IIT Bhubaneswar to induct Odissi Course for BTech Students

Updated on: Saturday, September 12, 2015

IITB In an innovative move, IIT Bhubaneswar has introduced a course on Odissi in BTech syllabus, thereby it becomes the first IIT in the country to introduce a dance in its curriculum.

IIT Bhubaneswar director R V Rajakumar said on Friday the classical dance would be one of the 'breadth' courses of 12 credits in the four-year BTech programme. A breadth course is a general education course which all students at a university must take to give them exposure at the introductory level to a variety of fields, regardless of their core area of study.

Explaining the reason behind the move, Rajakumar said, "Dance can broaden the intellectual horizon of Btech students . It would also help them de-stress."

In the first year, IIT Bhubaneswar students can learn Odissi as an extra-academic activity of one credit. They will have to choose any one activity from NSS, NCC, Yoga, badminton, volleyball, cricket and Odissi. "Ten girls have already chosen Odissi," the director said. A student will have to clear the extra-academic course chosen by him/ her to earn the BTech degree.

In the second and third years, IIT Bhubaneswar students can opt for Odissi as an elective breadth course from a list of subjects, including FINANCIAL management, international relations and entrepreneurship. Both the semesters of second and third years will have three credits for the breadth course.

In the final year, the students can take Odissi as a purely optional subject or opt out of it. Any student learning it in the fourth year would get a diploma in dance along with the BTech degree certificate, the director said.

Dean of academic affairs N C Sahoo said the IIT Bhubaneswar had involved noted Odissi exponents Kum Kum Mohanty, Iliana Citaristi and Ratikanta Mohapatra, among others, to design the Odissi curriculum and its examination pattern. "We have hired trainers for the courses. The Odissi study would include classroom teaching and activities while the exams would include written tests as well as demonstration of techniques," he added.

Students have welcomed the move. "It was a pleasant surprise for me when I discovered that I can learn some dance steps as part of IIT BTech studies," said a first year girl in IIT Bhubaneswar .

IIT Bhubaneswar to induct Odissi Course for BTech Students

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