Professor Govindarajan T R, Visiting Professor in Physics at SIAS, Krea University, published an article for the digital platform The FederalI. Through stunning visuals and evocative descriptions, the article titled The flight of flamingos at Pazhaverkadu on the day of GSLV rocket launch juxtaposes nature against human innovation, implicitly inviting readers to reflect on the delicate balance between progress and the preservation of natural wonders.
Read the article here
Dr Panchali Ray, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Gender Studies and Associate Dean (Academic) and at SIAS, Krea University presented a paper at the Law and Society in South Asia (LASSA) Workshop in Lahore, and wrote about her experience of travelling to and in Pakistan, published by the Frontline, the Hindu. She writes why visiting Pakistan brought home the fact that home is not what it used to be. And the idea of home, for her, is now nothing but a heartbreak. Also, she would like you to know that the title of the essay is not hers.
Read the Blog here.
Dr Anannya Dasgupta, Director of CWP and Associate Professor of Literature at SIAS, Krea University, and Sayantan Datta, Assistant Professor of Practice at CWP, Krea University, are conducting a training workshop for faculty members and research scholars at SCAW – SSUS Centre for Academic Writing, Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, in Kalady, Kerala. The workshop titled Step-by-Step: Learning to Teach Writing is scheduled for 22–23 February, 2024.
SCAW is a newly formed writing centre that will be offering an academic writing course for the first time, with the help extended by Krea-CWP. As a member of a committee put together by the Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC), Dr Anannya Dasgupta designed a writing course that is now a part of the committee’s recommendation as a first-year foundation course in the state-wide undergraduate programme in Kerala. This faculty training workshop at SCAW is to follow-up on building capacity to teach writing courses using the writing pedagogy being developed by faculty members of Krea-CWP.
An article by Narbadeshwar Mishra, PhD Student In Economics at IFMR GSB, Krea University, and Dr Jyoti Prasad Mukhopadhyay, Associate Professor, Economics & Area Chair – Economics at IFMR GSB, Krea University, titled Can safe drinking water improve children’s educational outcomes?, focusing on the National Rural Drinking Water Program (NRDWP), has been published in Ideas for India (I4I). I4I is an economics and policy portal that publishes evidence-based analysis and commentary on issues pertaining to growth and development in India. I4I serves as an ideologically neutral space for economists, other social scientists, and practitioners to use their research and experience to weigh in on key policy questions.
15 February, 2024, Sri City: Krea University hosted the book launch of The Great Flap of 1942: How the Raj Panicked over a Japanese Non-invasion authored by renowned journalist Professor Mukund Padmanabhan, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the School of Interwoven Arts and Sciences (SIAS), Krea University, and former editor of The Hindu and The Hindu BusinessLine, on the campus.
The launch unfolded with opening remarks by Professor Nirmala Rao, Vice-Chancellor of Krea University, as she spoke highly of the compelling storyline. This was followed by an engaging hour-long conversation between Professor Mukund Padmanabhan and Dr Aashique Ahmed Iqbal, Assistant Professor of History at SIAS, Krea University as they delved into the intricacies of the book, holding the audience in rapt attention. Attendees eagerly participated and posed insightful questions.
Dr Prithvi Datta Chandra Shobhi, Dean and Associate Professor of History at SIAS, Krea University provided closing remarks, offering valuable insights for history students gleaned from the book’s contents. The session culminated with a book signing session.
Published by Penguin Random House, The Great Flap of 1942: How the Raj Panicked over a Japanese Non-invasion presents a narrative history of the Japanese attacks in Southeast Asia and their impact on India. The book sheds light on a neglected and scarcely known period of history ― between December 1941 and mid-1942 ― when India was gripped by panic, jostled between the rumours and misjudgements by the British and their mistaken belief that Japan was on the verge of launching a full-fledged invasion.
The book demonstrates, quite astonishingly, that the Raj cynically encouraged the exodus (of Indians and Europeans) from both sides of the coastline to ‘safer’ inland regions and contributed to the repeated cycles of rumour, panic and flight. It also reveals how the shadow of the Japanese threat influenced the course of nationalist politics, altered British attitudes towards India and charted the course towards Independence.
It has received many captivating reviews, including those by William Dalrymple and Gopalkrishna Gandhi. Dalrymple’s description of the book as a ‘superbly well researched, tightly constructed…..and pinned to the page in stylish, witty and evocative prose’, testifies to Professor Mukund Padmanabhan’s depth of scholarship and academic excellence.
