Ahead of I-Day celebration, Researchers of IIT-KGP develops e-Classroom software for India academia - DEEKSHAK

Ahead of I-Day celebration, Researchers of IIT-KGP develops   e-Classroom software for India academia - DEEKSHAK

Deekshak is a low bandwidth web-based software and can be accessed using any computer or even a cell phone. Teachers can also record attendance of the students on the platform. 

Biswabrata Goswami

Hummingbird News           

MIDNAPORE, 14 AUG: Ahead of the Independence Day celebration,

researchers at IIT Kharagpur have once again come forward to resolve the nationwide online classroom learning process which most of the institutions are not equipped or updated with the new learning system.

They have developed an e-classroom software, DEEKSHAK, which they claimed that it would help conducting online teaching through which the teachers would be able to offer more personalized interaction while focusing better on the act of teaching.

With COVID-19 lockdown and social distancing, educational institutions across the world have shifted to electronic mode. Meeting softwares are being popularly used for online classes. But the users are frequently experiencing challenges with regard to security issues, and more importantly, operational requirements of an electronic classroom which is significantly different from a corporate meeting.

A team of researchers from IIT Kharagpur have developed a solution, an online synchronous e-teaching platform that primarily uses one way communication for bandwidth efficiency. The focus, hence instead of being, all students participating in a class as in meeting software, is on the teacher and the learning materials.

Prof. Raja Datta of Electronics and Electrical Communication Department with his postgraduate students developed the software, the current version of which can be used within a campus LAN.

Prof. Raja Datta

Talking about DEEKSHAK, he said, “It is now a single session platform where the teacher would concentrate on the screen with the teaching materials while being able to view queries on a live chat box where each student can send in their queries. Students also have access to a doubt box where they can click to “raise their hand” and wait for the teacher to address it, as is done in a physical classroom. Teachers can also share documents with the students through the platform and even update notes on the documents in real-time.”

Deekshak is a low bandwidth web-based software and can be accessed using any computer or even a cell phone. Teachers can also record attendance of the students on the platform. The software has been tested at IIT Kharagpur during the initial phase of social distancing with about 40 hours of classes being conducted with a total of approximately 300 students.

Director Prof. Virendra K Tewari said, “We need platforms addressing challenges faced by India and Deekshak is designed to cater to Indian academia, be it the bandwidth issue, or user interface or storage.    We are leaders in ICT and should find affordable solutions with social and commercial value. This is one clear goal I have set for IIT Kharagpur. DEEKSHAK is one step towards that goal through which the teachers would be able to offer more personalized interaction while focusing better on the act of teaching.”

IIT Kharagpur has applied for the copyright registration of DEEKSHAK and is in search of a start-up company for its maintainability. Further development of DEEKSHAK is also underway to improve its features and make it secure so that it can be made available for use in academia, confirmed Prof. Raja Datta.

ISKCON-Mayapur and Nabadwip celebrate Lord Krishna's birth with joy and reverence

 

ISKCON-Mayapur and Nabadwip celebrate Lord Krishna's birth with joy and reverence

Close to 50000 devotees from across the globe participated in the Janmashtami festivities, divine Appearance of Lord Sri Krishna, held at ISKCON headquarter at Sridham Mayapur via various online platforms, said Subroto Das, Head Media Communication.

Biswabrata Goswami

Hummingbird News        

                                                 

KRISHNAGAR, 12 AUG: The Covid-19 pandemic is changing the way, major festivals are being celebrated. Shri Krishna Janmashtami also took a virtual route this year in Nabadwip and Mayapur, famous for Vaishnava Dhams. 

Janmashtami celebrations witness lakhs of devotees visit various temples to offer their prayers and seek blessings. However, this year temples followed strict social distancing guidelines and devotees joined the celebrations from their homes - virtually.

Although, only a few selected devotees and pujaris were allowed to perform the rituals inside the Chandradaya temple in ISKCON, Mayapur due to restrictions on entrance but the enthusiasm amongst the devotees was no less.

Close to 50000 devotees from across the globe participated in the Janmashtami festivities, divine Appearance of Lord Sri Krishna, held at ISKCON headquarter at Sridham Mayapur via various online platforms, said Subroto Das, Head Media Communication.

As a precautionary measure, in wake of rising Corona virus cases in the Nadia district, the ISKCON Mayapur Management has decided to keep close the doors of the Chandradaya temple for a month, from 8th August. However the decision will be reviewed after 2 weeks. As per new decision no visitor, devotee and pilgrim will be allowed to enter the campus. Only the pujaris will carry out the regular services of the deities, Mr Das said.

The day began with Mangal Arti, Darshan Arti, lecture on Krishna Lila from Srimad Bhagwatam by His Holiness Jayapataka Swami. From 10 pm to 12 mid-night Mahabishek of the Utsav deity was performed using milk, honey, ghee, yogurt, fruit juices.

Later at midnight Maha Bhog was offered to the Lord. Throughout the day the devotees were fasting  and performed Kirtan and Bhajan. Each year more than a lakh people visit Mayapur during Janmashtami however it was a low key affair this time on ground.  In wake of the rising Corona virus cases in Nadia district, the Mayapur Management has kept closed the main gates of the campus for all devotees and visitors, Mr Das said.

He also said Janmashtami is an important festival for the Vaishnava community. The devotees prayed for well being of all. The devotees will celebrate Vyas Puja, appearance day of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, founder Acharya of International Society for Krishna Consciousness tomorrow morning.

In Nabadwip, Janmashtami was also celebrated amidst maintaining all rituals but with a few numbers of devotees who were allowed to get entry into the temples. Most of the devotees celebrated Janmashtami in their homes and shared photos and videos to their nearest ones.

The birth of Lord Krishna, believed to be the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu, is an annual Hindu festival celebrated as Janmashtami or Gokulashatami. It is usually observed on the eighth day or Ashtami of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Shravan or Bhadrapad. This year, Janmashtami celebrations began 11 August, with many also likely to celebrate it today. Krishna puja is usually conducted at midnight; the ritualistic puja includes 16 steps which are part of the Shodashopachara puja vidhi.

As per the Hindu tradition, Krishna is believed to have been born in Mathura at midnight on the eighth day of the Bhadrapada month. Immediately after his birth, his father Vasudeva took young Krishna across the Yamuna river to save him from uncle King Kansa and gave him to his foster parents in Gokul, Nanda and Yashoda. Legend goes that Kansa’s sister Devaki’s eighth son was prophesied to kill the cruel king. So Kansa locked Devaki and Vasudeva in the prison and started killing their sons one by one until Krishna was born.

On Janmashtami, therefore, idols of infant Krishna are washed, clothed and placed in a cradle. The devotees then break their fast and share foods and sweets with a special emphasis on milk products including makhan, milk and curd.