IIT Madras opens engineering pathways for students trained in traditional music

Chennai: Students trained in traditional music now have pathways to pursue engineering studies at IIT Madras, the institute’s director, Prof V Kamakoti, has said, calling on parents to encourage musical education from an early age.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the 93rd annual South Indian Music Conference and Festival organised by the Indian Fine Arts Society on December 17, Prof Kamakoti said music was deeply rooted in science, particularly mathematics. The Indian Fine Arts Society is among Chennai’s oldest cultural sabhas.

“We at IIT-Madras are working a lot on this,” he said, referring to the growing integration of music and scientific study.

To strengthen interdisciplinary learning, Prof Kamakoti said the institute was setting up a bamboo-based, microphone-free auditorium and was also in the process of establishing the Ilaiyaraaja Centre for Excellence in Music.

IIT Madras recently introduced a 'Fine Arts and Culture Excellence' (FACE) quota in admissions to undergraduate programmes, aimed at encouraging students who have excelled in these disciplines.

“We are focusing on interdisciplinary education at IIT-Madras,” he added. “Operation Sindoor is an example of this, as 10-11 disciplines of engineering were involved in that operation”

PTI