Latest news with #VivekPandey
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Bengaluru cardiologist on private vs govt medical college for MBBS or PG education
In the high-stakes world of Indian medical education, the debate between government and private colleges is long-standing, and recently, it reignited on social media. But beyond just fees and entrance ranks, what truly shapes a good doctor? Is it clinical exposure, teaching quality, or something deeper? A series of tweets by doctors has sparked a nuanced conversation, revealing how medical training in India is far more complex than the 'private vs government' binary suggests. It all began when Dr Vivek Pandey , an orthopaedic doctor and teacher, took to Twitter to share a troubling observation from his OPD. He asked basic clinical questions about nerve weakness to an intern and two first-year postgraduates — all of whom couldn't answer. Despite their competitive entrance scores and coaching experience, the students were unable to respond without multiple-choice prompts. 'Something has terribly gone wrong with our medical education system,' he tweeted, noting that easy access to information via apps like ChatGPT or Grok hasn't translated into clinical competence. A user responded bluntly, pointing to the fact that these students were from a top private medical college. The user wrote, "Had they studied well, they wouldn't be paying crores for a seat' in a private university. But Dr Pandey was quick to defend his students. 'Don't judge my kids,' he replied, explaining that many miss out on government seats by just a few marks in an intensely competitive, reservation-heavy system, leaving private colleges as the only practical option. 'They aren't dumb. Most are good and hardworking. Their parents have earned the money to ensure their kids don't lose years chasing a seat.' He added that top-quality doctors also emerge from private institutions and that "only greats manage govt seats" is a myth. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unsold Container Homes in National Capital Region - Prices You Won't Believe! Shipping Container Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo This back-and-forth triggered a wider discussion. One user, reflecting on personal experience, stressed that clinical competence stems from training in government hospitals, where students work under renowned faculty and face a heavy patient load, giving them unmatched hands-on experience. 'Clinical training happens in wards, not in AC classrooms,' they wrote. Bengaluru cardiologist Dr Deepak Krishnamurthy joined the conversation, striking a balanced note. 'Teaching should happen in wards,' he agreed, but added that not all government colleges are ideal. — DrDeepakKrishn1 (@DrDeepakKrishn1) 'Many have no one to guide students.' He added that most of the time, they are on their own and only a few medical colleges, both government and private, offer truly good teaching.' He concluded by saying that not all government colleges are good, and not all private ones are bad.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
UPES School of Design triumphs with multiple wins in animation and VFX
At the UPES School of Design, every stroke of a pencil and every flicker of an idea is a step toward something transformative. Here, creativity is not just taught — it is lived, spoken, and celebrated as a force for meaningful change. From modest beginnings in classroom studios to the global stage, student creations have evolved into powerful stories that win awards and hearts alike. More than 50 films, created as part of final year projects by students, and born from diverse minds and driven by cultural resonance, are proof that design at UPES is a bold fusion of purpose, imagination, and impact — where storytelling meets technology, and where passion becomes legacy. Over the past year, the School 's creative output has garnered recognition across diverse formats, including live action, animation, motion graphics, VFX, and stop motion. While each project presents a unique narrative, they are united by a shared commitment to thoughtfulness, originality, and technical excellence. The Animation programme, guided by Vivek Pandey and his team under the strategic leadership of Dean Prof. Bhaskar Bhatt, has played a pivotal role in this evolution. Its strong industry interface and expert mentorship have empowered students to discover their creative voice and refine their craft. Among the most celebrated of these films is Pukaar , a live-action short film created by Harsh Humnekar, Ratin Mohan, and Aamir Husain. The film clinched the Platinum Trophy at the IFP 50-Hour Filmmaking Challenge in the Mobile Vertical category, an achievement that truly shines the light on our talented students as well as the school. Another remarkable project, A Shoe Story, a graduation film by Aditi Goel, made its mark across three international festivals, winning Best Animated Short Film at Poombukar , Sittannavasal, and Rohip. The film was also selected for the 5th Kerala Short Film Festival. 'At UPES, we're encouraged to think out of the box and be our most creative selves, and the support I received from my mentors while developing my film has made all the difference,' says Aditi. 'Every step, from concept to post-production, felt collaborative, never prescriptive.' Harsh Rawat and Mayank Morkhade's animated film Save the Himalayas was honoured as Best Animated Short Film at both the Kodaikanal International Film Festival and the Indian Independent Film Festival. Its emotional, environmentally conscious theme was crafted through hand-drawn animation and careful storytelling. 