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The photograph was taken during the valedictory function of Mardi Gras which took place at the Central Lecture Theatre, in 1983. Prof. R Srinivasan (Deputy Director, IIT Madras), who is seated on the extreme left,  completed his Ph.D from University of Madras in 1957 and worked as a Professor in the department of Physics, IIT Madras from 1962-1990. From 1979-1981, he was the Dean of Academic Research, From 1981-1983, he was Dean of Student Affairs and Deputy Director of IITM from 1982-1984. Prof. P. V. Indiresan (seated second from left) was an Indian engineer and administrator. He…

In the photograph, Murari (student of IIT Madras) can be seen along with two students from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore. Various events took place each year at Mardi Gras. The events were of a large variety and covered several aspects, such as music, dance, quiz, debate and many more. There were events associated with music that attracted a large audience from within Madras and from outside. Students from colleges in Bombay, Delhi, Jamshedpur, Bangalore and several other cities attended the cultural festival, and also participated in the events.

In this photograph, a group of students is seen together by a tree, possibly outside the Open Air Theatre. The events during Mardi Gras ’83 as in other editions of Mardi Gras, took place at locations such as the Open Air Theatre, Humanities and Sciences Block, Shanti Kunj and some areas in between. Halls in the campus such as the Central Lecture Theatre, Physics Lecture Theatre and Chemistry Lecture Theatre were also utilised. The music events and performances, especially the professional shows, took place at the Open Air Theatre. The art events were traditionally held at Shanti Kunj. The…

In the photograph, a student can be seen wearing a tribal costume for the event in progress which may have been a skit, possibly at the Central Lecture Theatre.  The cultural festival of 1983 included several competitions that were conducted over a period of five days. Apart from the main competitions such as the Music Competitions (Western and Indian Classical), Quiz, Debate, Fine Arts Competition and Photography, there were also other events such as the Informals. This included mono-acting, skits, choreography, speaking, writing and informal games.

Mono-acting, Choreography, Skit, Music and Speaking were some of the Informal events during Mardi Gras. The writing events were also a part of the informal events. Potpourri was another event that consisted of variations such as ‘shadow mime’, ‘man sketch’, ‘quiz mime’ and many more. There were many more events such as Fine Arts, Photography and Creative Writing. The Fine Arts event was one of the most elaborately organised events of the festival. The art events were traditionally held at Shanti Kunj. The Fine Arts event consisted of components such as painting, sketching, collage,…

In the photograph, two students can be seen dressed up in costumes and participating possibly in a skit, during the cultural festival (1983). The informal events during Mardi Gras, included skits, mono-acting, choreography, music and speaking. The writing events were also a part of the informal events. Another event was conducted separately for skits that was performed in teams. There were many more events such as Fine Arts, Photography and Creative Writing. The Fine Arts event was one of the most elaborately organised events of the festival. The art events were traditionally held at…

The professional music performance by Pandit Ravishankar, Shri Ananda Shankar and Zakir Hussain, accompanied by two other musicians in the background was one of the main attractions of the cultural festival in 1983. Shri Zakir Hussain also performed in professional shows in subsequent years, accompanying other renowned musicians (such as L. Shankar, Vikku Vinyakram and Pandit Shivkumar Sharma) during Mardi Gras ‘88 and ‘92. Ustad Zakir Hussain (born in 1951) has been considered as one of the most famous tabla players in India during the post-independence era. He has performed with…

In the photograph, Sharukh Irani can be seen participating in an event that could possibly have been the ‘Mono-acting’ event during Mardi Gras. The mono-acting event was a part of the Informal events at Mardi Gras ’83. Shahrukh Irani, who graduated from IIT Madras in 1983, was considered to be a talented orator and entertaining speaker at the Institute. The informal events during Mardi Gras, included skits, mono-acting, choreography, music and speaking. The writing events were also a part of the informal events. Potpourri was another event that consisted of variations such as ‘shadow…

In the photograph, a man can be seen riding a horse while also guiding another horse forward by its reins. During Mardi Gras ’83, fun rides were offered for the attendees. There is also a bike stand seen at the back in front of the Central Lecture Theatre, where several bikes and cycles have been parked. In 1983, Mardi Gras was conducted from 26th to 30th January. Individuals and Teams from twenty-one local colleges and 20 outstation teams took part in various cultural events. 

Students can be seen dressed up in costumes and participating, possibly in a skit during Mardi Gras, 1983. Mardi Gras ‘83 was arranged on a large scale, such that students from several colleges attended and participated from all over India.  The professional performances and shows of high calibre attracted a large number of attendees from within Madras and outside. It was regarded as one of the most colourful and popular events in India. The cultural festival began to draw a large amount of public attention and acquired national importance with high levels of excellence.

In the photograph, Pandit Ravishankar can be seen giving a music performance along with Shri Ananda Shankar on the sitar and Ustad Zakir Hussain on the tabla. Apart from the various events and competitions conducted during Mardi Gras ‘83, the cultural festival of IIT Madras, some of the main attractions of the festival were its professional shows.   

Mardi Gras was regarded as one of the largest cultural festivals in the country with several colleges from all over the country participating each year. The skits and several other events in 1983 were conducted in the Central Lecture Theatre. The events took place at different venues such as the Central Lecture Theatre, Open Air Theatre and other halls at the Humanities and Sciences Block. Events such as Indian Light Music and Fine Arts Competition took place at Shanti Kunj, in 1986, along with sylvan and silent surroundings.

In the photograph, standing from the left, are Shahrukh Irani (student of IIT Madras), a person yet to be identified, Murari (student of IIT Madras), and two students from Mount Carmel College. The photograph was taken in front of the staircase at the Central Lecture Theatre. Shahrukh Irani graduated from IIT Madras during 1983, and has been regarded as a talented orator and an entertaining speaker. He had also participated in events during the festival, such as skit and mono-acting in ‘83. Students from colleges in Bombay, Delhi, Jamshedpur, Bangalore and several other cities attended…

During one of the events, a student can be seen performing in a skit during Mardi Gras ‘83. Also, paper rockets that were thrown on stage by the attendees can be seen around this student. In order to make these rockets, used punched cards were often employed. It is noteworthy to describe some of the events that took place during Mardi Gras. For instance, the Debate was considered as an ‘oratorical extravaganza’. Each college could register a team of two speakers for the debate. The prizes for the debate were a trophy, certificates of merit for all the finalists, cash prizes and the…

In the photograph, Sharukh Irani, who graduated from IIT Madras in 1983, can be seen receiving a prize from Dr. Jaya Indiresan at Mardi Gras ’83. Shahrukh Irani was known to be a talented orator and an entertaining speaker during the cultural festival at IIT Madras. Dr. Jaya Indiresan (wife of Director P. V. Indiresan) graduated from M.Phil. Psychology from University of Madras, after which she obtained her Ph.D. in Organisational Behaviour from IIT Delhi in 1973. She was a former Associate Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) where she worked as a faculty and guided doctoral…