As part of its efforts to produce an intellectual environment conducive to innovation and radically new approaches to learning, teaching and research, IIT Hyderabad integrates into its curriculum courses in the Fine Arts and the Performing Arts, unified under the rubric of "Creative Arts". If our undergraduates can expect to take courses in Signal Processing or Fluid Mechanics, they can also expect courses like "Introduction to Theatre," "Singing Kabir with Prahlad Tipaniya" or "Introduction to Pottery and Ceramics" to turn up on their course registration portal. These extremely popular courses are offered by reputed practising artists from India and abroad rather than full-time academics, so that students can have a hands-on encounter with the arts outside of typical textbook-oriented teaching and learning environments. Currently, students choose from a wide range of 1-credit courses every semester, covering core areas like painting, sculpture, music, dance, theatre, photography, film-making, creative writing, and visual design.
Since 2009, IIT Hyderabad has regularly offered undergraduates a chance to earn credits in the fine arts. The programme began with courses in photography taught by the celebrated photographer Navroz Contractor. In Fall 2013, through the institution of a Fractal Academic Programme, Creative Arts courses became essential components of the BTech curriculum at IIT Hyderabad; renowned actor and director MK Raina offered our first 1-credit CA course as part of Fractal Academics that semester. Students in all four years of their BTech programme now opt for one or more Creative Arts (acronymously called CA) courses every semester. While CA courses are mandatory for undergraduates, other members of the IIT Hyderabad community-including students enrolled in Masters and Doctoral programmes, faculty, staff, and their families-frequently make use of their standing invitation to participate in these courses.
This course is offered by Shri ‘Violin’ Vasudevan, a reputed violinist and vocalist who has striven to develop scientific approaches towards Indian classical music. This course will introduce the fundamental principles of Karnatic Music to beginners; he has successfully offered similar courses at IIIT, Hyderabad. As in all CA courses, students will be encouraged to learn theoretical principles through actual practice. While the emphasis will be on vocal music, the course will also help you to understand various other forms of Karnatic music, including instrumental music and percussion. Evaluation will be based on attendance and group performances.
This course is offered by Purvadhanashree, the award-winning Bharatnatyam dancer, who is also an important practitioner of the rare Vilasini Natyam. This course will introduce the fundamental principles of Indian Classical Dance through Bharatnatyam. This course will be a good complement to CA 1014 Exploring the Performance Spectrum, which goes beyond Indian forms and integrates Western classical and contemporary modes as well. Evaluation will be based on attendance and group performances.
Offered by Shalinee Kumari, an upcoming traditional Madhubani artist who has also been trained in the Mithila Art Institute, this course will introduce students to one of the most vibrant folk art traditions of India and Nepal. Evaluation will be based on attendance and progress.
In WCM S&T, while discovering the basics of classical music, you will begin to see parallels open up in science and astrophysics. A rare glimpse into the minds of the great composers who unlocked basic rationality in sound and then used those techniques to express profound truths. Some of their works are now travelling to the boundaries of our universe. Music is more than sound and entertainment. It’s an emerging singularity.
In this course, students will learn about the history of Cheriyal doll making. They will learn to make the dolls using natural colours and materials. They will have the flexibility to make a contemporary functional product by keeping the fundamentals of the craft intact.
Haripriya Narasimhan
Email: fic.ca@la.iith.ac.in