Course Instructor: Manasi Prasad
Course Date: December 9th- 14th, 2024

About the Faculty:

Manasi Prasad is a combination of an accomplished singer, eloquent orator and arts manager. She is one of the best-known faces among the new generation of Carnatic musicians. Numerous awards have come her way, including the prestigious Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar from Government of India’s Sangeet Natak Akademi, Ananya Yuva Puraskar from Ananya Bengaluru, ‘Yuva Kalaakar Puraskar’ (Young Artist Award) from Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts, Mumbai and the Rotary- Brigade Young Achievers award. She is a TED Fellow and a Senior Fellow of the Melton Foundation. In recognition of her achievements, Manasi was recognized as one of the 30 “Indians of Tomorrow” in the annual issue of India Today.

Course Brief:

The idea of this course is to unlock creativity within each individual student, using paradigms from music and the performing arts. Starting with active and engaged listening, the module will also give them a practical understanding of the work of a musician. The course will go on to give the student a basic insight into musical elements such as melody, rhythm, lyric, instruments and how varying and combining these elements in composition can give desired outcomes. There will be some exposure to genres of music, allowing them to develop a more holistic idea of the diversity in the performing arts world. In addition, it is important that students are also able to engage with music at an intellectual level, and to appreciate that music is entwined with social, political and societal issues, and to be able to discuss issues related to the arts with nuance and sensitivity.

Course Instructor: Dr. Rajashree SR
Course Date: December 9th- 14th, 2024

About the Faculty:

Dr. Rajashree SR is a dynamic force in arts and education, with a PhD in Mass Communication and extensive expertise in theatre, dance, and management. As the Founder of Vyoma Artspace and Studio Theatre, she blends performance and pedagogy, creating innovative programs like "dramAcademics," integrating theatre with education. A celebrated actor and director with over 150 performances and numerous TV credits, she’s also an alumnus of IIM-Bangalore. As the Senior Consultant for the Dept of Education, Govt of India and NCERT, she is shaping art education under NEP 2020. Her accolades include the TIMES Entrepreneurship Award and Woman Entrepreneur of the Year. With global contributions across USA and UK, Dr. Rajashree bridges tradition and innovation, inspiring audiences and students alike.

Course Brief:

Theatre, role play, and storytelling is an inherent part of every child’s life. It is loved and enjoyed, though these skills are never ‘taught’. But as age advances, they somehow take a backseat. The course attempts to rekindle and revive these skills and reconnect with the genius child within us, this course attempts to enrich the students’ skills through the performing art of theatre. The course is designed to enable every student to connect with theatre and draw from its crucial elements and skills that would support and compliment both in their academic processes and in their personal lives. The course works on developing individual skills along with collaboration and coordination skills as a team. Through various techniques in theatre like puppetry, stylized acting, use of props and object theatre, the students would work on building their skills in visualisation, creativity, business storytelling, sales, pitching and presentation and more, packaged into a fun-filled process that would keep them constantly on their toes.

What will I get out of this course?

By engaging with theatre techniques like puppetry and role-playing, you’ll enhance your communication and creativity. This course will equip you with invaluable skills for business storytelling, pitching ideas, and team collaboration, all while having fun in a supportive and dynamic environment.

Course Instructor: Dr. Ravi Ramalingam
Course Date: December 9th- 14th, 2024

About the Faculty

Dr. Ravi Ramalingam is an accomplished conservationist and sustainability expert with over a decade of experience in biodiversity restoration, ecological research, and sustainable development. His work spans diverse landscapes, from tropical forests to urban ecosystems, where he has led field studies, implemented conservation strategies, and collaborated with stakeholders including NGOs and government agencies. With a Ph.D. in Conservation Science and Sustainability Studies, Dr. Ravi combines scientific expertise with a passion for effective communication and education, having conducted workshops and courses on ecological restoration, scientific writing, and environmental sustainability.

In the Chanakya Studio, Dr. Ravi will lead an engaging, hands-on course titled "Biodiversity Restoration for a Sustainable Future." This immersive course will explore the interconnected roles of biodiversity, ecological restoration, and sustainability, empowering participants with practical skills and innovative strategies to address pressing environmental challenges. By bridging theory and practice, the course offers a unique opportunity to understand and implement solutions for a sustainable and resilient future.

Course Brief:

This studio explores the vital connections between biodiversity, ecological restoration, and sustainability. Participants will engage in immersive, hands-on activities to understand how biodiversity underpins ecosystem services and resilience. Through case studies and practical restoration strategies, the course highlights the role of restoring degraded ecosystems in achieving sustainable outcomes. The program empowers participants to develop innovative solutions for balancing conservation and human development, fostering a deeper commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable living. By integrating biodiversity restoration into sustainability frameworks, this studio equips learners to address pressing global challenges with creativity and purpose.

