“Right to information has to be exercised to transform India from a representative democracy to a participatory democracy, whereby transparency and accountability of the government can be ensured”, said Prof. Sunil Behera, Chairperson, Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, Berhampur University, speaking as the Guest of Honour at a seminar on ‘Right To Information And The Role Of The Media’ organized on 28-29 March by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC), University of Calcutta (CU) at the Darbhanga Hall, CU Asutosh Siksha Prangan, College Street. The role of media is to create awareness for effective use of the Right to Information and unearth malfunctioning in different quarters.
Noting Kolkata as the birthplace of journalism in most Indian languages, Prof. M.R. Dua, UGC representative of the host department’s Departmental Special Assistance Programme said, “Sense of responsibility is expected on the part of the media in the context of multiplicity of news channels”.
Emphasising the tendency of media to try to take the position of the other three estates, Prof. K.V. Nagaraj, Chairperson, Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, Mangalore University, noted, “How the Official Secrets Act can run in tandem with the Right to Information Act?”, later corroborated by CU-JMC faculty Asim Kumar Mitra. The latter demanded a provision for direct public interactions with politicians failing to honour their own promises.
As Prof. R.M. Pathak, Director, Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, Kashi Vidyapith said, “Mission has to be there for success in professional journalism”, CU Prof. Samir Kumar Bandopadhyay emphasised that clarity of definitions and explanations is required to enable smoother statutory interpretations, shortcomings of which, as also those of any public utility system, are pointed out by the media.
Highlighting that “In the current era of sophisticated warfare a journalist can cover the same only being a part of either of the warring parties”, Santanu Sanyal from Hindu Business Line and the host department noted that in corporate reporting information obtained out of in-depth study and confidential sources cannot be published without ratification from the company bosses, who may be silent or may dish out ambiguous remarks when approached for clarification.
The students-teachers interactive sessions on ‘Media Ethics And Development Communication’ and ‘Journalism At The Crossroads’, saw the CU-JMC students battering the distinguished panelists with queries on cricket reporting to crime reporting, right to information to right to privacy, media ethics to media council, sting operation to spiced-up stories, with the eminent speakers, with all their experience and wisdom, catering to the wannabe journos’ rights to exercise their freedom of speech and expression, and to access information.
While sumptuous lunch packets ensured the stomach its share of fulfillment, a cultural programme on Day One afternoon, at the Ritwik Hall in the same campus, satisfied the finer faculties with songs, dances, recitations by the CU-JMC students and staff-member, to go with the performance of Chandan Sen’s play ‘Gopon Kothati’ in English by Theatre Spandan.
Among the other dignitaries attending the session, were Prof. B.P. Sanjay, Chairperson, S.N. College of Communication, Hyderabad; Prof. S.N. Misra, Co-ordinator, Department of Journalism & Mass Comunication, Utkal University; Prof. Dr. Tapati Basu, Head of the host department and its other faculty members, teachers from different colleges and universities.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Forward-looking Tradition Revisited At Convocation
Speaking at the University of Calcutta (CU) Annual Convocation on March 27 2006, at the CU Centenary Hall, at the University’s Asutosh Siksha Prangan, College Street, the Chancellor Andre Beteille, Chairman, Indian Council of Social Science and Research and an alumnus of the University, said, “While a modern university must aim at being inclusive, the degree of inclusiveness cannot be the only measure of its success”. “As a public institution in a democratic society it must be socially inclusive; as a center of teaching and research, it must be academically discriminating”. He highlighted that in England, France and Germany, the changes in social outlook and orientation began largely outside the universities which responded to those changes slowly and often reluctantly. In contrast, he emphasized, in India, the wider society remained set in the hierarchical mould of kinships, caste and religion while the universities, as open and secular institutions, were in the forefront in creating a new social outlook and orientation. Guarding against shortcuts to achieve social inclusiveness in universities, that may subvert their very purpose of attaining scholarship through disciplined teaching and research, he noted, “Universities cannot become socially more inclusive and at the same time maintain and enhance their academic standards unless the supply of the talent is constantly augmented”.
