In that great book of ours, the Mahabharata, one chapter I find worth reading and rereading is that of the Aranya Parva, which has to do with the Yaksha, and his many questions. (The idea of an examination where the consequences of failure are dire is an interesting one, and the resemblance to a vice-chancellorship is quite unmistakeable.) In the final parts, the Yaksha asks, “What is most wonderful?”, and Yudhishthira (who by then is the only survivor) answers,“… Day after day, countless creatures go to the abode of Yama, yet those that remain behind believe themselves to be immortal. What can be more wonderful than this? ”
A Vice Chancellor is appointed at the University for a five year term. I came here on the 1st of June 2011, and so should have stayed until the 31st May, 2016. However, that is not to be. I shall be leaving somewhat sooner than that.
The reasons for this early departure from the position are purely personal, and I appreciate all those who will respect and protect my privacy on this count. While some aspects of why I wish to leave are known to some, the interpolations and extrapolations are many, all of them incomplete and in the end, all probably incorrect as well.
As my term at the UoH draws to a close, it is impossible to not try to take stock, and also impossible to not make a wish list of what still needs to be done, the miles to go… Difficult though it is, I shall do neither. Three years and a half is not a short time, but it is also not long, and I am sorry to leave when so much that I had in mind remains unfinished. There’s really not much point making any evaluation on such timescales- as I have said earlier on these pages, the race is not always to the swift.
I have valued my time at the University and am grateful for the great opportunities that it has provided me. In particular, for the chance to take the road less traveled by. The UoH has completed forty years in 2014, so one is also reasonably secure that ours is a robust system, one that has weathered many storms and one that is strong in its foundations. I am therefore confident that work that is started today will be continued if it is truly in the best interests of the University, and that the best traditions of the University will be upheld.
Since this is “The Unofficial Blog of the VC, University of Hyderabad”, this particular post is going to be the last from my pen or (to be more factually accurate) the last that I will type out on my keyboard as VC. It has been a good way to get some things communicated more widely, and I have certainly enjoyed writing it as much as I have enjoyed being here. And that is probably a good note on which to end.
Will miss your guidance and leadership. I take this opportunity to wish you good luck and godspeed. With warm regards. Commander Challa Venkateswar.
I wish you all the very best sir…With Regards, ViolinVasu
Dear Sir, I always appreciate your vision, frankness, speech and writing. We, the University, could have done much more, but as you have rightly put it, ‘miles to go… ’, and we have ‘promises to keep.’ I believe that if we perform our role well, people will clap their hands in delight even after the curtain falls. I am optimistic. Wish You all the very best, Sir. With warm regards, Dinesh
The university will miss a good interdisciplinary scientist, who can bridge and understand the language of different disciplines/departments. Sir, you have given lot of encouragement for cross disciplinary science. Hope the university continues the trend and doesn’t maintain departmental or disciplinary barriers for teaching and recruiting faculty.
For he’s a Jolly Good Fellow and so say all of us!
Contrary to several persons occupying hot chairs, your decency and deep sense of etiquette even in adverse situation while dealing with contentious issue will be missed by many of us. Wish you very healthy,creative & peaceful life.
All the best sir
You richly deserved to head this university by all means and as a matter of right, well in line with the university traditions and conventions of having the best personalities to occupy the position of VC. Your credentials, your ideas, work ethic, and etiquette is proof beyond doubt. We can only wish you better and enjoyable opportunities to come your way in your career.
Regards
Dr Sita
School of Management Studies.
Dear Sir,
Thank you and wish you all the best.
Hope the time you sacrificed from UoH as a VC for your ‘personal’ reasons justifies at the end !
Thank you
AB
People obviously appreciate your calm demeanor, respect for interdisciplinary work and desire to encourage creativity. I know I am a far away fan, but you will be missed!
Dear Sir,
Congratulations on leaving us with a perfect gift- Visitor’s award for best university !!!
One of the best things you have done is advancing the entrance test to February from June
I just give below the cold facts:
No. of applications Univ. CIS Maths
June 2012 ~27000 ~2700 ~800
Feb 2013 ~33000 ~3000 ~1200
Feb 2014 ~40000 ~4000 ~1400
Feb 2015 >50000 >5000 ~1600
One does not need to do a course in Statistics as simple common sense will tell us that the quality of students jumps by leaps and bounds when the no. of applications doubles !! And the fact that we have achieved it in just over 3 years is commendable. At School of Maths and Statistics, from a 60% pass result till 2012, the pass percentage has jumped to 84% in 2013 and 90% in 2014 !! Even as you leave us, you have ensured that we will get possibly the best batch of students this year thanks to 50,000 people taking the exam.
I humbly request you to pass on the relevant facts and request the next V-C to continue the good work despite a possible opposition.
Thanking you in advance and wishing you and your family a Very Happy and Healthy future !!
S. Ilangovan
School of Maths and Statistics
we’re missing you sir…… it had been wonderful period during your time. Learned many things… May GOD be with you and your family.. Take care sir.. REALLY MISSING YOU
Dear Prof. Ram
Wish you all the best in your future assignments.
Prof K Srinivas
NUEPA
New Delhi