Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar (IIT-Gn): India Ki Khoj kicks off

The second edition of India Ki Khoj — a popular academic module of the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar (IIT-Gn) —kicked off on Wednesday. The nine-day event is designed to help overseas students develop an understanding and appreciation of the multiple layers of India.

As part of the India Ki Khoj programme, 15 students from California Institute of Technology (CALTECH) and IIT-GN will embark on a nine-day journey across the country.

During their voyage, the students would be introduced to Indian mythology, art and craft, classical music, popular culture, religion, philosophy, architecture, civilisation, politics, business, etc.

Some of the brightest minds in the country are expected to enlighten the students by sharing their thoughts and experience on multiple subjects.

K J Alphons Kannanthanam, who pioneered the literacy movement in India, professor Neelkanth Chhaya of CEPT (Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology), Santosh Desai, MD and CEO of brand consulting firm Future Brands, and social activist Sandeep Pandey among others are expected to grace the occasion.

At the inaugural session on Wednesday, philosopher, writer and social activist Roop Rekha Verma delivered a lecture on India as a country of extremes, diversity and contradiction. “It is important to identify individuals. To identify the country as individuals are building blocks of the country,” said Verma, adding that knowing a nation was more a task of knowing its people rather than knowing different structures.

Verma’s address was followed by an equally interesting session from Amruta Patil, a graphic novelist, who casts mythology into new forms of graphic art.