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The Hindu
2 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Sona Institutions: A Blend of Legacy, Research Excellence, Placement & Global Visions
While its legacy lays the foundation, it is institutional excellence that builds enduring impact. At the heart of Tamil Nadu's Smart City, Salem, Sona College of Technology — the flagship of the 68-year-old Sona Institutions — is reshaping engineering education driven by innovation, research and global opportunity. Faculty Lead the Nation Sona has topped in India in faculty performance in the prestigious NPTEL exams, beating over 7000 institutions around the country in a landmark achievement. Cutting-edge edtech and lifelong learning supported by the management empower both faculty and students. Where Ideas Lift Off Sona is powering national missions besides preparing engineers. With 36 advanced research centres — inaugurated by A P J Abdul Kalam — including the pioneering SonaSPEED, Sona's innovations have contributed to ISRO's Chandrayaan-3, GSLV-F14, RL and INSAT-3DS missions. Patents Galore Recognised as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (SIRO) by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Government of India, Sona College holds 44 patents, 381 new patent applications filed in a single year and 320 patents published, Sona is a scientific hub of innovation. Rankings and Future Focus From Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to Data Science and Cybersecurity, Sona's future-ready specialisations ensure its graduates stay ahead. This futuristic vision has earned the institution a NAAC A++ grade with a high CGPA of 3.65, placing it among just a handful of top Indian institutions. NIRF rankings position it within the top 11–50 in the innovation category and 151–200 in engineering categories. Sona is also ISO 9001:2015 certified, with all eligible undergraduate and MBA programmes NBA accredited — further affirming its commitment to academic excellence. Placements: Minting Student Millionaires Sona has achieved an enviable 95 per cent placement record, but more impressively. With a focus on industry-ready skills, Sona College of Technology has enabled over 100 students to land million-rupees offers. 'It is an outstanding achievement. At Sona, even before they graduate, students are millionaires,' said vice-chairman Chocko Valliappa. 'It is all about positioning our students and not merely placing them in jobs,' said vice-chairman Thyagu Valliappa. Principal S R R Senthilkumar says,' being a millionaire while still a student can be an ambitious goal. Companies are willing to offer premium salaries only when students possess industry-relevant skills, certifications, and problem-solving capabilities. At Sona College of Technology, besides deep engagement with industry partners, they conduct of soft skill training, mock interviews and pre-placement training.' Blueprint of this rare success: The institution's innovative course offerings, with high potential for attracting employers who offer high-salaried jobs to competent fresh engineers. Value-added training and courses like the 3D Experience platform and Xcelerator Programme have helped students from core specialisations get jobs with rupees million as salary. Short-term certificate courses under the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), which have been taken up by the majority of students with enthusiasm. A major recruiter this year selected over 50 per cent of the student millionaires. Notably, most of these students were from core specialisations. A student with a mechanical engineering background received an annual salary package of Rs.17 lakh at a leading multinational firm this year. Soaring Global Placements through Foreign Language Training Through its Foreign Language Training Centre offering Japanese, Korean, German and French, Sona facilitates international placements. As many as 34 students secured jobs in Japan after completing training in N5 and N3 levels at the in-house Japanese Language Training Centre. Sona graduates employed in Japan on international salary packages now stands just two short of the 100 mark. So far, a total of 97 Sona students have been selected by top-tier organisations and are currently working in Japan with packages of 33.6 LPA (JPY). While the current year's placement season is on-going, around 80 per cent of the students have been placed with an average LPA of Rs.6 lakh. This exceptional placement record, achieved amid a challenging job market conditions, testifies to Sona College of Technology's capability in creating job-ready and industry-ready graduates. Awarded Consistently for Best Industry Linkage The AICTE-CII Best Industry Linked Institution award for Sona College for seven consecutive years reflects the seamless integration between classroom learning and corporate needs. Built for Tomorrow Spread across 35 smart acres, featuring Salem's tallest academic structure and equipped with a modern central library housing over one lakh books and digital resources, Sona is a future-facing institution grounded in strong values, with aspirations to attain deemed university status in the near future. For students who dream big and aim high, Sona Institutions offer not just an education, but a launchpad to lead the future. 'This article is part of sponsored content programme.'
