Saturday, May 15, 2021

While the Director of PG centre Venkatasubramaniam was leaving ... after completing his tenure

Before joining the university I spent nearly a quarter century in the Pondicherry education al service and the newly established PG centre under the dynamic leadership of a chemistry professor imported from Chennai Vivekananda college embraced me in1989.Earlier I was at Bharathidasan from 1984 to 1989 
Those ten years were the golden days as I could operate in a congenial environment and teach.
This following extract is from my academic debris found yesterday, a simple text of the farwell speech to the Director.Usually I give an extempore address.This was an exception.


I stand before this august assembly to express our profound affection and regards to our Director who was chosen by the destiny to guide, nurse and nurture our infant centre  during the crucial formative periods and cement its foundation.Its continued existence and nourishment by the government depends on many its and buts.
When you came over here  as an outsider you had a definite comparitive advantage  in the sense that you could be least influenced by our actions and lobbying.
We were captivated by your scholarship, erudition, and right leadership and to me personally your command over language  and the free flow of thoughts and most important your fine rapport with the faculty.
Sir to put in my economics language  about your tenure, I would say that Adamsmith' s invisible hand and enlightened laissez-faire doctrine were at work during your regime and scarcely was there any surveillance over us  and we enjoyed the full degree of academic freedom given to us. Sir, may I tell you that we live d up to your expectations and the trust reposed in us.
Being academically strong and vibrant and administratively more demanding you ensured a healthy and competitive environment and you made the institution to grow from strength to strength.
When you leave , you can have a justifiable pride and satisfaction that you have done a neat job.
We will miss you and  pray  that God will shower upon you good health and peace.




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