“Sanskriti’17 – Ancient Indian Science and Culture”
A State Level Competition for School Students
Indian Heritage Week : 19th – 25th Nov 2016
Event Date: Postponed from 20/Jan/2017. New Date will be announced soon.
The World Heritage Week which is celebrated all over the world between 19th November to 25th November. The vision is to increase awareness and encourage the young learners about the preservation and safety of the cultural heritages and monuments of the country. To live the ancient Indian culture, tradition and heritage, it is necessary to understand the science behind the variety of priceless cultural heritage and historical monuments; to know how they built these heritages without having any knowledge of so called advanced technology and without having sophisticated tools, machinery and systems.
Objective
- To create awareness about the ancient Indian scientific philosophies and culture.
- To promote our varied and rich ancient culture and traditions.
- To propagate the ethos of Ancient Indian Science and Culture.
- To encourage young learners to utilize modern technology sustainably with inspiration from past Indian Civilization and to carry out research in our Ancient Science and Culture.
Events and Description
KCT has taken the initiative to celebrate the World Heritage Week this year in the city by organizing a Science Contest for School Students from class 8th – 12th , by giving a Science touch to the historical structures of India, tourist places and cultural and traditional heritages of our country.
The human spirit in ancient India has given to the world, knowledge in fields like production technology, mechanical engineering, shipbuilding, navigation, architecture, civil engineering, medical science, physics, chemistry, logic, astronomy, mathematics and so on. There are many such instances in mostly all these fields. There is evidence that many elements in all these varied aspects of today’s global civilization owe their origin to ancient India.
In ancient India, unlike today, sophisticated tools, machinery and systems were unheard of. Yet there were numerous contributions that were made even in the absence of the above. In fact a lot of attention was given to every minute detail to make such contributions.
How were they able to build great monuments without any flaws , develop planned irrigation and sewage systems, treat many diseases, were able to do many surgeries like cataract and fractures that too without the advanced technology? This event will give students a platform to search the answer for these questions and will help them to use some of those techniques to create cost effective inventions in future.
Science Events
One of the oldest civilizations in the world, the Indian civilization has a strong tradition of science and technology. Ancient India was a land of sages and seers as well as a land of scholars and scientists. Research has shown that from making the best steel in the world to teaching the world to count, India was actively contributing to the field of science and technology centuries long before modern laboratories were set up. Many theories and techniques discovered by the ancient Indians have created and strengthened the fundamentals of modern science and technology. While some of these groundbreaking contributions have been acknowledged, some are still unknown to most.
This event will give students a chance to do research and to bring in light, the science and technology involved in ancient India.
- Model Making
Students shall do research about Science and technology in Ancient India and come up with a prototype model with posters on the mentioned theme.
- Students from 8th to 12th can participate
- Each team can have maximum of THREE participants.
- An abstract of not more than 300 words should be submitted to enter prelims.
- Selected Participant are requested to make a model related to the following topic and it should be showcased and presented in front of expert committee.
Topic:
Any model showcasing the Science associated with Indian Culture and Heritage.
Eg. architecture, medical science, irrigation system etc.
Some examples:
- The fact that the products like sugar, cotton (cloth), camphor, lac, glass, alloys of metals(e.g. Brass)were manufactured in ancient India, presumes that in those times Indians had some apparatus in place, and some knowledge of chemical engineering.
- The Gumbaz that we see on mosques all over the world originated as the interlocking dome in the “Stupa” of the Buddhist architectural tradition of India, which proves that they had the knowledge of civil engineering.
- The Jantar Mantar was constructed to calculate the date, day and time.
- Idea Presentation
Any explanation about science and technology used in ancient India on the mentioned topics can be described using a Power Point or a chart.
- Students from 8th to 12th can participate.
- Each team can have maximum of THREE participants.
- An abstract of not more than 300 words should be submitted to enter prelims
- Team selected for final round is to make presentation for 10 minutes using power point/ chart.
Topics:
- Architecture
- Irrigation and Drainage Systems
- Medical Science
- Costumes and Ornaments
- Agriculture
Description of Topics:
- Architecture
- Monuments of historic significance such as Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, Howrah Bridge.
- These monuments were built by emperors and rulers who although did not have the sophisticated technology that we have today, but had an eye for every detail of how it is to be constructed.
- Shah Jahan in fact severed the arms of his workers after the Taj Mahal was built, so that such engineering marvel could not be replicated again by another ruler/dynasty.
- The technical standardization enabled gauging devices to be effectively used in angular measurement and measurement for construction. Calibration was also found in measuring devices along with multiple subdivisions in case of some devices.
- Irrigation and Drainage System
- Sophisticated irrigation system, drainage systems and water storage systems were developed, unlike today.
- The Harappans in 2500 BC had a sewage system at their city of Mohenjo-Daro, and carefully laid out, straight streets.
- Medical Science
- Cataract is a treatment that was invented in India many years ago. Cataract surgery was known to the physician Sushruta (6th century BCE). Traditional cataract surgery was performed with a special tool called the Jabamukhi Salaka, a curved needle used to loosen the lens and push the cataract out of the field of vision.
- Ayurveda which is an ancient Indian medicine teaches doctors of the modern day era in what proportion herbs and other substances should be mixed together to form the correct composition of the medicine to cure diseases.
