Speaking at the 23rd Annual Convocation of Goa University, Dr. News Bulletin Vol. II - No. 4 ~ October-December 2010.

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1 Goa University News Bulletin Vol. II - No. 4 ~ October-December 2010 Universities are Principal Purveyors of Values and Ideals Dr. S. S. Sidhu, Governor of Goa & Chancellor, Goa University Quarterly News Bulletin of Goa University Vol. II - No. 4 October-December 2010 Dr. S. S. Sidhu, Governor of Goa & Chancellor, Goa University addresses the 23rd Annual Convocation Speaking at the 23rd Annual Convocation of Goa University, Dr. S. S. Sidhu, Governor of Goa and Chancellor, Goa University, highlighted the important role the Universities in India play as the principal purveyors of values and ideas that sustain our nation in its onward march to greater glory and progress. Reiterating the role of our Universities that extends beyond mere imparting of knowledge, Dr. Sidhu said that it is the bounden duty of the universities to produce in the younger generation the quality of compassion and virtues which will enable them to treat one another in a truly democratic spirit. Addressing a large congregation of students, Dr. Sidhu stated that educational institutions have an enduring influence on young minds and work silently to shape their lives and destinies. At a formal level, they provide education and prepare students for a career; at a subliminal level, they leave a deep impact on their conscience, he said. Lamenting the growing tendency among youth to chart shorter routes to success, Dr. Sidhu expressed anguish at the moral degeneration that had set in our society and the lack of discipline, humility and lack of respect for ideals and values. 1

2 Drawing attention to the pervasive changes that were sweeping across India's economic sector after globalization and liberalization, Dr. Sidhu emphasized that the winds of change were blowing in the education sector too and added that the Indian universities needed to wake up to the impending competitive scenario and reinvigorate themselves. "It is vitally important that our Universities become more prolific in research on a much larger scale. At one level, university education needs to shape students who will meet the needs of a modern, rapidly growing economy and a fast changing society. At another, we need researchers and inventors who will create technologies and systems for the future" he said. Dealing at length on the systemic changes in India's education sector, Dr. Sidhu stated that "India of the new Millennium is far removed from the India of the 70s and 80s when many Universities and institutes of higher learning were established. Advent of science and technology, media and communication networks and changing global socio-economic scenario have led to the emergence of several new areas of specialized learning. The student community today is in search of knowledge in areas of specialization that were, perhaps, unheard of two decades ago. Interestingly, on the other hand, the conventional compartmentalized learning is making way for interdisciplinary learning. Today, our young students have a vast range of subject and areas of specialization to choose from," he stated. "Prudence demands that we anticipate change and respond to it with steadfastness of purpose," Dr. Sidhu emphasized. Lauding the effort of Goa University to launch new educational programs in Tourism Management and Ocean Science & Technology, Dr. Sidhu stated that Goa University had consciously chosen to tread the path of progression. Goa University must take rapid progressive strides in the delivery of higher education and research through innovative programs, state-of-the-art infrastructure, well defined plans for student progression and through high standards of the teaching-learning process. Complimenting the University for its efforts to enhance the skill sets of students belonging to the marginalized groups through initiatives such as NET/SET coaching, Civil Services Examination coaching, etc., Dr. Sidhu stated the aspect of continuous student progression deserved utmost priority and needed to be dealt with through a series of welldefined policies and programs. Drawing attention to the appointment of the five-member Academic Audit Committee, Dr. Sidhu stated that the academic audit is expected to analyse how Goa University could better participate in the new world of knowledge production and dissemination. Complimenting the graduating students, Dr. Sidhu expressed his fervent hope that the students would utilise their learning for a meaningful contribution to the society. Glimpses of 23rd Annual Convocation (more pics on page 5) 2

