Manick Sorcar Laser Animation Laboratory
at Jadavpur University


An LED illuminated sign of India's first Laser Animation Lab
at Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India

March 25-26, 2011, Calcutta (Kolkata), India

India’s first course on laser animation technology is going to be taught at Jadavpur University, Kolkata, where it is offered as a special application of lighting in an M.Tech course in illumination engineering, soon to be included in graduate and post-graduate courses of illumination and electrical engineering. The brainchild behind this unique class is Manick Sorcar, who also helped in setting up the laser laboratory and teaching faculty members of electrical engineering how to use the technology to create laser animation. The classroom will be inside “Manick Sorcar Laser Animation Laboratory”, a name formally approved by the university in honor of its creator and contributor of laser equipment worth more than Rs. 50 lacks. Jadavpur University reciprocated by approving Rs. 34 lacks in the construction of the 1,500 sq.ft. laboratory, which will be located at the 4th level in the Electrical Engineering building, and adjacent to the existing photometric laboratory, expecting completion towards the end of this year.

Front entrance of the Electrical Engineering Department building at Jadavpur University.
“Manick Sorcar Laser Animation Laboratory” is located on its 4th floor. The building entry, vestibules, and the laboratory entrance were decorated with flowers to celebrate the historic event. Jadavpur University set a record being the very first university in India offering an education course on laser animation towards an academic degree.

The well-organized inaugural event was a two-day ceremony. Amidst press reporters and television cameras, on March 25, 2 pm, ribbon for the interim laboratory was cut by Prof. S. Dutta, the Pro-Vice Chancellor of JU, and the laser switch was started by Prof. A. K. Chakraborty, M. Tech., Outstanding Scientist – DRDO, and Assoc. Director, DRDL, Hyderabad. Other guests present were Prof. N. Chakraborti, Dean of JU, Prof. A Mukherjee, Head of Electrical Engineering Dept., JU, Prof. Saswati Mazumdar, Director of School of Illumination Science, Engineering and Design, and many more. A two-minute laser show on the historical event was displayed on a screen inside the laboratory, taking pride on the fact this was the first time ever a laser animation course was going to be taught inside a university.

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At the inaugural ceremony on March 25, 2 pm, the ribbon was cut by Prof. S. Dutta, Pro-Vice Chancellor of
Jadavpur University. The laser machine was started by Prof. A.K. Chakraborty, M. Tech, Outstanding
Scientist, DRDO, and Assoc. Director, DRDL, Hyderabad. Other dignitaries present were Prof. N. Chakraborti,
Dean-FET JU, Prof. A. Mukherjee, Head of Electrical Dept. JU, and Prof. (Dr.) Saswati Mazumdar,
Director, School of Illumination Science, Engineering & Design (SISED), JU

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(Clockwise from top left) Manick chats with Guest of Honor Prof. A. K. Chakraborty; Prof. Saswati Mazumdar announces
about the following activities of the day; The dignitaries pause for photographs at the ground and first floors
of the Electrical Engineering building.

At 4 pm, the celebration moved from the laboratory to Gandhi Bhavan, the newly constructed, ultra-modern theater of the campus, where inaugural program speeches were given by HOD, EE Dept., Chairman’s address by V.C. of J.U., and Pro-VC, J.U. It then followed by a seminar on “Laser Technology and Its Application”, the speakers were Prof. Ajay Ghosh of Calcutta University, and Manick Sorcar of Sorcar Engineering, Inc., USA and the inspiration behind the laser animation course.
“As a laserist, a world of possibilities are at the users’ footsteps”, said Manick Sorcar, “This cutting edge-technology can be used for digital artistry, animation, live shows, magic shows, and large-scale theatrical effects, theme parks, planetariums, museums, and architectural applications etc., opening up new, exciting career opportunities – limited only by imagination. What you experience in my show is only a small example; our students will now take it to infinity”, said Manick.

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(Top left) Pro-VC Prof. S. Dutta greeted with a boquet of flowers; (Top right) Dignitaries at the main desk on stage;
(Bottom left) Prof. Dutta delivers his speech; (Bottm right) Manick speaks about the laboratory

On the second day (March 26, 2011), the program continued with an inaugural address by Prof. N. Chakraborty, Dean, FET, and J.U, soon followed by another seminar on “Advances in Laser Research & Application”. The speakers were Dr. Biswajit Roy, Calcutta University, Dr. Radhaballav Debnath of J.U., and Manick Sorcar. The Vote of Thanks was given by Prof. Saswati Mazumdar, Director, School of Illumination Science, Engineering & Design. After a short break, at 5:30 pm, “Laser-Live-Animation Extravaganza by Manick Sorcar and Group” thrilled the audience one more time in an over-pact Gandhi Bhavan.

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Posters: Several companies greeted and welcomed Manick's efforts for the laser animation course at the university,
by sponsoring the show. This included the ex-students of M.E. Illumination Engg. who had books written
by Sorcar for their class texts.


Manick with wife Shikha near Gandhi Bhavan at a casual moment

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In the afternoon of the 25th and 26th March, people stood in long line to enter Gandhi Bhavan
to watch laser-live extravaganza of Manick Sorcar and group


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Scenes from the show

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Manick among students and admirers after the show

Excerpts from newspapers:

“Wizard of light brings magic of laser to JU….His family name spells magic but Manick Sorcar would be less inclined to exclaim ‘abracadabra’ than he would be tempted to say; ‘Let there be light’ ….Laser animation will be taught in the second year of an M.Tech. course that JU is starting on illumination engineering from July…”
-The Telegraph, Calcutta (hardcopy, online)

“…..For the uninitiated, the classroom will be conducted inside ‘Manick Sorcar Laser Animation Laboratory”, a name approved by the varsity in honour of its creator and contributor of laser equipment worth over a whopping amount of Rs. 50 Lakhs. And as an icing on the cake, the Jadavpur University too has sanctioned a hefty sum of Rs. 34 Lakhs in the construction of a sprawling 1,500 sq.ft. Lab, which will be located at the 4th level in the Electrical Engineering building…”
-The Asian Age, Calcutta (hardcopy)

"Laser Wizard Ligts Up India"
-The Asian Age (National), online

“An educational course on laser magic takes place (at Jadavpur University)….
For now, this is available to the 3-years course M.Tech students, eventually to the graduate and post graduate students of illumination and electrical engineering….Renowned magician Late P. C. Sorcar’s eldest son did not follow his father’s foot steps on magic. But he did the lighting design of his father’s stage shows. Now Manick is a renowned name in the world of entertainment through his own brand of magic with laser light”
-Anandabazar Patrika, Calcutta (hardcopy, online)

“The laboratory is the first of its type in India, and one of only a handful ever established in the world”
-International Laser Display Association (Website, front page), USA