- Costumes and Ornaments
- Fibre for clothing generally used were cotton, flax, silk, wool, linen, leather, etc. One fragment of coloured cloth is available in evidences which is dyed with red madder show that people in Harappan civilisation dyed their cotton clothes with a range of colors. What technique did they used to dye the fabrics?
- They were very fond of jewellery. The ornaments include necklaces, bracelets, earrings, anklet, rings, bangles, pectorals, etc. which were generally made of gold, silver, copper, stones like lapis lazuli, turquoise, amazonite, quartz, etc. Alloys of Metals (e.g. Brass) were manufactured in ancient India, presumes that in those times Indians had some apparatus in place, and some knowledge of chemical engineering.
- Agricultural
- Methods of cultivating crops without modern and advanced machinery and technology.
- Several of the indigenous practices which were perfected centuries ago, such as the rotation of crops, the practice of drill husbandry etc. were relatively unknown in the 17th century Europe, and are often cited as the major advances achieved during the 18th century ‘agricultural revolution’ in Europe.
- Captain Thos Halcott, who was one of the earliest to take note of the practice of drill husbandry in India, in 1795, frankly acknowledged that:
‘Although, it [drill husbandry] has been practised under the eyes of everybody in the Guntoor Circar, no one that I mentioned to ever observed it before, nor did I observe it myself till lately.’
- Quiz
This event is organized to make students learn more about the culture and heritage, science and technology involved in ancient India.
- Students from 8th to 12th can participate
- Each team can have maximum of THREE participants.
- Questions will be related to ancient Indian culture and heritage.
Instructions:
- Preliminary and final rounds will be conducted during the event in KCT
- Rules will be announced just before the commencement of the Quiz
- Questions related to Ancient Indian Science
Arts Events – 3D
The diversity in India is unique. Being a large country with large population, India presents endless varieties of physical features and cultural patterns. It is the land of many languages. It is only in India, people professes all the major religions of the world. In short, India is “the epitome of the world”. The vast population is composed of people having diverse creeds, customs and colours.
Through this event we will be able to live the different culture of our country and feel proud.
- Dance
Dance is a series of movements and steps that match the speed and rhythm of music. Dance is a part of the rich cultural heritage of India. Its theme is derived from mythology, legends, classical literature, everyday life and nature. There are two main forms of dances classical and folk. So we are focusing on these two forms.
- Students from 8th to 12th can participate.
- Each team can have maximum of SIX participants for dance.
- Time limit will be 5-7 mins.
- Dance form: Indian Classical / Folk.
- No cine songs allowed.
- Perfect dress code is to be followed.
- Theme should be related to Ancient Indian Culture and Heritage.
Recognition:
The prizes will be given apart from the other recognitions mentioned below.
The winning team will be given an opportunity to showcase their talent in the proshow of KCT Yugam – Annual Inter College Techno Cultural Festival of KCT.
- Drama
The folklores and folktales have been an eternal part of every culture since ages. When it comes to Indian folk tales, the country of diverse religions, languages and cultures has a complete range of tales and short stories. Indian folklore has a wide range of stories and mythological legends, which emerge from all walks of life.
- Students from 8th to 12th can participate
- Each team can have maximum of SIX participants.
- Time limit maximum 10 mins.
- Theme is Indian Epics and Culture.
The winning group will be given an opportunity to showcase their talent in the proshow of KCT Yugam – Annual Inter College Techno Cultural Festival of KCT along with prizes.
- Drawing
Indian art consists of a variety of art forms. Pencil/Charcoal Art is one of the oldest drawing media, for instance, the ancient Nawarla Gabarnmang charcoal drawing (26,000 BCE) – and is commonly used by artists even today. Through is event we want student to use this art to exhibit our ancient culture.
- Students from 8th to 12th can participate.
- Drawing will be an individual effort and will be on the spot competition.
- Art style: Pencil sketching and charcoal Art.
- Theme: ON THE SPOT topic related to Ancient Indian Culture and Heritage.
- Participants must bring their own materials for drawing.
Winner, apart from prizes, will be given a chance to showcase his/her talent on a dedicated wall of the college.
Instruction for Participants
- Students should exhibit / present their ideas (Based on theme only) with one mentor/ team compulsory for Science Event. Mentor should be a teacher.
- Each participant has to register with us on the following link http://www.events.kct.ac.in/
- Registration fee is Rs.150 per participant.
- Payment is optional by either ONLINE or ON SPOT. for online payment: https://www.payumoney.com/events/#/buyTickets/sans16
- Lunch and refreshments will be provided to the participants at the venue.
Selection Process
- Teams should send the Soft copy of the Abstract of their ideas (Proposal, 300 words) to Convener (sanskriti16@kct.ac.in)
- Proposal will be evaluated and scrutinized by experts / Convener
- Selected proposals will be intimated to exhibit / present
- Announcements – 1st,2nd and 3rd prize winners + 2 Complementary prizes
Important information
Prizes worth: Rs.50, 000
Last date of submission of Abstract
(for Model Making and Idea Presentation) : 11/Jan/2017
Intimation of Acceptance
(Model Making / Idea Presentation/Dance) : 12/Jan/2017
Last date for Registration for all categories : 13/Jan/2017
Event Date : Postponed from 20/Jan/2017. New Date will be announced soon.
Registration fee : INR 150 / Participant
Contact Persons:
Dr. Vijeta Iyer, Assistant Professor – 9840164907
Dr. KR Aranganayagam, Assistant Professor – 9843353875
