Jadavpur University Alumni Association Hyderabad Chapter

JUAAH magazine - Latest Editions

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Megh Peon (Cultural)

 

From The Editor's Desk

There are journeys we choose, and then there are journeys that choose us, revealing their meaning only in retrospect.

Ours, I suspect, belongs to the latter.

At some indeterminate point between lecture halls and lifetimes, between youthful certainties and the slow negotiations of adulthood, we stepped out of Jadavpur University carrying more than just degrees. Some of us carried instincts, unarticulated then, but enduring. And, years later, scattered across cities and professions, one would imagine those trajectories to remain parallel, perhaps even indifferent to one another.

And yet, here we are, in a city far removed from where it all began, finding ourselves in each other’s orbit. I won’t say its because we once shared classrooms (most of us did not), nor because time placed us side by side (it did not), but because something far less tangible, and far more compelling, insists on continuity. A recognition, almost instinctive, that individual journeys need not remain solitary in their meaning. And thus, between who we were and who we are becoming, there exists a beautiful continuum. It is within this continuum that I find myself returning, time and again, to the idea of Purushartha - the four anchors of a life well-lived: Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha.

Artha was never merely about accumulation; it was the restless pursuit that took us outward, into professions, into cities, into versions of ourselves we had once only imagined. Kama, in its gentler articulation, found expression in the friendships we forged, the endless, sometimes irrelevant debates, the long, unproductive afternoons that, in hindsight, were anything but unimportant.

What is more intriguing is what follows.

At a stage where life could very well have remained comfortably self-contained, something shifts. One begins to look outward again, not in pursuit this time, but in extension. Time, experience, perhaps even a certain fatigue with self-sufficiency, whatever the cause, it finds articulation in acts that do not immediately return to the self. If that is not what we call as Dharma in motion, it is at least its echo for certain.

And Moksha that is so often framed as a distant, almost ceremonial culmination, according to me, is far less dramatic and uncomplicated in practice. It arrives, if at all, without announcement: in the unburdening that follows a small act of kindness, in the peculiar satisfaction of having been of use, in the kind of sleep that does not negotiate with the conscience.

Megh Peon finds its place somewhere within this unfolding.

I’d urge to consider Megh Peon not as a declaration, but as a gesture. A space where familiar, sometimes unfamiliar, names acquire texture, where distances collapse not geographically but narratively. In the absence of daily proximities, this becomes our way of knowing each other ever more, through reflections, recollections, hesitations, convictions. Through the written word, which has always had the peculiar ability to reveal more than conversation permits.

There is, of course, a certain irony in discovering one another only after decades of not having met at all. But perhaps that is precisely the point. Some associations do not belong to chronology; they belong to recognition.

If this magazine manages, even briefly, to hold that recognition, to carry a thought from one mind to another, to translate experience into something that lingers, then it has done more than enough.

The rest, as always, will find its way.

Humbly,

Aindrila Ghosal

Editor, Megh Peon

Symposium (Science)

 

From the Desk of President

It is with great pride and joy that I pen this message for the symposium volume on Popular science, an event that continues to uphold and celebrate the spirit of scientific inquiry among young learners.

I am pleased to welcome all the young minds of the twin cities of Hyderabad to our 13th Annual Science Symposium being held at IICT, Hyderabad. The Jadavpur University Alumni Association, Hyderabad has been taking up varieties of programmes and projects since its inception in Hyderabad. The University, Alumni Association has many of its members who are well established in their respective fields of Science and Technology. We felt that the University Alumni Association should take up projects and programs in the fields of science and Technology and thereby use our existing human resource for the benefits of our members and society in general.

In an era defined by rapid technological advancement, nurturing a scientific temperament from a young age is more important than ever. I commend the Science Symposium organizing committee, educators, and mentors for their tireless efforts in creating such an enriching and inclusive platform for budding scientists.

This year we are organising our symposium on 13th September, 2025 at IICT auditorium, Hyderabad. High school students of 8th to 12th standard attend the symposium where we create an interactive forum and platform in the hope of spreading awareness and popularising science. We hope to take this new step further in the coming years.

I am overwhelmed by the response we have got from speakers and the students alike. I am thankful to all the members of the science symposium committee who have made this possible.

We are profusely thankful to the Director, IICT who has given permission to organise the programme in IICT auditorium, Hyderabad. I would like to thank the sponsors / well wishers for their support to organise the symposium. To all the participants-may this experience ignite in you a lifelong passion for discovery and innovation. Remember, the future belongs to those who question, who
explore, and who dare to imagine.

Wishing the symposium continued success and lasting impact.

Aniruddha Sengupta,

President, JUAAH

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From the Desk of Convenor

It gives me immense pleasure to organise the 13th symposium on Popular Science on 13th September 2025 at CSIR IICT Auditorium, Hyderabad a celebration of curiosity, creativity, and scientific spirit among young minds. This symposium is more than just an event-it's a platform where ideas come to life, where questions matter more than answers, and where every experiment, observation, and presentation reflects the bright future of our scientific community. School is where the journey of discovery begins, and today, we are proud to witness our students stepping beyond textbooks and into the world of real science. We believe that nurturing scientific temper from an early age is essential for building a progressive society. Through this symposium, we aim to ignite a lifelong love for inquiry, problem-solving, and innovation.

