A First of its kind Event
The Mylapore Trio’s brain child is “Knowledge
Swayamvaram” – An Innovative Event conducted on Sunday, 29th November,
2015, at their residence at Mandavelipakkam. Dr.S.Amarnath, (one of the Trio)
who is a Professor of History at Presidency College, Chennai, organized this
unique “Knowledge Swayamvaram” (Intellectual Academic Interaction) between his
M.Phil and Ph.D Research Scholars and Resource Persons, who were eminent Academicians,
Professors, Historians, artists in dance, music, arts & crafts. It was a first
of its kind event in which the researchers and the experts were brought under
one roof for intellectual match up. He has organized the same event earlier in
2011 and repeated once again now. In this novel venture, he was supported by
his brother Surendranath, sister Aparna and their foster son Sugathan.
The Eminent
Resource Persons were - Dr.S.Devaki, Former Prof. and HOD of History, Vellalar
College for Women, Erode. Dr.A.Chandrasekhar, Former HOD of History IDE,
University of Madras. Dr.Nalini Chandrasekhar, Former Editor, Madras Archives,
Dr.Vidya Sainath who is a Doctorate in Philosophy from Madras University also
an artist & a poet, Surendranath – a Masters in Vis.Com & an Art
Director, Aparna - A Chartered Accountant & a Banker, Sugathan – Masters in
Communication & a Journalist cum Dancer (Mylapore Trio & Sugathan are
alumni of Kalakshetra), Dr.Amudha is a
former student of Dr.Amarnath and has done wide research on Theatrical Arts in
Tamilnadu.
The research scholars included Ph.D and M.Phil scholars
of Dr.Amarnath & from the Tamilnadu State Archaeology Department, who are
doing research on various spectrums of Art and culture. They continue to work
on a variety of topics in history and archaeology and came from as far as
Dindigul and Thiruvannamalai.
Since Dr. Amarnath is a Cultural historian and an alumni
of Kalakshetra with a strong leaning towards dance, music and other art forms,
he feels the dire need to explore the cultural arena and bring it to the
academic platform, which has not been done significantly. Hence the students
are encouraged to quench their cultural thirst by taking up cultural topics
under the guidance of Dr.Amarnath. His students have done extensive research on
folk arts and were awarded the Ph.D degree for their ground breaking works on The
Folk Games of Tamil Nadu, Folk Theatre, Folk Music and Dance, Classical Bharatanatyam, Carnatic Music, Arts
and Crafts, Temple study, Heritage etc…
In spite of the rain scholars conglomerated to quench
their intellectual thirst and to satiate their hunger for knowledge. It was a
Satsung of Gurus and Sishyas held in a very Artistic Ambience and in a Serene
Atmosphere. This exclusive session began with an introduction of the
professionals and the students, followed by one to one interaction. The
resource persons, belonging to a spectrum of fields, so happened to be Primary
sources for the candidates, who ultimately catered to the scholarly needs of
the researchers. The event was a sort of Intellectual mating between the givers
and takers of knowledge. Each candidate was given an easy approach to meet
their respective specialist without much ado, which otherwise would not have
been easily possible. It was like the Mountain coming to meet the Prophet.
After two hours of solid discussion the session ended with a sumptuous High Tea.
According to the experts, it was a rejuvenating
experience in their academic career & felt happy to share their expertise,
knowledge and wisdom to the blooming historians and offered their services any
time required. The students on their part were very much thrilled about this
new concept of meeting great legends, who were simple and easily approachable.
They opined that it was indeed a “Knowledge Swayamvaram” between the seekers
& providers of information. At the end of the day, the students turned a
new leaf in their academic career.
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