CONTENTS For Access, Equity & Quality 6
CONVOCATION ADDRESS: Research, equity, quality and values are essential ingredients of higher education, said Prof. S.K. Joshi, the Chief Guest of the 21st Convocation
Beacons of Light 8
GOLD MEDALLISTS: These meritorious learners prove that ODL actually complements the conventional education system
ODL GUARDIANS...........10
REGIONAL ROUNDUP ....15
INTERACTIVE
STUDENTS’ CORNER.....15
EXHIBITION...................11
MILESTONES ................16
NEWS UPDATE..............12
GYAN DARSHAN............16
IGNOU OPEN LETTER is Printed by Printek Grafix, 148-D, Pocket-F, GTB Enclave, Delhi-110093 and Published by Ravi Mohan, Chief Public Relations Officer, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Maidan Garhi. New Delhi 110068. Ph: +91-11-29535924-32; +91-11-29535062-65 Fax: +91-11-29535933; E-mail: openletter@ignou.ac.in Managing Editor: Ravi Mohan Editor: Surojit Mahalanobis
FROMthe vice chancellor
onvocation Day is the most important and fulfilling day in the life of any university. It marks the culmination of a year of hard work and academic rigour for both students and faculty. At its 21st Convocation on March 15, IGNOU handed out Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates to 1,33,628 successful learners. As many as 6,000 of them received these at our main campus in New Delhi, while the rest received them at 43 Regional Centres where Convocations were held simultaneously. We also honoured 66 of our brightest learners with Gold Medals. The Convocation was even more significant this time as the University is in the midst of celebrating its Silver Jubilee Year. It has been a landmark year in other ways too. IGNOU is now the world’s largest university, with over 28 lakh students on its rolls. It is, in the words of UNESCO Director General Irena Brokova, “a living embodiment of the concept of building inclusive knowledge societies in a globalised world”. After successfully evolving unique models of democratisation of education, training and capacity-building in the Open and Distance Learning mode, we are now also offering oncampus programmes. IGNOU’s Community College Scheme, which aims to provide an alternative system of education to those who have missed out on mainstream education, is a great success, with 271 such colleges having become operational. This number is expected to rise to 500 by the end of this year. Other initiatives such as Gyan Deep, in collaboration with the Army, the Convergence Scheme, the establishment of the Regional Institutes of Vocational Education and Training (RIVET) in association with Srei Sahaj eVillage, and the pioneering programmes launched for the hearing disabled are a testimony to IGNOU’s commitment to reach out to the unreached, to take education to the doorsteps of learners and offer inclusive education without barriers. In this Decade of Innovation, IGNOU will strive to optimally utilise the educational and training infrastructure as well as the intellectual capabilities available in both the formal and informal sectors, be it private or public, to ensure we achieve our national mission of significantly increasing the Gross Enrollment Ratio. Our 21st Convocation was a great success, and I would like to thank the entire IGNOU community — faculty, administrative staff and students — for working tirelessly to ensure it was a grand event. We are also grateful to the 50,000-plus academics, experts and staff of scores of other institutions — both in India and abroad — who have contributed to making IGNOU the success it is. I thank Prof S.K. Joshi for accepting our invitation to be Chief Guest and delivering the Convocation Address. I congratulate all the successful learners across the country and abroad, and wish them well in their future vocations. I also welcome the over 6,36,000 new students who have enrolled with the University this year, and would like to assure them that IGNOU is, and will remain, committed to the nation’s goals for higher education: Expansion, Inclusion, Excellence.
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2 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | MARCH 15, 2010
V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai
21ST convocation
...and the quiet campus comes alive t reaches out to over 28 lakh students but is much removed from the hurly-burly of a conventional University campus. On March 15, though, IGNOU hosted about 6,000 students at its Maidan Garhi Headquarters in New Delhi. And, suddenly, the quiet campus came alive. Learners of all hues — middle-aged executives, proud degree-holding moms tending to their tiny tots, and young 20-somethings capturing the excitement on their cameras — rubbed shoulders as they queued up for degrees and diplomas, examined the stalls at the exhibition venue, and stood up to honour the academic procession at the Convocation Ceremony. The flowers in the manicured lawns were juxtaposed brilliantly against the sea of successful students donning black gowns. The mind-boggling numbers notwithstanding, the Convocation was testimony to great planning and execution — an air-conditioned pandal seating thousands, a timely start, a timely conclusion, next-to-nil microphone glitches, and a warm high tea party for the gold medallists. A great shutterbug moment.■
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IGNOU OPEN LETTER | MARCH 15, 2010 3
Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai inaugurating the University’s 21st Convocation in New Delhi. Sharing the dais with Prof Pillai are Pro Vice Chancellors, Directors of 21 Schools of Study, Divisions, Centres, and Chief Guest Prof S.K. Joshi.
