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The Hindu
25-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Kairali AI Chip developers say allegations misplaced, cite support from MeitY and Kerala government
Countering allegations surrounding Digital University Kerala's invention, Kairali AI Chip, its makers have maintained that their invention is an academic research initiative, and not a commercial product. They also emphasised the groundbreaking nature of its achievement of designing a functional AI test chip in-house at a State-funded institution with limited infrastructure and funding. The Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) had raised serious concerns regarding Kairali Chip by alleging a lack of transparency in its development and misuse of public funds. The organisation also claimed that the chip's design was not disclosed, lacked patents and had not been commercially validated. It also questioned why the chip development was not officially communicated to the Central government, particularly at a time when the Centre has invested heavily in India's semiconductor ecosystem. 'Validated through reviews' The developers of Kerala's first silicon-proven AI chip, while denying the allegations, have stated that the project's first prototype was developed by teams of Master's and PhD students, and was validated through multiple reviews under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology's (MeitY) Chip to Startup (C2S) programme. Highlighting the prohibitive costs of chip development, ranging from $1 million to over $200 million for high-end chips, the makers pointed out that the test chip was realised with limited resources using programmes such as Efabless platform and open-source tools, including those by Skywater and Google, using a 130nm fabrication process. Under MeitY's C2S initiative, the research team led by Professor Alex James was able to carry out modular tape-outs (manufacturing ready chip designs), publish research and provide real-world chip design training to dozens of students. The university also received support through the GF-Synopsys Pilot Program, giving students hands-on experience in designing chips ready for commercial fabrication. Besides, the Kerala government independently recognised the work of Prof. James by awarding him the Kairali Researcher Award, which further supported research into bio-inspired AI (models that try to mimic biological neural networks, especially useful for low-power AI applications). 'This project too was research-driven, and tackled more experimental architecture and spiking neural models. In addition, the university also received selective access to ReRAM design files from TSMC, a global semiconductor leader, which is currently given only to a very limited set of researchers around the world,' the developers added.
Time of India
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Not against Vedan, but discuss academic subjects as required: SUCC
T'puram: Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) has denied the allegation that it opposed the inclusion of the work of rapper Hirandas Murali, popularly known as Vedan, in the Calicut University Malayalam literature syllabus. Committee chairperson R S Sasikumar said that the lack of academic common sense in asking BA Malayalam students to compare the music of Michael Jackson and Vedan should not be viewed as a plot against the rapper. "Vedan is an emerging artist in Kerala. Let the young man grow. Do not cast a shadow over his future by dragging him into controversies. Discuss academic subjects as academic subjects," the committee said. "Vedan's rap and Michael Jackson's pop are unique musical blends. Music is prioritised over poetry. Those creating the Malayalam BA syllabus should not ignore this. The most important issue is whether the rap song given as a study subject for students is appropriate for Malayalam degree students. The rap 'Bhoomi Njan Vazhunnaidam' cannot be claimed to have literary merit. There is an allegation that party politics is the reason for its inclusion," SUCC said in a statement here. SUCC also said that it is unclear whether literature and rap music should be compared. "Kuchelavritham was written by Muringoor Shankaran Potty. It depicts the devotional singing of the poor Brahmin Kuchelan during his great meeting with his friend Lord Krishna. Many great artists have performed this before, with slight variations, devoutly. Young singer Gauri Lakshmi beautifully sang this Kathakali Padam and released an album. However, its visual presentation has been criticised for not aligning with devotion and not being suitable for Kuchelavritham," the statement said. "But that's not the issue. Comparing these two renditions requires significant musical understanding. How can students who take Malayalam as an optional subject without a music requirement make this comparison? This could definitely be included in the syllabus for music degree students studying classical music," the committee said.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kerala University registrar denies discrepancies in his appointment
