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It was a meeting of minds – literally. Dr S Amarnath, a professor of History at Presidency College, Chennai, organised a ‘Knowledge Swayamvaram’ (intellectual academic interaction) at his residence recently between his Ph.D. research scholars and resource persons.
It was a first-of-its-kind event in which the researchers and experts - eminent academicians, professors, historians, doyens in dance, music, arts and crafts - were brought under one roof for intellectual match-up.
Eminent academicians like Dr Nirmala Thyagarajan, former principal and joint director of collegiate education, Leela Ganapathi, former professor and HoD, Department of History of Arts, Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai, Dr Devaki, former professor 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, and distinguished personalities in the field of Bharatanatyam from Kalakshetra, (who had been closely associated with Rukmini Devi) Prof Jayalakshmi and Savithri Jagannatha Rao, were on the panel.
The two-hour swayamvaram session began with an introduction of the professionals and the students. The resource persons were primary sources for the candidates. The event was a sort of intellectual mating between the givers and takers of knowledge. Each candidate was given an easy approach to meet his/her specialist.
According to the experts, it was a rejuvenating experience in their post-academic career and they felt happy to share their expertise, knowledge and wisdom. The students were thrilled about this new concept of meeting the legends. They opined that it was indeed a ‘Knowledge Swayamvaram’ between seekers and providers of information.
In this novel venture, Prof Amarnath was supported by his brother Surendranath and sister Aparna - the Mylapore Trio running the Sri Sumukhi Rajasekharan Memorial Foundation.
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