Khagol Bulletin # 131

members from the faculty positions in the institutes in central Kerala, there has been some recent migration of activity from the central to the northern regions of the state. However, this is to be regarded only as a temporary phenomenon that would be restored when young astronomers fill the vacancies created in the universities and colleges. Ravikumar, Jeena, Sheelu, Biju, etc., from Calicut University, Blesson, Savithri, Jithesh, etc., from Christ University, Bangalore, and Titus and Charles from Cochin University are the young leaders who are taking up the baton fromthe seniors. T h e g r e a t l e s s on o f s h a r i ng a nd collaborating on research practised by astronomers from the beginning is cultivated and cherished by everyone. Thanks to the associateship program of IUCAA, retired faculty members participate in the activities and encourage and support youngsters in their ventures. These efforts have borne fruit, and currently, there are twenty Visiting Associates at IUCAA from Kerala. While concluding by thanking IUCAA for reaching out to the southernmost state in the country and meticulously following up its growth, let us hope and look forward tomore fruitful years of this collaboration. Fig.3 Those who have seen only the high- performance computing power at IUCAA may have yet to realise that IUCAA also gradually grew to its present stage. The above extract from the Khagol 1999 issue may surprise some. Fig 4. This is a 25-year-old picture showing the Mini-Workshop on Computer Astronomy participants held at Charal Mount in 1999. SarahPonarathnam(sitting centre) andYogesh Wadadekar (sitting, second from left) came a couple of days before theworkshop to set up about half a dozen computers for hands-on sessions and demonstrations at the workshop. Prof. SK Pandey, Ajit Kembhavi, and Late AK Kunnilethu (HoD of Physics) are sitting on the right side of Yogesh. On the right side of Sarach are G C Anupama and Annapurni Subramaniamfrom IIA. Fig 5 Conducting training programs for students was a regular activity of the IUCAA Resource Center (IRC). Fig 6. V.C. Kuriakose and his team have conducted over a dozen telescope construction projects statewide for school students and enthusiasts. | 07 | KHAG L | No. 131 - JANUARY 2024