IIT Gandhinagar invites applications for M.Sc in cognitive science with monthly scholarships

Biswabrata Goswami

Hummingbird News  

GANDHINAGAR, 7 January : Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar is inviting applications for its M.Sc. in Cognitive Science. The discipline of Cognitive Science is a steadily growing interdisciplinary field consisting of philosophy, psychology, computer science, neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence.

Now, more than ever, Cognitive Science is growing as a discipline of utmost importance with applications in every major field. The Institute has a state-of-the-art Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, which conducts high-quality research in the frontier areas of cognitive science on various cutting-edge topics such as perception, curiosity, attention, motor learning, decision making, prosthetics, rehabilitation, robotics, consumer behavior, multisensory perception, music cognition, and tactile perception, among other areas.

Respecting the multidisciplinary spirit,this course offers students the flexibility to tailor the course according to their interests. Students are encouraged to take courses from other disciplines, creating a vibrant learning environment.

The students of M.Sc. in Cognitive Science come from a variety of disciplines ranging from psychology, physics, engineering, life sciences and philosophy, among other fields, creating an atmosphere of curiosity and collaboration throughout the course. This course transcends traditional academic boundaries through rigorous multi-disciplinary coursework, focused faculty-mentored projects, exciting summer internships, and an in-depth dissertation.

The Institute is also calling for applications for the Masters in Society and Culture, a unique program that provides students (from any disciplinary background) breadth and focus in the key disciplines within the Humanities and Social Sciences.Successfully running since 2013, students of the MA programme have made their careers in diverse job sectors ranging from prominent media and communication houses, leading NGOs to doctoral students, currently pursuing their PhDs in the United States and Canada.

The deadline for both M.Sc. (Cognitive Science) and M.A. (Society and Culture) is 31st January 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both admission tests and interviews for the courses will be conducted online. Applications for these two courses can be obtained from the following link - https://admissions.iitgn.ac.in/loginindex.php

 

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Subhendu slams Mamata Banerjee without taking her name for the first time over outsider issue 

Biswabrata Goswami

Hummingbird News  

HALDIA, 15 DEC: The rebel Trinamul Congress leader, Subhendu Adhikari, today, for the first time slammed Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee without mentioning her name over the insider-outsider debate and said those coming from other states cannot be branded as outsiders, echoing the views of the saffron party.

In Jalpaiguri, Miss Banerjee has asked voters to create a mandate against the “outsider” BJP, claiming that the party is trying to destroy the state with their “divisive politics”. The Trinamul Congress supremo further said that both BJP and RSS are “not the real Hindus” as they only spread hatred.

“Despite doing so much for the people in North Bengal, we have not won a single seat from North Bengal. Why? How come BJP, who came from outside, won all the seats? What was our fault in the last 10 years? The RSS and BJP are trying to take control over Bengal for their vested interest. They are not the real Hindus. They are not Ramakrishna or Vivekananda as they only spread hatred,” said Banerjee while addressing a public rally in Jalpaiguri district today.

Adhikari, who resigned from the cabinet last month and relinquished two administrative posts, was addressing the birth anniversary celebrations of freedom fighter Satish Chandra Samanta at Haldia in East Midnapore.

Speaking at the gathering, he said, “I am first an Indian and then a Bengali.”

Referring to the insider-outsider debate triggered by the TMC leadership to counter the BJP in the next assembly polls, Adhikari said, Bengal is very much a part of India and “people coming from other states can’t be treated as outsiders.”

“Satish Chandra Samanta was a stalwart parliamentarian from Midnapore. Even the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru used to respect him a lot. Neither Satish Chandra Samanta ever called Nehru an outsider nor did Nehru ever brand him as a non-Hindi speaking MP. There was mutual respect,” he said.

Samanta had quit Bengal Engineering College as a student to participate in the freedom struggle. His leadership qualities came to the forefront during the formation of a parallel government named Tamralipta Jatiya Sarkar (Tamrlipta National Government) in Tamluk during the Quit India Movement. After Independence, Samanta was a Member of Parliament for over three decades. Hitting out at the TMC leadership, Adhikari said, “Why should there be a “by the party, for the party of the party” rule in Bengal? This is democracy. We need to restore the rules as per the Indian Constitution which states “by the people, of the people and for the people”... I am not greedy for posts. All my life, I have worked for the masses.”

