Shaastra is the technical festival of IIT Madras. Ever since its conception has grown to become one of the best if not the best technical meets in the entire country known for it’s quality, innovation and organization. The team at Shaastra 2008 has been working with the objective of making this Shaastra that is coinciding with the occasion of The Golden Jubilee of IIT Madras the biggest and the best ever. It promises to bring together some of the best minds in the world including two Nobel laureates for a plethora of conferences, lectures and competitions.

Shaastra is not only a place for academia and engineers to demonstrate their prowess but it has also over the years promoted several endeavours that are aimed at actively making a difference to society. iVil or IIT’s for villages was started in 2005 by IIT M students as an organisation for bridging the gaps between villages and premier institutes like the IITs. This year too iVil will organise tours and demonstrations for rural school students and also will have stalls that will spread awareness among the visitors to Shaastra ‘08 about what they can do to help rural society.

Apart from these activities iVil will also be promoting the Rural Technology Action Group or RuTAG in short which is aimed at directly taking up engineering challenges that are encountered by rural people and attempting to come up with efficient solutions to them. An event on similar lines is Engenious which requires participants to make a presentation on their solutions to such problems. The Rural innovations network is another organisation represented at Shaastra with similar objectives.

Participants also can try their hand at the Industry Defined Problems which are a set of relevant problems posed by various industries. There also the Industrial Open Houses by companies leading companies focussing on green technology and products. The Humanities Department ’s Open House has a huge line up of events planned including a game meant to create awareness about the new carbon credit system which has been adopted almost world over. Screenings of several socially relevant documentaries have also been arranged.Visit www.shaastra.org or mail contactus@shaastra.org for more details.

Shaastra is the technical festival of IIT Madras which has the unique distinction of being the only entirely student-organised festival that is an ISO 9001:2000 certified event. This is the tenth edition of Shaastra, being held in the fiftieth year of the institute, with promises of being the biggest ever. Bringing together some of the best minds in the world which include Nobel laureates, inventors and heads of various labs around the world for a plethora of conferences and lectures, it is an event for all those fascinated by science and technology. Along with the lectures is the Conclave with great minds from diverse fields coming together to debate over their “opinions on technology and the contribution of the IITs to our nation“. Furthermore, competitions with the total prize money of over ten lakh rupees are sure to attract some of the best minds all over the country to compete with each other.

One of the new additions to Shaastra is “Shaastra Nights”. These entertaining and breathtaking displays of new and interesting technology are to be held after the competitions have ended for the day on the second, third and fourth of October. The first show, to be put on the second of October, shall showcase some pyrotechnics and laser technology by popular Mumbai based company SFX. With the theme being an integration of Shaastra 2008, Golden Jubilee and IITM, it shall be like an unofficial opening ceremony, much like the Olympics.

On the night of the third, an outside student shall be presenting a touch screen device that he has developed himself. This device, apart from giving better performance than current commercially-available models, has an installation cost of just about USD 60 which is unbelievably low compared to the present rates. These devices are also being pitched as the solution to the fuzzy projector screens in the quite near future.

The third night is for all those who get all excited at the mere mention of robots. A professor teaching in Singapore shall be bringing some of his robots to Shaastra, which can play a proper game of football. They actually sense other robots, communicate with them, coordinate and make informed decisions. Several other robots also in various phase of development are to be showcased.

For more information on Shaaastra Nights and Shaastra ‘08 in general visit the website - http://www.shaastra.org/2008/Main.

