Students Knowing Traditional Music Can Now Pursue Engineering at IIT Madras: Director Prof V Kamakoti

Addressing the 93rd South Indian Music Conference and Festival organized by the Indian Fine Arts Society at Chennai on December 17, Prof. Kamakoti stated that music and engineering are very much related, especially when associated with patterns. The Indian Fine Arts Society Sabha is among the oldest and leading sabhas at Chennai, which has been acclaiming the classical musical arts.

“Music has a very solid grounding in science—especially mathematics. We’ve been extensively exploring the link between the two at IIT Madras,” said Professor Kamakoti while stressing the benefits of music education for enhancing skills required in technology and engineering.

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras

Commenting on the focus of IIT Madras on inter-disciplinary education, Prof Kamakoti said, “We are creating a space where Arts, Culture, Science, and Engineering meet, and this is being achieved through forums such as this, forums such as music, and forums such as this, forums such as—” This will be achieved through the setting up of an “Audio Mic-less Bamboo Auditorium” at IIT Mad

Engineering Requires Several Disciplines

According to Prof. Kamakoti, modern engineering challenges have started requiring more inter-disciplinary work. While citing Operation Sindoor, he said that it was an example of an inter-disciplinary effort that included 10-11 different disciplines of engineering.

“We are emphasizing interdisciplinary education at IIT-M because most of these real-world problems cannot be solved by one area of engineering alone,” said Professor Ninan.

PARENTS AND STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED

While encouraging parents to think beyond the usual career options, Prof Kamakoti revealed that music training must not remain as something apart from academic achievement. “Our usual music education courses can actually supplement engineering courses, as they develop creativity, discipline, and problem-solving abilities,” he stated. “It’s a reflection of the shift in education in India where institutions like IIT Madras are opening up more channels that combine culture and creativity with technology.”

There is indeed a shift in the Indian education system where institutions like IIT Madras are opening up more channels that combine culture and creativity with technology.