Jadavpur University Alumni Association, Hyderabad chapter association has taken a humble approach to create an opportunity for the school students to listen and interact with masters in their respective fields directly through this symposium. The theme of the Symposium 2025 is “Space and Energy: Indian Perspective”. Accordingly, the speakers of this year have been thoughtfully selected. The first speaker is Dr. V. Ashok, former Associate Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, ISRO, Thiruvananthapuram, Keralato deliver a talk on “India's Moon landing, ongoing and future mission” in the above mentioned science symposium. He has made significant contributions to the successful missions of LVM3- Chandrayaan 3, Reusable Launch Vehicle technology demonstrator missions, Scramjet technology demonstrator missions, PSLV Aditya L1 mission, Test vehicle development projects, upcoming Gaganyaan missions and many others.

Our second speaker is Dr. Tata Narasinga Rao, former Director of the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI). Dr. Rao has published more than 190 research papers and filed/granted more than 20 international and Indian patents, several of which have been translated to technological developments. Dr. Rao is known for his nanomaterials research and solar energy materials, electro chemistry and bio sensors /devices. A recipient of numerous prestigious awards, both national and international arena, he is on the Boards of several international organizations, societies and scientific journals.

I am sure that the participating students will get benefitted, and also motivated in pursuing their studies and research in science and technology to make our beloved nation more developed in economy, self sufficient in science and technology. The one-day symposium includes talks by eminent speakers, poster competition, mobile science lab for a hands-on learning experience and Quiz
competition.

I on the behalf of Jadavpur University Alumni Association, Hyderabad Chapter extend my heartfelt thanks to all the participants, mentors, teachers, and organizing team members for their dedication and enthusiasm. Your contributions have made this event possible. I wish all the participating students to have fruitful interactions with the eminent speakers, mentors and fellow students and best wishes for the success of the symposium.

Dr. Chanchal Sarbajna,

Convenor & Vice President, JUAAH

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From the Desk of Co-Convenor

Our country of 1.5 billion people, has multiple unique and burning problems from all sections of life in her every nooks and corners. We can’t afford lavish funds to tackle each of the problems but have to innovate real solutions with minimal resources. To achieve the goal, one has to first realize the problem as ‘a problem’ and then the person has to exercise laser- focused attention and keen motivation to fish-out the solution from the murky waters. Innovation and a question, how effectively and with what minimal resources can I achieve the same, are the keys.

Keeping this in mind, Jadavpur University Alumni Association, Hyderabad (JUAAH) is organizing 13th Science Symposium in collaboration with CSIR-IICT, Hyderabad under CSIR’s JIGYASA program on 13th September 2025in IICT Auditorium. This year also the symposium calls for the Essay Competition with theme “Space and energy: India’s perspective” from the students of participating Schools. Idea is to carve out an easy, affordable solution with available technology related to space and energy against an often neglected, societal problem in India. We received very concentrated response from multiple schools. Students truly gave wonderful ideas, and innovative (theoretical) solutions and we found tough time to choose the winners.

We look forward to students’ active participation and hope they will have fun while learning new ideas during the symposium.

With warm wishes and regards.

Dr. Rajkumar Banerjee,

Co-Convenor, JUAAH

What binds us together?

Is it that spirit of restlessness which translates, no not into any jitteriness or disquietude but into activity – a constant endeavor for betterment? Perhaps guided by the same spirit our founder fathers – Rabindranath Tagore or Aurobindo Ghosh had set up the National Council of Education. It is duly transmitted to our DNAs however short the time a Jadav spends on the campus. Some of us left the university almost five decades ago while others just a few years back, yet those silent tugs at our heart strings can be felt wherever we are.
"Megh Peon (Earlier known as Sei Somoy)" for a creative space

And it is this spirit of restlessness which has inspired us to look beyond our annual literary magazine. Like the household spider relentlessly weaving its web, connecting however distant and disparate the objects are, we too want to reach out to every Jadav, even those at the farthest corner of the world with our e-magazine. Do read, contribute and spread the word…

We are all ex-students of the Jadavpur University, which is situated at the southern part of the metropolitan city Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. The origin of this institution dates back to 1905 when the then British Government decided to divide Bengal under the pretext of administrative reasons. People rose to the occasion in Bengal. Luminaries like Gurudev Rabindranath and Rashbehari Ghosh felt the necessity of having an educational system based on national ideals. Thus the National Council for Education, Bengal (N.C.E.Bengal) came into being on March 11, 1906. Subsequently, the Bengal National College was established on August 15, 1906 for teaching science and humanities and the Society for the Promotion of Technical Education founded the Bengal Technical Institute on July, 1910. This was merged afterwards with the N.C.E, Bengal. The present site of the Jadavpur University was obtained on lease from the Calcutta Municipal Corporation by N.C.E. The engineering college was shifted to this place in 1924 as the College of Engineering and Technology, Bengal (E.E.T Bengal). Shri Aurobindo Ghosh, who became famous later on as the great yogi of Pondicherry, was the founder Principal of this  college. After independence this institution gained the status of full-fledged university on December 24, 1955. The celebrated scholar Professor Triguna Sen took over the charge as the first Vice-Chancellor. Every year the university organizes its convocation on this day to commemorate the occasion. The university at present is divided into the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Arts. Each faculty governs a number of departments.
It is really amazing to see that top-graded engineers, linguists, historians, geologists, physicists, mathematician, chemists and pharmaceutical technologists are coming out from the same campus every year. Besides having degree colleges, the campus also houses a school and a number of well - equipped research laboratories (details available at the university website http://www.jadavpur.edu). It is indeed a privilege to get an opportunity to study at this institution.

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On the eve of the golden Jubilee (21 st December, 2005) of Jadavpur University, the Department of Posts Government of India issued a postage stamp in recognition of its educational contribution towards the country.

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