What can Mysureans learn?
By Bhamy V. Shenoy
On December 27, 2024, I had an opportunity to participate in the first-ever diamond jubilee celebration of IITM (Indian Institute of Technology Madras). Only in 1964 there were two batches who graduated — the first batch of 1959 and the second batch of 1960. This was because of the Chinese aggression of 1962. India wanted to produce engineers quickly. Most of them went abroad is a different story.
I belonged to the second batch. All our holidays were cancelled and we graduated six months earlier. Ours was the first batch to start occupying the campus.
We were told that our first Director Dr. Sengupto had given the strict orders to architects that buildings should be constructed around the existing trees and minimum number of trees to be felled.
After 64 years, I can now see the impact of the far-reaching decision of IITM’s first Director. Forest today is denser than what it was when we entered it first. Unlike today, environmental protection was not on the national agenda. Look at the campuses of educational institutions in Mysuru — Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering is a rare exception and University of Mysore is the worst example. Trees are felled first — often even without securing the needed permits from the Forest Department.
Wherever one goes from the entrance gate to the far end of the campus, we see deer. Speed limit of 20 kms per hour is strictly enforced with the violators having to pay Rs. 10,000.
IIT campus may be small and one can argue it is easier to implement the traffic rule for a small campus. It is not the size of the area but the political will which is of critical importance.
When we first entered the campus in 1960, there were about 500 deer and their population was increasing. Today there are about 150 deer. We encountered them only while going on the roads. They never came close to the hostel. Now they are all over and every where. One of the reasons for the decline in deer population is decreasing size of grazing because of building activities.
When we entered the campus in 1960, we were energetic youths who could run and jump and take active part in all athletic events. Now at 80, some of us need wheel-chairs. Often we could not even recognise our classmates with whom we had spent five years in a forest.
When we were young, we never think of the old age. Recently, Dr. Devi Shetty had put a video with the message for young and old. He stresses the need to practice yoga to keep our joints in good shape.
Youths need not get discouraged since ageing is natural process. But they need to pay attention to get ready for the old age by taking care of health when they are young.
When we were admitted, admission committee ensured that there were students from each State of India to promote national integration. As a result we always looked at us as Indians first and last. Caste unlike today was never an issue. Reservation was not even on the horizon. It was indeed an era of Ram Rajya. I was happy to learn even now in the absence of a policy to promote national integration, there are students from all over India.
During the welcome speech, IITM’s Director Dr. Kamakoti gave some impressive facts to show how IITM is being ranked as number one institution in Engineering category ever since NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) rating started in 2016. In 2023-24 it had filed 419 patents. Students are encouraged to develop working models and even work on start-ups at IITM Research Park. IITM has a goal to reach 100 start-ups next year. So far it has helped 365 start-ups which had cumulative value of Rs. 45,000 crore.
National Education Policy (NEP) has been implemented in true spirit when Karnataka State is going out of its way not to implement NEP.
Giving back to the society was stressed throughout our stay in the campus. Again in this aspect, IITM ranks high. IITM alumni are generous in donating funds to their alma mater which was Rs. 367 crore in 2023-24. Any where one goes in the campus it becomes obvious — alumni funded shuttle EV buses, building blocks, food courts, hostel renovation, research labs, scholarships, etc. Mysuru’s educational institutions should try to instil in their students from the first day of school/college why and how they can help their alma mater when they start earning. [But are these students getting the kind of education imparted in IITM?—Ed]
IITM has developed a programme called Vidya Shakti to help slow learners to catch up with their peers. Since its starting in 2023, it has helped over 60,000 students in Varanasi. IITM has been offering online BS courses in Data Sciences and Artificial Intelligence for students since 2020. Already more than one lakh have enrolled in the course. Can our engineering, management and Universities offer online courses to help the poor but bright students?
In conclusion, IITM has indeed been striving to reach its vision: “To be an academic institution in dynamic equilibrium with the social, ecological and economic environment striving continuously for excellence in education, research and technological service to the nation.”
This post was published on February 12, 2025 6:05 pm