3 23rd Annual Convocation GU's Performance Trajectory Benchmarks Against the Best Prof. Dileep N. Deobagkar, Vice Chancellor Speaking at the 23rd Annual Convocation, Professor Dileep N. Deobagkar, Vice Chancellor of Goa University stated that during the past twenty-five years, the University had devoted and dedicated itself to realise the intellectual aspirations and socio-economic needs of Goa. The University s performance trajectory benchmarks against the best, and it is also striving to position itself as an institution at the vanguard of pioneering transformations in the domain of higher education and human resource development in the country, he said. Drawing attention to the current era of dynamics in all paths of life, Prof. Deobagkar stated that transformation and change were inevitable and that time is rife for comprehensive restructuring of the contemporary education system. The crux lies in converting the challenges posed by the global reorganizations into empowering opportunities for creating proficiency and expertise, he said. Lauding the Government of Goa for formulation of the New Education Policy, Prof. Deobagkar said that Goa University looks forward to playing a lead role in this noble endeavour. Elaborating on the academic initiatives taken by the University, Prof. Deobagkar stated that Goa University is reorienting towards an approach that would empower the young generations to perform and excel in the modern world. The University has undertaken continuous remodelling of the curricula of the Post Graduate courses on the Campus. The University already has a number of nationally recognised flagship programmes and has now planned new and contemporary programmes in Ocean Science and Technology, Hotel Management and Tourism, etc. In deference to the National Policy for Higher Education, Goa University has initiated the Choice Based Credit System from the academic year in its postgraduate courses, he said. Interaction and association with various components of the society and the corporate world are integral aspects of any good University system. It is equally important to develop partnerships between the Universities on the one hand and industry and society on the other. It is necessary to have involvement of the multitude of stakeholders, such as industries and society in management and administration of the University, Prof. Deobagkar stated. Lauding the efforts of the University's faculty, Prof. Deobagkar stated that during the past three years, the faculty members of Goa University have been able to attract more than double of the extramural funding from various Central Govt. agencies through national competition. Education in India has nurtured intellectual minds, which, while contributing to the global economy and human capabilities, has also contributed significantly in sustaining the time-honoured value-systems that are unique to our civilization, Prof. Deobagkar stated and urged students to imbibe such values and social responsibilities as they entered the web of global competition and personal progress. 3

