Latest news with #Vaibhav


Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
1st batch of engg grads tutored in Marathi join the workforce
PUNE: Sufiya Sayyad, 22, is the first from her village Belwadi, in Pune district's Indapur taluka, to become a computer engineer; she is in fact the first learner from her village. Her father Mahamad Sayyad is a farm labourer who brings home between ₹300- ₹400 on good days, while her mother is a homemaker. Her classmate Vaibhav Indure, 23, is the son of a farmer, Ganesh Indure, from Shahajanpur village, in Beed district. While Sufiya's parents took a loan of ₹4 lakh to put her through engineering college, Vaibhav joined his college's earn-and-learn scheme, which he says 'not only helped him make productive use of free hours but also earn an hourly pay' to fund his tuition. Sufiya, Vaibhav and 64 others are the first batch of students, who having emerged from Marathi medium or semi-English medium state and zilla parishad schools, received their degrees from the Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering (PCCOE) yesterday – their social advancement an academic milestone from the college's Computer Engineering (Regional Language) Department that tutored students in Marathi, marking a major achievement in the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Forty of the 66 graduates have found tech jobs through campus placements, with salaries between ₹5 to 10 lakh per annum – 'way beyond our dreams,' said one -- dispelling all scepticism about the employability of regional language-trained engineers. PCCOE was among 14 institutions across India to receive approval from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in 2021 to offer undergraduate engineering programmes in vernacular languages. It is the only institution in Maharashtra that was granted permission to initiate such a programme, to make technical education more inclusive. How the programme started 'Before the programme formally began, we conducted a pilot project on diploma students, teaching them core engineering subjects in Marathi for two weeks. The initiative included assessments and feedback,' said Rachana Patil, head of the Computer Engineering (Regional Language) Department. 'Most students appreciated the effort and found it beneficial, although they requested that the core textbooks remain in English.' Armed with insights from this pilot, the institute launched the in Marathi programme in July 2021, admitting 66 students through the state's Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell – the cut off for the course was above 96 per cent that year, which has now gone up to 98 per cent. The first batch included 51 boys and 15 girls from 20 districts across Maharashtra (who had a rudimentary knowledge of English), reflecting the wide reach and demand for such an initiative. At least 50 students are first generation learners emerging from the state's tribal belts, such as Chandrapur, and tribal parts of Nashik, Buldhana and Akola. 'A dedicated team of nine faculty members was appointed to teach this batch, and a detailed curriculum delivery strategy was drawn up. Initially, the team aimed to translate the entire syllabus into Marathi, but due to technical limitations and terminological challenges, they adopted a blended approach,' said Patil. Early challenges The admissions were not without challenges either: as this was the first-ever regional language engineering course in the state, families feared their children might face discrimination and lack of opportunities in the job market. Counselling and assurance of industry interaction and internships integrated into the curriculum, quelled their doubts. 'Their faith has now been rewarded, evidenced by over 60 per cent placements in the first batch from well-known start-ups and established companies,' added Patil. Sujata Kolhe, associate dean (academics), said offering conceptual clarity was key for the faculty. 'We realised that a full translation was not feasible due to the lack of equivalent terminology in Marathi for many technical terms. So, we decided to teach in Marathi while retaining the textbooks and core materials in English,' said Kolhe. It fell upon the instructors to simplify complex subjects explaining them in the mother tongue, all the while encouraging students to refer to English textbooks for industry-standard knowledge. 'The dual-medium approach helped students gain a deeper understanding without being overwhelmed by language barriers,' she added. Examinations were also conducted in a blended format, where students were allowed to write in both languages together. 'The endeavour was to offer them flexibility without compromising on academic rigour,' Kolhe added. First stepping stone Internships from the third year onwards allowed students hands-on experience about interactions in the real world, with mentors focussing on personality development, interview preparation and soft skills, helping students from the special batch gain confidence to compete with their English-speaking peers. 'We ensured they felt no less than any other graduate,' shared an alumni volunteer. Prajakta Maratkar, from Chandrapur district, shared her journey saying, 'My father is a state government employee; we are used to speaking and thinking in Marathi which filled me with anxiety when I went to college. But, over time, the faculty's support and teaching methods helped me, and others like me, not just survive but also succeed.' Her classmate Gauri Nimje from Yavatmal district, echoed similar sentiments, 'I come from a family of small farmers; my primary goal was to get a good job to support my family financially. We were apprehensive initially about how we would be treated in the industry. But during internships and interviews, we realized that what mattered were was our skills, not the language we studied in.' Prathamesh Theurkar, from Pimpri Chinchwad, who bagged the highest salary package of ₹10 lakh per annum, said, 'Studying in Marathi actually helped me grasp difficult concepts more easily. Equally helpful was the blend of languages in the exams and during interviews, as it allowed us to express our understanding clearly.' Dr Govind Kulkarni, director of PCCOE, termed this endeavour 'a landmark event in the landscape of Indian technical education'. 