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Edusat starts live class transmission – VTU
BANGALORE: Starting 21 March 2005, Karnataka’s Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) began transmitting live sessions through ISRO’s satellite Edusat across its 100 affiliated colleges in Karnataka.
Earlier the transmissions, which commenced in September 2004, were being routed through INSAT-3B.
The Edusat or the Gsat-3 is the first satellite of the Education Satellite System and has a special configuration for multiple beams covering different regions of the country. Edusat was launched by the GSLV and has a powerful Ku band frequency to facilitate the use of easy to handle ground terminal. The INSAT 3B made possible only audio sessions, one way generally, while two video and two way audio sessions through Edusat.
The potential for such live teaching sessions is tremendous. In a country that faces a paucity of qualified teachers, a single teacher could reach out to 10000 students in the state at the same time. The lecture could be stored as a computer file or copied on a compact disc that can be accessed by the students. Services of a good teacher could be availed of by a large number of students.
Professor G L Shekar, special officer in the VTU learning center at Mysore, while speaking to indiantelevision.com from Belgaum said, “One of the main issues that we are discussing now is two way video and two way audio. 50 colleges have been provided with interactive terminals for two way audio and two way video. ISRO has provided some specifications for the web camera and colleges have been asked to buy these cameras and install them at their end, we’ll be providing them with the software support. In another 8-10 days they should be in a position to have two way video and two way audio. VTU is the first university in the country, which is using Edusat officially from today. No other University has come any way close to us in the use of satellite technology for teaching,” he added.
The program schedule in the VTU website shows 360 live class telecasts have been lined up between 21 March, 2005 and June 18, 2005. The subjects covered include Structural Analysis, Power System Analysis and Stability, Control Systems, Finite Automata and Formal languages, Digital System Design using VHDL, Power Electronics, Mechanical Vibrations and Mathematics for different semesters and branches of engineering. Teachers and experts drawn from industry will handle the courses. Each session will be of about one hour, out of which 45 minutes will be spent on the lecture followed by a 15-minute interactive session between students across the state and the resource persons in the studio.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