Learners’ Day 21st Convocation 1,33,628 learners received their Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates and 66 meritorious students were honoured with gold medals at the 21st Convocation organised at the Delhi Headquarters and 43 Regional Centres
hat makes IGNOU a living testimony to social inclusion and democratisation of education? “The success story has been made possible owing to the University’s huge national and international outreach, real-life academic programmes, flexible entry qualifications, diverse learner groups, walk-in admissions, on-demand examinations and modular programmes based on a credit system, among others, to help over 28 lakh students enrolled with the University,” said Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai while inaugurating the University’s 21st Convocation. Addressing a large and diverse gathering at the University’s Convention Centre in New Delhi on March 15, Prof Pillai said that ensuring quality and student satisfaction are the hallmarks of
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4 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | MARCH 15, 2010
the IGNOU pedagogy today, which will further be honed to excellence. “The University has evolved into the world’s largest, most diverse and inclusive institution in its 25 years,” stressed the Vice Chancellor while welcoming the Chief Guest Prof S.K. Joshi, former Director General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR); Guests of Honour at 43 Regional Centres across the country; Pro-Vice Chancellors; Members of the Board of Management, Academic Council and the Planning Board; Directors of 21 Schools of Study; Gold Medal winners in their respective fields of study; recipients of degrees, diplomas and certificates; IGNOU faculty and mediapersons. “IGNOU will further work to implement the objectives of the National Skill Development Mission,” Prof Pillai said.
IN FIGURES 1,33,628 students received Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates from the University. 18,000 learners present at 43 Regional Centres. 6,000 learners received Degrees and Diplomas in person at the Delhi campus. 66 learners received Gold Medals for topping their respective fields of study.
“The University has evolved into the world’s largest, most diverse and inclusive institution in its Silver Jubilee year... It will further work to implement the objectives of the National Skill Development Mission.”
A section of the audience.
In response to the recent UN Convention on Disability, “IGNOU, along with the International Centre for Sign Language and Deaf Studies (iSLanDS) and Ishara Foundation, is planning to develop a vision for a college for deaf, where Indian and international deaf students could study a range of undergraduate and post-graduate courses in sign language,” he added. Prof Pillai also announced new programmes in Mental Retardation, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impairment as well as an M.Ed. in Special Education and M.Sc. in Counselling and Family Therapy. IGNOU has already announced a B.A. in Applied Sign Linguistics, to begin from the July 2010 academic session. Nearly 24,000 students received Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates in person during the Convocation ceremony, telecast live on Gyan Darshan TV channel and broadcast by over 30 Gyan Vani radio channels. Forty-three Regional Centres joined the ceremony via videoconferencing. Around 6,000 learners were present at the Delhi campus and 18,000 learners at 43 Regional Centres to receive their Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates. The golden moment came when 66 learners were honoured with Gold Medals. Apart from this, six gold medals were awarded in special categories like Best Research Paper, Best Service Centre, Best Overseas Partner Institution, etc.; two cash awards of Rs 10,000 each (Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia, or CEMCA, and the
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam award); Prof. Ram Reddy Memorial Gold Medal award and Prof. Grover Award (for the best among the physically-handicapped meritorious students), were presented by Prof Joshi. This year, 1,33,628 students received Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates. “Today, IGNOU has 25 lakh students, a national network of 61 Regional Centres, over 3,000 Learner Support Centres and a presence in 36 countries. Over 636,000 students have enrolled with IGNOU (this academic year) — a record for the University,” Prof Pillai declared. The Gold Medal for Master’s Degree in English went, for the fourth consecutive year, to the Jedda-based Educational Consultant and Guidance Services Centre (ECGS), a Partner Institution of IGNOU. Its learner, Shahmida Mohammed, received the award. ECGS, run by Riaz Mulla, also received the Best Overseas Partner Institution award. Dhundup Dolma from Nepal earned two Gold Medals — one for the best student in Masters’ of Sociology and the Prof Ram Reddy Memorial award. Gagan Gurung, also from Nepal, received the Gold Medal for Master’s in Rural Development programme. Anjali Kumari Singh received the CEMCA cash award for the Best Female Student in any Degree Programme pertaining to technology while the Abdul Kalam award for the Gold Medallist in Bachelors’ of Social Work went to Vijayan M. Naresh Chand, B.A. (Ord.) received the Prof. Grover cash award for the best student among the differently-abled. For Dolma, it was a dream come true. “From working in a restaurant to sharing the dais with top-notch Indian academics was an enriching experience. My efforts have paid off and now I am looking forward to pursuing a Ph.D. in Sociology from IGNOU.” Gurung echoed her views. “The course material was extensive in nature. The gold medal is a result of my hard work and I thank the University for helping me reach this far.” The University also organised an exhibition representing all 21 Schools of Study. The highlights of the exhibition were stalls from various NGOs/partner institutions. IGNOU’s Tihar Jail Study Centre’s stall displayed products made by the prisoners, attracting many buyers. To ensure hassle-free commuting, the University had arranged for mini buses to carry thousands of students and visitors from pick-up points in the city. The gold medallists were provided lunch and snacks during the Convocation, and that ended with a group photo with Vice Chancellor Prof Pillai.■
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | MARCH 15, 2010 5
Convocation Address Even as IGNOU takes education to the masses, the country’s premier Open and Distance Learning University should never lose sight of quality, says Chief Guest Prof S.K. Joshi in his address
For access, equity he most important challenge before the IGNOU faculty is that society accepts and recognises the degrees awarded by this University to be of same value and standard as from a good conventional university,” Prof Shri Krishna Joshi, former Director General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), said during his Convocation Address at the gala Convocation event on March 15. In a speech that highlighted the contribution that distance eduation, and IGNOU in particular, was making to the higher education requirements of the country, Prof Joshi made it a point to mention the need to maintain quality standards. “It is a common perception in society that those who have pursued open distance learning are much inferior in quality of training compared to those who have studied at conventional universities. This puts a heavy responsibility on IGNOU to develop quality benchmarks for Open and Distance Learning (ODL). It may be desirable if the quality assessment of ODL is done by a reputed external agency,” the scientist
T “IGNOU has shown that ODL can cater to groups from rural and tribal areas. The entry of these marginalised groups into the mainstream will not only help our economic growth but also make this growth inclusive.”