'Today, as we witness our first batch of graduates with outstanding placement records and industry recognition, it reaffirms our belief that regional language can be a powerful medium for technical excellence,' he said. Ashish Gawali, founder and CEO of ATX Labs, based in upscale Baner, Pune, said he was apprehensive when one of the students, Guruprasad Pathak, joined the company for an internship. 'We were curious how his background would amalgamate with a fast-paced tech environment. However, within weeks it became clear that he had both the technical depth and the right attitude we look for in our team members. Guruprasad quickly stood out with clarity of concepts, eagerness to learn, and ability to apply knowledge in practical product development. We gave him a key responsibility on one of our flagship products, and he handled it with professionalism, insight, and maturity well beyond his years. Naturally, when it was time to expand our team, hiring him full-time was an easy decision,' said Gawali. Moment of pride On Saturday, some of the parents gathered at the campus to celebrate their children's successes. A beaming Ganesh Sunderrav Indure, Vaibhav's father, said: 'He is the first in our family who has pursued degree-level education. He had the spark and we let him pursue his interest. All subsequent decisions were taken by him independently.' Vaibhav, who was placed at Encora, an information technology (IT) company, said, 'Every hour I worked as part of the Earn and Learn scheme was a lifeline – it made me disciplined and every subject I studied brought me closer to my dream. My journey proves that with hard work and the right opportunities, anything is possible.' Mahammad Sayyad, Sufiya's father, recalled how his daughter would study under a single dim light 'not ever complaining'. 'I work on someone else's land and barely earn enough to make ends meet. She made every rupee of the loan we took count,' he said. 'There were days when even affording a bus pass felt like a luxury, but I never let my circumstances define my future. Every semester I topped was a silent answer to every doubt and struggle we faced. Completing my engineering degree is not just my achievement, it's a victory for every girl in my village who dares to dream,' said Sufiya.


Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Engineering change with mother tongue
Sufiya Sayyad, 22, is the first from her village Belwadi, in Pune district's Indapur taluka, to become a computer engineer; she is in fact the first learner from her village. Her father Mahamad Sayyad is a farm labourer who brings home between ₹300- ₹400 on good days, while her mother is a homemaker. Her classmate Vaibhav Indure, 23, is the son of a farmer, Ganesh Indure, from Shahajanpur village, in Beed district. While Sufiya's parents took a loan of ₹4 lakh to put her through engineering college, Vaibhav joined his college's earn-and-learn scheme, which he says 'not only helped him make productive use of free hours but also earn an hourly pay' to fund his tuition. Sufiya, Vaibhav and 64 others are the first batch of students, who having emerged from Marathi medium or semi-English medium state and zilla parishad schools, received their degrees from the Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering (PCCOE) yesterday – their social advancement an academic milestone from the college's Computer Engineering (Regional Language) Department that tutored students in Marathi, marking a major achievement in the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Forty of the 66 graduates have found tech jobs through campus placements, with salaries between ₹5 to 10 lakh per annum – 'way beyond our dreams,' said one -- dispelling all scepticism about the employability of regional language-trained engineers. PCCOE was among 14 institutions across India to receive approval from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in 2021 to offer undergraduate engineering programmes in vernacular languages. It is the only institution in Maharashtra that was granted permission to initiate such a programme, to make technical education more inclusive. How the programme started 'Before the programme formally began, we conducted a pilot project on diploma students, teaching them core engineering subjects in Marathi for two weeks. The initiative included assessments and feedback,' said Rachana Patil, head of the Computer Engineering (Regional Language) Department. 'Most students appreciated the effort and found it beneficial, although they requested that the core textbooks remain in English.' Armed with insights from this pilot, the institute launched the in Marathi programme in July 2021, admitting 66 students through the state's Centralized Entrance Test (CET) Cell – the cut off for the course was above 96 per cent that year, which has now gone up to 98 per cent. The first batch included 51 boys and 15 girls from 20 districts across Maharashtra (who had a rudimentary knowledge of English), reflecting the wide reach and demand for such an initiative. At least 50 students are first generation learners emerging from the state's tribal belts, such as Chandrapur, and tribal parts of Nashik, Buldhana and Akola. 