the emergence of a third generation of environmentalists at Krea and the growing urgency of the global climate crisis. During the pandemic, he revisited and expanded his earlier research, culminating in Speaking With Nature. He expressed hope that his book would inspire other scholars to delve deeper into Indian environmentalism — exploring grassroots movements, unrecognised individuals, or the broader spectrum of environmentalism in India before and after the Chipko movement.  

The talk left the audience with much to ponder, and reflect upon and a strong motivation to read Speaking With Nature.  

A report by Pranvi Khare, Cohort of 2027, SIAS

Professor Madhuri Saripalle’s publication in the Asian Journal of Technology Innovation

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A new publication by Professor Madhuri Saripalle, Professor, Economics and Chairperson – MBA Programme, IFMR GSB has been published in the Asian Journal of Technology Innovation. Titled, Driving productivity: a comparison of the Indian automobile manufacturers and component suppliers, the study analyses the factors influencing productivity within the Indian automobile industry, specifically examining the component manufacturers and the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
AJTI is the official journal of the Korean Society for Innovation Management and Economics (KOSIME), the Asia Association of Learning, Innovation and Coevolution Studies (ASIALICS) and the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI). 

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Krea University’s academic contingent from SIAS excelled at Biswamil 2024, hosted by OP Jindal College

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Krea University’s academic contingent from SIAS delivered an outstanding performance at Biswamil 2024, an event hosted by OP Jindal College. The team showcased exceptional talent, teamwork and strategy, securing first place in every competition. 

1. Stock Market Fiasco (Stock Market Valuation Competition) 

   – Winners: Dheer Panjwani, Manan Malik and Mudit Kohli  

   – Prize: Rs 10,000  

2. Pitch Up (Shark Tank-style Business Pitch Competition)  

   – Winners: Dheer Panjwani, Sarthak Bhargava and Sibhi Aravindan  

   – Prize: Rs 10,000  

3. Stakeholders Meet (Representative Conversation for Lobbying Interests)  

   – Winner: Sarthak Bhargava  

   – Prize: Rs 6,000  

4. Turncoat Debate  

   – Winner: Sibhi Aravindan  

   – Prize: Rs 6,000  

Dr Vivek Radhakrishnan at ‘Why Read Kant Now?’ symposium

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Dr Vivek Radhakrishnan, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, SIAS was invited to participate in a symposium on ‘Why Read Kant Now?’ organised by the Goethe-Institut Mumbai and the German Department of Mumbai University on 29 and 30 November, 2024. Dr Radhakrishnan gave a talk titled, ‘How ‘Humean’ was Kant?’ at the symposium. He also moderated the inaugural keynote by Professor Rajendra Dengle (Retired Professor of German, JNU) and the special lecture by Professor Heiner Klemme (Professor of Philosophy, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle).

Dr R S Sathya Saminadan presents paper at NGSC – 2024 Conference at IIM Jammu

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Dr R S Sathya Saminadan, Associate Professor of Practice, IFMR GSB presented his paper, ‘Marketing to Aliens’, at the NGSC – 2024 Conference at IIM Jammu on 22 and 23 November, 2024. The paper explores strategies for effective intergalactic marketing, combining creativity with established principles of marketing. It underscores the importance of adaptability and ethical considerations in marketing to diverse and unfamiliar segments, a concept that resonates with contemporary challenges in business strategy.

Dr Venkata Srinu Bhadram gives a talk at Cera4S-2024 at IIT Madras

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Dr Venkata Srinu Bhadram, Assistant Professor of Physics, SIAS was invited to give a talk at the International Conference on Advanced Ceramics for Sustainability (Cera4S-2024), held at IIT Madras from 28 – 30 November 2024. In his talk titled, ‘Extreme Pressure as a Route to Discover New Metastable Materials’, he discussed the pivotal role of high-pressure techniques in discovering new metastable phases of ceramic materials, such as transition metal nitrides, oxides and high-entropy complex oxides. He highlighted how combining high-pressure experimental methods with machine learning approaches has the potential to drive transformative advancements, offering sustainable solutions for materials-based technologies. 

Jazz it up: A musical collaboration 

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The Jazz Explorer Trio’s recent performance, presented by the Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth (SPIC MACAY) at Krea University on December 2, 2024 (the second in a series of collaborations), beautifully captured the essence of global cultural exchange. Comprised of Danish artists Lars Møller (saxophone), Thor Madsen (guitar) and Jonas Johansen (drums), the group seamlessly melded jazz traditions with a global perspective. 

Their setlist featured tracks like Blues In Five, A Woman’s Purse, Moose and Know, showcasing their musical brilliance and their ability to weave cheerful, conversational rhythms into their compositions, creating a deeply moving experience. The trio also delighted the audience with previews of tracks from their upcoming album, inspired by Miles Davis’s iconic Kind of Blue.  

The evening had a magical quality, taking the audience on a journey through rich soundscapes, from the contemplative elegance of jazz to the playful, interactive exchanges between instruments. The performance highlighted the trio’s commitment to cultural dialogue, resonating strongly with SPIC MACAY’s mission to preserve and share diverse heritages. The connection between jazz improvisation and Indian classical music — both rooted in spontaneity and presence — was evident throughout, as the trio engaged in intricate, meditative interplay.  

The group’s deep engagement with Indian influences added layers of richness to their performance. Møller, in particular, has studied Indian classical music extensively, which informs their ability to blend these influences into their jazz compositions. This performance, reminiscent of the spirit of Kind of Blue or the quintessential So What, celebrated modal jazz — where simplicity meets infinite variation, akin to Indian classical ragas.  

This collaboration under SPIC MACAY exemplifies how jazz and Indian classical music, despite their distinct origins, demand the same sense of presence and spontaneity from both performers and audiences. The synergy of these traditions stands as a testament to the universal language of music and its power to bridge cultures. I eagerly look forward to future collaborations between SPIC MACAY and Krea University.  

A report by Pranvi Khare, Cohort of 2027, SIAS

Krea University