Students stage a play during the Sixth Institute Day, 1965

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Cultural Events , Institute Events , Students

Dances, magic shows, plays, music performances and various cultural activities were a hallmark of Institute Day in the 1960s.

Seen in the photograph, from left, Mr. C. V. Sahasranamam (playing the lady character), Mr. T. N. Venkataraman (Chief Security Officer) and a gentleman (yet to be identified).

It was common for male performers to don the roles of women owing to the fact that IIT Madras did not have female students in the early years. T. N. Venkataraman was an Under Officer in the U.O.T.C. Venkataraman later joined the Madras Special Armed Police, “and having had ‘always a liking for the adventurous life’, participated in, and led many merry hunts for dacoits, naxalites, and other Bad Guys”, writes Bobo in his article ‘The Security Officer’, which appeared in Campastimes (Winter 1971 – Vol. X, No. 2).

Collection:

Gourishankar Collection

Album Name:

Sixth Institute Day, 1965

Photograph ID:

001/0268/IMG_0138

Album ID:

0268

Date:

4 April 1965

Place:

Open Air Theatre (OAT)

Photographer:

C. Gourishankar (1936-2002). A geologist by qualification, Gourishankar started his career as a photographer after working for many years with the Geological Survey of India. In everything that he did, Gourishankar strove to achieve flawlessness and impeccable quality. Thus his photography too was characterised by this drive for perfection. Every photograph that Gourishankar took was meticulously planned and shot and printed with diligence and patience. Gourishankar carried out most of the official photography at IIT Madras in the 1960s.

Event:

Sixth Institute Day