Mysuru: India has made great progress in the education sector and is slowly coming out of the colonial grip. Institutions like Karnataka State Open University have contributed greatly to the principles of equality and social justice that have been enshrined in our constitution.
These were the words of Dr A Surya Prakash, Chairman of Prasar Bharati. He was delivering the 15th Convocation Address of Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) at Kalamandir.
“When British were ruling India, the country was in the colonial grip and most of the universities were established by them to propagate English. 21 universities were functioning when India got independence. Thanks to the efforts of people like Madan Mohan Malavia and the Maharajas of Mysore princely state and successive governments, our country has made great strides in education,” he said.
At present, India has 665 universities and 35,829 colleges. “We have, over the years, progressed well in education and are offering world-class education for students who come from all over the world,” he added.
Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala graced the occasion.
Renowned Kannada writer Janaki Srinivasa Murthy, popularly known by her pen name Vaidehi, film director S Siddalingaiah and IIT Punjab Director Prof. MK Surappa received the honorary doctorates this time.
Age is not a barrier for pursuing education; 78-year-old Krishnappa, retired government school Hindi teacher from Didaga village of Channarayapatna Taluk of Hassan district was awarded a Post Graduate degree in Sanskrit during 15th convocation of Karnataka State Open University at Kalamandir here on Thursday. In days to come he wants to do Post Graduation in philosophy.
“For learning or pursuing education there is no age limit. I will not stop here I want to do Phd in Bhagavad Gita, which I have already started collecting study materials from various people and other collection centres. In days to come I am also interested in doing PG in Philosophy, but unfortunately the course is not there in this university but still I will try to enroll in other university. As Sanskrit is one among the oldest language in the world, I was
interested to know more about the language hence I took up Sanskrit as the subject” added Krishnappa who has secured 57 percent in Sanskrit.
After his retirement from service in 1995, for 12 years he conducted free classes for students where he had served earlier. His wife Huchamma is also retired Government school teacher. The duo as reserved one of their pension exclusively for charity purpose like helping the needy people. Krishnappa has read most of the Vivekananda books. Everyday Krishnappa reads for nearly 14 to 16 hours.
He called upon youth to inculcate habit of reading and respect their parents and also look after them well. “Youths should also practice good habit and respect and protect women” added Krishnappa who was delighted with the award.
These jail inmates want to pursue higher education to educate public on causes of wrong doings.
S Narendra and S R Venkatesh, who are serving life terms in Parappana Agrahara Central Prisons in Bengaluru, were all happy and enthusiastic to pursue higher education after they received their post-graduation degrees.
Thank to Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) for providing them an opportunity to pursue post-graduation. Both convectors of dowry death cases and serving in jail from 2007 received MA in political science degree at 15th annual convocation of KSOU. Duo secured first class marks political science. Narendra have secured 63.1%, while Venkatesh succeeded in scoring 61.3%. Both wants to serve the society and inform people importance of life and the causes of wrong doings.
“I want to pursue law to serve the society. I have learnt many things and completely changed since I am imprisoned. I want to tell people on results of doing wrong things (crime),” says Narendra, 43, native of Bengaluru. Nagendra was a garment businessman and got his bachelor degree in 2013.
Another Post Graduate, Venkatesh, 41, hailing from Tumakuru district, wants to pursue Phd in political science. “Life is very precious and none should involve in crime, which makes life dark,” he says. Education is very much necessary to understand and lead life in a good manner, they feel.
Dr K S Pavitra, a psychiatric by profession in Shivamogga, who bagged two-gold medal for securing highest marks in MCJ wants to promote medical literature and thus pursued MCJ to polish her writing skills.
Pavitra, who is also a writer, public speaker, Bharatyanatya dancer did graduation in Kannada literature to promote and link natya with Kannada from KSOU in 2012. She is producing a documentary and writing books on medicine and Bharatanatya.
“When I was a student I really tried hard to secure highest marks and succeed. But, now, I did not work hard to gain gold medal. Contact classes and quality education of KSOU made me to achieve success without difficulty,” Pavitra said. She obtained her MBBS MD degree from National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru in 2005.
For this multi-talented personality time management is not constraint. She feels if one has interest that is more than enough to achieve success. “I cannot explain my time management. People must stay with me to know how I manage time,” she says.
