Academy Lecture by Prof. Gadagkar at the Faculty Hall

"Go to the ant, thou sluggard;

                              Consider its ways, and be wise."[Proverbs-6:6]

              "गच्छन् पिपीलिको याति योजनानां शतान्यपि |
          अगच्छन् वैनतेय: अपि पदमेकं न मुञ्चते ||"

Ants, bees and some other well-known insects have been one of the perennial sources of inspiration for folklore and worldly advice. The general perception about ants and other social insects is that of some tirelessly, fearlessly hardworking organisms when observed from a narrow outlook, the incentive of whose broadening was provided by the Academy lecture by Prof. Gadagkar at the jam-packed Faculty Hall, brimming with people with largely diverse interests, united by the thread of considerate thought and careful contemplation.

The lecture was indeed aimed at diverse backgrounds- theory, erudition, engineering vitality and many more. There was a constant flux of  newer and newer perspectives in each one of us as we were shown the multifaceted, panoramic view of the mannerisms and tactics of bees, ants and other social insects within their activities of foraging, communication, conviviality and loyalty. It was exceptionally thrilling to know more about them and how their actions correspond with our societal practices. Some marvelous examples among them include their sense of the world around them as a collective unit, along with the way in which they have maintained their agriculture for millions of years, i.e. the agriculture of fungi by ants for food! We were gladdened to know about the several ways in which ants have inspired people, efficient "routing algorithms" being one of them!

Indeed, it was a memorable experience to know, contemplate on and explore the vast variety within which nature has poised us in a very fascinating and overwhelming way.      

संस्कृतभारत्या आयोजिता व्याकरणशाला

जूनमासे चतुर्विंशत्यां दिनाङ्के रविवासारे समासविषये एका लघुशाला अलसूरौ रामकृष्णमठे आयोजिता | तन्मध्ये समासविषये बोधनं चर्चा च अभवताम् | संस्कृतभारत्याः हेग्डेमहोदयः नः विविधानि विषयवस्तूनि बोधितवान् यथेष्टं च चर्चितवान् | मध्याह्नकाले पाणिनेः समाससूत्राणाम्  अपि  बोधनम् अभवत् |
शालायाः कृते सर्वेषां सञ्चालकानां अध्यापकस्य च धन्यवादं मन्ये |    

Looking through an Electron Microscope

"It is possible to see the cell organelles clearly though an electron microscope.", proclaimed the science teacher.

"Then why do not we get one in our school, madam?", asked I, oblivious of the intricacies involved with the word 'electron microscopy'.

"An electron microscope costs at least tens of lakhs! Hardly some one in the city, or even the state must be having it!"

As a high school student  I thought what an electron microscope could be like and why and how it could give such high magnifications. As of now I still have no idea how the complex, yet magnificent machine called the electron microscope actually works. Yet I have the content of having seen it and having seen "something" through it, the joy of which is quite inexplicable.

My privilege of having a raw gaze at the electron microscope came in the form of a demonstration workshop jointly held by Gatan Inc. and IISc at the Advanced Facility for Microscopy and Micro-analysis in the campus on 7th July, 2012, wherein modules of the Transmission Electron Microscope and the Scanning Electron Microscope were displayed. The instruments, owing to their gigantic nature, were thoroughly intimidating; yet it was equally bewildering and amazing to see the microscopic image of the aluminium piece through the Scanning Electron Microscope, which was full of textures and patterns that I could have never imagined or expected. Similar was the case with the sample displayed through the Transmission Electron Microscope, which seemed to me like some enigma of an art work, which was too encrypted to be deciphered.. It was simply thrilling to welcome the fact that it has become possible to visualize and maneuver such intricate structures within materials owing to the electron microscope, begetting me an experience that will be cherished for long.