Centennial Programmes - 3 - Gurusmarana (Dept. of Education, University of Kerala - 5 Sep, 2011)

Programme

Invocation	:	Ms. Sreekala & Ms. Soumya
Welcome	:	Dr. Theresa Susan A., Head, Department of Education
Introductory Speech	:	Sri. A. Prabhakaran, Chairman, SPFERD, Director, Gyan Vani FM Radio, IGNOU)
Presidential Address	:	Dr. Vasantha Ramkumar,  Former Professor& Head, Department of Education, University of Kerala
Inaugural Address	:	Dr. A. Sukumaran Nair, Former Vice Chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi University & Former Faculty, Department of Education
National Teachers Day Message	:	Dr. R. Sukumaran Nair, Former Professor& Head, Department of Education, Calicut University
Introduction to  Launching of Dr. N. P. Pillai Awards/Scholarships	:	Dr. V. M. Sasikumar, Principal Co-ordinator, Dr. N. P. Pillai Centennial Celebration Committee
Introduction of Awardees
Distribution of Awards	:	Sri. T.P. Madhavan (S/o Dr.N. P. Pillai), Cine Artist
Fond Remembrance
1. Mrs. Elizhaba Zacharia	:	Dr. Mohan Mathew
2. Dr. N. P. Pillai	:	Dr. V.Sukumaran Nair
3. Mrs. M. A.  Thankamma	:	Dr .C .P .Sreekantan Nair
4. Dr. Pushpita John	:	Dr. Madhubala Jayachandran
5. Sri. P. I. A Karim	:	Dr. Y. Shahul Hameed
6. Dr. N. D. Joshi	:	Dr. T. V. Thulaseedharan
7. Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai	:	Dr. G.Saratchandra Raj
8. Dr. N. Vedamani Mauel	:	Dr. K. Y. Benedict
9. Dr. M. S. Gomathy Ammal	:	Dr. Giby Geevarughese
Vote of Thanks	:	Dr. J. V. Asha
National Anthem
Onam Sadhya

REPORT

The National Teachers' Day was celebrated on 5^th September, 2011 at the Department of Education, University of Kerala with GURUSMARANA, a programme organized for paying tribute to the great educationists of the past who gave a new direction to education in the state. The function was organized under the joint auspices of the Dr. N. P. Pillai Centennial Celebration Committee, Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai Foundation (SPFERD), and Department of Education, University of Kerala, in collaboration with the Council for Teacher Education (CTE Kerala State Centre), State Resource Centre (SRC) Kerala, Mitraniketan, and Vigyan International Foundation for Education.

            The programme began at 10.30 a.m. with auspicious invocation followed by the welcome address by Dr. Theresa Susan A., Head, Dept of Education, University of Kerala & the General Convener of the programme.

            An outline of the different organizations involved in the programme was briefed by Sri. A. Prabhakaran, Chairman, SPFERD & Director, Gyan Vani FM Radio, IGNOU in the Introductory Speech.

            The Presidential address was delivered by Dr. Vasantha Ramkumar, Former Professor and Head, Department of Education, and Former Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Kerala. In her elegant style, she stressed that the success of teachers lie in becoming a great human being and said that the importance of teachers to be sympathetic, empathetic and tolerant. She shared her fond remembrances at the Department as a student and colleague of Dr. N. P. Pillai. She also highlighted that the Department pioneered in giving a new direction to the Teacher Education of the Country in the 1970s through 1980s and paid warm-hearted tribute to the then faculty members, great educators and her colleagues at the Department.

The Inaugural Address was delivered by Dr. A. Sukumaran Nair, Former Vice Chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, and Former Faculty Member of the Department of Education, University of Kerala. He said in his address that the significance of the programme is not as just a ‘gurusmarana’ but in providing a venue to remember and respect the all those senior teachers. To understand and pass-on to the new generation the energy along with transmitting the responsibility to reckon their contributions in the making up of the organization to the one as they see today and in gaining reputation as a National Institute of teacher Education pioneering with eminence in research as well as in teaching. The Department had a stake in the National front as it had ventured in research based decision making in lines with the then International scholars like John Dewey. The main thing which lacks with the Department is that it has not systematically documented its eminence in black and white. He exhorted the researchers and faculty at the Department to take up the project and record the growth of the Department in chronological lineage. He declared the programme inaugurated.      