1 2 3 4 T'puram: Kerala university registrar K S Anil Kumar has denied the allegations that his selection and appointment were against university laws and added that he was haunted by certain forces. The Save University Campaign Committee, which petitioned the state governor demanding Kumar's expulsion from the post, had raised the same demand unsuccessfully several times in the past. The university's acting vice-chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal had wondered how the syndicate could revoke Kumar's suspension. Kumar, who now acts as the state govt's face in Kerala university, said the conditions set by the university laws for the appointment of a registrar on deputation were not applicable to full-term and regular appointments, as in his case. "The registrar appointment is in accordance with Statute 12(1) of the Kerala University First Statute, 1977. A selection committee was formed on Jan 11, 2021, for the direct appointment of the registrar and a notification was issued on Jan 19. The notification stated that appointment was direct and the term was four years. An interview was conducted on Feb 22, 2021 and a rank list was prepared based on merit," Kumar said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Since the appointee is a an aided college teacher, a govt NOC was required and the govt considered this four-year appointment as a deputation to adjust service and pay conditions. Similar procedures were followed for the appointment of the controller of examinations for Kerala university and MG University and Cusat's registrar, he said. On the expiry of his term early this year, the govt reappointed him for another full term.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Nixing of suspension: KU VC ridicules registrar's claims
Thrissur/T'puram: Kerala University acting vice-chancellor Mohanan Kunnumal on Monday criticized registrar K S Anil Kumar, saying there was no legal basis to the latter's claims that the university syndicate withdrew his suspension. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He was speaking to reporters after meeting the governor Rajendra Arlekar, who is also the chancellor of the university in Thrissur. "The syndicate has not met. The vice-chancellor should be chairing the syndicate meeting. Subsequently, the vice-chancellor should sign the order issued after the syndicate takes such a decision. Where is that order, who has signed it? There is no such order. The university statute makes it clear that whenever there is no syndicate, or senate or academic council, it is the vice-chancellor who is the syndicate, senate and academic council,'' Kunnumal said. The vice-chancellor dismissed the reports that about 2,500 degree certificates were pending as "blatant lies". He said only around 500 such files were pending. "Those files can be disposed of within minutes, once I reach there. But those who are on an agitation there have threatened that I will not be allowed to set my foot there at the university headquarters. I'm wondering why those who make such threats against the head of a university are not arrested. The police are actually giving protection to the agitators. They are trying to block even the online disposal of files. The protesters launched an agitation even in front of my wife's residence in Thiruvananthapuram. I'm not particular about going to the university, but my worry is about the children studying there. I'm not scared to go there, but I know the students and even the police may get injured, during the possible violence if I go there. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now I don't want that to happen. I'm a doctor and I know the consequences of such violence. I don't want even a drop of blood to be shed in my name'' Kunnumal said. He alleged that it was the registrar, not the vice-chancellor, who had precipitated such a crisis. The VC said he had briefed the governor on these details. He said he hoped that as the head of the state, the governor would take appropriate decisions in the best interest of the state, particularly the students. SUCC urges guv to revoke registrar's appointment Even as the tussle between the vice-chancellor and the registrar continues to affect the functioning of Kerala University, the Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) urged Arlekar to revoke the appointment of Kumar as registrar. Kunnumal stopped looking at the files cleared by Kumar, whom he suspended in connection with the Bharat Mata controversy. A large number of files, including degree certificates, are pending for the approval of the VC, who also ceased to attend his office in the university. SUCC said the very appointment of Kumar as the registrar was against university laws. As per the Kerala University statute 12 (14), deputation to the post of the university registrar should be given to central govt or state govt officials. "Kumar is a faculty member at a private college (Thiruvitamcore Devaswom Board College) under the university. He is continuing as the registrar based on a special order by the govt. This is against the university laws," the committee said. The service of a teacher from St Thomas College (a private college in Thrissur), who was appointed as registrar at Calicut University on deputation, was terminated following a quo warranto petition filed in the high court challenging the appointment, it pointed out. In Feb, the syndicate extended Kumar's appointment for four years. Although there were allegations of it being against the rules, all official members participated in the meeting to extend the appointment to protect the govt's special interest.
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
SUCC petitions Governor against M. Swaraj's wife
The Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) has petitioned Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar seeking an inquiry into the alleged anomalies surrounding the conferment of PhD degree by Kannur University on Saritha Menon, wife of Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leader M. Swaraj. In the complaint, SUCC chairman R.S. Sasikumar and convener M. Shajarkhan flagged purported irregularities in the university's decision to relax norms by granting her a mercy chance to enable her to submit her thesis, around 16 years after registering at S.N. College, Kannur. The mercy chance, SUCC alleged, was selectively given to benefit a politically connected individual. They urged the Governor to review the legality of the mercy chance and its implementation in doctoral research, and audit all PhD degrees awarded by Kannur University in the past 10 years to detect 'similar patterns of irregularity.'