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said. He further suggested that IGNOU should open a centre dedicated to check the quality of distance learning. A Padma Bhushan awardee, Prof Joshi described in great detail the impact of IGNOU on higher education, and its larger implications for the growth of the country. While Andhra Pradesh Open University was the first Open University in the country, it was IGNOU, started in 1985 with 4,000 students, that had laid the strong foundations of ODL in India, he said. Today, the University, with over 25 lakh students, accounted for 15 percent of enrollments in higher education in the country, Prof Joshi pointed out. Talking about IGNOU’s contribution to access to education, he said, at the moment, only 13 percent of the population in the 18-23 age group was enrolled in higher education, as against 83 percent in the United States. For India to advance economically, this figure needed to go up to 20 percent, he said, adding that while more conventional universities were definitely desirable in this scenario, ODL could play a complementary role. Also, while setting
Prof S.K. Joshi delivering the Convocation Address at IGNOU’s Convention Centre on March 15.
up conventional universities would be costly, and would also entail a long gestation period, “ODL does not require huge physical infrastructure and the students do not have to commute to the campus. Learners are allowed to access education at their own place, at their own level and at their own pace,” he stressed.
Impressive Growth 137169 133628
140000 140000
120000
111699 101346
120000
100000 100000
78074
80000 80000
60000 60000
62369 53298
81931 75174 74603 71298
40000 40000 20000 20000
0
0
Certificates: 42347
Diplomas: 36700
Ph.Ds: 5
11
Twentieth (2009)
10
12
Twenty-First (2010)
9
Eighteenth (2007)
8
Nineteenth (2008)
7
Seventeenth (2006)
6
Fifteenth (2004)
5
Sixteenth (2005)
4
Fourteenth (2003)
Eleventh (2000)
3
Thirteenth (2002)
2
Eleventh (2000)
1
Masters’: 17608
Bachelors’: 36968
1,33,628 learners got Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates.
In the same vein, he touched upon the equity factor. “Higher education in our country suffers from a variety of inequalities. There are inequalities between social groups, inequalities based on gender, inequalities between urban and rural groups. The representation of SCs, STs and OBCs in higher education is less than their proportion in population.” “ODL takes higher education to the less privileged sections of society at a reasonable cost. IGNOU’s experience has shown that ODL can cater to groups from rural and tribal areas, SC/ST students, minorities, women, jail inmates and people in low-literacy areas. The entry of these marginalised groups into the workforce of our country will not only help our economic growth, but also make this growth inclusive,” he said. There were some areas of concern he touched upon, and urged IGNOU to pay heed to these. Skilling of young India was the first pressing need that he discussed. Citing data that is now commonly examined and discussed in almost every development discourse — that the country has 54 crore people below 21 years of age and that by 2020 India will have a surplus of 4.5 crore workers, as against a deficit of 4 crore workers in developed countries — he said that the challenge was to identify skills which would make our young population employable. “This presents a challenge for IGNOU also. The University has to find out which skill-sets would prepare students for jobs and then devise modules of courses which will train them for those skills properly.” He listed the programmes that the University had already started to this effect — PG Diploma courses in intellectual property rights, clinical cardiology, ophthalmology, hospitality, disaster management, nautical sciences, airport infrastructural and food processing, among others. Environmental awareness was another thrust area that Prof Joshi spoke about. He said, “We see here an opportunity for IGNOU, with its global presence, to consider a post-graduate course in sustainability science. Such a course would need multidisciplinary cooperation, because sustainability science incorporates concepts and developments from both natural sciences, engineering and health sciences.” Congratulating the gold medallists, Prof Joshi reminded them of the responsibility that lay ahead. “Your success will convey to them (the countrymen) that ODL has succeeded in equipping you to face the future.”■
