Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny weather and clear skies.
🧐 Did you know? Chennai has a rich history with biodiversity. Some of its localities, like Purasawalkam, Pulianthoppu, Perambur, and Mandaveli, are named after plants. These were some of the places that stood out due to their vegetation.
🧑🏫 Poor enrollment in some courses
Madras University is unable to cancel courses with low enrollment.
What’s it about? Currently, there are about a dozen courses at the university with single-digit enrollments, and they aren’t able to cancel them. Despite discussions on the matter, there hasn’t been a consensus on what to do. Some oppose cancellation.
- For the 2022-23 calender, only one student enrolled in the Masters of Buddhism course against a sanctioned strength of 60. For the postgraduate course in Saiva Sidhhantha Philosophy and Practice, only 4 students enrolled with 30 sanctioned seats.
- Similarly, courses in Sanskrit, Hindi, and Vaishnavism have only four, three, and seven students, respectively, against a sanctioned strength of 10 each. To teach only a handful of students, each course has at least two faculty members.
Why the low numbers? University officials said the demand for language and religious thought courses has been declining. Demand for MSc in Yoga, MA in Development Administration, and MSc in Material Science courses are low. There’s a fear that shutting down these will result in opposition from some students.
💻 Cashing in their chips
A startup bets on the necessity for powerful processors for new AI algorithms.
What’s it about? Colleagues TR Shashwath and Sharan Jagathrakshakan saw the need for processors to drive AI algorithms. The hardware was too expensive or didn’t meet their needs. They decided to start Mindgrove Technologies to make systems-on-chips (SoCs). With guidance from IIT Madras and its director V Kamakoti, the first chips will be released this August.
- The company’s three SoC series are designed exclusively for edge signal processing and vision applications, promising high performance with low power. It’ll have the Shakti microprocessor, the first Indian open-source microprocessor.
- The chips can be used in biometric devices and consumer electronics. Several companies have signed on to evaluate the chips once released. The design is complete, and Mindgrove is waiting for a manufacturing slot.
Journey and need: The company began with a ₹50 lakh grant from Pravartak and set up its office at the IIT Madras research park. It later secured $2.3 million in seed funding. The demand for high-performance chips is higher than ever, with very few homegrown companies in this sector. The ones present aren’t able to compete with Chinese chips and American R&D.
😋 54 years of Vasanta Bhavan
For more than half a century, the restaurant has had quite a journey expanding globally.
Story so far: A Muthukrishnan, a farmer from Tirunelveli, migrated to Sri Lanka in the 1960s and worked at an eatery. Learning from his experience, he later came to Chennai and opened a sweets and savouries outlet. In 1969, the first Vasanta Bhavan opened in Trichy. The first one in Chennai was opposite Egmore station in 1974.
- The restaurant now has 26 outlets in Chennai and Trichy. This includes its specialised restaurants VB Signature, and the latest VB World in Anna Nagar, which offers special dishes, including north and south Indian cuisine. It also has 16 outlets abroad.
- The company had some trouble along the way. Its business boutique hotel, The Spring, was shut in 2020 due to the pandemic. Another restaurant closed due to low revenue.
What’s next? The company is now diversifying a new coffee shop called ‘Cones and Brew’. It’ll offer continental and Indian food. There’s also the new 140-room three-star hotel on Jawaharlal Nehru Road, which will have new technology like QR-enabled room access.
🌳 Spotlight on a tree
A rosy trumpet tree in Mylapore is in the news as it was noticeably in bloom.
What’s it about? The tabebuia rosa, aka the rosy trumpet tree, has lodged itself on D’Silva Road in Mylapore, an unlikely address for this species. Over the past week, the tree has been in bloom, with the surroundings matted with its trumpet-shaped, rose-coloured flowers.
- The tree isn’t native to this environment. It belongs to the neotropics, defined by the South American landmass. It’s suited to live in temperatures ranging from 20 to 30 degrees Celsius.
- This tree has somehow adapted itself to local conditions and the higher temperature. It’s uncertain how well it’ll continue to thrive since it’s far from its usual biodiversity habitat.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you ever bought a second-hand product?
- Yes, I have bought a second-hand product.
- No, I’ve never bought a second-hand product.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What’s the best birthday gift you’ve received?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Chennai Corporation continues its drive to increase green cover with more trees in parks.
- The Shirdi Shub Yatra train bookings have begun with the Bharat Gaurav scheme from Chennai to Shirdi.
- A new boxing stadium will come up in Gopalpuram.
- Mylapore MLA Dha Velu assured Marina Loop Road fish hawkers that the new fish market would be ready in six months.
- Chennai will host the 2023 edition of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I go into the water when I’m on a beach: 50.0% 🏆
- I don’t go into the water when I’m on a beach: 50.0% 🏆
That’s it for today. Have a great day!