Blame Ancients?

By Gussalufz

Restoring Balance in STEM is the theme of Sangam 2021, organized by IIT Madras Alumni Association (IITMAA). The title of this cryptic crossword can be interpreted as "restoring" BALANCE IN STEM. As you solve the puzzle, you may run into the theme a few more times. Circled letters in the completed puzzle can be rearranged to constitute the name of a famous champion of balance. Two other famous names can be found elsewhere, both exemplifying balance in STEM.

Image showing a balance with a woman in STEM on one side and several men on the other side towards which the balance is tilted
Logo image of the IIT Madras Alumni Association's Sangam 2021 event, with the theme phrase, 'Restoring balance in STEM'

This puzzle was run as an open contest till January 14, 2022, with submissions scored as follows: 158 points were given for correct grid entries and 5 points were given for correct answerts to each of the first four questions. The first three winning entries to get everything right were from:

#1: Saki,   #2: Akshay,   #3: Ganesh Nayak.
Congratulations to the winners! You can check your own grid entries using the "Check all!" button. Make sure to also use the "Reveal all!" button to see the full solution along with annotations as well as setter's notes, the ranked list of all participants, selected comments from solvers, and the creative thematic slogans submitted by the solvers. This extra content gets revealed below the bonus questions after clicking on "Reveal All!".

The complete results (including the slogan contest winners) were posted in February 2022 on the IITMAA site.

1a. Sameness of refined tequila and rye, essentially (8)
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
Squares filled: 0/158
Exolve Print Notes Jotter Webifi Ⓒ 2021 Viresh Ratnakar
Name of a champion of balance constituted by the circled letters?
The first hidden exemplar of "Balance in STEM"? (6,5)
The second hidden exemplar of "Balance in STEM"? (4,4)
Solution to this bonus thematic clue: A couple of girls discussed closing unseen barrier (5,7)

Across
1Sameness of refined tequila and rye, essentially (8)
5Toy making a comeback in Moscow as "G. I. Joe" (6)
10Dishing out cruel punishments (7)
11Remains of tribal ancestors (7)
12Scintillating, initially unprecedented set construction seen in Cantor set (9)
13Tense about following cricket team's day! (5)
14Reportedly similar to a dog (5)
15In California, fifty-somethings retired gladly, in the old days (4)
16People get regularly checked for this weapon (4)
19Branch of waste management (4)
20Laws getting overturned in most cases (4)
21Functions where old stories swap hands? (5)
23Movement exposing transgressions, often of leaders (2,3)
26Vehicle fitted with fantastic top CIA electronic device (9)
28Pattern of regional movements losing energy (7)
29Luke played the Spanish electronic instrument (7)
30One at times captivated by buzzing insects and wild mountain animals (6)
31Check chimney design again (8)

Down
1Just let chai brew (7)
2United Nations resolve to spurn alien sabotage (9)
3Judge ruling whether a court's limits have been crossed? (8)
4Physicist brought up in rural setting (5)
6Relative acceleration governed by current, length, weight (2-3)
7Very near—out of range, ultimately, for location device (5)
8We held tight, embracing love at last, honey (7)
9Doesn't drink in shabby, no frills spots (8)
15Hot cocoa in cafe—but somehow one's skipped bread (8)
17Only the regulars among people yet, chief. Need some cover! (9)
18Launder dollars primarily with crafty larceny (3-5)
19Warrior from Asia running wild, drinking rum up (7)
22OK to hug strongly? It's too much! (7)
24Mass of hidden notes retrieved (5)
25Layer or belt beyond Pluto's tip (5)
27Clearly in front of stumps, missing top of bat—glove's bottom feather? (5)

Gussalufz.com