What will I get out of this course?

You will gain hands-on experience in ecological restoration and learn how to balance conservation with human development. This course will empower you to take creative, actionable steps towards a sustainable future, equipping you with knowledge to address some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Course Instructor: Dr. Ravish Hegde
Course Date: December 9th- 14th, 2024

About the Faculty

Dr. Ravish Hegde, with over 20 years of expertise in Yakshagana and 16 years in theatre, is a versatile artist and cultural advocate. Founder of Natyasampada School of Cultural Arts, Dr. Hegde excels in teaching Yakshagana and theatre. A lead actor in Ekachakram (Sanskrit) and Vaishampaayana Teera (Kannada), they have also directed numerous Kannada, Sanskrit, and Hindi plays, including Karnabharam and Mrichchakatikam, showcasing a profound mastery of classical and contemporary art forms.

Course Brief:

Yakshagana, a vibrant art form of coastal and Malnad Karnataka, captivates audiences with its dynamic movements, elaborate costumes, and mythological narratives. This art form not only entertains but also imparts profound ethical and societal values. The course focuses on teaching the basics of Yakshagana, including talas, characteristic steps, and expressive movements. Predominantly practical, the training emphasizes hands-on learning to prepare enthusiasts to participate in Yakshagana performances. This practical approach is enriched with essential theoretical discourses, offering insights into the cultural and historical significance of this traditional theater. The course aims to nurture both skill and appreciation for this timeless art.

What will I get out of this course?

You will immerse yourself in the traditional art of Yakshagana, learning the key elements of this vibrant theatre form. This course will teach you expressive movements, storytelling, and the cultural significance of Yakshagana, giving you a new appreciation for this timeless art.

Course Instructor: Dr. H.S Sudhira and Mr. Bharata Srinivasa
Course Date: Dec 11th -18th, 2024

About the Faculty:

Dr. H.S. Sudhira has a PhD from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. He has established and leads Gubbi Labs, a private research collective that works on a host of domains ranging from sustainable ecosystems to liveable settlements using trans-disciplinary approaches. He is a researcher and a neo geographer using and propagating free-and-open-source mapping tools, studying cities and ecosystems.

A few years ago, at Gubbi Labs, a division was carved out, called Research Media Services, with the aim of bridging the gap between research institutes and the public.

Course Brief:

The course provides experiential learning for appreciating cities to engage in research and practice. This is an intensive course aimed at inspiring participants and imparts essential skills to be an urban researcher and/or practitioner. Cities are an outcome of the human-social organization. They are prone to manifestations by people and the institutions they have created, influencing and manipulating the course of its evolution continuously. Appreciating cities as they are and gaining a deeper understanding of how they function requires a multi-dimensional perspective. The realms of appreciating the city are no longer confined to the traditional domains of urban planning and/or civil engineering alone but encompass the facets of social sciences, urban economics, law, ecology, and the environment. In addition, it has become essential to adopt techniques from other domains and apply different methods for knowing the city. The course is a blend of theory and hands-on sessions. With the insights gained in theory and the hands-on sessions every day, it is expected that participants work on a case during the course and present it at the end of the course.

What will I get out of this course?

You will gain a fresh perspective on cities, understanding how urban spaces evolve and function through the lens of various disciplines. This course will provide you with the skills to analyze cities from multiple angles, equipping you to become a researcher or practitioner in urban studies and planning.

Course Instructor: Bhumi Shah
Course Date: Dec 11th -18th, 2024 (Saturday & Sunday off)

About the Faculty:

Bhumi Shah has over six years of experience and has worked around learning design, digital technology, and cultural heritage. She holds an MCA with specialisation in Mobile Computing (2018) and MMS in Heritage Management (2022) from Ahmedabad University. She is interested in examining knowledge, judgment and reflective practice in art, culture and design as instances of knowledge-making.

. She was also associated with Vizara Technologies, a Digital India Initiative start-up incubated at NASSCOM Center of Excellence – IoT & AI. She has worked for a short term on developing the Virtual Reality Museums Project for the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Rajasthan.

