In loving memory of Dr. Priya Ranjan: A mentor who treated me like family

SRINAGAR: The much-anticipated Cursor Hackathon Kashmir began on Saturday at National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar, marking the launch of a two-day innovation-focused event aimed at fostering impactful and scalable solutions among student participants. The hackathon serves as a platform for young innovators to showcase their technical skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities in a collaborative environment.

Organized under the guidance of Dr. Iqra Altaf Gillani, Faculty Coordinator of the Technology Club, the event saw enthusiastic participation from students across various disciplines. In her welcome address, Dr Iqra said that the main objective of Cursor Hackathon Kashmir is to provide a structured platform where students can convert ideas into tangible solutions.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by Dr. Janib ul Bashir, Associate Dean ERP, NIT Srinagar, and Mohtasham Madani, Ambassador of Cursor, whose collaboration has brought valuable technological exposure and mentorship to the student community. Speaking at the event, Dr. Janib ul Bashir said that Hackathons like Cursor are crucial for nurturing creativity and problem-solving skills among students.

“It is inspiring to see participants engage with technology in such a hands-on and collaborative manner. Events like this not only build technical expertise but also prepare students for real-world challenges,” he added. Mohtasham Madani, Ambassador of Cursor said collaboration with NIT Srinagar aims to empower students with hands-on experience and exposure to advanced tools.

He said such Hackathons are the perfect platform for young innovators to transform ideas into real-world solutions and prepare for global challenges. In his message, Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. Binod Kumar Kanaujia said that this hackathon strengthens coding culture, encourages teamwork, and fosters critical thinking and innovation.

“We are proud to host initiatives that equip students with the knowledge and experience to thrive in a competitive technological landscape,” he added. Prof. Atikur Rehman, Registrar, NIT Srinagar, added that NIT Srinagar is committed to creating an ecosystem that encourages innovation, experimentation, and technical excellence.

“Events like Cursor Hackathon provide our students with the opportunity to explore, learn, and apply cutting-edge technologies, preparing them to become future leaders in the tech industry,” he added. Centered around the theme “Build for the Next Billion,” the hackathon encourages participants to tackle challenges across sectors, including education, healthcare, finance, agriculture, and accessibility.

Meanwhile, Day 1 featured structured workshops to equip students with relevant tools and frameworks, followed by intensive coding sessions. Mentorship support from industry professionals was available throughout the day, enabling teams to refine both technical and conceptual aspects of their projects. Participants worked tirelessly, meeting the Day 1 submission deadline at 5:00 AM on Day 2, demonstrating remarkable dedication and focus.

The hackathon is being conducted in two rounds, with submissions evaluated by a panel of experts from leading organizations, including NVIDIA, Oracle, LinkedIn, Dell EMC, and AIG. Multiple sponsor tracks provide participants with opportunities to explore specialized domains such as AI, backend and frontend development, UI/UX design, automation, and search technologies.

Your voice can reach the world: At JK Monitor, we firmly believe that every well-researched idea has the power to inspire change beyond geographical boundaries. We are delighted to share an encouraging message from one of our esteemed contributors, Dr. Rakesh Verma (J&K Forest Services). “His article, ‘When Trees Become Rights-Bearing Citizens: A Lesson from Canada for India’s Ecological Future,’ published on JK Monitor, received appreciation from La Compagnie des Papillons Bleus, the French non-profit organisation that founded and promotes the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights.”.  Read the message here
A Profound Loss: JK Monitor Mourns the Passing of Founding Chairman Dr. Priya Ranjan

We at JK Monitor are profoundly saddened by the sudden demise of our Founding Chairman, Dr. Priya Ranjan.IN LOVING MEMORY Dr Priya Ranjan

A brilliant mind who studied at Netarhat Residential School and graduated in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur before earning his PhD from the University of Maryland, Dr. Ranjan chose to return to India and dedicate his life to teaching, research and social good.

His pioneering work in networked systems, AI, robotics and biomedical applications—especially computer-vision tools for early detection of cancer and heart disease—reflected his deep belief that advanced technology must serve humanity.

For more than 15 years at JK Monitor, he remained a loyal friend, mentor and collaborator, marked by rare humility, intellectual integrity and quiet generosity. His passing leaves a void that cannot be filled. Priya, you will be deeply missed. Your life continues to remind us that knowledge finds its highest purpose in the service of others.

— Team JK Monitor

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