MSN Swamy, Past Chairman, ISLE, Karnataka moves on, passes baton to Arshi Krishnachar

BIDDING FAREWELL TO THE LIGHTINGMAN OF INDIA:

NEW DELHI: M. S. Narasimha Swamy, the immediate past Chairman, and Founder, Indian Society of Lighting Engineers (ISLE), Karnataka Chapter who has handed over the baton to new Chairman Arishi Krishnachar, has urged the government to recognize the Lighting industry as a crucial subject by formulating suitable legislation, and also set up Lighting Research Labs to avoid dependency on the western world.

With this, the Bangalore-based Mr. Arshi, Group Vice President, Seoul Semiconductor – a Korean multinational company in India, has become the youngest ever Chairman of the ISLE, Karnataka, and succeeded the septuagenarian MS Narasimha Swamy to acquire this coveted post.

After assuming his charge, the new Chairman Mr. Arishi too has unveiled ambitious future plans for the year 2021 and ahead in his new role.

Mr. Swamy, the 77-year young lighting industry veteran with over five decades of experience, and an Electrical Engineer and a Consultant for Energy Management, Energy Services, Environment, and Lighting, said, “Lighting is a neglected subject and in spite of several pleas to the State/Central Government, they have not recognized the importance of Lighting and it’s potential in the growth of Agriculture, Health Care, etc. I strongly recommend that the educational system must introduce lighting as a Subject if not a course in Science/Engineering /Architecture streams. We have only two universities in the country having Lighting Course and there also off late students are not opting for this due to lack of job opportunities.”

Born in Mysore in 1943, Mr. Swamy served the ISLE Karnataka Chapter for over two decades as founding Chairman and put to its credit innumerable accomplishments and took scores of pioneering initiatives during this time. Mr. Swamy lamented that India didn’t have a recognized Research Lab for Lighting as is the case in Western Countries in order to help Industry grow.

“The labs would have helped the development as well as the growth of Industry in turn Lighting Professionals. We also should have a Lighting Engineers employed at the beginning of the project as in Western Countries in order to save energy and avoid Light Pollution.  One can also make use of the circuit for security by providing a Camera in the circuit in addition to providing circuits for remote operations,” said Mr. Swamy.

In the lighting profession, Mr. Swamy has specialized in Monumental Lighting. He was involved in various designs of lighting including the Mysore Palace Fortification Lighting. ISLE conferred on him a “LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD” in 2016 in recognition of his work in promoting knowledge of Lighting.

“In conclusion, I request the Government to wake up and recognize LIGHTING as an important subject by bringing out suitable laws and with the support of light research labs we can avoid dependency on the western world thereby helping the economy and growth of the country,” he added.

 New Chairman ISLE, Karnataka Chapter, rolls out his future-vision:  

The youngest-ever ISLE, Karnataka Chapter chairman Mr. Arishi Krishnachar, has ambitious future plans for the year 2021 and ahead in his new role.

These include turning Indian lighting products plastic-free by the year 2023 by educating the OEMs for Lighting and UV on the carbon neutrality scheme besides improving efficiency LED System and making a smarter and more sustainable world.

Setting up a Consortium of Solar, Battery & LED Professionals, MSMEs for bringing sustainability is yet another long-drawn plan.

“We have a lot of exciting initiatives planned for the New Year of 2021 and ahead. From propagating the industry on removing plastic from their consumer product packing to identifying OEMs for Lighting and UV, and educating them on carbon neutrality scheme by 2023 to make sure that the Indian lighting products are free from plastic usage,” said Mr. Arshi in his vision statement as new Chairman, ISLE, Karnataka.

Other long-term plans include measurably reducing the burden of darkness by providing  LED lanterns along with solar panels to the rural population by 2025  Each and everyone in the state will have electricity for home as well as in streets.

Mr. Arshi said, “Most of the rural folks in low-income states still struggle for electricity.  We plan to improve the quality of life, drive a CSR Prorgamme with two major corporates by providing affordable electricity for 200 villages in 2021.”

His plans also include setting up a “Consortium of Solar, Battery & LED Professionals, and MSMEs: Brining Sustainability”

According to Mr. Arshi, the objective of this initiative include promoting the art, science, and practice of Lighting Technology as associated with a built and open environment for the benefit of the public in general. Advancing education and research in Lighting Technology and publishing useful results of this research.

“Other objectives include formulating lighting codes, guides, and technical reports and publishing them along with newsletters, journals, and books on Lighting Technology.  Maintaining liaison and technical interaction with national /international organizations concerned with matters related to science, technology, standardization, and art in the fields of light and lighting,” Mr. Arshi added.

Establishing cooperation with the Bureau of Indian Standards in their standardization work in the field of lighting, providing guidance to young engineers for career improvement in Lighting Technology, organizing exhibitions and trade fairs of lighting and allied industries, and associating with government agencies and create the R&D Center and center of excellence and it will be the accredited body for luminaries validation for government projects, would on the priority list of ISLE, Karnataka chapter in the year 2021 and ahead, summed up Mr. Arshi.