66 GEMS GOLD MEDALLISTS Saira Banu MAH, Bangalore Gagan Gurung, MARD, International, Nepal M Sai Ram, MBADOM, Bhubaneswar Aijaz Ahmad Shalla, MPBANK, Srinagar Anjali Kumari Singh, MCA, Patna Homera Ansari, MCOM, Lucknow Shomnath Dutta, MEC, Siliguri Shahmida Mohammed, MEG, International, Jeddah K Arunasri MHA, Delhi-1 Archana Gupta, MHD, Lucknow Meera K, MPA, Chennai Antony George Karikunnel, MPS, Cochin Dhundup Dolma, MSO, International, Nepal Ms Shikha Gupta, MTM, Delhi-2 Sivakumar V. K., BA, Cochin Afrin Khatoon, BCA, Ranchi Jyoti Saini, BCOM, Khanna (Punjab) Pasupuleti Sujatha, BED, Hyderabad Kesarkar Sonali Deepak, BHM, Delhi-1 Prasanta Kumar Meher, BLS, Shillong Nisha, BSC, Delhi-1 Anu Priya Bali, BSCN, Delhi-1 Vijayan M., BSW, Cochin Pawan Kumar, BTCM, Delhi-1 Syed Sadiq Hasan Abidi, BTS, Pune Ranjith Hari, PGDAPP, Bangalore Nagalakshmi V.S., PGDCA, Chennai Dr. Mansi Kaushik, PGDCC, Delhi-2 Dr. Manoj Kumar Dash, PGDDE, Delhi-1 Sameer Babu M., PGDDE, Cochin Raina R. Nair, PGDDM, Cochin Deepali Ramkrishna Yeole, PGDDM, Pune Sonal, PGDESD, Patna Sharmistha Niranjan Shaha, PGDFM, Pune Aslam Anvarali Lalani, PGDGM, Hyderabad Dr. Pallavi Panchu, PGDHHM, Bangalore Ruchi Adhikari, PGDHRM, Ahmedabad Megha Kawatra, PGDIBO, Delhi-2 Rahul Suresh More, PGDIM, Pune Manish Kumar Choudhary, PGDIM, Aligarh Vikas Kumar, PGDIM, Aligarh Ankita, PGDIPR, Delhi-1 Seema, PGDLAN, Delhi-1 R Solai Raj, PGDM (ISHE), Bhopal Nikita Jain, PGDMM, Bhopal Jigneshkumar Vinubhai Patel, PGDOM, Ahmedabad Dilip Singh Panwar, PGDRD, Delhi-2 Sanjeeda Parveen, PGDRP, Patna Priya Tyagi, PGDSLM, Ahmedabad Brij Nandan, PGDT, Delhi-2 Shashi Bhushan Nayak, PGJMC, Bhubaneswar Rajakumaran M, ADCIM, Chennai Subhranil Saha, DAFE, Kolkata Shipra Gupta, DCE, Delhi-2 Rajnarayanan, DCIM, Bangalore Santosh Kumar Singh, DCLE, Dehradun Venkateswarlu Athili, DDT, Hyderabad Rajalakshmi, DECE, Chennai Dinesh Singh, DEME, Bangalore S. Raghavan, DIM, Bangalore Surjit, DIR, Delhi-1 Vijayanaik C, DNA, Bangalore Phairembam Roshni Devi, DNHE, Dehradun Prabin Kumar Pradhan, DPE, Ranchi Harish Chander, DTS, Delhi-2 Neha Ashokkumar Dubey, DVAPFV, Ahmedabad
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | MARCH 15, 2010 7
21ST CONVOCATION
BEACONS OF LIGHT These meritorious learners prove that ODL is not only an alternative to the conventional education system, but also actually complements it n
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Dhundup Dolma of Nepal, with work experience in a restaurant and a PG Diploma in Human Resource Management, has not only won the Gold Medal for Sociology but also the Prof Ram Reddy Memorial Gold Medal for the highest marks in any Master’s Degree Programme in Social Sciences. Vijayan M. of Kochi was pursuing chemistry but dropped out in the final year, to take up health services. This 42-year-old health inspector received the Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam award for his Bachelor’s in Social Work. Shahmida Mohammed, a graduate in Physics from Kerala, a mother of a one-year-old daughter, and teaching kindergarten students at Delhi Public School (DPS) in Jeddah, won a Gold Medal for M.A. in English Programme.
ounds strange? Well, Open and Distance Learning (ODL) has broken umpteen barriers and notions about who should be studying what, when, and till which level. Old limitations like linking education to age, geographical proximity and availability of student for brick-and-mortar classes Monday to Friday are passé, and the information-communication technology bonanza from IGNOU is quenching the thirst for knowledge, excellence and career progression of thousands of learners in India, as well as abroad. And in the process, producing some surprise winners. Shahmida Mohammed praises the study material, as well as the teaching quality. “The classes that we had with Savita Rahman (earlier topper from Jeddah and now a brand ambassador for IGNOU, Saudi Arabia) were really helpful,” she adds. Dhundup found the course quite exhaustive and ideal for civil services preparation — her immediate target. Gagan Gurung of Nepal, associated with Save the Children, a non-profit organisation, and who topped the Master of Art programme in Rural Development, finds the University’s strict evaluation criteria impressive. Homera Ansari, an M.Com. topper from Varanasi and a lecturer in computer applications, feels that the self-study regime was at the core of her success. When Dinesh Singh, an Armyman working with the Engineers Corps, marched to the podium to receive his medal for topping the Diploma in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, there was instantaneous applause from the audience. “Life changes after such a course,” he says. Santosh Kumar Singh, a fellow Armyman who won the Gold Medal in Diploma in Civil Engineering, has the same feeling. How will life change after the course? Besides better promotion prospects, their way of working will change, the duo reply. Mohammed is keen to do a Ph.D. Dhundup and Ansari plan to take up doctoral studies. For Aijaz Ahmad Shalla of Srinagar, who won a Gold Medal for MBA in Banking (Finance), IGNOU happened just at the right time. They, and several others, are the University’s true beacons of light.■
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FEBRUARY 15,15, 2010 2010 8 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | MARCH 12
HALL OF FAME (From left) Dhundup Dolma from Nepal receiving Prof Ram Reddy Memorial Gold Medal award for highest marks in any Master’s Degree Programme in Social Sciences; Vijayan M. from Kochi receiving the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam cash award for the Best Student in Bachelor’s in Social Work Programme; and Anjali Kumari Singh, receiving the CEMCA cash award for the Best Female Student in any Degree Programme Pertaining to Technology.
