Chinta Bar, Himalaya Lawns, Chennai (2026)

Chinta Bar is a collective of students who engage in discussions on socially, economically and politically relevant topics. We hope to open up a space for discussions and debates on conflicting ideas of the present, with interesting and creative minds of the day. We aim at promoting activities which will complement the academic ethos of IIT Madras.

09/03/2025

As a part of Chintabar's science and society series, we are thrilled to invite you to the talk titled Scientific Temper and the Secular Imagination by Prof. T Jayaraman on 12th March, 6 PM at RJN 101.

About the Speaker:

Prof. T. Jayaraman is a Senior Fellow in Climate Change at the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, specializing in climate policy, sustainability, and equity. He has a distinguished academic career, including serving as a Professor at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences and holding research positions at institutions like the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai. With a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from the University of Madras, Dr. Jayaraman has contributed extensively to climate change research and policy discussions, focusing on global mitigation strategies and carbon budgets.

13/09/2024

Sitaram Yechury, former MP and veteran communist leader, passed away yesterday. He was being treated for a respiratory infection.

Sitaram Yechury was a towering intellectual and organizer of the country's progressive movement. He had a key role in uniting the country's secular and democratic forces, resulting in the formation of the INDIA bloc. He also made significant contributions to the first UPA government's common minimum program, which resulted in the implementation of policies such as the Right to Information Act, the Right to Education, CEI (Reservation in Admission), and many others that positively impacted the lives of millions of ordinary people.

He began his life in politics with the student movement in 1974. He served as president of the JNUSU for three terms. The experience of leading a student organization during the emergency shaped the fighter in him. He was a class12 topper in CBSE and first-place finisher in both bachelor's and master's degrees in Economics, but he was unable to complete his PhD owing to imprisonment following protests against the emergency. He has been a dedicated member of the progressive movement for the past 50 years. Also a vocal critique of communalism in the parliament as well as in the streets, he has authored many books such as 'Secularism vs Communalism', 'Reclaiming the Idea of India' and 'Advancing Peoples Struggles' among others.

Chintabar extends our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and comrades. Rest in power, comrade.

01/09/2024

We are pleased to announce that Chintabar is organizing a talk titled, "Union Budget and the Indian Economy" by Dr. Venkatesh Athreya, (Professor (Retd) of Economics at Bharathidasan University) on Tuesday, 3rd September, 6:00 PM at CLT.

About the topic:

India's Union Budget for the year 2024-25 was presented in the Parliament on the 23rd of July by the Finance Minster Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman. With an increased emphasis on infrastructure, the budget proposes to increase capital expenditure on roads, railways and urban development. The budget also proposes a simplified and rationalized capital gains regime and aims to abolish the Angel tax regime for all investors. On the taxation front, the budget also aims to reduce corporate taxation for non resident tax payers, holding period changes for capital assets and a one time tax settlement option. A comprehensive tax review is also proposed to be completed within a six month period, to make the rules more concise, lucid and easy to understand. The budget focuses on employment, skilling, MSMEs and the Middle Class. India's fiscal deficit for the FY25 is estimated to be at 4.9%, a significant improvement over last year's 5.9%. However, the Union budget is not without its fair share of controversies. Many States which are not ruled by the Central disposition have remarked that their needs have been overlooked by the Finance Ministry. In this backdrop, join us for a talk on Union Budget and Indian Economy by Prof. Venkatesh Athreya on the Union Budget 24-25. The talk would trace the key highlights of the Union Budget.

About the speaker:

Venkatesh Athreya, a chemical engineer-turned-development economist, is a Retired Professor of Economics at Bharathidasan University, Tamil Nadu. Also an alumnus of IIT Madras, his major works include Barriers Broken (co-authored with Djurfeldt and Lindberg, 1990) and Literacy and Empowerment (co-authored with Sheela Rani Chunkath, 1996). As the lead author of The Report on the State of Food Insecurity in Rural India (2008) and The Report on the State of Food Insecurity in Urban India (2010), he has written extensively on gender, literacy, agrarian systems, food security, human development, and political economy.

Hoping to see you all there on 3rd September!

20/08/2024

Condemn the undemocratic ban on the Progressive Students Forum (PSF) by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)

Yesterday, through an office order, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences banned ‘Progressive Students Forum’. PSF has been active in TISS Mumbai for more than a decade and has always been vocal about the rights of students not just within their institute but all over the country. Chintabar strongly condemns the TISS administration's decision to ban the Progressive Students' Forum (PSF) under vague allegations of "Misleading students" and "defaming the institute.
The ban imposed on PSF is not the first such incident. Earlier this year, the TISS administration expelled Ramadas Prini Sivanandan, a Dalit PhD scholar who was an active member and a former office bearer of PSF. The expulsion of Ramadas was also through a draconian order citing his participation in the Parliament March called by the United Students of India, a coalition of Major Student organisations across the ideological spectrum. Earlier this year, TISS was also in the news for issuing termination notices to 200 faculty and staff. PSF and other organisations were at the forefront of the struggle against termination and many other issues on campus, including the students’ right to have accommodation in hostels.
The crackdown on progressive and secular student organisations like PSF across campuses is an attack on the democratic values enshrined in our constitution and points out the current regime's constant attempts at crushing dissent in any form. In 2015 Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle was derecognised by the IIT M authorities. The IIT administration had to reverse the decision after widespread criticism from the students and general public.
We reiterate our solidarity with the Progressive Students Forum and demand that the TISS administration lift the ban on PSF and reinstate Ramadas.

14/08/2024

"Diganto", the Bengali Association of IIT Madras is organising a women led candle march in solidarity with the students demanding justice for the doctor who was brutally r***d and killed at RG Kar hospital while on duty.
The march starts tonight at 11:45 PM from Gajendra Circle.

We extend solidarity to the march and urge the students of our institute to join the march in large numbers.

Statement from Diganto:

We are deeply saddened by the recent tragic incident at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, where a young woman was brutally r***d and murdered within the campus premises while on duty. This heinous act has shaken us all, highlighting the continued struggle for safety and justice for women.
In solidarity with the victim and to demand justice, a peaceful gathering is being organized across West Bengal on the 14th of August from 11:55 PM to midnight. As community members, we feel we must join in this collective call for justice.

We invite everyone to participate in a women-led candlelight march from the GC to Himalaya Lawns on the same day, starting at 11:45 PM. This will be a peaceful demonstration, without political slogans, as we honour the memory of the deceased and stand united against such violence.

Let us come together in support and solidarity.

Address

Himalaya Lawns
Chennai
600036

Website

http://chintabar.in/

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