After racist remark row, Kalamandalam admits students across genders
IIT-Delhi unveils executive programme in robotics
In a path-breaking move, Kerala Kalamandalam, the prestigious deemed-to-be university for art and culture, decided on Wednesday to admit students to its various courses regardless of gender.
An executive meeting held on campus unanimously approved the decision, which will be implemented in the next academic year, the university registrar said in a statement.
With this decision, men, women and transgenders can now enrol in all the courses offered by Kalamandalam, including classical dance forms such as "Mohiniyattam," which had been strictly reserved for women until now, a Kalamandalam source said.
The executive meeting was attended by vice-chancellor B Ananthakrishnan and various dance exponents, including Kalamandalam Gopi, Kalamandalam Kshemavathi, Dr Neena Prasad and so on.
The eminent institution
The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITDelhi) has launched the Executive Programme in Robotics, aimed at providing professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge required to thrive in the ever-evolving field of robotics. By doing so, it aims to promote innovation and leadership within the industry, an official statement said.
According to the press release from IIT-Delhi, the Executive Programme in Robotics is designed to meet the changing needs of automation by leveraging the latest technologies. It offers a combination of management insights and technical expertise to help professionals become effective leaders, increase productivity, and drive growth.
The five-month programme comprises 120 hours of online learning and covers the fundamentals of robotics, including mechanical components, sensors, and artificial intelligence. The programme will be conducted via the state-ofthe-art Interactive Learning (IL) platform and delivered in Direct-to-Device (D2D) mode.
Learners will also be introduced to the practical applications of robotics in healthcare, manufacturing, and other industries. took the historic decision at a time when the state has been witnessing a raging row over recent racist remarks made by a senior Mohiniyattam dancer against a fellow artist on a YouTube channel.
As the video of the racial remarks by Sathyabhama went viral on social media and was aired on news channels last week, noted Mohiniyattam dancer Dr RLV Ramakrishnan had alleged that her comments were directed at him, and threatened to initiate legal action against her.
The video and her subsequent statements defending what she had said were severely criticised by many on social media, cutting across political lines.
The Kerala Kalamandalam, a premier public institution that preserves Kerala's artistic heritage, had also condemned Sathyabhama's remarks.
Ramakrishnan performed "Mohiniyattam" at Kalamandalam on Tuesday after being invited by its student's union.
Speaking on the announcement, Prof Arnab Chanda, IIT-Delhi, said, "Robotics and AI are transforming industries all over the world. The impact of robotics can be seen in various fields such as manufacturing, medicine, logistics, agriculture, defence, and more. To keep up with the technological advancements in this field, IITDelhi's Executive Programme in Robotics is a unique opportunity for professionals, engineers or entrepreneurs. This programme provides learners with a comprehensive understanding of the latest advancements in robot design, control systems, and artificial intelligence."
Prof Biswarup Mukherjee, IIT-Delhi said, "The Executive Programme in Robotics offers more than just traditional classroom teaching. Participants get hands-on experience and exposure to real-world applications of robotics technology. This programme enables them to create robotic devices from scratch, implement programming, and effectively utilise the operating system. It is a significant aspect of learning, equipping participants with practical knowledge and skills."
The robotics market is estimated at US$45.85 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $95.93 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 15.91% during the forecast period (2024-29).