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
VS at his scathing best
'Those who fire skyrockets.' (Melpottu vaanam vidunnavar) On former President A P J Abdul Kalam and former ISRO chairmen Madhavan Nair and K Kasturirangan. VS remarked while explaining his party's stand against the Indo-US nuclear deal, after being provoked by a media person's statement that Kalam had endorsed the deal. 'If the concerned minister goes astray, I have the nerve to call and tell him 'you idiot (pozhan), it should not be done that way'.' On his cabinet colleague Binoy Viswam in a hypothetical context 'Grandmother' (Valyammachi) On Elizabeth Mammen Mathai during election campaigning 'Elder aunt' (Valyamma) On Sonia Gandhi 'Amul baby' On Rahul Gandhi 'Monkey' (Kurangan) On K E N Kunhahammed 'Jungle thieves who smuggle out temple assets in 'payasam' vessel.' (Payasapathrathil kshethramuthal kattukadathunna kaattu kallanmar) On the erstwhile Travancore royal family 'All students in Malappuram pass examination by copying.' (Malappurathe kuttikal muzhuvan copy adichanu pareeksha pass akunnath) While referring to examination malpractices 'That's right. Had it not been Sandeep's house, not even a dog would have gone there.' (Seriyanu. Athu Sandeepinte veedallenkill, oru pattiyum avide pokillayirunnu) Responding to an outburst by Mumbai terror attack victim NSG Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's father who said 'No dog need come here' (ivide oru pattiyum varenda). 'She was used and thrown away.' (upayogichu, valicherinju) On Sindhu Joy who quit CPM to join the Congress, only to be sidelined 'You falling in hell where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. Ho! I cannot even think about it.' Quoting from the Bible, on K M Mani 'Everyone knows, she's famous. In what way, you can find out.' (Ellavarkum ariyamallo, avar prasasthayanu, ethu tharathil ennu ningal anweshichal mathi) On Lathika Subhash, his UDF rival in Malampuzha constituency 'He deserves to be hated' (ayaal verukkappettavanaanu) On businessman Faris Aboobacker 'Gunmon' On former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's gunman
India Today
6 days ago
- Health
- India Today
From isolation to inner strength: How yoga is quietly reforming prison inmates
There was a time when sages like Swami Sivananda Saraswati impacted the life of the great visionary leader APJ Abdul Kalam by introducing him to the source of encouraging yogic teachings and practices -- that was in 1857. From that era to the present day, many things have changed. One of them is the commercialisation and globalisation of yoga -- it is no longer limited to of Swami Sivananda Saraswati like Swami Satyananda Saraswati, along with many other great gurus from different yoga schools, became pioneers in changing the lives of people through the spread of yogic practices. These teachings are now also impacting the lives of convicts and inmates, including those charged with violent crimes, in countries like America, India, and OF YOGA IN US PRISONSFamous for its high-tech military equipment and infamous for school shootings, the USA is the only nation with more guns than people -- with an average of around 1.2 firearms per person. With such widespread firepower, it becomes important for individuals to remain mentally stable, and yogic practices play a key role in maintaining that balance, as reflected in the rehabilitation efforts inside American prisons. In the United States, non-profits like Yoga Behind Bars are seeing real shifts in inmate behaviour. According to this organisation, only 8% of inmates who took four or more yoga classes returned to prison, compared to the 60% national average. Officials report calmer inmates and reduced aggression, with some becoming certified yoga teachers while still serving sentences. AI Generated Image Affluent nations are not always the most peaceful, and this is evident from the fact that US, one of the richest nations on the planet, has been fighting a battle against drug use since the early 1970s -- starting with heroin and marijuana, and now facing the threat of the synthetic opioid, clearly shows that without purpose or proper spiritual guidance, it is difficult to stay away from intoxicants for long. This is where yogic teachings play a crucial role, helping individuals maintain control over their body and mind. These teachings are not just transforming inmates in prisons but also supporting those battling substance abuse in everyday an article by The Guardian, Mike Smith, who was locked in a tiny prison cell, shares how yoga helped him battle the post-withdrawal symptoms associated with these kinds of drugs. Later, it also helped him rebuild his life by securing a job as a yoga teacher with the Karuna Trust, an organisation working in India and CHANGES IN INDIA'S JAILTo better understand