Course Brief:

Have you ever wondered how simple code can transform into captivating visuals, animations, or interactive art? How can we use creative coding to tell data stories, simulate real-world phenomena, or build interactive experiments? What possibilities emerge when programming becomes a medium for artistic and interdisciplinary expression? The Creative Coding Studio is designed for students with no prior experience in programming, offering an accessible introduction to creative coding with p5.js, a JavaScript library that simplifies coding for artists, designers, and anyone curious about blending technology with creativity. Through a series of hands-on workshops, you will explore foundational programming concepts while creating interactive graphics, dynamic animations, and playful simulations. The course emphasises experimentation and encourages students to think creatively about how code can solve problems, express ideas, or spark curiosity. By the end of the course, students will not only understand the basics of coding but also gain the confidence to build simulation projects with the help of Generative AI to create interactive digital experiences.

What will I get out of this course?

You will dive into the world of creative coding and learn how to transform simple code into interactive art, animations, and data-driven visuals. This course will give you the confidence to experiment with programming and use it as a tool for artistic expression and problem-solving.

Course Instructor: Sharath Parvathavani-Yuvashree Bangalore
Course Date: Dec 12th-18th, 2024 (Sunday Off)

About the Faculty:

Experienced Writer and Creative Director with a demonstrated history of working in the entertainment industry. Skilled in Final Draft and Microsoft Office. Strong writing professional with a Diploma in screenwriting from New York Film Academy.

Course Brief:

Theatre is a multi-level art form using subjective and objective tools, allowing for multi-faceted artistic expression. This studio course intends to give students of Chanakya a bird’s eye view of the same by introducing them to the various elements of Theatre via the preparation and performance of a short play. We introduce the elements of Theatre to students by creating and executing an experiential-learning-based week-long workshop that incorporates the analysis, deconstruction, and performance of a short play, thereby enabling the students to recognize the elements of the Theatre. The habit of Theatregoing also builds analytical skills & emotional positives. The habit of Theatre-making is doubly beneficial in that it not only has the positives of a consumer of Theatre, but by adding the experiential aspect of creating Theatre, it brings about teamwork, contributing to a cause, navigating conflict, decision-making, and spontaneity. In short, Theatre has the capacity to build character. This course initiates and acclimatizes students of Chanakya to take a deep dive into Theatre in a full-fledged course later.

What will I get out of this course?

This course will introduce you to the world of theatre by immersing you in the process of creating and performing a short play. You will build teamwork, communication, and decision-making skills while gaining a deeper appreciation for theatre as both an art form and a life skill.

Course Instructor: Dr. T.S. Ravishankar
Course Date: Dec 12th -16th, 2024

About the Faculty:

Dr. T.S. Ravishankar is the Chairman of Epigraphical Society of India, Executive Member of Place Names Society of India and Vice-President of South Indian Numismatic Society. Dr. T.S. Ravishankar has established his expertise in deciphering Sanskrit Inscriptions and early coins. Presently, apart from editing of Annual Reports on Indian Epigraphy, the departmental publications. He has worked as an expert Numismatist from Archaeological Survey of India at Delhi customs office to examine the coins. For more than 25 years, he has been teaching the students of Post Graduate Diploma in Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology, Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi. He has coordinated and conducted many workshops on Palaeography, Epigraphy and Numismatics at Delhi and Mysore. Dr. T.S. Ravishankar obtained M.A. (Sanskrit), M.A. (Ancient His. & Arch) and Ph.D. from University of Mysore. He served Epigraphy Branch of the Archaeological Survey of India for more than 35 years in different positions and gradually became the Director (Epigraphy).

Course Brief:

Our sub-continent is very rich in Epigraphical wealth. Extensive and intensive Epigraphical survey has yielded hundreds and thousands of inscriptions found throughout the entire length and breadth of the country, written in various scripts and languages, belonging to different dynasties. The course intends to give a comprehensive picture of Epigraphical and Palaeographical Studies in India. There is a great need to create awareness, especially among the student community about our rich epigraphical heritage and sensitize them about conservation and preservation as they are the primary source to understand our past. The thrust of the course is to bring the participants to the practical side of decipherment not only on inscriptions, but also on seals and sealings, manuscripts, and other inscribed materials. Students will get to learn Brahmi script and its derivatives, with a focus on North Indian Scripts, mainly Palaeographical aspects, which paves the way for specialization in various Scripts as per the individual students’ interests. In addition to Palaeographical Studies, various aspects of Epigraphical studies are also taught. Overall, it would be a wholesome experience of learning various aspects of Epigraphical and Palaeographical Studies.

What will I get out of this course?

You will discover the fascinating world of ancient scripts, learning to decipher inscriptions and manuscripts that unlock India’s rich history. This course will deepen your understanding of epigraphy and palaeography, giving you the tools to explore and preserve the past in a hands-on and meaningful way.