On cusp of 100, Mysore varsity celebrates digitally

The 99-year-old Mysore University today entered the portals of year-long centenary celebrations with the launch of the centenary portal, logo and online outreach programme.

"Gangotri Glades", Manasa Gangotri's cricket grounds, was named in memory of scion of the Mysore Royal family late Srikanta Datta Naraismharaja Wadiyar.

The trilingual logo - Kannada, Sanskrit and English - is designed by Wadiyar's wife Pramoda Devi, who launched it and highlighted its features.

Higher Education and Tourism Minister R V Deshpande, who launched the University's outreach programme as the chief guest, announced government grant of Rs 10 crore for the 100th year celebrations, Rs 5 crore for the establishment of a chair in honour of the University's founder Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, Rs 9 crore for opening the university's post-graduate centre in Chamarajanagar, sanction for appointment of 150 faculty members and 300 non-teaching staff personnel.

It was also announced that Rs 36 lakh in contributions had already been received for the centenary celebration fund from private companies and individuals in responce to the appeal of Vice-Chancellor K S Rangappa on the web portal.

Launching the web-portal, District in-charge and Revenue Minister V Sreenivasa Prasad announced, the State Cabinet had given clearance for setting up an annexe to the Maharani's College for Women on 4.5 acres at Paduvaharahalli in Mysore and sanctioned Rs 80 crore. Work would begin before Dasara.

The web portal has messages by two oldest alumni of the University, 107-year-od Siddaganga Mutt seer Shivakumara Swamiji of Tumkur and 102-year-old veteran lexicographer G.Venkatasubbayya.

Desphande and Prasad lamented that none of the Indian universities found place among the top 100 or 200 globally ranked universities and called for lifting up teaching standards to take Indian universities to global standards.

"The centenary celebrations no doubt will be celebrated in a grand manner. But, it should not just end up with programmes and dinners. A goal should be set to take the University to global level during the year and that should become important," said Despande, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of the University, and expressed confidence that Mysore University, which had produced three 'Bharat Ratnas' - its founder Sir M Visvesvaraya, late President S Radhakrishnan and renowned scientist C N R Rao - which is already well ranked among the Indian universities could do this. He asked the University to build up needed infracture during the year.

With a view to improve standards, the government had thought of ranking the universities in the state, he said adding, "We will be going in that direction. This will create competition among the universities and standards will improve."

Bemoaning over falling morality, while technology was advancing leaps and bounds, the Minister said there was need to introduce moral education and asked educationists to look at this issue.

Speakers paid eloquent tributes to the vision of Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV and Sir M Visvesvaraya who founded the university on July 27, 1916.

Vice-Chancellor K S Rangappa said the University had chalked out ambitious plans for the centenary year to be celebrated from today onwards till July 2016.