The inauguration was followed by presentation of ‘Ponnada’ to the venerable luminaries Dr. Mohan Mathew, Dr. Vasantha Ramkumar, Dr. A. Sukumaran Nair, and Dr. R. Sukumaran Nair by Dr. Theresa Susan A., Dr. Bindu R.L., Dr. Asha J.V. and Smt. Bindu D.

The National Teachers’ Day Message was given by Dr. R. Sukumaran Nair, Former Professor and Head, Department of Education, and Former Dean, Faculty of Education, Calicut University. He, in his humorous way mixed a pinch of sarcasm explained that if education is to gain a better stand, the teachers have to be like the world masters like Gandhi, Socrates, Buddha, Krishna etc. They have to raise their level of knowledge and scholarship, and also practice what they preach in their life, and live as ‘acharyas’.

            Prof. P. M. Jaleel, (Former Director, SCERT), Former Dean, Faculty of Edcation, and Director, School of Pedagogical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Former Faculty of Education University of and Prof. K. Jacob Mathew, Former Syndicate Member, University of Kerala and former Principal Government College of Teacher Education, Thiruvananthapuram felicitated the function and shared reminiscences of their association with the Department.

Dr. V. M. Sasikumar, Principal Co-ordinator, Dr. N. P. Pillai CCC announced the launching of the Dr. N. P. Pillai Memorial Scholarship/Awards at the function. Expressing the deep sense of gratitude to the family members of Dr. N. P. Pillai, especially Dr. Ram Nayar, Mrs. Indira C. P. N. Nair, Mrs. Chandrika Nair, and Mrs. Kalyani Oonnithan who contributed generously in constituting the Annual awards/ scholarships for various Institutions, where Dr. Pillai has either studied or worked. The financial source for the awards/scholarship will be from the Interest accrued on the Fixed Deposit of Rs. 4 lakh.  He also announced that another 1 lakh will be donated by them, for the Centennial celebrations to be conducted on 26^th July, 2012. Mr. T. P. Madhavan and Mr. T. P. Tirukode have extended their whole-hearted support in this regard.

The different awards and their details are:-

Rs. 5000/- for Govt. H.S.S. Eraniel, Kanyakumari district

Rs. 5000/- for Govt. S.M.V H.S.S., Thiruvananthapuram

Rs. 3000/- for best outgoing male and female B.Ed. student @ Rs. 1500/- -

                        Govt. College of Teacher Education, Thiruvananthapuram

Rs. 3500/- for M.Ed. (CSS) First and Second Rank Holders of Department of Education, University of Kerala

Rs. 5250/- for the Winners of the essay competition conducted for Teacher Educators, in connection with ‘National Teachers’ Day’

            Rs. 3000/- for best Research Publication in International Journals by Teacher Educators/ Research Scholars (Education) from the four Universities in Kerala

The awards for M.Ed. (CSS) First and Second Rank holders were given away by Sri. T. P. Madhavan, Reputed Cine Artiste and son of Dr. N. P. Pillai. The first rank holder, Smt. Jyothisree R. S.  received the award and as the second rank holder Smt Beena M., could not make it convenient, on her behalf, Smt Bindu D., Asst. Professor, Department of Education,  received the cash prize. 

In his address, Sri T. P. Madhavan communicated his tremendous joy and gratitude in having been invited for a function honoring his legendary father. He shared his experiences which helped the audience to acquaint with the lighter side of the great ‘teacher’ and serious person, Dr. N. P. Pillai. It was touching when he remembered at the verge of his feelings the last moments of his father on a September 5^th. He also paid homage to the other teachers who were once students of Dr. N.P. Pillai and were remembered in the function. 

            Dr. Mohan Mathew, Former Faculty, Department of Education, and Former Counsellor cum Correctional Educator, USA in his remembrance of Prof. Elizaba Zachria, said that she was a humane teacher who always shared motherly feelings with her students. He quoted a very touching anecdote as her student at the Department.

            Dr. V. Sukumaran Nair, Former Professor and Head of Political Sciences, M.S.M. College, Kayamkulam   described briefly his experiences with Dr. N. P. Pillai as his teacher. Dr. N.P.Pillai was a person who believed in his ‘doings’ (karma) He gave parental affection to his students. His problem-solving skills, planning and his way of approach - all should be taken as models for today’s teachers.

            Dr. C. P. Sreekantan Nair, Chairman, Council for Teacher Education, Kerala, and Former Principal, Farook Training College, Calicut remembered Mrs. A. Thankamma, a dignified personality and right hand of Dr. N. P. Pillai.

