1 The Samveo team Sri. Prasad .M - Executive Coordinator Dr. Ramanathan P.V - Chief Editor Sri. Anoop V.K - Technical Coordinator Editorial Board Staff Dr. Ramanathan P.V ASA Dr. Manjula Nair ASE Ms. Indhu B ASA Mr. Arun K.C ASA Mr. Ravishankar A.N ASE Ms. Manjusha Nair ASE Mr. Ajith M ASBT Mr. Ramadas P.V ASAY Mr. Jayaram S ASB Students Ms. Sharda K.S ECE Mr. Pramod Satish R EEE Ms. Anjali Vargheese ECE MR. Prasath K EEE Ms Greeshma Nair ECE Ms. Anupama B ECE Ms. Abhirami K.N ECE Ms. Suryasree B EEE Ms. Priya Sonpal ECE Mr. Chinmaya K ECE Note: Any possible omission of news items since they did not reach us in time is regretted. Our student & staff editorial assistants in the various departments are requested to be alert to avoid recurrence of such a lapse in the future. Thank you all. (Please send feedback & Article to [email protected]) 3 Samved Newsletter Contents From Amma to Us (and ALL humanity): Satsang on the Eve of Amma’s Birthday From Amma to Us (and ALL humanity) 3 TAP Energy, July 4 - 6, 2013 4 4 Welcome to New Batch of Students 6 Sanjeevanam –July 20-21, 2013 8 India4EU Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Winners 10 Amrita Bioquest 12 Birthday News 14 6 A Slew of Programmes Launched 16 Sri Narendra Modi at Amma’s 60th Birthday 18 News at a glance 19 Quotes from our Chancellor 21 nxiety is the worst enemy of mod- old man in a rocking chair, anxiety some, the source of their problem is 8 Aern-day mankind, leading to keeps us moving without ever taking us their relationship while for some oth- The Torrent of Bliss 22 not just waste of time over pointless anywhere. But while the old man my ers, the want of it. For several others, The ‘Amritavarsham-60’ Occasion thoughts, but adding to a defeatist atti- possibly find some comfort and sleep, the problems are pecuniary. There are tude among people. Far too often one anxiety only makes us lose sleep and all others whose problems are health-relat- AMMA’s Birthday Message 26 finds people fretting over matters that peace. ed. However, the one problem that is never took place nor are likely to hap- common to every one of us is anxiety. pen. When we analyze the cause of our anx- Guests Meet Chancellor Amma 27 12 iety, we see that it typically arises either Acting with an understanding of this Anxiety is the result of a gross misuse from our fear of the unborn future or in mind and the sufferings of other of the power of our imagination. It is from thoughts that dig uncontrollably people is the true service we can ren- a thief to whom many of us willingly at the graves of our past. Immobiliza- der. The whole world is ever yearning hand over our most precious possession tion at the hands of ceaseless waves of for such a service without distinctions – our inner strength and precious time thoughts – that is what anxiety is. It is of any kind. The first thing needed to to be stolen away right in our presence, like one coming forward eagerly and extend this kind of service, we should as it were. We have all become experts voluntarily to pay interest on a loan be able to see ourselves in others and 18 at triggering ourselves off into unnec- which has not even been applied for, others in ourselves. We should be able essary anxiety. We take for granted leave alone approved.” to understand the frame of mind of the 16 that only the worst will happen in any sorrowful and reach out to them. May situation with not one single valid rea- It is true that people are prompted to all Amma’s children be blessed with the son to justify such a conviction. This is desire success and happiness in life. At capacity to make space for each other in in spite of the fact everyone is certain the same time, all of us phase, without their hearts. May we see the world with 14 that merely fretting over them can in exception, also face problems. These a vision of oneness, understanding and no way resolve any situation. Like an problems vary with the individual. For compassion. 4 5 Samved Newsletter for presentations on several research Dr. Dharesan Unnithan, Director, generation in CHP (Combined Heat topics including power quality and Energy Management Centre, Kerala, and Power) made by developing TAP Energy, July 4 - 6, 2013. smart grid technologies. delivered a special address, Energy network of gas pipe lines may be Efficiency – The Need of the Hour. encouraged,” suggested one speaker. Pre-conference sessions addressed “In the Kerala situation domestic Others pointed out the operational challenges in maintaining power consumption of electricity is 48%. problems in a utility under scarce quality in renewable energy Simple steps like switching off power scenarios. “Economic systems and energy management unwanted lights, fans, motors, and productivity is more closely tied considerations in industrial load heaters and introducing energy to energy efficiency than