This was a busy week for the colleges with workshops and celebrations organised every other day around the city. Patna University brought back one of its old students for a talk on historical accounts of tunnels and the intricate work that went into them.

A tech cradle discussed what made a city smart and how far fifth-generation mobile telephony would go into making our lives easier and faster. The state's rich history was highlighted at Bihar Divas celebrations on St Xavier's College campus.

Water seminar

In spite of advancement in science and technology, a vast portion of the country's population is still clamouring for potable water, said geologist Prabuddha Biswas at a seminar organised on the eve of World Water Day at the Patna University campus.

World Water Day is observed on March 22 every year.

Biswas, an alumnus of Patna University's geology department, spoke at the seminar on "Geological and historical account of tunnels in north India" organised on March 21.

To meet their water needs, people developed their own indigenous system to tap ground water and surface water resources, he said. "In the ancient days, when there was no surveying or mechanical equipment available, people used to construct 'kareez', a special device to bring groundwater to the surface. The development of kareez on the Indian mainland was first conceived in Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh," he said.

Subedar Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khana conceived the intricate underground system, thousands of kilometers in length. This 17th century engineering marvel in Burhanpur was executedby Persian "geologist" Tabukul Arj, Biswas said, by capturing the flow of rainwater from the Satpura hills towards Tapti and storing it at various junctures.

Biswas said the system involved construction of long lines of underground tunnels to tap the underground water flow and its main purpose was to meet the drinking water needs of its two-lakh strong army and the 35,000 inhabitants of the city situated along the river banks.

Smart talk

National Institute of Technology-Patna's electronics and communication engineering department opened a two-day international workshop on 5G-secured smart city on March 20.

Experts, who attended the workshop, discussed topics needed for making a smart city, including better road connection, neat and clean environment, improvement in health and education facilities, improved information technology and energy among others.

The workshop was organised in collaboration with the Global ICT Standardization Forum for India that works with information and communication technologies and related areas.

Workshop convener Bhaskar Gupta said the components of a smart city were vast. The experts also discussed fifth-generation (5G) mobile telephony that entails faster mode of voice and data exchange among mobile users and between service providers and customers.

Ramjee Prasad, professor of Aarhus University, Denmark, shedding light on the 5G technology and elaborated on the communication concepts.

"5G mobile technology will be the future," Ramjee said. "It will provide unbelievably fast broadband speeds with enough capacity wherever you go, to perform functions you want it without a drop in speed or connection, no matter how many people are connected to the network at the same time."

5G IT services will be one the features of a smart city, he said, urging the Union and state governments to help establish research centres to focus on activities pertaining to the research and development of advanced communication.

Divas fest

St Xavier's College celebrated Bihar Divas - commemoration of the state's separation from the Bengal presidency in 1912 - on the campus on March 22.

The cultural programme started with Apna Bihar Pyara Bihar sung by second-year commerce and arts students.

A group of first-year students from the departments of business economics and mass communication, including Kislay Ravi, Rishav and Akash Bharti, gave a multimedia presentation on the rich cultural history of Bihar and why Bihar Divas is celebrated.

Ashish Murari, another first-year student from bachelor of computer applications, presented Bidesiya, a songwritten by Bhojpuri author Bhikhari Thakur.

Father Raymond Cherubim SJ, the controller of examinations, addressed the gathering. He said: "Each one of us must contribute in the process of development of Bihar and feel proud to be a Bihari."

The cultural committee organised the programme under the guidance of Father Cherubim.

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