Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: It’s going to be sunny with clear skies.
🧐 Did you know? Chennai is home to two of the oldest educational institutions teaching English in Asia. The St Mary’s Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School in George Town was established more than 175 years ago, and St George’s Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School in Shenoy Nagar more than 300 years ago.
🍻 The Beer Bus
The Beer Bus is an attempt to attract tourists to Puducherry from Chennai.
What’s it about? For beer enthusiasts, there’s a new initiative that will begin on April 22. Initiated by the Catamaran Brewing Company, the Beer Bus is a one-day packaged round trip from Chennai to Puducherry that will operate on weekends.
- The package includes a guided tour of the company’s microbrewery followed by a three-course meal and bottomless beer of choice. The company has partnered with a luxury bus operator to transport groups of 35-40 in an air-conditioned Volvo bus.
- The tour will operate on weekends. The group will be picked up from Chennai at 10.30 am and return at 9 pm. Beer won’t be served on the bus due to government rules.
Who said what? Rangaraju Narayanasamy, partner of Catamaran Brewing Company, said IT professionals and MNC employees are the target groups. He said that based on the response and feedback, the trip could be extended to holidays and midweek. He also said other cities like Bengaluru could be an option.
👩🏫 New-age education model
IIT-Madras is developing a VR/AR-based learning tool for rural schools.
What’s it about? Researchers at IIT Madras are experimenting with Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality-based technology to develop teaching and learning models for schools in rural areas. It could help bridge the digital divide between urban and rural students.
- The goal is to have VR-enabled immersive learning environments where students can learn subjects like social sciences, history, and languages. This will be done through digital storytelling and games.
- An AR-based app called MemoryBytes has been developed by project coordinators Dr Merin Simi Raj and Dr Avishek Parui. It provides an interactive, animated, and augmented experience of photos and maps.
Who said what? Professor Mahesh Panchagnula from IIT Madras said this could redefine and revolutionise education for students in rural India by using AR and VR to create immersive environments.
👨🏭 Harman’s new facility
The automotive electronics tech company opened its new engineering centre in Chennai.
What’s it about? The automotive technology company, also a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, will have its new centre operational by the second quarter of this year. It’s located at RMZ One Paramount in Porur and will initially have 200 employees.
- The centre will cater to both Indian and global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). It’ll work in tandem with the Pune and Bengaluru centres to develop advanced automotive technologies.
- By opening a centre in Chennai, the company hopes to tap into the city’s rich pool of automotive engineers and researchers.
India operations: The company’s India R&D centre opened in 2009 with 10,000 employees. The Indian teams work to make products across platforms like car audio and telematics for Indian companies like Tata and Maruti and global OEMs.
👨🍳 Hyatt’s collaboration with MasterChef contestant
Park Hyatt Chennai inaugurated chef Loki Madireddi’s two–week residency at the hotel.
What’s it about? The Chennai hotel kicked off chef Madireddi’s two-week residency as part of the “Australia & India – Friendship Through Food” discussion. The event also included a food tasting by the chef with the Australian Consul General for South India, Ms Sarah Kirlew, and hotel officials in attendance.
- Chef Madireddi is a past contestant on the popular MasterChef Australia series. His residency will include degustation curated as train journeys through India, bar food, and classic Australian backyard barbeque for Sunday brunch.
- Among the events organised are Journey Along The Silk Route with Asian street food, Dinner on Alleppey Express for a culinary journey from Chennai to Alleppey, and Dinner on Chennai Express as an ode to the city.
Who said what? Chef Madireddi said the residency is an opportunity to showcase Indian flavours from his childhood with native Australian ingredients.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Did you study in a private or a government school?
- I studied in a private school.
- I studied in a government school.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What’s the weirdest food you’ve eaten, and where was it?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- The Metro will have a double-decker line and run above the MRTS in Adambakkam.
- A lakefront development project is on hold after the Water Resource Department has listed conditions to fulfil.
- Daily Thanthi education expo saw thousands of students and over 60 colleges participate.
- Chennai Corporation identified over 1,600 buildings with unauthorised building plans.
- Bus shelters in the city lack comfort and accessibility.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I did get tickets for an IPL match this season: 12.5%
- I didn’t get tickets for an IPL match this season: 87.5% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
Who was your favourite cartoon character growing up, and why?
Thiru: “SWAT Kats”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!