4 Bakibab Borkar Birth Centenary celebrated The Department of Marathi, in collaboration with Gomantak Marathi Academy and University Grants Commission, New Delhi, commemorated the Birth Centenary of Marathi-Konkani litterateur Balkrishna Bhagawant Borkar alias Bakibab Borkar, organized a two day programme, which included a national seminar, exhibition of paintings, interviews, recitation of poetry and musical programme on 22nd and 23rd November, Eminent scholars participated in the two-day program. Shri Madhav Borkar, a noted poet inaugurated the national seminar. A special issue of wall paper to commemorate the Birth Anniversary of poet Bakibab Borkar was inaugurated at the hands of Shri Madhav Borkar. He vividly narrated some of anecdotes pertaining to Bakibab. Topic of the seminar was Balkrishna Bhagawant Borkar alias Bakibab Borkar: Critical Analysis of his Writing in Marathi and Konkani. Poet Narendra Bodkay presented the keynote address on this occasion. Dr. Vasudeo Dattatraya Sawant, Dr. Ashok Dattatraya Managutkar, Smt. Priyadarshini Tadkodkar, Dr. Vrushali Mandrekar, Smt. Sunita Sunil Umraskar presented research papers. Professor (Dr.) Sadashiv Deo presided over the Seminar. Scholars were invited to read research papers. Thorough deliberations followed thereafter. Shri Damodar Naik, Finance Officer, Goa University, inaugurated an exhibition comprising some of the oil and water-colour paintings based on natural beauty in the poetry of Bakibab Borkar. The paintings were exhibited by the noted artiste Shri Shridhar Kamat- Bambolkar. Later the family members of late Shri Bakibab Borkar were interviewed by Smt. Priyadarshini Tadkodkar and Dr. Narayan Bhaskar Desai. Renowned poets Narendra Bodkay, Hemant Joglekar alongwith Smt. Tadkodkar and Dr. Desai recited some of the well acclaimed poetry penned by Poet Bakibab. Prof. Sadguru Chendwankar, Smt. Nutan Pai-Kakode, Shri Kamat- Bambolkar and Smt. Nirupa Naik participated in yet another session during the course of which they deliberated upon the challenges of painting the portraits of genius personalities. Padmashree Suresh Amonkar, well known research scholar, delivered the Valedictory Address. Prof. K. Shripad Bhat, Dean, Faculty of Languages and Literature, chaired the session of valedictory function. The two-day event concluded with a musical concert presented by well known vocal artistes namely Sumedha Desai, Chandrakant Vernekar, Dayesh Kossambe, Raya Korgaonkar, Vishant Surlakar and Nilesh Borde. The session was compered by Dr. Ajaya Vaidya. Dr. Vasudeo Sawant welcomed the guests and Smt. Sunita Sunil Umraskar proposed a vote of thanks. Dr. S. M. Tadkodkar, Head, Department of Marathi, was the Convenor of the programme. A large number of students and teachers participated in the event. 4 GU STUDENTS EXCEL IN PROCESSOR DESIGN CONTEST Students of Goa University's Department of Electronics fetched the first place in the contest organized by Mentor Graphics, USA in the Mentor Graphics University Design Contest Mentor Graphics is world leader in Electronic Design Automation tools. The final year students John Fernandes, Jonathan Lobo, Chetan Pagi and Ralph D Souza worked under the guidance of Mr. Mahesh Salgaonkar and Dr. Rajendra S. Gad on the project titled Design of LC-3 Processor Architecture. The students designed low level processor architecture called the Little Computer 3 or LC-3. It features a relatively simple instruction set, but can be used to write moderately complex assembly programs, and is a theoretically viable target for a C compiler. The language is less complex than x86 assembly but has many features similar to those in more complex languages.

5 Sports Round-up Glimpses of 23rd Annual Convocation Inter-Collegiate Hockey (Women s) Championship St. Xavier s College, Mapusa, won the Inter-Collegiate Hockey (Women s) Championship defeating Rosary College, Nuvem, by a margin of 2-1. Inter-Collegiate Hockey (Men s) Championship Fr. Agnel College won the Inter-Collegiate Hockey (Men) Championship organised by Goa University. They defeated Govt. College Sanquelim by 2-1 margin. Inter-Collegiate Kho Kho (Women) Championship Govt. College of Arts, Science & Commerce, Quepem won the Inter-Collegiate Kho Kho (Women) Championship defeating GVM s College of Commerce & Economics, Ponda by 3 points. Inter-Collegiate Kho Kho (Men) Championship CES College, Cuncolim, won the Inter-collegiate Kho-Kho Men s) Championship defeating Shree Mallikarjun College, Canacona by an innings and 6 points. SOUTH WEST ZONE INTER-UNIVERSIT -UNIVERSITY FOO OOTBALL Goa University qualified for the All India Inter-University Football (Women)Championship by defeating Madras University 1-0 in the South-West Zone Inter-University Football championship. 5

