which were not really true. In spite of many differences and arguments on many issues, he will never allow any issue to reach personal levels. Therefore, not only I could fight for changes to be made in course curriculum, infrastructure, raise in pay of staff, teaching methods, monitoring of training courses but also could personally raise from the level of professor to Principal, then to Joint Director and finally as Director of the Institute all within a short span of 13 months. This amply proved that my fights with him to find resources to make needed development changes did not affect his mind to come in the way to promote me to responsible positions. Initially for first two years 2004-05 & 06 as Director of the institute, I had many tiffs with him at every stage of bringing changes that were badly needed as modifications to existing building to create additional academic & clinical space and facilities - in terms of infrastructure that are required as per University and RCI guidelines for the academic courses. Institute has very restricted space which was also not used judiciously as many functions as possible within available building. It was hard to sell the concept that rooms and separate enclosures are to be provided to activities and not the staff per say etc, thus large rooms occupied till then by individual staff had to be withdrawn and modified as smaller cubicles and enclosures as required by activities and functions. This had to be modified by calling several persons heart burns. Therefore, using available space and financial resources as judiciously as possible became the true concern. While working on requirements of clinics, Laboratory Hostel etc many a times the existing walls had to be broken dismantled etc, open covered sheds had to be converted into sound proof rooms. He was very much concerned on cost involved for the same & will strive very hard to know and in finding out by verifying with others whether what has been proposed by me was truly required or not. Therefore, he will call for and get advice on my proposals from many experts who were my seniors, contemporaries or at times could even be professional rivals. He always demanded to know the cost of work involved, sources of income, stability of building after changes etc. before approving a proposal. Even in spite of his initial reservations and doubts he ultimately allowed and found resources to bring in improvement in building when convinced. He allowed building afresh after complete demolition of existed structure and to build afresh an Auditory Verbal Therapy lab with 4 sound proof enclosures, 2 sound proof hearing and speech science labs with three inner sound proof lab enclosures in each, 20 therapy cubicles and remodeling of then existed 4 double room audiometric set ups with 3 more newly
built. All these were to be created by demolishing and remodeling existing walls & space etc. Every time a wall was demolished / broken he would say that I am beating on his heart & getting it broken and finally would agree & allow making the required changes. He was very much flexible and open to positive changes because of which institute continually improved. This was more true even while making changes in scale of pay, rules pertaining to leave, professional matters etc issues. He used to be skeptical at the beginning to go with the proposal and once he sees the academic/ clinical importance and benefits of proposed changes, he would encourage and also come forward to find finance & support it. When the proposal for construction of hostel was put up, I had move earth and heaven to convince him that unless own hostel facility is provided at the institute premises itself the existed courses may get closed for want of candidates to join them. He saw with me the importance of filling up of all seats becoming crucial in terms revenue generation as well as manpower generation. Most students to our courses even today are non local residents and girls. Thus with out our own hostels it was impossible to convince parents to make their daughters join the course. After he got convinced of the same, he not only agreed but found sponsors to take care of construction cost. Thus in over three years two hostel buildings were built. Similarly, convincing on need to conduct programmes like seminars, conferences, workshops with professional drawn from other Institutes as a part of academic pursuits resulting in projecting institute image and help in marketing services and courses at the institute was also a struggle won with lot of efforts. With his blessings now, the image of the Institute and academic standards rose with these changes for which his support was immense. He always appreciated employees when ever any successful event was carried out and made it a point to call for a post event meeting to thank all staff who worked hard to make the event successful. He was keen on image building of the Institute. He helped us bring fund through advertisement, through sponsorship & funding agencies by using his personal contacts. With his demise, we feel the orphaned and the absence of his professional and academic support and encouragements to which we were so much used to and had taken it for granted. I on behalf of all staff and students pray in god for his soul to rest in peace.
11 | ISH LINK | October 2013
By Dr. M.N. Nagaraja
Director (Technical) Dr. S. R. Chandrasekhar Institute of Speech and Hearing