TALENT ABROAD (From left) Gagan Gurung from Nepal receiving the Gold Medal for topping the Master of Art Programme in Rural Development.; Shahmida Mohammed from Jeddah received a Gold Medal for being the Best Student in M.A. in English Programme; and Dolma from Nepal also received a Gold Medal for topping the Master’s in Sociology.
AT THE FRONTLINES (From Left) Armyman Dinesh Singh receiving a Gold Medal for topping the Diploma in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Programme and fellow Armyman Santosh Kumar Singh receiving a Gold Medal for the Diploma in Civil Engineering. At right is Aijaz Ahmad Shalla of Srinagar, who won a Gold Medal for MBA in Banking (Finance).
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | MARCH 15, 2010 9
21ST CONVOCATION
ODL Guardians The battery of IGNOU academics across the country has one thing in common: an inclusive vision of providing each and every learner the best available ODL education
Dr Rakhi Sharma (left), Dr Rekha Sharma Sen (third from left) and a team member receive Gold Medals for Experimentation in Open and Distance Learning.
Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai felicitates Chief Guest Prof S.K. Joshi.
Riaz Mulla (left) of Educational Consultant and Guidance Services, Jeddah, receives the award for Best Overseas Partner Institution.
From left, Dr Pema E. Samdup of the School of Humanties and Dr Rekha Sharma Sen, Reader, School of Continuing Education (Centre) receive the Gold Medals for Best Research Paper.
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Prof S.K. Joshi presents the Best Regional Centre award to Dr. Vardhini Bhattacharjee, Regional Director, Guwahati.
Dr. S.K. Tripathy, Regional Director, Bhubaneswar, receiving the award for Best Regional Centre in the plains.
INTERACTIVE EXHIBITION ou might not get to meet them on a regular basis, but the Directors of various schools of IGNOU were present at the stalls of their schools on March 15, answering students’ queries about career progression. It was not just about handing over of information brochures, but actually a career counselling opportunity for those who cared to walk in. What better opportunity to interact with the whole faculty of a school, seated across the table, answering your questions! Each school — be it Journalism and Media Studies, Gender Studies or Translation Studies — displayed its courses, and ensured full faculty presence. Perhaps taking a clue from international trends, there were floral arrangements, and candies too. And yes, who can forget the rich display of pottery items by the School of Engineering and Technology! After all, there’s technology in every aspect of life! Not just the schools, but some Regional Centres too participated, and were there to field questions. The various divisions and centres were also present in full force. Also on display were products made by students at various centres, and under special initiatives. The Northeastern centre had on display juteand cane-based projects, including footwear, and one counter displayed handicrafts work produced by inmates of Tihar jail.
Y Dr. B.P.R. Narasimharao, Deputy Director, Centre for Corporate Education, Training & Consultancy, receiving the Gold Medal for Best Research Paper.
IGNOU OPEN LETTER | MARCH 15, 2010 11
WOMEN’Sday
When tribal art meets modernism thnic art from the tribal heartland of the country is trying to strike a chord between modernism and tradition. Similarly, it is experimenting with contemporary issues to adapt to a growing market and changing patron bases. “The process is slow but artists are allowing contemporary issues like feminism, eco-awareness, cultural invasion and urbanism to creep into their work because of the growing demand and new socio-economic dynamics,” said Dr. Vimal Thorat, Reader, Comparative Literature (with special reference to Dalit Writing in Hindi and Marathi). Thorat was the convener of a workshop-cum-exhibition titled ‘Art of the Marginalised Communities: Bhils and Gonds’, on the IGNOU campus from February 15 to 17. Bhuri Bai identifies herself with Titki Mata, a tribal forest deity, who protects the forests of Jhabua district in Madhya Pradesh. The petite Bhil artist from PitolMotabawri village is known for her drawings of the flora and fauna of the region. “I associate myself with the deity because women are the protectors of nature. I draw nature, social mores and Bhil gods and goddesses in the centuriesold Bhil style which is steeped in ethnic animism and spirituality,” says the woman with blue tattoos adorning her face. “I was the first tribal artist to paint
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with a brush on canvas and paper with water, oil and acrylic colours. But I cannot let go of ethnic traditions,” Bai says. She switched to paper from the mud walls of her tribal home 25 years ago at Bharat Bhavan in Bhopal under the tutelage of Jagdish Swaminathan, who set up the art centre Roopanker, in Bharat Bhavan, in 1981. Nandkusia Shyam, a Gond artist from Patangarh village along the Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh, A work of art by Bhuri Bai from Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh. also strikes a balance between traditional Gond “Artistes art and contemporary issues. “I love to paint animals in the are allowing traditional Gond style, but my art often contemporary speaks of changing tribal life,” says issues like Shyam, a resident artist at Bharat Bhavan in Bhopal. The Gond community, which feminism, lives in close proximity to nature, paints cultural its gods, goddesses, forests, animals and invasion and ways of life as a means of creative urbanism expression and documentation. Tribal art is emerging from years of to creep into their work insulation, felt the reticent artist. “It has because of new socioa market abroad and fetches good prices. economic dynamics.” But the government must encourage tribal — Prof. Vimal Thorat, Convener artists,” he adds.■
Computer literacy for 10 crore rural youth ith an aim to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban India, IGNOU and Srei Sahaj e-Village Limited, a subsidiary of Srei Infrastructure Finance Ltd., have offered five programmes. These programmes, launched by Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology A. Raja at the University’s campus on February 22, will provide skill-development vocational courses at an affordable cost to nearly 10 crore rural youth. “An estimated 10 crore rural youth stand to benefit through the Sahaj-IGNOU partnership,” Vice Chancellor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai said. Union Communication Minister A. Raja. By the end of 2010, the varsity promised to
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make this on-line skill education available at 27,255 common service centres, already existing in the states of Assam, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Prof Pillai said: “This is the first time in the country that online education through distance mode will reach the remotest corners of the country, empowering the rural poor. The IGNOU-Sahaj partnership will make advanced computer education available to the villagers at their doorsteps.” The courses are Diploma in Advanced Computers, Certificate Programme in HTML, Certificate Programme in Java Script, Certificate Programme in SQL and Certificate Programme in Flash.
