From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jul 21: All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) Chairman Prof Dr Anil Dattatreya Sahasrabudhe has called upon Bengaluru’s prestigious institute of higher learning, Christ Deemed to be University, to break new ground by venturing into Medicine and Agriculture to cover all key aspects of higher education.

Addressing the Alumni Association, faculty and staff gathering to mark the Golden jubilee of the University in Bengaluru on Saturday, he lauded the tremendous progress achieved by Christ from an ordinary college established in 1969 to become one of the most prestigious private universities in the country in fifty years and felt including medicine and agriculture would make it more complete.

The management of Christ Deemed to be University would do well to consider becoming a fully residential campus on the lines of the Indian Institute of Science or Indian Institute of Technology as the students opting for higher education were spending the best part of their lives in the age groups of 16 to 25 years from under-graduate, master’s and doctorate education, when they would develop moral and ethical values to become good human beings.

Recalling his first visit to the University as part of the team to assess the academic excellence, Dr Sahasrabudhe said he was extremely happy to note the progress achieved over the years and felt the golden jubilee celebration was the ideal occasion to reflect on the vision and goal to climb the ladder among the top and best universities.

“Unlike the situation in many universities and institutions of higher education where the students were finding themselves constantly stressed up, Christ is providing joyful learning experience and thereby helping the students in the task of social transformation,’’ he said.

Dr Sahasrabudhe paid glowing tributes to the some of the key figures in modern India like Sir M Visvesvaraya, Engineer-Statesman, Dr B R Ambedkar, Architect of Indian Constitution, M S Swaminathan (Green Revolution), Varghese Kurian (White Revolution), Sam Pitroda (Telecom) and F C Kohli (IT) and said creative talents, skills and abilities of youth must be identified, nurtured and developed if society and the country were to progress.

The AICTE Chairman listed the various initiatives taken by the Council like Study, Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM) platform for hosting Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), induction training, revision of curriculum, mandatory internships, industry readiness, promoting innovation and start ups, examination reforms and teachers training and asked the colleges to make full use of the facilities.

Karnataka’s Rural Development, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Krishna Byregowda, an alumnus of Christ, recalled the early reputation of Christ as most sought after College for youngsters as ``a damn fun place to be in’’ mainly on account of the fun and frivolities for young boys and girls during the week-end Spring Festival in the 70s and 80s and the transformation into an institution of serious studies and discipline during the tenures of Fr Antony Kariyil, as the Principal, and the present Vice Chancellor Dr Fr Thomas C Mathew. The discontinuation of Spring Festival marked the change of destiny, though youngsters like him resented it at the time, Byregowda said.

He said Christ has evolved into something far beyond the imagination of the early students and probably even the founders and helped groom thousands of students to excel in life. ``If we are able to stand on our feet, walk straight, run fast and even sprit, it is because of the holistic as well excellent education given to us,’’ he said asked all Christites to excel in whatever walks of life they were in.
“This is best contribution and service we can do to our alma mater and also to society by being the best in what we do, remain true to the motto of excellence and service,’’ he said to a thunderous applause from the assembled gathering of alumni.

Dr Fr Paul Achandy, Prior General of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), the congregation running the Christ Deemed to be University, in his presidential remarks said 3000 priests of CMI serving in 31 countries were proud of Christ and its achievements. He wished further glory and success in its future path of development and growth.

Alumni Association President Jugnu Uberoi, who belongs to the first batch of students of 1969, explained the activities of the alumni. Dr Fr George Edayadiyil, Chancellor, said the establishment of the first Catholic Sanskrit School in Mannanam in Kerala in 1846 by St Kuriakose Elias Chavara, the founder of CMI congregation, marked the beginning of the education ministry. He traced the origin and growth of Christ College and paid glowing tributes to the original initiator Bishop Jonas Thaliyat and others who worked closely with him.

Dr Fr Thomas C Mathew, Vice Chancellor, welcomed and Dr Anil Joseph Pinto, Registrar, conducted the function.