Chennai: IIT Madras inaugurated an exhibition titled 'South Asia & the Institute - Transformative Connections' to explore South Asia's deep-rooted links with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), spanning over 140 years.

Hosted by the Archive and Heritage Centre of IIT Madras, this public exhibition will run for two months on campus.

Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Tamil Nadu's IT Minister and an MIT alumnus, inaugurated the event, emphasizing the importance of humanities and archives in fostering a culture of excellence in institutions.

The exhibition highlights contributions by South Asian students at MIT, including IIT Madras alumni, and features collaborative research efforts by MIT's Department of History and South Asian Alumni Association.

Dr. Sana Aiyar, Associate Professor of History at MIT, noted that early Indian students at MIT included those from Madras, and these connections have since flourished. The exhibition arrives at IIT Madras after a successful year-long run at MIT.

As part of the inaugural symposium 'Enchanting the Archive', the event also features 12 interdisciplinary speakers addressing the significance of archives.
Dr. Mathangi Krishnamurthy, Chairperson of the IIT Madras Archive, expressed hope that the initiative inspires fresh perspectives on science, art, and history.
Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, welcomed public participation, emphasizing future collaborations with MIT.