NEWSupdates
‘Translations work as a bridge’ he absence of organised translation activity in literature and academia has led to cultural and intellectual distancing in Indian society, believes eminent historian Mushirul Hasan. “This distancing has led to greater regionalisation and, in some cases, appropriation of languages. The unity in diversity is lost. On a personal note, it has led to a gulf between my students and me,” Hasan, a former Jamia Millia Islamia University Vice Chancellor, said on March 6. The academic, who has authored more than a dozen books and 200 papers, was speaking at the inaugural session of a two-day National Seminar on Translation and Inter-Cultural Communication, organised by IGNOU’s School of Translation Studies and Training at the Lalit Kala Akademi in the Capital. “While adopting a standard two- and three-language formula in eduction, literature and society, we have not paid attention to building the country across cultural, linguistic and intellectual divides. We need translations to connect to the
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Historian Mushirul Hasan at the National Seminar on Translation in New Delhi.
world and to our own society,” Hasan said. “We have had a lot of tokenism — but show me someone who is seriously trying to popularise works in languages. There is a saying in Islam — ‘My beloved’s language is Turkish, but I don’t understand
Turkish’,” Hasan said, stressing the need for quality translation. Vice Chancellor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai said the University’s translation school was committed to “inter-language” translation. It offers Post-Graduate Diplomas in Inter-languages and has an M.A. Programme in Translation Studies. “Translation is important in transmitting culture from one generation to another — and from different cultures and language. A language is enriched by its interaction with other languages and cultures. Moreover, we live in a global village,” Prof Pillai said. Former director of the Sahitya Akademi and Nehru Centre in London, Indranath Choudhury, said credence should be given to different languages spoken across the country. “Centrality is a dangerous thing for a country like India because it tends to homogenise culture which in India is extremely diverse. Diversity is the essence of our life. Hence, I would like to describe English and Hindi as filter languages which can be used for better communication,” Choudhury added.■
NEWSscan Dynamics of Rural Labour Dialysis Medicine course
DEC cautions universities
book titled ‘Dynamics of Rural Labour’ by Dr. Babu P. Remesh, Reader, School of Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Studies, was published recently by Concept Dr Babu P. Ramesh Publishing Company, with his book. New Delhi. The book makes a critical study of the dynamics of the rural labour market in Kerala through a case study of tappers in the small holding sector of natural rubber plantations.
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GNOU will introduce a Post-doctoral Certificate Programme in Dialysis Medicine from the July 2010 session. “The postdoctoral course is a year-long programme and is being offered Pro-VC Dr. D.K. through the Open and Chaudhary. Distance Learning mode. It is expected to fulfill the need of trained health manpower in the field of dialysis at the district level,” said Pro-Vice Chancellor D.K. Chaudhary.
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ice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, also the Chairman of Distance Education Council (DEC), has cautioned open universities and institutions from giving misleading advertisements in newspapers, stating that their programmes must be recognised by the DEC. It is mandatory for all Institutions, Centres and Directorates offering programmes through the distance education mode to get their Degrees, Diplomas and Certificate programmes approved by the DEC. The institutions violating these norms would be liable to be de-recognised by the DEC, he added.
International Centre for Academics (ICA), the first IGNOU Centre in Nepal, produced two Gold Medallists this year — Dhundup Dolma (MSO) and Gagan Gurung (MARD). IGNOU OPEN LETTER | MARCH 15, 2010 13
NEWSupdates
ICDL proposes Digital Library Network n an effort to make learning a seamless process, library scientists from universities and repositories across the globe have proposed the launch of Digital Library Networking — an initiative that will ensure free access to digitised information and knowledge. The decision came at the Third International Conference of Digital Libraries 2010 (ICDL 2010), jointly convened by IGNOU and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), which was attended by over 700 delegates, including heads of the top 65 libraries of the world. An expert committee chaired by Dr Kalpana Dasgupta, chief of the Central Secretariat Library of India, urged participating governments to work fast to enact a Digital Library Act and develop a Digital Library Policy in each country. The committee urged member-states to set up panels to discuss issues involving Digital Library Networking. Among other initiatives, it sought open access to all government publications, global access to information under common licensing, and stronger ICT infrastructure. The committee said digital libraries must be created through intergovernmental and private-public partnership to ensure open, distance and technology-enabled e-learning. Such
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ICDL 2010 Recommendations n Enact a Digital Library Act, as recommended in ICDL 2006 n Evolve a National Digital Library Policy, as recommended in ICDL 2006 n Build national capacity, capability through public-private partnership n Harness digital library technologies for e-learning and ODL From left, Jens Thorhauge, Director General, Danish Agency for Libraries and Media, Denmark; Pro-Vice Chancellor Parvin Sinclair and Dr Kalpana Dasgupta, Chief of Central Secretariat Library of India, at the ICDL 2010 in New Delhi.
libraries also help in the development of a national economy and a knowledge-based society, as also reach out to unreached students through seamless, borderless and open modes. Once a new Act is in place and a national policy evolved, digital libraries will enable students in any part of the world to access information in the specified repository in a different country without any obstacle or regulatory control, fulfilling the long-felt demand for the democratisation of education.