As the CU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Asis Kumar Banerjee gave accounts of the additions to the University library, Asutosh Museum, as well as the introduction of new courses like MBA Finance and M.A. in Comparative Indian Literature, affiliations to new colleges, he made the point that the University will continue to remain the degree-conferring authority to students of autonomous colleges, affiliated to it. He said that entrance tests for admission to post-graduate courses offered by the University are in the horizon, to bring parity among the candidates from autonomous and non-autonomous colleges affiliated to it, and seeking admission to such courses. Expressing his desire to continue maintaining linkages with other universities and institutes across the country, and share the fruits of the funds allotted to CU, with other universities in the state, he asked the University’s student fraternity to work for “development of the country and progress of mankind”.
Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy were awarded to students from the faculties of Agriculture; Arts; Commerce and Business Management; Education, Journalism, and Library and Information Sciences; Home Science; Medical Sciences; Science and Technology. Honorary Doctorate of Literature degrees were also conferred upon Prof. Beteille and Prof. Purusottama Lal, while Prof. Sankar Adhya was awarded the Doctor of Science degree Honoris Causa. Special awards were given to M.S. Swaminathan, Dr, Chandrika Prasad Sharma, Prasanta Kumar Pal, Subhendu Chattopadhyay, Leele Mazumdar, Nabanita Deb Sen and NCC cadets SUO Jitendra Das, CSM Ananta Singh, SUO Odissi Chakraborty and students Arnab Mondal an Arpita Ghosh. Eminent Teacher awards were given to Prof. Arun Kumar Dutta Gupta, Prof. Archana Sharma, Prof. Indu Bhushan Chatterjee, Prof. Mihir Chowdhury, and Prof. Kajal Sengupta posthumous.
In his Bengali address, the CU Chancellor and Governor of West Bengal Gopalkrishna Gandhi said, “the utilization of the grants receivable by the University will be successful only when the fruits thereof can improve common people’s lives and gain recognition from them as beneficial in their day-to-day lives”.
Among the other dignitaries gracing the ceremony on the occasion of the post-centenary golden jubilee celebrations of the University, were the CU Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Registrar and Deans of the faculties. The event which kicked off with the University Anthem culminated into the National Anthem. Silence was observed in memory of politician Anil Biswas, an alumnus of the University and who was member of the University Senate for three consecutive terms.
As the CU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Asis Kumar Banerjee gave accounts of the additions to the University library, Asutosh Museum, as well as the introduction of new courses like MBA Finance and M.A. in Comparative Indian Literature, affiliations to new colleges, he made the point that the University will continue to remain the degree-conferring authority to students of autonomous colleges, affiliated to it. He said that entrance tests for admission to post-graduate courses offered by the University are in the horizon, to bring parity among the candidates from autonomous and non-autonomous colleges affiliated to it, and seeking admission to such courses. Expressing his desire to continue maintaining linkages with other universities and institutes across the country, and share the fruits of the funds allotted to CU, with other universities in the state, he asked the University’s student fraternity to work for “development of the country and progress of mankind”.
Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy were awarded to students from the faculties of Agriculture; Arts; Commerce and Business Management; Education, Journalism, and Library and Information Sciences; Home Science; Medical Sciences; Science and Technology. Honorary Doctorate of Literature degrees were also conferred upon Prof. Beteille and Prof. Purusottama Lal, while Prof. Sankar Adhya was awarded the Doctor of Science degree Honoris Causa. Special awards were given to M.S. Swaminathan, Dr, Chandrika Prasad Sharma, Prasanta Kumar Pal, Subhendu Chattopadhyay, Leele Mazumdar, Nabanita Deb Sen and NCC cadets SUO Jitendra Das, CSM Ananta Singh, SUO Odissi Chakraborty and students Arnab Mondal an Arpita Ghosh. Eminent Teacher awards were given to Prof. Arun Kumar Dutta Gupta, Prof. Archana Sharma, Prof. Indu Bhushan Chatterjee, Prof. Mihir Chowdhury, and Prof. Kajal Sengupta posthumous.