Kaveri Bharath, a ceramic artist and Visiting Faculty, Global Arts at SIAS, Krea University and Radhika Krish, a glass artist, collaborate in their latest exhibition, “Kindred Fire: Shared Stories.” Through the transformative power of fire, Kaveri’s ceramic sculptures and Radhika’s glass artworks come to life, weaving together narratives of nature, nurture, and nostalgia. From transparent paper planes caught in mid flight to poignant reflections on motherhood, each piece reflects their diverse backgrounds and shared passion for art.
Don’t miss the chance to experience the magic at The Gallery @ InKo Centre from 23 February to 19 March, 2024.
Event Link https://www.inkocentre.org/kindred_fire_shared_stories.html
At the ‘Zero to One’ pre-seed funding round by the Centre for Entrepreneurship (CFE) at Krea University, Sibling, a mental health platform co-founded by Mitansh Aggarwal and Viney Jain from SIAS, Cohort of 2025, received a grant of ₹1.5 lakh, highlighting CFE’s commitment to supporting projects with significant social impact
The Centre for Entrepreneurship (CFE) at Krea University serves as a hub for students and faculty to explore their entrepreneurial aspirations and turn groundbreaking ideas into reality.
The ‘Zero to One’ pre-seed funding round, a significant event in CFE’s calendar, took place at the Krea University Admin Office on 3 February, 2024, marking a milestone in the organisation’s efforts to support aspiring entrepreneurs.
This event featured a panel of esteemed judges, including Anil Srinivasan, Founder, Kruu, Sathyanarayanan Ramachandran, Associate Professor of Marketing at IFMR GSB, Krea University, and Professor Vijayalakshmi C, Professor of OB & HRM at IFMR GSB, Krea University, who evaluated the finalists’ pitches.
A standout moment was the recognition of Sibling, a mental health platform co-founded by Mitansh Aggarwal and Viney Jain from SIAS, Cohort of 2025, which received a grant of ₹1.5 lakh, highlighting CFE’s commitment to supporting projects with significant social impact. Additionally, all finalists were offered mentoring opportunities by the panel of experts to aid in the development of their businesses.
Besides this, CFE also organises workshops to educate participants and fuel their entrepreneurial passions. These workshops, coupled with networking opportunities, play a crucial role in fostering a vibrant and supportive community of young entrepreneurs.supportive community of young entrepreneurs.
A Winter that Burned Delhi: Silent Screams and Broken Promises of 1984, shot and directed by Rahul Milind, a Krea alumnus from the SIAS Cohort of 2023 as part of his History Capstone Thesis, has been awarded a Special Jury Mention for Best Documentary Feature Film at the 16th Jaipur International Film Festival 2024
We’re delighted to announce that A Winter that Burned Delhi: Silent Screams and Broken Promises of 1984, shot and directed by Rahul Milind, a Krea alumnus from the SIAS Cohort of 2023 as part of his History Capstone Thesis, has been awarded a Special Jury Mention for Best Documentary Feature Film at the 16th Jaipur International Film Festival 2024.
This was Rahul’s first-ever film festival entry. Out of the 329 nominated films from a total of 63 countries, 64 films were awarded, and Rahul’s documentary was one of them, under the documentary feature and student category.
Taking an ethnographic approach, his documentary film looks at the events of 1984 in Punjab and Delhi through the lens of collective memory and generational trauma. It was made under the mentorship of Dr Prithvi Datta Chandra Shobhi, Dean and Associate Professor of History, SIAS, Krea University, and Professor Ramachandra Guha, Distinguished University Professor, Krea University.
Rahul acknowledges that their role has been crucial in the entire journey and extends his gratitude to the faculty of SIAS who encouraged and supported his vision.
Congratulations!
CWP Director, Dr Anannya Dasgupta is giving a talk titled The Process of Revision on 16 February, 2024 at the 2-Day National Seminar on Academic Writing and Strategic Publication for Research hosted by the School of Social Sciences and Languages VIT, Chennai.
On 10th February 2024, Dr Anannya Dasgupta conducted a workshop titled the other half of the half moon – haiku for psychotherapists. She teamed up with the psychotherapist Anchal Bhatnagar for this event.
In a video interview for Konversations By InsideIIM, Prof Lakshmi Kumar, Professor, Economics and Dean, IFMR GSB, Krea University talks about the current economic situation in the country, the situation around unemployment and inflation, and why she is concerned about whether growth will happen or not.
Prof Lakshmi Kumar talks about the importance of understanding economics and macroeconomics for an MBA student, and the ways in which she makes difficult financial concepts easier to understand for her students. She also talks about the importance of steady alumni support for a B-school, especially in times when the hiring is slow and the markets are down.