'We didn't want to preach, we wanted to move people,' says Harsh. 'And our mentors gave us that space to try, to fail, and then to try again with more clarity.' Another standout project is The Coconut Man, a stop-motion animated short crafted by KS Ujwal, Vedanga Nag, Aniket R. Shankar, and Harsh Humnekar. The film's handcrafted aesthetic and heartfelt storytelling have earned it multiple international recognitions, including official selections at the Kosovo Young Filmmakers Festival, Chitranjan International Film & Theatre Festival, and the Daytona Beach Short Film Festival. It was also featured at the Kerala Short Film Festival and the prestigious Russian festival, Within the Family, dedicated to family and children's cinema. A quarterfinalist at the Daddy Deshmukh Film Festival in Akola, the film is now streaming on YouTube, offering a glimpse into the kind of nuanced, culturally resonant work emerging from the UPES School of Design. Cultural storytelling took a compelling form in Bhangarh: A Rajasthani Folk Tale, a motion infographic film that was awarded Best Film from Uttar Pradesh at the 7th International Festival of Short Films on Culture & Tourism. Created by Ratin Mohan, Shrestha Rawal, Aniket Shankar, and Aamir Husain, the film reimagines a local legend through a contemporary lens while staying true to its cultural roots. 'We were fascinated by how folklore could be visualised using motion graphics,' says Shrestha. 'It was our faculty's belief in us that inspired us to take risks and grow creatively.' Several other student projects from the school have garnered national and international recognition for their creativity and Follower, a live-action short film by Tejas Murthy and Rajen Shaw, won Best Short Film at the DRISHय Filmmaking Competition, while Katora, a meticulously crafted stop-motion animation, received a Special Mention at Camera Zizanio in Greece. In the realm of digital art, Saikat Kumar Dey and Harinarayana P.V. achieved top honors in Wacom's 'Beyond the Brush' challenge, showcasing their unique visual styles and mastery of digital tools. Meanwhile, original works such as Gauriya, Dystopian Hope , Kinavu, and Prostastis have been successfully showcased at both national and international festivals—reflecting the diversity and depth of storytelling emerging from our students. Above all, Ratin Mohan won the Silver Trophy in the North Zone of the WAFX VFX Challenge, marking a significant national-level accomplishment in the field of visual effects and animation innovation. These accolades are not accidental. They are the result of an academic culture that prioritises experimentation, storytelling, and transdisciplinary learning. At UPES School of Design, students are not taught to follow a template. They are encouraged to question it, reshape it, and respond to the world around them. The school's pedagogy is built around the convergence of creativity, cultural understanding, and technological exploration. Whether students are using AR, VR, or AI tools to develop immersive narratives or reimagining folklore for modern audiences, their work is rooted in purpose. What makes the school truly distinct is the breadth of disciplines it offers. Students can collaborate and co-explore in areas as diverse as Animation and VFX, Game Design, Graphics and Communication Design, User Experience and Interaction Design, Product Design, Mobility and Vehicle Design, and Interior and Retail Space Design. Each of these programmes encourages hands-on learning, studio practice, and real-world application. At the postgraduate level, Master's students go deeper into research and advanced design strategies, often working across departments to build solutions that are as intelligent as they are intuitive. Being part of a multidisciplinary university, students also benefit from access to domains like computer science, engineering, health sciences, business, law, liberal studies and media, creating a unique ecosystem where design thinking is informed by diverse perspectives and real-world applications. 'I remember our classroom critiques feeling more like creative labs,' says Ratin Mohan, whose name appears in multiple award-winning projects. 'Professors didn't just evaluate, they asked why something mattered, what we were trying to say, and how it could be said better.' Adding to this rich ecosystem is the global exposure students receive. From a semester abroad at UC Berkeley to exchange opportunities with BESIGN – The Sustainable Design School and L'École de Design Atlantique in France, as well as HSE University in Russia, the school ensures that design thinking at UPES is not limited by geography. Progression pathways to Nottingham Trent University in the UK and assistance with international internships make it possible for students to bring global relevance to their ideas inspired by local culture. Because here, at this school in the foothills of the Himalayas, design is not just taught, it is lived. It is the secret lab in the mountains you always dreamt of, where ideas quietly take shape before they go on to change the world. If you are ready to turn your creativity into impact, visit the UPES School of Design to explore more. Apply now and start designing the future — yours and the world's. NOTE: The above-mentioned films, created by final-year students, are the exclusive property of UPES and will be published on official platforms after the college evaluation process is complete.