the impact of yoga at the ground level with inmates, we reached out to Ramendra Singh Chouhan (Dharm Kirti), a disciple of Swami Satyananda his experience, he shared, 'I have been teaching yoga for the past 20 years, but the major changes I have witnessed among inmates are significantly noticeable.'advertisementThis further solidifies the statements made by prison officials from various district jails in Chhattisgarh. AI Generated Image The major aspect that needs to be highlighted is that yogic practices not only help inmates gain control over their senses, but also play a crucial role in building character. Consider it from this perspective -- the very same tools and techniques prescribed in yoga are also used to train defence personnel in India, including the Indian military, the CISF, and many practices help them cope with long, isolated shifts away from their families and even manage PTSD that can occur after combat situations.A 2019 Swedish study on the impact of yoga on prison inmates, published in Frontiers in Psychiatry and led by Professor Nra Kerekes, further solidifies the point about character the 10-week study conducted across various correctional facilities, she found a significant increase in character maturity, along with reduced impulsivity, aggression, and anxiety levels, as well as a noticeable improvement in inmates' willingness and ability to respond AND BENEFITSThe growing acceptance of yoga within correctional systems across the world highlights a simple truth: when people are given tools to rebuild themselves from within, the benefits reach far beyond prison walls -- impacting families and communities in subtle but meaningful bringing yogic spirituality into daily life, we are witnessing a quiet shift -- helping individuals reclaim self-control and emotional balance, especially in places where hope is often being the pioneer of yogic spirituality, has already given the world a cost-effective way not only to address problems at the surface level but also to treat them at the grassroots it is the prison services of Sweden introducing Krimyoga in 2008, or the 2019 programme at Tihar Jail under the initiative named Sanjivani, the world is increasingly recognising the importance and value of yoga.- Article by Kashmik Singh Chouhan- Ends
News18
17-07-2025
- Business
- News18
Viksit Bharat 2047: Inspirational, Aspirational—And A Political Masterstroke
Last Updated: It is an assurance and a promise that we have a clear path forward in the next 22 years. It is a responsibility and a demand upon us A symbol has many layers and multiple connotations and meanings. It hides buried in our subconscious like a seed ready to sprout at the opportune moment. It reflects as the moon in an old pond, taking on the shade of the water and the light. It flashes across the sky and is gone the next moment as a burning streak of meteorite. The multivalent effect of a language that deals with symbols, whether they be an image or a number or even a sound, can span across several dimensions and fields of study. Let us look at the call to have a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Why is it a slogan of marketing and diplomatic genius? Why is it inspirational and aspirational and yet a political masterstroke? First, let us look at the most external significance. It is a timeline and a milestone. Not much is defined by what is meant by Viksit Bharat and that too is brilliant, if intentional. But a date is given and repeated constantly to alter the discourse. It is almost like a precise and professional corporate plan with a clear vision and mission. What sense does this give us? It seems to me that it is an assurance and a promise that we have a clear path forward in the next 22 years. It is a responsibility and a demand upon us. We have things to do and have no time to get distracted by any non-serious issues. We have roads to build, airports to design, trains to track. We have jobs to create, equipment to export, and mouths to feed. We will create a roadmap for our future and all of us together will build a future we can be proud of. Voila! That was easy. But now the hidden messages raise their head. And if we pay attention, we may notice how the number 2047 becomes a metaphor. It is India's rise as number three or even number two in the world. It is a matter only of time when we will take our rightful place in the community of nations. It is our second independence for August 15, 1947, was the day of our independence from the British. This is important because a narrative needs to be seized. The shining city on the hill is ours for the taking and is within our reach. 