6 Collecting Samples at Dudhsagar Prof. D. J. Bhat Dept. of Botany On 24th October I, along with Prof. M.K. Janarthanam and research students Ashish and Samit, went to Dudhsagar Falls on a day-long collection trip, as part of our on-going biodiversity study program. 6 We, at the department of Botany, are documenting the species diversity in plants, fungi, algae, orchids, mycorrhizae, actinomycetes, and yeasts of forests of the Western Ghats in Goa. Numerous known, unknown, rare and critical taxa of fungi and plants have already been documented by us in the form of research papers and monographs. In biodiversity studies, sourcing field data, sampling and photo-documentation of live specimens in their natural habitat or localities are prerequisites. The plants and fungi grow on soil as annuals or perennials, on tree trunks and branches as epiphytes or pathogens or in streams as submerged saprophytes. We need to continuously collect samples from different localities in all seasons. I had been to Dudhsagar Falls several times earlier. My first visit to this gorgeous waterfall was in 1980 as a CSIR Research Associate of Madras University, along with Dr. Ananth Padmanabhan (presently Principal Scientist at the MTCC, Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh) who also worked as a Project Fellow at the Madras University Botany Department those days. I recollect that journey to Dudhsagar from Castle Rock by a goods train. We sampled conidial fungi from the stream and described waterborne hyphomycetes for the first time from India (Subramanian & Bhat, 1981). Subsequently I have visited this marvelous waterfall at least five times, each time with unabated enthusiasm. We boarded a passenger train and from Kulem and reached Dudhsagar station at 9:10 am. Though this stretch extends only 13 kms., the uphill train journey through dense forests and winding ghats is very slow. However, one can bask in the nature s bountiful greenery everywhere. The monsoon had barely subsided so there were numerous small and large streams that gushed down the hills with all force. We alighted from the train and set out on our collection exercise. We went down along the gorge of the waterfalls below the railway bridge. The might of the gushing water makes a huge water-pool midway. My mind traveled back thirty years when I had ventured in this pool for a

7 swim. For a while I was tempted to test my swimming prowess again. However, Prof. Janarthanam gently reminded me of my age and rightly advised against any adventurism. We gathered aquatic foam from the water surface into an agar plate. When foam sample is carefully examined under a dissecting microscope, fungal floristic diversity of the entire region can be understood. These fungi are spectacular to look at under the microscope. Aquatic fungal spores are variedly shaped - branched, curved or spiral. Perhaps this is the only group in the fungal kingdom one can identify to species level by merely looking at the spores. From submerged leaf litter, aquatic fungal spores get disseminated long distances through the flowing water. Our research group has already surveyed the aquatic fungal flora of forest streams of entire Western Ghats, from river Tapti to Kanya Kumari. Prof. Janarthanam scanned the green canopy and under-storey very carefully. A walking encyclopedia of trees, he would tell us the names, both botanic and common, of the numerous trees that are seen in this forest. He now goes beyond the taxonomy and tries to understand the ecobiology of these plants. Besides numerous plants, we saw colorful insects, camouflaged spiders, weird birds and naughty monkeys. We collected fallen litter as specimens of fungi. Ashish is working on palmassociated fungi of the Western Ghats and has set up one of his seasonal collecting locations at Dudhsagar Falls. From one of Ashish s earlier collections, Rattania, a new fungal genus of the Hyphomycetes was described from Dudhsagar Falls (Ashish & Bhat, 2009). Recently the fungus has been sequenced (Shenoy et al. 2010). Wading through the deep forest, we reached Sonalium, 6 km downstream from Dudhsagar Falls, and courtesy Station Master, managed to board a goods train to Kulem for the homeward journey. We returned to our homes at 7:00 pm, exhausted but content that the day had been well spent! Our actual research work started only upon return to the labs. We are now carefully looking at the samples and will document the fungal biodiversity. Watch this space for an update! References cited: Subramanian, C.V. & Bhat, D.J Aquatic spora of the streams of Western Ghats, southern India. Kavaka, 13: Ashish, P. & Bhat, D.J. (2009) Rattania setulifera, an undescribed endophytic hyphomycete on rattans from Western Ghats, India. Mycotaxon 108: Shenoy, B.D., Jeewon, R., Wang, H., Kaur, A., Ho, W.H., Bhat, D.J., Crous, P.W. & Hyde, K.D Sequence data reveals phylogenetic affinities of fungal anamorphs Bahusutrabeeja, Diplococcium, Natarajania, Paliphora, Polyschema, Rattania and Spadicoides. Fungal Diversity, 44: Published by Publications Cell, Goa University, mail: pbu@unigoa.ac.in 7