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A landmark year for women in literature

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2024 has emerged as a historic year for women writers, with two of the most prestigious literary accolades recognising their extraordinary talent and contribution to the world of letters. Last month, the Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to South Korean author Han Kang, praised “for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.” Meanwhile, British author Samantha Harvey won the Booker Prize for her novel Orbital, a masterful narrative set aboard the International Space Station. Together, these achievements spotlight the growing prominence of female voices in literature, reshaping the global literary landscape. Han Kang Han Kang, born in Gwangju, South Korea, grew up in a literary household that nurtured her sensitivity to art, music, and words. Her early exposure to literature, thanks to her novelist father, deeply influenced her path as a writer. She began her literary journey as a poet in 1993 and made her prose debut two year
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Institutions that built India: Indian Institute of Science (IISc)

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The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), one of India’s foremost scientific research institutions, was born out of Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata’s belief in the transformative role of scientific research and higher education for national progress. In 1890, Tata, with his immense wealth and vision for India’s future, decided to establish a top-tier university focused on scientific research. His vision was supported by Mysore State’s Regent Queen, Maharani Kempananjammani Vani Vilasa Sannidhana, who contributed land and funding. Tata’s passing in 1904 left the project in limbo for several years, but in 1909, the Indian government passed a resolution to establish the institute in Bangalore. Under the leadership of its first director, chemist Morris Travers, IISc opened in 1911 with 24 students in two departments: General and Applied Chemistry, and Electrical Technology. Guided by Sir M. Visvesvaraya, the Dewan of Mysore, IISc’s focus quickly shifted toward research that would address India’s u
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Celebrating Gandhiji’s legacy through art and creativity

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 An event that that honours Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of non-violence and tolerance, inspiring young minds to express his values through art. All true art must help the soul to realize its inner self  - Mahatma Gandhi Mahatma Gandhi, though not an artist himself, had a profound connection with art, viewing it as a medium for expressing deeper truths and moral values. He believed that art should serve humanity and reflect simplicity, truth, and beauty - principles he upheld in his life. Gandhiji’s use of the charkha (spinning wheel) symbolized self-reliance and was itself a form of artistic expression, blending craft and ideology. He also inspired artists across various mediums, from painting to literature, who depicted his vision of non-violence, social justice, and human dignity in their works. Glimpses from the event It was in the backdrop of such visions of the Father of the Nation that, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanthi, Velammal Knowledge Park (VKP), a renowned educational institut
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NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab collaborates with artists for ‘Blended Worlds’ Exhibition

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The exhibition, running from September 21, 2024, to January 4, 2025, will explore the convergence of art and science across over 70 exhibitions in Southern California. David Bowen working on his piece, tele-present wind, with assistance from JPL data systems architect Rishi Verma, translating real Martian wind data into art. (Photo credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has teamed up with artists for a groundbreaking exhibition, Blended Worlds: Experiments in Interplanetary Imagination , hosted at the Brand Library & Art Center in Glendale, California. Running from September 21, 2024, to January 4, 2025, the exhibit is part of PST ART: Art & Science Collide , a larger initiative presented by the Getty that explores the convergence of art and science across over 70 exhibitions in Southern California. According to a media release by NASA, the exhibit presents an innovative fusion of artistic creativity and scientific exploration, transforming the vastnes
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National Space Day: A Tribute to India’s Lunar Triumph

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  This celebration was instituted in recognition of the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission, a landmark achievement in India’s space programme under the leadership of the Indian Space Research Organisation Today, August 23, 2024, marks a historic milestone for India as the nation celebrates its first-ever National Space Day, a day dedicated to honouring the country’s remarkable achievements in space exploration. This celebration was instituted in recognition of the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission, a testament to India’s space programme under the leadership of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which not only showcased India’s technological competence but also cemented its position as a global space power. On this day, India commemorates the moment when Chandrayaan-3 made a historic soft landing on the Moon’s south pole on August 23, 2023 - an achievement that made India the first country to reach this uncharted lunar region. National Space Day reflects the spirit of innovatio
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Rabindranath Tagore: A Luminary of Art, Literature, Education, and Humanity

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Today, on August 7, we commemorate the death anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, Nobel Laureate, a multi-talented genius and founder of Santiniketan, whose contributions to literature, music, and art continue to resonate across generations.  Tagore in London Born on May 7, 1861, in Calcutta, British India, Tagore was not just a poet and writer but a philosopher, educator, and social reformer. He was the youngest son of Debendranath Tagore, a leader of the Brahmo Samaj, a religious and social movement that sought to reform Hinduism. Tagore’s diverse and extensive body of work earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913, making him the first non-European to receive this prestigious honour. While conferring the award, the committee said he was selected for it “because of his profoundly sensitive fresh and beautiful verse, by which, with consummate skill, he has made his poetic thought, expressed in his own English words, apart of the literature of the West.” Tagore’s literary journey
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Cultivating Creative Thinking: What Makes a Great Art-Based School?

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Great art-based schools are places where creative thinking thrives across all disciplines. At Chitravathi Centre for Creativity (CCC), we provide students with the resources and guidance they need to realize their artistic potential. Our goal is to develop dynamic curricula that stay up-to-date with the latest trends in both the art world and the educational landscape. We see our alumni as global ambassadors, spreading our reputation worldwide. For us, art is more than just a subject - it’s a transformative tool that benefits all students, helping them think mindfully and futuristically. We aim to nurture artists at heart, regardless of their initial passion for art. Our art programmes cover a wide range of artistic disciplines, preparing students for rewarding careers and a fruitful future. With state-of-the-art facilities, students can bring their creative visions to life, whether through prints, paintings, sculptures, pottery, or clay modelling. We also introduce students to digital
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