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In the photograph participants are seen to be intently looking at a table, possibly for reading a specific list or for filling out a form. Mardi Gras ‘83, which was held from 26 to 30 January, had invited participants from numerous colleges across India to take part and attend. During the later years (1987 onwards-) additional features were added to the festival such as Folk Arts, and Lecture-Demonstrations and workshops by professionals. Apart from this, it was noted that the cultural festival was also covered extensively by local and national media - newspaper, radio and magazines.…

Shahrukh Irani, who graduated from IIT Madras (B.Tech. Batch of 1983) was considered to be a talented orator and entertaining speaker at the Institute. Numerous competitions and events were organised during Mardi Gras (1983), which included western music (solo and group), Indian light music, Indian classical music, quiz, music quiz, fine arts, photography, on the spot, creative writing, debate, and Informals. Apart from this, there was also a competition for the overall Mardi Gras Championship. As each event carried a certain number of points within its own category, winning the ‘…

In 1983, Mardi Gras was conducted over a period of five days from 26 January to 30 January at the IIT Madras Campus. It was conducted on a large scale with participants and attendees from various colleges across India. Events and competitions attracted a large crowd to the campus during the festival.

In 1983, Mardi Gras was conducted from 26 to 30 January. Individuals and teams from 21 local colleges and 20 outstation teams took part in various cultural events. Several events and competitions were conducted over a duration of five days, such as Music Competitions, Informal events, Debate, Quiz, Fine Arts Competitions and so on. Apart from this, a significant performance that  was the main attraction of Mardi Gras ’83, was the professional music performance by Mr. Ananda Shankar, Pandit Ravishankar and Mr. Zakir Hussain.  

A bhangra performance can be seen being performed during Mardi Gras ‘83 at the open air theatre. During Mardi Gras, there were a number of events that took place that highlighted the Indian culture, such as professional classical music performances, dance performances, Indian classical music competition, Indian light music competition and so on. In 1987, Mardi Gras started featuring classical dance as a competitive event. In the same year, Mardi Gras additionally added dimensions to the cultural festival which included a two-day festival of Folk Arts (such as Terrukoothu, Yakshagana and…

Clay Modelling was a part of the Fine Arts Competition during Mardi Gras ‘83. The Fine Arts events were one of the most elaborately organised events of the festival, and were traditionally held at Shanti Kunj along with sylvan surroundings.  The art events included painting, sketching, collage, poster making, cartooning, clay modelling, pot painting and sculpture (wax modelling or soap carving). Usually two art events were conducted in a day, and the students could choose the events they wanted to participate in.

Mr. Ananda Shankar, who can be seen addressing an audience during Mardi Gras '83, was a well-known Indian Musician, who was known to merge Western and Eastern styles of music. He performed along with Pandit Ravishankar and Ustad Zakir Hussain during Mardi Gras in 1983. Born in Almora, Uttar Pradesh in 1942, he was the son of dancers Uday and Amala Shankar and the nephew of Pandit Ravi Shankar. He studied sitar with Dr. Lalmani Mishra in Banaras at the Hindu University.  In the late 1960s, he journeyed his way to the west coast of America and the pop world was soon fascinated by…

A large audience can be seen observing an ongoing event during Mardi Gras, in 1983, at the Central Lecture Theatre. Prof. N. V. C. Swamy (Department of Applied Mechanics) who was appointed as the Director of IIT Madras from 1990 to 1995 can be seen seated among the audience in the front row. During Mardi Gras ‘83, several events took place at the Central Lecture Theatre ranging from the Informal events, music quiz to ‘Just a Minute’ and ‘Dramatics.’ Apart from this, there was also a competition for the overall Mardi Gras Championship. As each event carried a certain number of points…

Various events and performances took place each year during Mardi Gras, highlighting Indian culture, such as professional classical music performances, dance performances, Indian classical music competition, Indian light music competition and so on. By 1987, classical dance was considered a competitive event during Mardi Gras. In the same year, Mardi Gras additionally added dimensions to the cultural festival which included a two-day festival of Folk Arts (such as Terrukoothu, Yakshagana and Kavadi). 

In the photograph, Prof. N. V. C. Swamy (Department of Applied Mechanics) who was appointed as the Director of IIT Madras from 1990 to 1995, can be seen seated among the audience in the front row. Events such as professional classical music performances, dance performances (both classical and folk), Indian classical music competition and Indian light music competition that took place each year at Mardi Gras, highlighted the Indian culture. In 1987, Mardi Gras started featuring classical dance as a competitive event. In the same year, Mardi Gras additionally added dimensions to the…

In the photograph, a student can be seen playing the drums, possibly performing in a music event. The events and competitions related to music during Mardi Gras included the Indian Classical Music, Indian Light Music, Western Solo and Western Group competitions. The Western Solo competition included both vocals and instrumental categories. Note the brand name written on the drum set, which appears to be ‘Maxwin by Pearl’.

The photograph was captured at the Central Lecture Theatre in the IIT Madras campus, during Mardi Gras ‘83. The television located on the staircase was possibly used to showcase music performances or videos.  A number of events took place over a period of five days during Mardi Gras in January 1983, and participants from across India attended and participated in events. A number of events took place at the central lecture theatre which included the informal events, skit, and others.

Various events that took place highlighted Indian culture, such as professional classical music performances, dance performances, Indian classical music competition, Indian light music competition and so on. In 1987, Mardi Gras started featuring classical dance as a competitive event. In the same year, Mardi Gras additionally added dimensions to the cultural festival which included a two-day festival of Folk Arts (such as Terrukoothu, Yakshagana and Kavadi). 

As in 1983, during each year at Mardi Gras, stalls and counters were put up outside the Open Air Theatre and other locations in the campus for students to catch a bit and take a pause from the events and competitions. The events took place at different venues such as the Central Lecture Theatre, Open Air Theatre and so on. Events such as Indian Light Music and Fine Arts Competition took place at Shanti Kunj, in 1986, along with sylvan and silent surroundings.

Events such as Clay Modelling were a part of the Fine Arts Competition during Mardi Gras ‘83. The Fine Arts events were one of the most elaborately organised events of the festival, and were traditionally held amongst the sylvan surroundings of Shanti Kunj.  The art events included painting, sketching, collage, poster making, cartooning, clay modelling, pot painting and sculpture (wax modelling or soap carving). Usually two art events were conducted in a day, and the students could choose the events they wanted to participate in.