Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: High: 39 ℃ | Low: 28 ℃ | Hot and humid for the day!
🧐 Did you know? Over 100 years ago, as World War I began, Chennai was the only Indian city attacked by the German light cruiser that knocked down shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean.
🎭 Keeping classical dance and music alive
Pracheen Kala Kendra will work with Chennai artists and scholars to help preserve classical music and dance.
What’s it about? Based out of Chandigarh, Pracheen Kala Kendra has dedicated their work to preserving and promoting Indian classical arts. They’re currently imparting training and education under the ancient Gurukul Parampara in subjects like classical dance and music. The organisation has its sights on Chennai and the South.
- The Kendra will work with affiliated study centres and cultural centres in the city to give artists and promising students a platform to showcase their talents.
- It’s already in the process of collaborating with city artists and scholars to accelerate Kendra’s activities and goals for Chennai. It recently conducted “Spandan” in the city with classical musical performances.
Its work: The organisation has about 3,800 affiliated study centres in India and abroad. Its curriculum includes South Indian music, vocal, instrumental, and classical dances like Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi.
👩💻 Blockchain for campus elections
IIT Madras used blockchain technology to conduct its recent student body elections.
What’s it about? The initiative to use blockchain for the elections was led by students of “Webops and Blockchain Club” at the Centre for Innovation at IIT Madras. According to them, this voting technology is one among various uses of blockchain to revolutionise existing practices.
- The idea was originally a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative to address challenges posed by the pandemic. Specifically in accessing medical records and tracking health conditions.
- Concerning security, since the elections are done online, the team believes the system is impossible to hack. Hackers would need to gain 50% control of the network’s nodes simultaneously.
Future applications: Using blockchain can help streamline voting processes in the future. It can facilitate online remote voting.
🏛️ Curating the Freedom Museum
The government has asked citizens to donate artefacts to the upcoming Freedom Museum.
What’s it about? The 80,000 square feet museum at Humayun Mahal opposite Marina Beach is taking shape. The museum was announced by Chief Minister MK Stalin as a tribute to Tamil contributors to the freedom struggle. The government has requested citizens to donate any artefacts that would fit the museum’s theme and purpose.
- The museum’s collection will be a mix of canons, armoury, and other objects the government possesses and contributions from the public, like old manuscripts, newspapers, postal stamps, etc.
- Donors can drop off their contributions at the Government Museum or any of the 23 district museums across the state. They’ll be given acknowledgement certificates.
Curation: The museum will have six halls focussing on the pre-Gandhian era, 1857, and the contributions of women. N Sundararajan of the Government Museum said there are many artefacts in old houses that people can donate since they don’t know what to do with them.
🚍 LNG buses
The state is expected to launch two LNG-powered buses on a trial basis.
What’s it about? The Tamil Nadu transport department will soon launch two buses powered by LNG on a trial basis. The Villupuram division of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) will introduce one on a mofussil route, and the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) will launch the other on a city route.
- The conversion of buses into LNG is underway in Villipuram. The target is 5.7 km per litre. Once the trial is over, officials will decide whether to continue and expand the service.
- An LNG bus can cover 850-900 km with a 180 kg cryogenic tank at full capacity. This may vary depending on the number of passengers. The transport corporations couldn’t maintain the 5.7 km mileage of diesel buses due to overcrowding.
Increased expenses: Transport undertakings have incurred losses mostly due to increasing expenditure on fuel, maintenance, wage revisions, etc. In January 2018, diesel was ₹63.5 per litre. Now, it’s over ₹90 per litre, but the cost of a ticket hasn’t changed.
📊 Today’s Poll
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- I pursued commerce in high school.
❓ Today’s Question
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🗞️ In other news…
- The Chennai Corporation has asked officials to prepare for summer rains and mobilise support for low-lying areas.
- The Metrowater has prepared a contingency plan to refurbish borewells to meet the water demand.
- Fishermen at Kasimedu have begun to build longer boats for better tuna catches.
- The Chennai Traffic Police have warned of action against unauthorised stickers on vehicles.
- Photographer Kirthana Devdas showcased her work and discussed her journey at the Chennai Photo Biennale Lighthouse.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!