Senior TMC leaders said in private that Adhikari is specifically unhappy with Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee and election strategist Prashant Kishor who was roped in by the chief minister after the BJP won 18 of the state’s 42 Lok Sabha seats in 2019.

While speaking at the rally, Adhikari made significant remarks saying, “Those who insulted me will face the same fate as Anil Basu, Benoy Konar and Laxman Seth when people cast their votes in a few months.” The three CPI-M leaders he mentioned faced electoral defeat and disciplinary action as well.

“One must remember that the land agitation at Nandigram was a people’s movement and not that of an individual or any party,” Adhikari said at the programme.

He also said that those trying to malign him will get a befitting reply in the 2021 assembly polls.

“There are few people who are trying to malign me by saying I had yearned for posts. I want to tell them that they will get a befitting reply in the next assembly polls,” he said without naming anyone.

Adhikari also said, “I have been attacked 11 times recently. I want to tell my critics that I have people with me and these people have come for the connection I have with them.”

He further said that repeated attacks on him won’t deter him from taking a stand.

Meanwhile it is hearsay that Adhikari is all se to join the BJP during Union Home minister Amit Shah’s visit to the poll-bound state later this week.

There were strong rumours that he would switch over to the saffron camp ever since he challenged the TMC leadership last month and peace talks failed to bridge the differences.

“Adhikari will announce himself when he will join the BJP. The TMC and Prashant Kishor will soon witness many more joining the saffron camp because of the policies being followed by the ruling party,” said Kanishka Panda, an Adhikari aide who was expelled from the TMC two days ago. He was the TMC’s general secretary in East Midnapore.

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Tears coming down from the eyes of Jagaddhatri carrying a baby which symbolises as life : Artist themes on Global war

Biswabrata Goswami

Hummingbird News

KRISHNAGAR, 21 NOV: Krishnagar for the first time in its history is celebrating its grandest festival Jagaddhatri puja amidst the Covid-19 outbreak and the celebrations this year is slightly different from the past years.

Each year, pandal hoppers and people from outside Krishnagar manage to catch a glimpse of varied themes of puja pandal along with traditional forms of pujas in various Baroaries. But, this year, among the most sought after themes of Jagaddhatri puja pandals across the town, a puja committee at Chowrastha in Krishnagar has themed their celebration on Global war like situation where Jagaddhatri has been symbolized as Mother (Earth) carrying a baby (life) who is shown very much worried on nuclear war.

The Mother (Jagaddhatri) appeals to all to keep peace failing which life will no longer withstand on the earth. The Mother is also shown holding the earth in her two hands with tears coming down from her eyes, the implication being that if the war-war situation is aggravated, she will be life-less. The artist Debabrata Malakar has modeled the idol with his own innovative ideas.

Prof. David J Gross, Nobel Laureate and Chancellor’s Chair of Theoretical Physics, University of California, had recently told at the IIT-Madras convocation that the world is undergoing rapid change and as the event of the last few months show, no one can predict what will happen next week, much less beyond that. 

On Covid-19 pandemic, he said many scientists predicted that such a pandemic would inevitably arrive and yet their warnings were largely ignored.

“Similarly, many scientists warn of impending disasters of global warming, climate change. Yet, these warnings have not been sufficiently addressed. I take this occasion to warn all of the continuing and indeed worsening danger of nuclear weapons whose use could destroy all life on the planet. We must not ignore it”, he said.

Malakar, who has tried to focus his idea through his model is similar to that of the warning which has already been addressed by the Nobel laureate.  

Jagadhatri Puja is the most important festival celebrated after Durga Puja, Laxmi and Kali Puja in Krishnagar. This year, several restrictions on celebrating puja festivities have been imposed to prevent the spread of Covid infections. Amidst this situation several baroaries and club committees have arranged pujas after keeping Covid protocols in mind.

Police bans traditional Jagaddhatri idol immersion process in Krishnagar to prevent Covid infections

Mr Ghosh also said, “If any puja organizer violates the high court guidelines and covid protocols, we will take legal action against them.”

Biswabrata Goswami

Hummingbird News 

KRISHNAGAR, 20 NOV: Considering the guidelines enacted by the Kolkata High Court over some restrictions on puja festivities to curb the spread of Covid infections, the Krishnagar police district has banned immersion procession with ‘Saang’(a structure made by bamboos to place the idols on it before moving for immersion).

