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By:

Rajendra Joshi

3 December 2024 at 3:50:26 am

Proud moment for Shivaji University researchers

Indian patent for portable sound absorption testing device Kolhapur: Researchers from Shivaji University, Kolhapur, have developed a portable sound absorption testing device that can scientifically assess whether an installed sound system and its acoustic treatment are functioning effectively. The innovation has been granted an Indian patent, marking a first-of-its-kind development in this field, the university said on Thursday. The patented device, named the Portable Sound Absorption Tester,...

Proud moment for Shivaji University researchers

Indian patent for portable sound absorption testing device Kolhapur: Researchers from Shivaji University, Kolhapur, have developed a portable sound absorption testing device that can scientifically assess whether an installed sound system and its acoustic treatment are functioning effectively. The innovation has been granted an Indian patent, marking a first-of-its-kind development in this field, the university said on Thursday. The patented device, named the Portable Sound Absorption Tester, has been developed by senior chemist Dr Kalyanrao Garadkar of Shivaji University, along with Dr Sandeep Sable and Dr Rohant Dhabbe of Jaysingpur College, and Dr Chandrala Jatkar of the D K T E Society’s Textile and Engineering Institute, Ichalkaranji. The device is designed to test the sound absorption capacity of professional acoustic systems used in recording studios, theatres, auditoriums and soundproof chambers. Until now, the effectiveness of such sound-absorbing installations has largely been assessed through experience and trial-and-error after installation. The newly developed portable tester allows for immediate and scientific evaluation of sound absorption performance once the system is installed. Sound-absorbing sheets and panels are widely used in theatres, studios and vocal recording rooms to absorb echo around microphones and create a controlled acoustic environment, enabling cleaner and more professional audio output. The new device can be used to evaluate a wide range of absorbers, including perforated foam, fibre, fabric, membranes, panels and resonant absorbers, helping improve the quality and effectiveness of acoustic materials. Explaining the working of the device, Dr Garadkar said that the human audible frequency range extends from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The device generates sound waves within this spectrum and projects them onto the acoustic material under test. The sound waves that are not absorbed are detected by a microphone and displayed on the screen in the form of current or voltage readings. This enables users to instantly determine whether the sound absorption system is functioning as intended and make corrective interventions if required. The researchers said the device would also be useful for those engaged in acoustic fabrication and sound absorption research. Apart from being portable and easy to transport, the device is also cost-effective, making it suitable for field applications. The team expressed confidence that it would prove highly useful in the sound system testing sector. Shivaji University’s in-charge Vice-Chancellor Dr Suresh Gosavi and in-charge Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr Jyoti Jadhav congratulated the research team on securing the patent.

Digital Delinquency

Updated: Mar 20, 2025

The prime mover behind the communal tensions that flared in Nagpur was the unchecked spread of misinformation across social media. A viral video depicting the burning of an effigy wrapped in a green cloth led to baseless claims of the Quran being burned, which in turn triggered outrage, protest and bloodshed. With over 130,000 posts under hashtags like #NagpurViolence in a matter of hours, platforms such as X, Instagram and WhatsApp became both accelerants and battlefields within moments. The incident, which left over 30 people including policemen wounded, and saw widespread arson and vandalism, should serve as a wake-up call for the Supreme Court to act decisively in regulating social media.


The Indian government has long been aware of social media’s role in stoking unrest. From the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots to the 2023 communal clashes in Kolhapur over WhatsApp messages glorifying Aurangzeb and Tipu Sultan, digital misinformation has repeatedly played a lethal role. In the latest episode in Nagpur, police quickly flagged over 100 social media accounts that had spread incendiary content. Some were found to be sharing old or altered videos to provoke further violence.


This digital delinquency is not just an Indian problem. Social media has been complicit in Myanmar’s Rohingya crisis, Brazil’s political riots, and America’s Capitol insurrection. The challenge, then, is not just curbing individual incidents but developing a regulatory framework that prevents such escalations in the first place. The Supreme Court, which recently urged the government to establish guidelines for regulating social media content, must seize this moment to push through decisive reforms.


The Nagpur riots should serve as a case study in the dangers of algorithmic negligence. Platforms profit from virality, with outrage-inducing content receiving disproportionate engagement. While law enforcement scrambles to track IP addresses, WhatsApp forwards protected by end-to-end encryption pose a tougher challenge. Social media firms, eager to expand their user bases in India, have little incentive to police content unless forced to do so.


This is where the Supreme Court must step in. It should press the government for clear, enforceable regulations. Mandatory content moderation teams based in India, stricter penalties for platforms failing to curb misinformation, and real-time cooperation between social media giants and law enforcement could be starting points. One avenue is to empower India’s cybersecurity agencies with greater autonomy to act against fake news before it snowballs into violence. If left unchecked, digital disinformation will continue to stoke communal flashpoints. Nagpur’s turmoil, like similar incidents before it, underscores the urgency of action.


Nations like Germany, where platforms are required to remove hate speech within 24 hours or face steep fines, offer a model for balancing free expression with public safety. India must follow suit. The government has urged social media platforms to swiftly remove inflammatory content. The need of the hour is a comprehensive policy that holds both platforms and individuals accountable for spreading falsehoods and dousing digital wildfires.

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