‘When Engineering meets the Humanities: Quantitative Methods and the Crucible of Trans-disciplinarity’ was held on April 25 with approximately 50 students, executives and faculty from Plaksha University in attendance.
The masterclass series seeks to create new intellectual conversations at the intersections of engineering, technology and the humanities. The focus will be on the broad areas of AI and Technology; Indic Ways of Thinking and Knowing; and Quantitative Humanities. The masterclasses are being hosted by the Moving Mountains series.
The inaugural masterclass was held by Prof Shonaleeka Kaul who is professor of Early Indian History at the Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Prof Kaul is one of India's leading cultural and intellectual historians and has published 9 groundbreaking volumes. Prof Kaul's lecture was titled: Sanskrit and Society: The Many Voices and Visions of a Literature. Her lecture richly explored the relevance of Sanskrit, emphasizing its complex, open intellectual heritage and the critical engagement found in early literature with authority and societal norms. Her talk also addressed the complexities of historical narratives, the role of myths in understanding human experience, ethical governance in early India, the need for a re-evaluation of Sanskrit and Prakrit languages in historical contexts, and the illuminating role of the poet or Kavi, among many other important themes.
The masterclass series was inaugurated by Rimy Oberoi, Founder, Plaksha University. In her keynote address, she underlined the necessity for an engagement between engineering, technology and the humanities which lies at the core of Plaksha's vision to reimagine education. She highlighted the importance of ethical innovation in technology, particularly regarding privacy rights in India, and the need for effective communication of complex ideas within teams.
She underscored creative problem-solving and community engagement as essential for addressing challenges like climate change, advocating for a holistic educational approach that integrates technical skills with human understanding. Rimy raised concerns about the traditional educational approach, which separates subjects and does not encourage inter- and trans-disciplinary learning, potentially hindering students' ability to address complex societal issues. She emphasised the need for students to not only learn technical skills like coding and engineering but also develop the ability to ask questions and understand the human implications of their work.
Prof Aditya Malik is Professor, Plaksha University.