C: Dude, all the talk this Shaastra is about a spotlight event called the Golden Design Challenges.
D: Well, duh. They don’t call it the spotlight for nothing. The GDC is where it’s at, and you better believe it!
C: You sound like a Krugman fan trying too hard. What’s so great about the GDC - hasn’t Shaastra pretty much covered all possible ground in its previous editions?
D: Talking about “all possible ground” is a dicey matter. But then Shaastra ‘08 IS about dice as well. Why don’t I give you the low-down on the event and you decide for yourself, eh?
C: Deal.
D: One - the GDCs deal with socially relevant problems that are design-based, asking you to develop a solution. That’s where the challenge comes in.
C: Problems, solutions… I know Shaastra’s all about using technology to better human life, but this sort of jazz I get enough of during college hours.
D: You’re partly right, I guess. About the Shaastra part. Though it’s one tech fest that’s about ‘the spirit of engineering’, or, as they say, about how ‘engineering is fun’. And the GDC problems are way closer to life than anything one would deal with in the classroom. In fact, though the overall theme of Shaastra centres around concerns like energy and increased efficiency -
C: Tech-savvy based intellectual stimulation…
D: Yes, quite. The GDCs are all about human-scale innovation in design. They demand not only applying science ‘fundaes’ to come up with crazy good technological inventions, but putting gadgetry and gizmos to intelligent use.
C: I see. Sort of like evolving a prototype towards a specific end. A needs-based approach, whereby one’s creativity comes into play and counts as much as getting the engineering basics right.
D: That’s more like it - you’re catching on!
C: Okay, swell. So they have a few - what did you call them? - socially relevant problems. Name them. I’m a bit skeptical of these techie types who come up with ’save society’ scenarios. Sometimes they’re not too clued in on how things actually stand.
D: I’d desist from such preconceived notions. IITM’s not only got some pretty well-rounded guys (and girls, if only a few), they even started a programme in the social sciences a couple of years back. That sounds pretty progressive to me - considering it’s probably the first time an awesome engineering institute in our country’s developing a balanced profile by encouraging the liberal arts. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a lot of the engineering guys with their finger very much on the pulse -
C: Yeah, whatever. Cut to the chase - what are the GDCs?
D: Read the problem statements instead of biting my head off, why don’t you? I’ll say this much - they cover pretty substantial ground. Right from designing an urban transportation system that’s more egalitarian and makes for all-round smoother functioning, to something as everyday as a mosquito zapper. Then there’s another one related to traffic on the roads - one has to come up with a speed detector that relays information. And there’s something pretty whacko, but it seems interesting, about an M.A.I.D, whatever that is.
C: Give a fellow motivation like that when a comp’s nearby and - voila! - there you have it. Hey, pretty neat problem statements. They actually look good and convincing too, and there’s some solid references given for background reading and skill-building. This makes for good reading, all right. Reckon the new artsy-fartsy junta helped out with that angle?
D: Dude, the main thing I’ve heard about those people is that thanks to the new programme the campus looks much better. Way more girls, and some worth a double-take. But the creds for the website, which I think looks brilliant, should go to the design team. Someone mentioned that what with the Golden Jubilee and all that, they got together this huge design team, which works on all and sundry. They’re probably going to be put in charge of even doing make-up for the Cores during Shaastra, given all the hype the 50th Anniversary special is generating!
C: Sure. So I’ll go check out Shaastra ‘08 for sure, but if you’re right about the beauty at IITM - I guess even more so during the tech fest - then I’m not so sure I want to mess around with this GDC thing. I mean, they’re pretty generous with rewarding winners at Shaastra, but what’s in it for me? A prototype for any of these problem statements is going to cost plenty, and I can’t really afford to be set back by 10k and have nothing to show for it at the end, on top of having to spend Shaastra scurrying around all busy with work.
D: You are so wrong! For one thing, the folks over at IITM have decided to go one better than being generous. They’re actually funding the prototypes for ALL finalists whose initial submissions for GDCs are selected. Not only that, all GDC finalists get hosted at Shaastra, along with getting to present their model or prototype. Far from not being able to live it up, you’ll actually get to be in the limelight -
C: What they call the Spotlight.
D: That’s right. And, um, that small doubt about ten grand? You know, the stakes are way higher - they have six digit prizes for winners! And considering that the winning entries are going to be highlighted, your chances of being approached by a company to develop it into a product, or to work on something similar with them, are pretty good, I’d say.
C: You’ve got me convinced. I flip for the word-play on that one - Get UT Out of the Rut - and it sounds like my kind of thing. Are you thinking of taking up one of the GDCs - maybe we could team up or something?
D: I’m going to try for the really big prize, the 3 lakhs for the Water Filter problem. There’s got to be an elegant solution - that’s what appeals to me - though I must admit that for the life of me I don’t know what it is yet!
C: Time’s a-wastin’! We better get cracking on this stuff. Come September, watch out for us at the biggest-ever Shaastra!

Gee, D & C. We sure will. Because remember, when it’s the GDC, even God Does Compete!

Hundreds of students as volunteers, co-coordinators and cores labour tirelessly for a year to realize the 5 day technical extravaganza called Shaastra. Each year they try to make Shaastra better than the previous year – a Herculean task considering the fact that each year Shaastra sets very high benchmarks of standard and quality. It requires meticulous planning, perfect execution and excellent coordination between a number of teams. After all an ISO 9001 rating for quality management does not come that easily.