2047 is who we are tomorrow, our manifest destiny, our great rebirth and return. Imagine for a moment if it were 2045 or 2050, how much less of an effect it would have on us? Remember, our erstwhile President, APJ Abdul Kalam, touting his vision for 2020 with power point presentations and crisp timelines? It went nowhere. Because it did not have the backing of the elected leadership. But with the PM taking it on and reiterating it at any opportunity with an entire chorus behind him, the narrative begins to shift into the political and geo-strategic. The world is noticing us. More importantly, we are noticing ourselves. Forget all the failures of the first 75 years. That was their fault. We are fixing it. We are giving you a new date that replaces any of their prior achievement which was not theirs anyway. We will usurp this last achievement that they cling to too and make it ours. The day of independence is ours since we are the true nationalists. And this is our way of staking a claim on it. We cannot go back to the past. But we can recreate it in the future as our achievement, taking away all credit that they may ever wish to seize. And, by the way, you who are serious about this journey need to re-elect us if you wish this to happen! For the other side will compromise our collection mission and goal if elected. You should not give them the prized chair for the next four election cycles if you are with us on our Mission 2047. Who in his right mind will argue with such an inspirational goal? And that is what a great leader does. He gives us stretch goals and pushes us beyond our limits. That great leader is here, and he has enunciated our seeking, given voice to our buried and subliminal longing. Talk of Bollywood! Our great leader is an amazing visionary. He dreams big and works hard and is irreplaceable. And if we need to keep electing him for the next 22 years, we must. For our own sake. There you go! A simple number works in multiple dimensions and takes on various hues. In the ancient Indian science of interpretation, there are three ways of looking at things. The first is abhidha, or what is straightforward, or that which is on the surface, the most external. There is then the lakshana, or secondary understanding. For example, when I invoke Agni in the Veda, it can mean the physical fire of the ritual or it can mean the principle of the energy, or the deva Agni who takes all our messages to the other devas and brings back their messages to us. The third layer of meaning is vyanjana, that usually escapes our minds unless we pay attention. Modern marketing is adept at influencing our behaviors by creating these suggestions and influencing our behavior through these allusions. For example, if Shah Rukh Khan is shown eating a certain condiment, then if we wish to be like him, cool and sexy, we need to consume the same Paan Paraaga. And if other stars are enjoying it with him, then to acquire those mythic deva-like larger-than-life attributes, we need to partake of what they all consume too. But thousands of years ago, when the marketers were not creating new ways to control our impulses, our Vedic Rishis uncovered the secret of the symbol. That a symbol can exist on several planes at the same time. And so, the Agni, that was just a physical flame, or a deva is also the representative of our pure awareness, the Purusha, and our Self, the Atman. And so it is with 2047. There is something magical, mystical about it. This esoteric value is given to it by the tantriks, the numerologists. It is something mysterious that we all can become if we all follow the path given to us by the great narrator. Multiple spiritual invocations happen at the same time. We are a civilization-state that has existed for 5000 years. Thus, 1947 is really not that important. And if it was, the date has been usurped by a civilizational shift, our new independence from the colonized state of our minds and hearts, from those who prevent us from having our civilizational renaissance. It is a contradictory message, but marketing thrives on paradoxes and contradictions. Rather, it makes them more poignant. Yet is there truth to it. For all those who love India want to see it happen, need it desperately for our own fulfilment. We need to transform our economics, our education, our health and defense and internal unity. This aspiration is our need and our demand. The call for Viksit Bharat by 2047 secretly fulfills it. That is why we are sold on it. And if we argue against it, we are not nationalists. The game is won. One hopes for the sake of the nation and our civilisation, that we are able to achieve this demand for our growing significance, and that this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. For in the world of prophecy, the articulation of a happening in the future makes it crystallise and makes the dream become real. Will it happen? Won't it? It depends on us. In the meanwhile, let us savour the brilliance of the master who leads this vision-making with a sense of inevitability. We are grateful to him for we want it to happen so desperately that we will follow the symbol to the end. Or, until another one appears, in its own time. The year 2047 is what we sought from him. He has delivered. Pariksith Singh is author, poet, philosopher and medical practitioner based in Florida. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. view comments First Published: News opinion Viksit Bharat 2047: Inspirational, Aspirational—And A Political Masterstroke Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