            Dr. Y. Shahul Hameed, Former Director, KELPALM, Government of Kerala shared his exquisite memories about Sri P. I. A. Kareem. He shared the memories of various others who were contemporaries of Sri. Kareem, and his interactions with them.

            Dr. Madhubala Jayachandran, Asst. Professor, (M.Ed Faculty), New B.Ed. College, Nellimoodu, Thiruvananthapuram, while remembering Dr. (Miss) Pushpitha John, observed her as the ‘heart’ of the Department while Dr. Vedamani Manuel was the HOD. She commented that Dr. Pushpitha was a very committed and an active teacher who always encouraged her students. She also said that the classes on Psychology by Dr. Pushpitha were all fond memories.

            Dr. T.V. Thulaseedharan, Professor, School of Pedagogical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, shared his fond memories of Dr. N. D. Joshi, the dignified personality with varied dimensions. As his own Ph.D. Guide, he remembers Dr. Joshi with love and affection.

            Dr. G. Saratchandra Raj, Former Principal, NSS Training College, Ottapalam, and Director, Vigyan International Foundation for Education, in his commemorative address of Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai, mentioned every teacher of the past, who worked as part of the Department had contributed his or her share for the name and fame of the Department, when Dr. N.P. Pillai provided the spiritual leadership. Dr. Sivadasan Pillai an Emeritus Professor, was very special as he has strived to give special dignity to the teacher educators of the state through his extraordinary organizational skill, giving shape to the CTE State chapter. Other areas he brightened with his unique talent were the Centre for Adult Continuing Education and Extension as founder Director, National Chancellor of International Association of Educators for World Peace (IAEWP), General Secretary of KANFED, and so on. He could leave a mark of his own in every field touched by him and at the same time fondly remembered as an inspiring teacher by each and every student who has associated with him.

            Dr. K.Y. Benedict, Associate Professor, Mar Theophilus Training College, Nalanchira, Thiruvananthapuram and General Secretary, Council for Teacher Education (CTE), Kerala, in his fond remembrance of Dr. N. Vedamani Manuel said that Dr. Manuel was a gift for the University of Kerala found out by Dr. N.P.Pillai. He was not a preaching Christian but a practising Christian. His ideas were perennial and so was his creativity. He could find novel ideas in every old theory and his works were more dedicated to the marginalized students. He was in search of the intellect of the downtrodden. Much of researches testify his ideas. His comment about today’s teachers as “persons who reap from outside the field” is noteworthy.

            Dr. Giby Geevarughese, Associate Professor, Mar Theophilus Training College, Nalanchira, Thiruvananthapuram shared her association with the inspiring personality Dr. M.S. Gomathy Ammal. She said that when she was a student at the Department, Dr. Vasantha Ramkumar was the spirit, Dr. Mercy Abraham was the Mother figure and Dr. Gomathy Ammal was the enthusiasm of the Department. Dr. Gomathy Ammal strived for success in all her way from an ordinary school teacher to the Professor of the Department of Education and Director of Academic Staff College. She was never afraid of obstacles and fought till she succeeded and her search for new avenues continued. She was a multifaceted personality dedicated to work.

      Dr. Asha J. V., Assistant Professor, Department of Education, University of Kerala (Programme Co-ordinator) as a prelude to her Vote of thanks, shared that for realizing the real gusto of the name and fame of Department one should move out of the state. The love and reverence we receive today is the concerted effort of a group of dedicated persons we revered today in the programme ‘Gurusmarama’. This programme has signifies the love band which binds every student who warmed the seats of the Department and it is the duty of the Department and its alumni to continue the bondage exhibiting its strength in new dimensions. She then officially proposed the vote of thanks. She proposed special thanks to Dr. V.M. Sasikumar, Dr. Theresa Susan A., Mr. Jayachandran, Mr. Laji Varghese, Mr. Harish Kumar, Mr. D. Pramod, and Smt. Ashitha, who took extra pains to make arrangements at the venue and helped in making things happen so naturally. She expressed her heart felt thanks to all who participated, the luminaries present, the organizations that joined hands together for making the programme so colourful, the teacher educators, faculty, researchers and students of the Department and one and all who directly or indirectly contributed to the smooth conduct of the programme GURUSMARANA. All parted after having a sumptuous Onam Sadya.