In his Bengali address, the CU Chancellor and Governor of West Bengal Gopalkrishna Gandhi said, “the utilization of the grants receivable by the University will be successful only when the fruits thereof can improve common people’s lives and gain recognition from them as beneficial in their day-to-day lives”.
Among the other dignitaries gracing the ceremony on the occasion of the post-centenary golden jubilee celebrations of the University, were the CU Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Registrar and Deans of the faculties. The event which kicked off with the University Anthem culminated into the National Anthem. Silence was observed in memory of politician Anil Biswas, an alumnus of the University and who was member of the University Senate for three consecutive terms.
Tête-à-tête With CM
On March 25 2006, the Students’ Federation of India(SFI) University of Calcutta(CU) Zonal Committee organized an interactive session ‘Praktanir Sange Mukhomukhi’ with the West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at the University Institute Hall. Much to the delight of the five hundred-odd CU students gathered at the hall, the CM said that the West Bengal students are the best in the country in academics. Emphasizing the utility of infrastructural development in the state, he zeroed down on the need to enhance the quality of higher education imparted in the state. In the hour-long question-answer session with the students moderated by SFI President Durjoy Ray, Bhattacharjee said, “There are many schools but the quality of teaching has to be improved.”
Monday, July 23, 2007
Way Of The Winners
The University of Calcutta (CU) Centenary Auditorium at the Asutosh Siksha Prangan (College Street) swayed to the foot-tapping beats of the upcoming Bangla band 4WD on March 2 2006, on the occasion of the prize distribution ceremony for the annual sports and cultural competition organised by the Calcutta University Students’ Union (Day). As the winners went ga-ga over the glittering medals specially manufactured on the occasion of the post-centenary golden jubilee celebration of the University, the excitement mercury kept rising inside the unfortunately sparsely attended cultural extravaganza. Those lucky few attending the programme were treated to an onstage student’s performance of popular movie songs with other students gyrating among the rows of seats in the dimly lit auditorium.
Universities Eves Prove A Point On 22 Yards
Osmania University, Hyderabad defeated Devi Ahilya University, Indore at the Rajdanga Ground, Kolkata, to retain the Gunavati C.K. Naidu Challenge Trophy awarded to the winner of the All India Inter University Cricket (Women’s) Tournament, organized by the University of Calcutta (CU) from February 15 to 27 2006. Fifty-five universities from Jammu to Kerala, Gujarat to Kolkata, featured in this tournament out of the sixty-five originally enrolled.
While Ritika Bhopalkar of Devi Ahilya University set the East Calcutta District Sports Federation Ground on fire as she blazed her way to a swashbuckling 209 not out against Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Sabari Chatterjee of Vinoba Bhave University sent the stumps for a tumble at the Hastings Ground as she ripped apart the Aligarh Muslim University batting line-up with stunning figures of six wickets for eight runs.
University of Calcutta was the only university from West Bengal to participate in the second edition of this tournament held in ten grounds spread from Khardah to Narendrapur, Sodepur to Salt Lake in and around city of Eden Gardens.
Emphasizing on the need for inter-college tournaments for development of women’s cricket, Sports Officer and Joint Secretary, Sports Board, CU Sudarshan Biswas said, “Physical education should be dwelt with more seriously right from the primary school level with long-term sports coaching after plus-two”. Advocating a State-level inter-university women’s cricket tournament as a preparation for national-level championships, he observed, “The combined Indian universities team should make foreign tours, and foreign teams should be invited to participate in national-level women’s cricket tournaments”.