Superintendent of police, Krishnagar PD, Biswajit Ghosh said, “Carrying idols with saang on shoulders of bearers is completely banned as this type of immersion procession will violate the very motive of the High Court guidelines. We cannot allow the puja organizers to conduct such a traditional immersion process for this year only after considering the ongoing pandemic situation.”

Mr Ghosh also said, “If any puja organizer violates the high court guidelines and covid protocols, we will take legal action against them.”

During the Kali puja, same restrictions and covid protocols were imposed while a puja committee of Harijan Palli deliberately violated the guidelines and took out procession carrying idols with saang on the shoulders of the carriers. 

“We have initiated a case against the puja committee and charges under section 188 of Indian Penal Codes for violating court order and government order and sections under epidemic act have been slapped against the committee members”, a senior police officer said.   

This apart, the Krishnagar police district has also imposed some restrictions while conducting Jagaddhatri puja. In this respect, the Krishnagar police district had conducted a meeting with puja organizers and ruling party leaders where Mr Ghosh had clearly mentioned that all puja pandals should be declared as a containment zone. “In case of smaller puja, maximum 20 persons shall be allowed (not more than 15 persons at a time) and in case of big puja pandal, maximum 60 persons shall be allowed (not more than 45 persons at a time)”, Mr Ghosh said.

While informing about immersion related guidelines, Mr Ghosh said, “No carnival programme will be allowed. No procession will be allowed for immersion of idols. Band parties and lighting arrangements will not be allowed on the way to immersion ghat. The shortest possible route from pandal to immersion ghat shall be taken for the purpose of immersion.”

Meanwhile, a considerable number of Krishnagar people want to conduct their ‘traditional way of immersion process’ i.e. carrying idols with saang on shoulders of carriers. Most of the puja committees had appealed to the SP, Mr Ghosh. In this regard, the ruling party leaders who are patronizing several baroari and club pujas are in trouble as this ‘saang issue’ has become a sentimental issue before them ahead of the assembly polls. The BJP leaders have kept close watch on this matter and they are looking for how the ruling party leaders manage the issue.   

Stinking menace during the pandemic in Midnapore town 

Biswabrata Goswami

Hummingbird News 

MIDNAPORE, 18 NOV: The official website of Midnapore municipality is a classic example of hypocrisy and duplicity as regards the waste and garbage disposal of the town by its sanitation and conservancy department.

The condition of the sludge deposited drains by the side of the narrow lanes and bye-lanes, huge dumps of garbage and flying plastic wastes almost all around the town show how the department responsible for the clearance and disposal of garbage let alone recycling of wastes, is functioning.

In the website of the municipality it is proudly stated: “Main objective of the sanitary department is to clean and clear the municipal area…. Clean the roads and the drainage system, maintain drainage systems and proper disposal of garbage. The department of sanitation directs all activities related to garbage collection, disposal, recycling, and street cleaning, including registration of new garbage and recycling cans.”

After stating its laudable objectives, the services to be rendered by the department to the citizens are listed, and in point no.4, it is stated “Disposal of the garbage outside the town” is one of the services, which the municipality has to provide to the taxpayers.

One one has to visit ward no.24, on the southwestern part of the town and walk along the historic Dak Bungalow Road towards the Kasai river to watch the double standard of this hundred year old civic body presently being headed by the sub-divisional officer (SDO) and waiting for the election.

Huge dumps of garbage containing hazardous solid wastes, like plastic bags form small hillocks with grazing cattle in daytime. These hillocks of garbage are lying just by the side of a DAV school right within a residential area named Saratpally.

“Mounds of biodegradable and non-biodegradable wet and dry garbage are being dumped indiscriminately almost on a daily basis at this vacant site for months, and during the rains  turn into a stinking menace for the local  residents, and morning and evening walkers towards the riverside”, said Abhijit Guha a former professor of Vidyasagar university and a resident of Saratpally.

Professor Guha further asked, “I wonder how during the Covid 19 pandemic the municipality could allow such indiscriminate dumping of garbage right within a residential area by the side of a school and a number of government offices including the state water resources and investigation department?”

When asked, Subhashish Ghosh, secretary of Nagarik Samity said, “We have several times lodged complaints with the SDO, Sadar and Municipal Supervisor, but no steps have been taken yet”.