energy scenarios to enble research scholars efficient equipment will mean much,” production.” gain insights into potential research he pointed out. problems. “It was a good experience Dr. K. Gopakumar, Professor and Chairman, Department of Electronics to be a part of such an innovative Conservation is as important as Systems Engineering, Indian Institute technical conference; valuable insights technological advancement in finding of Science, Bangalore spoke on power were received,” shared Ajay Ingle, solutions to the world-wide energy convertors for medium-voltage MTech student at Fr C Rodrigues crisis of our day, all asserted. Shift variable-speed-drive applications. Institute of Technology, Mumbai. in modes of transport from roads to He provided an overview about railways for freight, promoting use of “I am very lucky to learn so many multi-layered invertors designed and public transport in cities and better new things. Also the underlying developed at his Center. theme of many expert talks was the water transport etc were discussed. contribution we can make to society. Pre-conference sessions were also very “New technologies like IGCC informative,” commented Chidanand, (Integrated Gasification Combined PhD scholar working in Smart Grids Cycle) and energy efficient use of gas at Amrita University. plants through facilitating distributed ere was a Call to Make Use of Re- model for academic institutions else- Hnewable Energy Sources! where.” “The era of dependence on fossil fu- Expert talks, technical paper pres- els is coming to an end. For mankind entations and panel discussions to survive, we have to resort to maxi- marked the rest of the conference pro- mum utilization of renewable sources ceedings. A panel discussion on the of energy, without causing detrimen- last day examined the role of power tal effect to the environment,” stated electronics in distributed power gen- Dr. Chandramohan, Chairman, De- eration. partment of Electrical and Electron- ics Engineering, addressing the dele- Distributed generation can be used gates t the Amritapuri campus during most efficiently with renewable the inaugural ceremony of the Na- energies and also the relatively lesser tional Conference on Technological polluting fossil fuels, such as natural Advancements in Power and Energy gas. But energy transfer needs power (TAP Energy). electronics. “Power electronics engineers will need to understand The keynote address was delivered by very large-scale integration, that is, Dr VK Damodaran, Director-Gen- the process of creating integrated eral, International Non Govern- circuits by combining thousands of mental Cooperation Organization transistors into a single chip,” panel for Renewable Energy (INGCORE). members observed. Speaking on technologies to power Over 70 research papers were the future, he also had encouraging received from all over India. These remarks for Amrita. “This university were reviewed by peer experts in two has been created to make a difference rounds. About 32 papers were chosen in the field of education and become a 6 7 Samved Newsletter Welcome to New Batch of Students Amrita School of Ayurveda – Shishyopanayanam, July 15, 2013. he Sanskrit word Shishyopanayan- day with Dhanvantiri Homa. Followed Tam indicates a ritual that one by chanting of Vishnu Sahasranama. undergoes when beginning a formal Following this came singing of devo- course of study. tional songs. This ritual or Samskara is described Br. Dr. Sankara Chaitanya, Medical Di- with spirituality and its relevance to our examinations was aa recent highlight- in classical Ayurvedic treatises such as rector of the Amrita School of Ayurve- modern lives. “Learning of Ayurveda is which was organized. In the coming Charaka Samhita, Sushrutha Samhita da, led the early morning ceremony. not only for the purpose of practicing days, we are planning to have plans of and Astanga Hridaya. Faculty, staff members and senior stu- medicine, but also for becoming a more an international-level conference too,” dents also participated. The newly enrolled students of BAMS valuable human being who can contrib- he shared. (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Later during the day, Br. Dr. Sanka- ute to society.” Meritorious outgoing students from the Surgery) programme were initiated ob- ra Chaitanya welcomed students and Dr. L. Mahadevan, Managing Direc- senior batches were honored for their served this ancient ritual, beginning the spoke about Ayurveda, its relationship tor of Sri Saradha Ayurvedic Hospital, academic excellence. Vijayalekshmi Nagercoil, shared some of his academ- D; Aswathy Y.S; Geethika and Vidhya ic and clinical experiences. “Ayurveda bagged the prizes. is the science of life. Fortunate are the BAMS is an undergraduate medical students who have the chance to study degree awarded upon the successful this science.