The Plenary Session on ‘Digital Library Policy and Standards’ was chaired by IGNOU Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Parvin Sinclair. The Valedictory Address was made by Jawahar Sarkar, Secretary, Ministry of Culture. Special addresses were made by Armoogum Parssuramen, Director, UNESCO, and Prof Arcot Rajasekar of the University of North Carolina. The vote of thanks were given by Sudhir K. Arora, chief librarian at IGNOU, and Debal C. Kar of TERI.■
‘Let IGNOU begin research on police reforms’ he country has not witnessed any police reforms in the past 60 years and there is a dearth of research on policing in the country. The key here is to open the gates of knowledge for a vast pool of policemen so that they can serve the community better, said Magsaysay Award winner and former Delhi “Supercop” Dr Kiran Bedi. Urging IGNOU to play a proactive role in the field of police research, Dr Bedi, former Deputy Commissioner of Delhi Police and a veteran humanist, said: “Who researches policing, does the research become public? No data is available on the police, states have no resources and no budget to undertake this type of research. IGNOU can play a major role in the field of police research.”
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Dr Kiran Bedi.
Dr Bedi was delivering the third Silver Jubilee Lecture, titled ‘Welfare, Preventive Policing and Helping the Helpless,’ at the Convention Centre on February 25. It was the high-profile Tihar Jail in New
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Delhi where the first IGNOU centre for jail inmates was opened in July 1994, owing to the efforts of then Inspector-General (Prisons) Bedi. Today, the University has given the project a major impetus by declaring that the education it offers to jail inmates will, henceforth, be free. Dr Bedi urged IGNOU to also ensure free and compulsory computer education to the constables who constitute 75 percent of the country’s police workforce. She advocated the inclusion of two programmes on Domestic Violence and Drug Abuse Treatment in the University’s scheme of things for the future. IGNOU will soon start HR training for police force to strengthen their human resource capabilities and professional knowledge, said Pro-VC Latha Pillai.■
REGIONALroundup
STUDENTS’corner
MSW for Nagaland learners GNOU is setting up the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education and Development (MGIDE) in Nagaland where it will offer an on-campus Master’s Degree in Social Work, beginning July this year. The MGIDE is being set up in collaboration with Nagaland Gandhi Ashram (NGA) in Chuchuyimlang, Nagaland. The campus is coming up on 20 acres of land donated by the Village Council of Chuchuyimlang. The proposed campus will consist of the School of Social Work, School of Agricultural Development, School of Teacher’s Training, Community College, Cultural Resource and Training Centre, and Naga Arts and Crafts and Study Centre with a Gandhi museum. “A Face-to-Face post-graduate programme, the MSW is expected to be launched from the July 2010 session,"
Empowered, enlightened!
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The Nagaland Gandhi Ashram building.
said Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai. The programme envisages an interdisciplinary approach to education and development. It will include ICT-enabled learning and full- fledged library and regular faculty support from IGNOU’s Educational Development of the North East Region Unit (EDNERU).■
Workshop on trauma management brief outline of various GNOU and Academy of initiatives undertaken by Trauma (Guwahati) the Regional Centre to organised a two-day empower youth and workshop on ‘Trauma women in the region. Management in Dr D.S. Bhattacharyya, Disasters’ at A.C. Dutta OSD, Institute for auditorium, Cotton Professional College, Guwahati, on Competency December 11-12. The workshop in progress. Advancement of The workshop was Teachers (IIPCAT), was the Guest of inaugurated by Dr Indra Kumar Honour. Referring to the problems of Bhattacharyya, Principal, Cotton College. He expressed the need to make the younger insurgency in North-East, he said Management of Trauma in Post-disaster generation aware of the natural and manSituations is a relevant programme which made disasters and their consequences in can help reduce causalities. Dr Utpal terms of life and property losses. Kumar Tamuli, Secretary, Academy of Dr Vardhini Bhattacharjee, Regional Director, delivered the welcome address at Trauma, said the Academy is propagating the basic life-support skills to tackle the the event attended by 98 participants injured at the site of the disaster.■ from various institutions. She presented a
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y school of thought, it’s beyond schools. My universe, it’s beyond universities. My world, it’s everywhere. I study, I am. I am an IGNOU student. Newton, I made you OBSERVE gravity. Faraday, I made you DISCOVER electricity. Einstein, I made you IMAGINE relativity. Darwin, I made you EXPLORE diversity. They all are my avatars. I study, I am. I am an IGNOU student. Books, you feed my THOUGHTS. Exams, you sharpen my SKILLS. Society, you foster my HOPES. Nature, you nurture my NATURE. They all are my friends. I study, I am. I am an IGNOU student. Arjuna, your life redefines SUCCESS. Ekalavya, your life redefines LIMITS. Bapu, your life redefines SIMPLICITY. Lincoln, your life redefines FAILURE. They all are my role models. I study, I am. I am an IGNOU student. — By Vinod Kaliyath, a learner who has earned a Certificate in the Teaching of English (CTE), B.A.(English), a Diploma in Creative Writing in English (DCE) and a Certificate in Guidance from IGNOU
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama will deliver the third annual Mother Teresa Memorial Lecture titled ‘Mother and Compassion’ at the IGNOU Convention Centre on April 16.