'A dedicated team of nine faculty members was appointed to teach this batch, and a detailed curriculum delivery strategy was drawn up. Initially, the team aimed to translate the entire syllabus into Marathi, but due to technical limitations and terminological challenges, they adopted a blended approach,' said Patil. Early challenges The admissions were not without challenges either: as this was the first-ever regional language engineering course in the state, families feared their children might face discrimination and lack of opportunities in the job market. Counselling and assurance of industry interaction and internships integrated into the curriculum, quelled their doubts. 'Their faith has now been rewarded, evidenced by over 60 per cent placements in the first batch from well-known start-ups and established companies,' added Patil. Sujata Kolhe, associate dean (academics), said offering conceptual clarity was key for the faculty. 'We realised that a full translation was not feasible due to the lack of equivalent terminology in Marathi for many technical terms. So, we decided to teach in Marathi while retaining the textbooks and core materials in English,' said Kolhe. It fell upon the instructors to simplify complex subjects explaining them in the mother tongue, all the while encouraging students to refer to English textbooks for industry-standard knowledge. 'The dual-medium approach helped students gain a deeper understanding without being overwhelmed by language barriers,' she added. Examinations were also conducted in a blended format, where students were allowed to write in both languages together. 'The endeavour was to offer them flexibility without compromising on academic rigour,' Kolhe added. First stepping stone Internships from the third year onwards allowed students hands-on experience about interactions in the real world, with mentors focussing on personality development, interview preparation and soft skills, helping students from the special batch gain confidence to compete with their English-speaking peers. 'We ensured they felt no less than any other graduate,' shared an alumni volunteer. Prajakta Maratkar, from Chandrapur district, shared her journey saying, 'My father is a state government employee; we are used to speaking and thinking in Marathi which filled me with anxiety when I went to college. But, over time, the faculty's support and teaching methods helped me, and others like me, not just survive but also succeed.' Her classmate Gauri Nimje from Yavatmal district, echoed similar sentiments, 'I come from a family of small farmers; my primary goal was to get a good job to support my family financially. We were apprehensive initially about how we would be treated in the industry. But during internships and interviews, we realized that what mattered were was our skills, not the language we studied in.' Prathamesh Theurkar, from Pimpri Chinchwad, who bagged the highest salary package of ₹10 lakh per annum, said, 'Studying in Marathi actually helped me grasp difficult concepts more easily. Equally helpful was the blend of languages in the exams and during interviews, as it allowed us to express our understanding clearly.' Dr Govind Kulkarni, director of PCCOE, termed this endeavour 'a landmark event in the landscape of Indian technical education'. 'Today, as we witness our first batch of graduates with outstanding placement records and industry recognition, it reaffirms our belief that regional language can be a powerful medium for technical excellence,' he said. Ashish Gawali, founder and CEO of ATX Labs, based in upscale Baner, Pune, said he was apprehensive when one of the students, Guruprasad Pathak, joined the company for an internship. 'We were curious how his background would amalgamate with a fast-paced tech environment. However, within weeks it became clear that he had both the technical depth and the right attitude we look for in our team members. Guruprasad quickly stood out with clarity of concepts, eagerness to learn, and ability to apply knowledge in practical product development. We gave him a key responsibility on one of our flagship products, and he handled it with professionalism, insight, and maturity well beyond his years. Naturally, when it was time to expand our team, hiring him full-time was an easy decision,' said Gawali. Moment of pride On Saturday, some of the parents gathered at the campus to celebrate their children's successes. A beaming Ganesh Sunderrav Indure, Vaibhav's father, said: 'He is the first in our family who has pursued degree-level education. He had the spark and we let him pursue his interest. All subsequent decisions were taken by him independently.' Vaibhav, who was placed at Encora, an information technology (IT) company, said, 'Every hour I worked as part of the Earn and Learn scheme was a lifeline – it made me disciplined and every subject I studied brought me closer to my dream. My journey proves that with hard work and the right opportunities, anything is possible.' Mahammad Sayyad, Sufiya's father, recalled how his daughter would study under a single dim light 'not ever complaining'. 'I work on someone else's land and barely earn enough to make ends meet. She made every rupee of the loan we took count,' he said. 'There were days when even affording a bus pass felt like a luxury, but I never let my circumstances define my future. Every semester I topped was a silent answer to every doubt and struggle we faced. Completing my engineering degree is not just my achievement, it's a victory for every girl in my village who dares to dream,' said Sufiya.


Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
PM interacts with cricket sensation Suryavanshi at airport, praises him
Patna: Bihar's rising cricket sensation, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, added another memorable moment to his burgeoning career on Friday when he met during the latter's two-day visit to the state. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The meeting took place at the renovated Patna airport where Vaibhav was accompanied by his family. The PM interacted warmly with the young cricketer, blessing him and praising his remarkable talent. "He is being recognised and applauded across the nation," the PM said. Posting about the meeting on X, the PM wrote, "At Patna airport, met the young cricketing sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi and his family. His cricketing skills are being admired all over the nation! My best wishes to him for his future endeavours." Speaking to TOI, Neeraj Singh, senior GM (admin) of the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA), credited BCA president Rakesh Tiwari for arranging the meeting. "In fact, when Vaibhav scored a 35-ball century in the IPL, the PMO had described him as an 'extraordinary' player in a post on X. When the PM's visit to Bihar was finalised, our president received a message from the PMO that the PM would like to meet Vaibhav. He then contacted the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for permission. Once approved, we brought Vaibhav to the airport this morning," he said. BCA president Rakesh Tiwari added, "It was not just a personal milestone for Vaibhav but also a proof of the fact that there is no dearth of talent in Bihar cricket – what is needed are the right platforms, opportunities, and positive guidance." Vaibhav has been a standout performer this season, representing Rajasthan Royals in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He scored 252 runs in seven matches at a striking rate of 206.56. Last year, he became the youngest player ever bought at an IPL auction, acquired for Rs 1.1 crore. His stellar performances continued in domestic and international cricket. He scored 71 off 42 balls on debut against Baroda in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25, becoming the youngest Indian to record a List-A fifty. Internationally, he set a new benchmark for Indian youth cricket, smashing a 58-ball century in a Test match against Australia in Chennai, the fastest youth Test hundred by an Indian. Vaibhav also played a crucial role in India's campaign at the ACC U-19 Asia Cup, contributing two vital half-centuries and helping the team reach the final. He has been selected to represent India in the upcoming U-19 tour of England.


Hans India
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Vaibhavam review: A fresh and soulful entertainer
Sathvik, an IIM graduate turned film maker has delivered a fresh and new-age comedy drama providing utmost entertainment to the audience. Story: The story revolves around Vaibhav (Ruthvik) and his magnanimous nature to help people in need. Vaibhav resigns from his job in pursuit of becoming an entrepreneur. During his recess, Vaibhav reconciles with his childhood friends and crush. Vaibhav juggles between friendship, love and family. When one of his friends lands in trouble, Vaibhav decides to fight back. Will he succeed in preserving righteousness and justice for his friend? Performances: Ruthvik being a debutant actor had given a subtle and unique performance which is a rare feat for any debut actor. Surprisingly, Ruthvik had also sung for himself in a song. Iqra Idrisi delivers a fine performance portraying Aarthi, a multi-talented girl. Raghu G, Arjun Jawabnavis, Savinder impressed with their stellar performances and the rest of the cast, most of whom are newcomers, have given their share of performances providing giggles, tears of emotion and joy. Technicalities Sathvik, an IIM grad, is surely a rising star in the realm of direction. Sathvik has redefined the word 'versatile' by writing, directing, producing, editing, penning down lyrics and composing music to the film. This is one of the rare achievements that only a few stalwarts of the tollywood industry have achieved and Sathvik accomplished it at the beginning of his career. The production values of the movie are top-notch and act as a benchmark to all the films which aspire to bring quality with limited resources. The Cinematographers have done a great job with impeccable camera angles. Songs and Background Score have predominantly elevated the film. The foot tapping "Kalaganna" has rightly hit the bull's eye. On the other hand, "Palle Veedhullona" is a soulful song which smoothens the heart and the lyrics of the song have etched the hearts of the listeners. The comedy, songs, performances and twists will make it worth your money. Positives: Screenplay Story Dialogues Performances Clean comedy Music and Background score Negatives : Few scenes are slightly complicated and require more intellect to understand Lack of familiar faces Analysis : On the whole, Vaibhavam movie is a fresh and joyous rollercoaster which caters entertainment to all types of audiences. The clean comedy with nil vulgarity gives the audience a flawless experience which can be watched with the family and enjoy every moment. The technical values coupled with the story give the viewers a perennial feeling of happiness while watching a film. The sincere efforts of the team must be commended and Vaibhavam is a solid entertainment option for all sects of audience: from cinephiles to those who rarely go to theatres. Rating: 3/5


