Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

A journey into the astro-world

Students of several schools and colleges in the city had the opportunity of viewing and understanding Moon, Venus, Saturn and Mars through telescopes at a programme on `astro physica' organised by the Department of Physics of the Lady Doak College on January 28 and 29.

The students were taken through an `astro-journey' that covered the Gemini and Ursa Minor by resource person from the Nehru Planetarium, S. Natarajan.

The sky and its wonders were explained to the students and their feedback was that the programme had quenched their academic thirst.

The Republic Day is always a colourful celebration. The Thiagarajar College of Engineering was the venue for a colourful cultural festival on January 24, organised by the third-year students to promote national integration and patriotism in the young minds, as part of the Republic Day celebration.

The annual event, `QUEST' (Quest for Understanding the Essence and Sanctity of the Tricolour), brought together both urban and rural school children. The focus of the festival was the `development of rural India' (`energising the Indian spine').

A total of 700 students from over 30 schools in and around Madurai participated and exhibited their talent with zeal and vigour.

The Mahatma Montessori Matriculation Higher Secondary School bagged the overall trophy. But a significant feat was the third place won by the students of St. Joseph's School for the Blind (Paravai).

The inaugural function was presided over by P. Vasimalai, Managing Director, Dhan Foundation. V. Abhai Kumar, Principal, and the college cultural convener, G. Kumaraguruparan, addressed the participants at the event, which also dealt with health hazards, science projects, road safety, electronics and farming techniques.

Any competition demands global thinking. The Information Technology boom has made geographical boundaries meaningless. Young friends must excel in their chosen field. This was the piece of advice given to the students by the Alagappa University Registrar, R. Dhandapani, while delivering the first annual convocation address at the Madurai Sivakasi Nadars Pioneer Meenakshi Women's College at Poovanthi recently.

Giving some tips on practical life, the chief guest exhorted women to contribute to the creation of an environment wherein love, harmony and mutual respect prevailed.

Degrees were conferred on successful candidates in the presence of the college committee chairman, D. Shenbagamoorthy, the secretary and correspondent, S. Annamalai, and the president, Madurai Sivakasi Nadar Uravinmurai, R. Kanagasabai.

The Department of Economics, Fatima College, conducted a seminar on `eco-consciousness and eco-friendliness' last week wherein issues of environment — regional, national and international — were discussed.

Students from eight colleges took part in the seminar, which was addressed by M. Ravichandran, Department of Economics, Bharathidasan University.

The current issue of genetically modified crops and bio-diversity were also covered. Competitions such as chart-making, quiz and clay-modelling were conducted at the seminar for the participants with an emphasis on the creation of environmental awareness.

Lilly Kutty, Vice-Principal, urged the students to be eco-friendly and respect life in all forms. Shyamala, Head, Department of Economics, dealt with contemporary issues on environment.

Stories in this Section

• Rail passenger traffic on rise in Madurai division
• Ideal home exhibition from tomorrow
• Vaigai reclamation project works expedited
• Encroachments removed
• Takes over
• Around The City
• In Madurai Today
• A journey into the astro-world

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