IIT Jodhpur’s School of Liberal Arts launches Centre of Excellence on Arts and Digital Immersion
JODHPUR : The School of Liberal Arts at Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur has recently launched the Centre of Excellence on Arts and Digital Immersion, a first-of-its-kind initiative, which was inaugurated by Padma Bhushan awardee classical vocalist, Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty, and eminent scientist Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar awardee, Prof. Ashutosh Sharma. Prof. Santanu Chaudhury, Director and, Prof. S.R. Vadera, Deputy Director, IIT Jodhpur also graced the event with their presence.
The Centre of Excellence derives its inspiration from the National Education Policy (2020) which encourages an expanded vision of Liberal Arts without any compartmentalization between arts, sciences and technology. The School of Liberal Arts aims to promote such a transdisciplinary and futuristic outlook with the establishment of Centre of Excellence on Arts and Digital Immersion (CoE ADI). The Centre would explore the intersection of art and digital technology and bring academics, performers, and researchers belonging to diverse fields together to pursue the common objective of promoting art and artists, both local and global.
Highlighting the unique vision of CoE ADI, Prof. Chhanda Chakraborti, Adjunct Faculty, Department of Humanities & Social Sciences, IIT Jodhpur, said, “CoE ADI aims to promote learning and activities in diverse fields like visual arts (such as painting, sculpture, photography), performing arts (such as music, theatre, dance), performance arts (such as art with body, space, sound, light), augmented reality, virtual reality, and digital gaming.”
Hon’ble guest Professor Ashutosh Sharma appreciated the concept of intertwining art with technology which would dismantle boundaries amongst disciplines of learning. CoE ADI intends to explore the intersection between art and the digital medium in the form of art analytics, content development, social history and sociological analysis of newer art forms. It will also serve as a platform for artists to secure their livelihood and intellectual property rights. Centre of Excellence on Arts and Digital Immersion is one of the first among the IITs and perhaps also in the country. School of Liberal Arts, IIT Jodhpur, is proud to host it and plans to transform it into a research and development hub with a difference.
As part of its future plan, the Centre aims to engage IIT Jodhpur students in academic programs and offer courses at Masters level to explore the convergence of art and technology.
The inaugural event was followed by a musical night with a mesmerizing performance by Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty and his equally versatile team. They graciously embraced the stage and gifted IIT Jodhpur with a sublime musical evening to remember. Pandit Chakrabarty’s lively interaction with the audience was particularly inspiring and embodied the spirit of the Centre to reconnect individuals with arts and performance.