India should focus on UAVs, satellites — not fighters and tanks
I am not a defence expert, even though I was a keen member of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Defence. But, can anyone call themselves a defence expert after Operation Spider's Web? Carried out by Ukraine, it saw 117 drones, each reportedly costing less than Rs 50,000, apparently destroying or damaging 41 Russian aircraft — most of them strategic cruise missile carriers — including at a location 4,000 km from the Ukrainian border. In another instance, several US B-2 stealth bombers flew thousands of kilometres, passed over enemy territory, bombed Iranian nuclear facilities and returned safely, all undetected. Experts will propose dramatic changes in defence strategy, just as the art of war changed with the invention of gunpowder, machine guns, fighter planes, rockets, nuclear bombs, missiles etc. In light of recent developments, I have the following observations on future planning. First, fighter planes are flying ducks, and horribly expensive, too. Earlier, fighters were lost in dogfights; now, they can be shot down in one's own air space from enemy territory. It is foolish to use them when a Rs 50,000 drone can do the job much better at a fraction of the cost. It could be argued that a fighter plane can carry much bigger payloads, but with precision munitions, this is no longer so critical. In any case, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be designed to carry payloads of any size. Besides, for precision delivery of large payloads, missiles are the best. Our Agni missiles can hit almost anywhere in the world accurately. They are our pride and the best demonstration of atmanirbharta; we owe a lot to former president A P J Abdul Kalam and Tessy Thomas — the DRDO's former director general of aeronautical systems and project director for Agni-IV — for them. Even stealth fighters have no place in future warfare — sooner rather than later, better radar technology or satellite-based observation techniques will be developed to detect them. The DRDO and HAL should stop wasting resources on fighters. Only transport planes and transport choppers will be relevant in the future. Even reconnaissance planes will be obsolete, with satellites doing a much better job. Second, aircraft carriers are sitting ducks for UAVs. A torpedo can also sink even the most protected carrier. And protecting one requires a lot of paraphernalia — it's like an emperor who needs to be closely guarded. They are also enormously expensive: The USS Gerald R Ford cost $13.3 billion to build. India has two aircraft carriers: INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. Vikramaditya has a displacement of 44,500 tonnes and Vikrant around 43,000. Both cost a fortune. China has three and is building one more. Their only purpose is to carry fighter planes and helicopters. They are good for national pride and not much else — don't build more. The money can be used to develop equipment that is far more critical. Third, tanks are expensive. They can be immobilised with drones, and there are a variety of shells that can destroy any battle tank. They can easily be replaced with more effective and less expensive equipment — don't waste money on them. Fourth, future wars will be satellite/UAV-driven conflicts. Not only will these track everything, they will deliver the munitions as well, including nuclear warheads. Spend lots of money on these. All over the world, the best defence equipment is manufactured by the private sector. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has focused on the development and production of defence equipment locally. He knows what he wants. It has produced some good results like the Akashteer air defence control and reporting system, designed and produced by BEL, which was very effective during Operation Sindoor. The DRDO's wings should be clipped drastically and it should stick to its areas of core competence, such as missile technology. Let the private sector do the rest, without any supervision by the DRDO. They will produce world-class products. Give them a free hand and have a large PLI for the sector. Our armed forces are incredibly competent and we need to give them the best for future warfare. Alphons is a former Union minister and author of The Winning Formula
