New Indian Express, Pics by Viju Mangalore
MANGALORE, Mar 26: The Old Senate Hall, venue of the marathon lecture in Mangalore University, was jam-packed throughout the day as lecturer in applied botany Dr Annaiah Ramesh surpassed an existing Guinness record to complete 80 hours of non-stop teaching without any teaching aids at 7.15 pm on Saturday.
Having bettered a previous record of 72 hours and nine minutes, which stands in the name of Narayanan Shivashankar from Hyderbad, Ramesh hardened his resolve to surpass another feat of 88 hours and four seconds of non-stop teaching achieved by a South African national Musawazi (yet to be ratified by Guinness book of records.)
The loyal band of teachers and students were apprehensive throughout the night as Ramesh laboured hard to avoid chalk-dust allergy and stifled repeated yawning.
In order to beat fatigue, which was slowly enveloping him, Ramesh showered himself for two minutes and took a neck massage by a masseur to emerge fresh and stronger. A sterling lecture on ‘Molecular logic of life’ delivered at 12.15 am was widely appreciated by Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor Prof K M Kaveriappa, Registrar Sundar Naik and Kannada Department Head Chennappa Gowda.
The trio, after listening to the lecture for over two hours departed the venue at 2 am, students said.
Ramesh’s mother Kamalamma attended the lecture on Saturday with three of her siblings in order to boost his morale. “I bitterly dissuaded him from attempting to break any records,” she confessed and added that she was now confident her son will achieve success.
Dr Shalini replacing Dr D’Souza who conducted elaborate tests said BP and other health parameters were normal.
The news of marathon lecture attracted attention from outside the university campus too as curious students from Kuvempu, Mysore and Bangalore Universities among others turned up to witness first hand the marathon lecture, students told this website's newspaper.
The loyal band of students and teachers who have forgone sleep and food have drawn strategies like delivering dictation to ensure that Ramesh would cover the entire night without any hitches.
If Ramesh overcomes the stiff odds stacked against him, Sunday would be the day he had been dreaming and preparing for over a year.
Earlier News:
Mangalore: Dr A Ramesh - Lecturing for 101 Hours To Break Guinness Record