The preparation for Shaastra which takes place during the first week of October begins as early as January that year. A team of students led by the newly elected Co-curricular Affairs Secretary is formed to organize the festival. Rigorous selection procedures are followed to ensure that only the best make it to the team. Various departments of Shaastra are headed by ‘cores’ who assign responsibilities to various co-coordinators. And each coordinator has volunteers working under them. The core members report to the Co-CAS. The structure ensures that everyone can work creatively in a responsible manner.

The external publicity team begins its work as early as May. The success of Shaastra ensues from the talented participants which we receive every year. The responsibility of the external publicity team is to ensure that the best technical minds are aware of Shaastra. The team travels all around the country “advertising” Shaastra. The design team will be racking the creative side of their brain to come up with attractive designs for events, brochures, t-shirts and all related aspects. The Web operations team will have no easy job in designing the website that receives a million hits even before Shaastra begins. For a technical festival of a scale as that of Shaastra, sponsorship is crucial. The sponsorship team has the job of ensuring that Shaastra is sponsored by the most renowned of corporations.

By the month of August, all event coordinators would have prepared the problem statements and preparation for Shaastra would have shifted to the next gear. Online preliminary rounds for many of the big events would have started. Coordinators keep their eyes open for queries from participants and make sure that all of them are replied to as soon as possible. The Ambience team will be in full swing working to create an atmosphere that stimulates technical creativity. By the end of August the stage is set for a bigger play.

Come September and ‘preparación para la Shaastra fiesta’ will be in full throttle. Coordinators and volunteers will spend sleepless nights and tireless days to ensure that nothing is left to chance. Online events would have begun which marks the unofficial beginning of Shaastra. By the end of September IIT Madras would be all prepared for the 5 day celebration of technical and engineering excellence. However once Shaastra begins, it is not the culmination of all these efforts. It is time to ensure that everything goes smoothly so that all the hard work till then does not go down the drain. The facilities and equipment teams will be working their tails off to ensure that all venues are ready according to schedule – hauling equipments, arranging PA systems, projectors, bringing in materials from simple stationary to CNC machines depending on the event profile etc. All efforts are made to maintain the superior quality which Shaastra is known for. However, once Shaastra is over, it is not just the end of a year long effort but the beginning of another – for the next Shaastra – because in a march towards perfection rest is a luxury.

There are a number of teams not mentioned here like hospitality that ensures that the participants feel at home during their five days stay in IITM, the lectures and demonstrations team that strives to bring the best talent in the world to impart their knowledge, internal publicity, production, newsletter, transportation etc….. and their contribution towards the success of Shaastra is no less. More about them another time.

Shaastra Sparsh is one of the many new initiatives taken up by Shaastra in the Golden Jubilee year of IIT Madras. Sparsh, as the name suggests, is an effort bring Shaastra closer to students to enable them to participate without even having to travel to Shaastra. Through Sparsh, Shaastra attempts to reach out and conduct competitions and workshops. However, this isn’t an attempt to discourage students from coming to Shaastra. It has and will continue to welcome everyone.

Sparsh will be conducted along the lines of Shaastra itself, albeit on a smaller scale. It will have competitions such as Robotics, Contraptions, and a Rubik’s cube workshop, all of which will serve as a prelude to the scaled up events at Shaastra. Unwind events such as Puzzle Championship will also be conducted. The competitions to be held at Sparsh will be similar to the ones at Shaastra.

In its inaugural year, Sparsh will be conducted in Hyderabad and Chennai for the respective cities. The Hyderabad edition will be conducted on 24th August, 2008 and in Chennai on 20th September, 2008. Participants who aren’t from these 2 cities can still travel and participate in Sparsh.

Sparsh, Chennai will be held in IIT Madras itself and in Hyderabad, Sparsh will be hosted in VNR-VJIET. Apart from a new opportunity that Sparsh provides, there are prizes to be won as well. Eight teams each in Robotics “Emergency Exit” and Contraptions will be given a direct entry into the finals of the corresponding event at Shaastra.

This year at Shaastra, a Rubik’s cube workshop and competitions on cube solving under the auspices of WCA (World Cube Association) are going to be conducted. Sparsh would give a taste of things to come at the formal event at Shaastra. All the times recorded will be official, and any new records created will be accepted the world over.

The problem statements for Sparsh-Robotics and Contraptions will be up on the Shaastra site. A word of caution, only teams coming through Sparsh will be allowed to participate in the corresponding event at Shaastra. Teams which aren’t from the two cities can still take part in main event at Shaastra. And yes, everyone can still participate in all the other events at Shaastra.

Sparsh is an effort by the Shaastra team to reach out to everyone and build a bigger and better Shaastra. And we shall continue down that path with all our energy and enthusiasm.