Udupi: ‘Teacher of Teachers’ and ‘Custodian of Examinations’, Dr S Narayana Rao Completes Golden Era
By Divvy Kant Upadhyay, Manipal
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Sep 5: If last week saw celluloid celebrity Kamala Hassan making headlines for a career spanning 50 years, the University town of Manipal had its own hero – a Chemistry teacher - retiring after having spent a golden era of his life in service to the institution.
Manipal University’s Dr S Narayana Rao retired on Monday after having served for 50 years and 2 months. The University recently held an official farewell party where they felicitated Dr Rao for his service, especially the 13 unblemished stressful but successful years he spent as the Controller of Examinations at the University. No wonder then that Pro Chancellor of the University, Dr HS Ballal said at the farewell, “these days to have the distinction of a 50 years’ service record at a single institution is not only a splendid achievement for the individual, but a matter of pride for the institution”.
It is common for people to speak well of a person who is bidding farewell, but in the case of Dr Narayana Rao, it had an extra touch of reality. He has been continuously hailed for his transparency and honesty as the Controller of Examinations. He is well known to have maintained utmost secrecy when it came to security and confidentiality of Examination papers. Often his family, including his wife, wouldn’t know about his whereabouts. In a lighter vein in the official circles, it was popularly said that Dr Rao even kept his own shadow guessing about his next move – such was his dedication to job assigned to him. His exam management system has been emulated by many other universities and his practices have come in praise from many senior academicians.
Dr Rao’s story is generally considered a work of fate or destiny as one may call it. In the year 1959 while on his way to Pune for a job, Dr Rao stopped over at Manipal to visit a relative. He happened to meet Dr TMA Pai who suggested he take a couple of Chemistry classes to pass his time while he was with his relatives. He recollects, “on the 12th of July, 1959, Dr TMA Pai appointed me at 9 am and I was asked to take my first class at 9.20 am”. He distinctly remembers having taken that class dressed in just a simple shirt and mundu.
Rest as they say is history. But present day students still marvel when they see their senior most professors touch the feet of Dr Rao, seeking his blessings. Dr Rao, humble that he is, generally feels embarrassed. The immense love and respect showered on Dr Rao and his wife Indira ‘teacher’ is commonplace at Manipal. The present MU Vice Chancellor, Dr Raj Warrier, (of the 1963 batch at Kasturba Medical College) was also a student of Dr Rao’s. It must be phenomenal for one to have taught for almost four decades and then live on to see your students become top notch doctors, teachers, vice chancellors and directors. No wonder, teaching is still regarded as one of the noblest and rewarding of professions.
Reading the citation that Dr Rao was felicitated with, MU Registrar Dr G K Prabhu said “Known for his meticulous care, mental acuteness and flawless procedures… (Dr Rao) carried on the administration of the Examination cell without any hitch or controversy”. An emotionally overwhelmed Dr Rao bid farewell re-emphasizing the values of teamwork and thanking everybody for the support rendered to him.