Hans India
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
If Suryavanshi improves fitness & fielding, he will be in T20I team in two years: Bihar coach
New Delhi: Though Rajasthan Royals' campaign in IPL 2025 was a forgettable one, they did unearth a future star in young batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi. With his eye-catchy stroke-play and belligerent six-hitting ability, the teenager amassed 252 runs in seven innings of IPL 2025. With the blazing 35-ball century against Gujarat Titans' and a mature fifty against Chennai Super Kings fresh in everyone's memory, 14-year-old Suryavanshi's next big challenge will be to do well for India on their multi-format tour of England in June-July. Ashok Kumar, who coached Suryavanshi in the Bihar U19 and men's senior teams, believes Suryavanshi can be fast-tracked into senior men's T20I team in two years' time, provided he works on his fitness and fielding. "That attitude of making the team win single-handedly since childhood was seen during his 35-ball hundred against Gujarat Titans too. With Rahul Dravid sir and Vikram Rathour sir there, it has enhanced his batting. The practice he did with the white ball, he started getting better at it in three months. He has learnt to read the situations well. "So, all these things show the bright future this kid has. My prediction is, if Vaibhav improves his fitness and his fielding, then in the next 2 years, he will be in the senior T20 Indian team. I really think the BCCI will give him a chance, as barring two to four players, rest of them in the T20I team are majorly 25 or below years old,' said Kumar in an exclusive conversation with IANS on Friday. India U19 will play England U19 in a 50-over warm-up match, a five-match one-day series and two multi-day games. This will also be Suryavanshi's first brush with playing in tough conditions in England, which also starts the road to India preparing for 2026 U19 Men's Cricket World Cup. "Vaibhav will do well on the U19 tour of England, considering the touch and confidence he's in right now. He will do much better on the tour of England, as the performances one saw in the IPL, it's just a glimpse into what he can do. From whatever I have seen of him right from Bihar U19 days, this is the exact way he plays. "The way he adapts to the situation so quickly sets him apart from others. A lot of people would say that Vaibhav is an aggressive player – but this is the way he has played since childhood. His intent, style of play and attitude will remain the same in coming matches,' added Kumar. One of Suryavanshi's rituals before and during IPL 2025 matches was speaking to Kumar, and the coach couldn't stop admiring how the teenage batting prodigy has evolved mentally. 'There were no such questions on his technique, but the way he's evolved mentally has been amazing to witness. From the conversations I had with him during the IPL, he has become mentally stronger than before. 'The way he talks now, he has become stronger than ever before. His determination has increased as he now says constantly 'Sir, mei India khel ke hi rahunga' (I will play for India at any cost). So, we feel very proud that such a kid has come from Bihar. "As a result of everyone supporting him, he got in the U19 India team for Australia series (where he hit a 58-ball century), then he was there in the U19 Asia Cup for India, and is now selected for England tour. When he returns from there, I won't be surprised if his name is mentioned for Duleep and Deodhar Trophies,' he elaborated. On Tuesday evening at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Suryavanshi showed that he can take his time and then take on the bowlers. Against CSK, he was at 12 off 10 balls, before teeing off to get his fifty. Kumar recalled how he advised Suryavanshi to take his time and then take the CSK bowlers to cleaners. 'Before leaving for the game against CSK, my only advice to Vaibhav was to play with a little patience, and be more selective with the shots, because the balls he was out on in last three matches, he himself said, 'Sir, I chose the wrong shot'. I reminded him that you can win matches alone and Vaibhav replied with 'Karenge na, sir (I will do it)," he revealed. "When he was out on Ashwin's ball, this discussion had already taken place that where can Ashwin put the ball – either fuller, outside off-stump, and with drift. So if Vaibhav had hit it straight in front, like he hit Jadeja, then he would not have been out," added Kumar. After the game ended in a six-wicket win for RR, Suryavanshi was spotted touching the legendary MS Dhoni's feet. Kumar signed off by saying it's a quality which has been in Suryavanshi since childhood. 'He does not delay in taking blessings of anyone senior on the field. The more blessings he gets, the better it is for him and his future.'