‘People’s University’ t Col Vias Gulati successfully completed his MBA (HR) from IGNOU. For him, “This is the only distance learning university which has not diluted its standards and values in a market-driven higher education scenario.” “I appreciate the UniLt Col Vias versity’s vision of ‘The Gulati. People’s University’ in an environment where most of the universities are beyond the reach of a common man,” adds Lt Col Gulati.
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ONcampus Prof elumalai invited to advise Agriculture ministry rofessor K. Elumalai of the School of Law (SOL) was in the team of exper ts recently invited by the Agriculture Prof K. Elumalai Ministr y to discuss the proposed amendments to Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act 2002. Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar presided over the meeting held at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, recently. Noted economist Dr Y.K. Alagh was also present at the meeting. Prof. Elumalai, who has been selected to lead the UNDP Action Group Forum on ‘Strengthening Cooperative Acts for Financial Inclusion and Micro-finance,’ made valuable suggestions for bringing qualitative changes in the Cooperative Societies Act 2002 and submitted his views and suggestions in writing to the Ministr y. The Ministr y informed Prof Elumalai that his ser vices may be fur ther availed at the stage of drafting the Bill.■
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travel concession for students n-campus students will get concessional fares for train travel anywhere in the country, Vice Chancellor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai announced on February 24. “The Railway Board has agreed to give travel concession with immediate effect to students enrolled in Face-to-Face programmes and will place them on par with their counterparts of other central universities,” said Prof Pillai. The move will positively impact enrollment in the next admission session.
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Forthcoming events n march 23: induction of B.ed. learners, Udaipur. n march 22-27: national Workshop on ‘selfLearning materials Development: Alternative models of course Development in the changing scenario of oDL’. At convention centre. n march 28: Learners’ conference of north Zone. venue: convention centre. topic: ‘consolidation of Learner support services’. n march 28: induction of B.ed. learners in Jaisalmer, rajasthan. n march 29: silver Jubilee Lecture by Prof namvar singh. At convention centre. 3 p.m. n march 22-April 16: refresher Programme on Distance education at inter-University consortium, main campus. n April 7: silver Jubilee Lecture by Law minister veerappa moily. At convention centre. 3 p.m.
HIGHLIGHTS FRIDAY March 19 08:00: NITTTR: 16mm motion film projector 16:00: IGNOU-SOCIS: BIT/ADIT -106 VE : Information System Security 20:00: UGC/CEC: PSYCHOLOGY: Counseling Interview Module – I, Hypnotherapy – 1, Understanding Depression 16:00: Introduction to Drug Chemistry
SUNDAY March 21 05:30: UGC/CEC: Music, Arts & Culture: Bagh Cloth Printing: A Living Legend 09:30: UGC/CEC: Career Watch: Disha – Airlines Ground Staff, Career Update – Web Technology 21:00: PHE-06, Applications of the First Law of Thermodynamics
TUESDAY March 23 12:00: Bhasha Mandakini (Sanskrit): Sanskrit Language Teaching-82, Nyaya 18:30: NIOS: 1. Profit & Loss 2. Banking System (Hindi) 21:00: IGNOU-SOCE: The Process involved in Palliative Care for the HIV/AIDS Infected 21:30: IGNOU: Practical Music - Part-1
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[ THURSDAY March 25 08:00: NITTTR: CHD-228: Melody of rhythm 09:30: UGC/CEC: Language/Literature: Panineeya Astadhyayeeki Adhyyan – VI, Chitra Kavita
MILESTONES Borderless education 8th convocation march, 1997: ignoU organises its 8th convocation at its new Delhi campus and 16 regional centres via teleconferencing. Prof madhu Dandavate, vice chairman, University grants commission (Ugc), is the chief guest. nearly 16,150 learners are awarded certificates, Diplomas and Degrees in various programmes while 22 learners receive gold medals for their academic achievements.
ignoU enters seychelles may, 1997: An agreement for a Distance education Project in the island nation of seychelles, in collaboration with the rajiv gandhi Foundation, is signed.
second g. ram reddy memorial Lecture July, 1997: Dr Wichit srisa-an, founding rector of suranaree University of technology, thailand, delivers the second g. ram reddy memorial Lecture titled ‘making Distance education Borderless’. the lecture was aired live via DD-International.
international workshop for professionals october, 1997: A three-day global workshop on ‘training of Professionals through Distance education: issues of technology and networking’ is organised at ignoU under the auspices of the south Asia Forum for Distance education for Development. senior distance educators from six south Asian nations participate.
Not to be
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atch a special programme on Women Empowerment at 21.00 p.m. on Wednesday (March 31). The passage of the historic Women’s Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of Parliament, is an inspirational trendsetter for women’s empowerment.
SATURDAY March 28 08:30: IGNOU-SOCE: Emergence of Professional Social Work 11:00: UGC/CEC: Career Watch: Conference Organizers: Young Entrepreneurs, Modelling as a Career
WEDNESDAY March 31 09:30: CEC/UGC: Botany/Agriculture: Role of Algae in Bio-prospecting — II Mushrooms 22:30: Growth And Development of Mutual Funds in India