“We are praising the Indian youngsters for quickly graduating to the highest level in men’s cricket. For similar results in women’s cricket, we should promote the game at the university level, as is done in other countries”, said Dr. Srirupa Basu, who has been associated with sports as a player, coach, commentator, administrator and educationist. “Better media coverage of women’s sports is an urgent necessity in India, to boost public interest and actual participation in women’s sports”, she noted.
While Ritika Bhopalkar of Devi Ahilya University set the East Calcutta District Sports Federation Ground on fire as she blazed her way to a swashbuckling 209 not out against Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Sabari Chatterjee of Vinoba Bhave University sent the stumps for a tumble at the Hastings Ground as she ripped apart the Aligarh Muslim University batting line-up with stunning figures of six wickets for eight runs.
University of Calcutta was the only university from West Bengal to participate in the second edition of this tournament held in ten grounds spread from Khardah to Narendrapur, Sodepur to Salt Lake in and around city of Eden Gardens.
Emphasizing on the need for inter-college tournaments for development of women’s cricket, Sports Officer and Joint Secretary, Sports Board, CU Sudarshan Biswas said, “Physical education should be dwelt with more seriously right from the primary school level with long-term sports coaching after plus-two”. Advocating a State-level inter-university women’s cricket tournament as a preparation for national-level championships, he observed, “The combined Indian universities team should make foreign tours, and foreign teams should be invited to participate in national-level women’s cricket tournaments”.
“We are praising the Indian youngsters for quickly graduating to the highest level in men’s cricket. For similar results in women’s cricket, we should promote the game at the university level, as is done in other countries”, said Dr. Srirupa Basu, who has been associated with sports as a player, coach, commentator, administrator and educationist. “Better media coverage of women’s sports is an urgent necessity in India, to boost public interest and actual participation in women’s sports”, she noted.
Bengal and Globalization bridges Kolkata and Tokyo
The Department of History, University of Calcutta (CU) and the Institute of Oriental Culture (IOC), University of Tokyo(TU) have signed an MoU to promote academic exchange and partnership between the two institutions through mutually beneficial programmes of joint research, conferences, publications and exchange of faculty. “IOC is a leading institute in Japan in South-East Asian history and political studies, and we look forward to an enriching educational interchange with them”, said CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Prof. Suranjan Das.
The agreement signed on January 19 2006 by Prof. Samir Kumar Mukhopadhyay, Registrar, CU and Prof. Teruo Sekimoto, Director, IOC, TU, will focus on history and politics of Bengal and globalization from the South Asian perspective. The agreement, which remains effective for a period of five years, may be extended by mutual agreement.
Reciprocity and parity will be maintained between the parties in the sharing of responsibilities of funding, manpower and logistics, and fruits of findings of joint research projects. Visiting scholars will be responsible for their own financial support, while the host institution will assist them in their accommodation and access to library resources and research contacts.
A seminar on ‘Human Security and Globalization in South Asia’ will kick off the joint conduction of programmes under this inter-university collaboration in December 2006 in Kolkata, said Prof. Das. “We have applied to the Japan Foundation for fundings, but irrespective of their financial support, we will hold this seminar”, he added.
The agreement signed on January 19 2006 by Prof. Samir Kumar Mukhopadhyay, Registrar, CU and Prof. Teruo Sekimoto, Director, IOC, TU, will focus on history and politics of Bengal and globalization from the South Asian perspective. The agreement, which remains effective for a period of five years, may be extended by mutual agreement.
Reciprocity and parity will be maintained between the parties in the sharing of responsibilities of funding, manpower and logistics, and fruits of findings of joint research projects. Visiting scholars will be responsible for their own financial support, while the host institution will assist them in their accommodation and access to library resources and research contacts.
A seminar on ‘Human Security and Globalization in South Asia’ will kick off the joint conduction of programmes under this inter-university collaboration in December 2006 in Kolkata, said Prof. Das. “We have applied to the Japan Foundation for fundings, but irrespective of their financial support, we will hold this seminar”, he added.
Leaf Out Of Bangla Book For Mother Tongue In Administration
Recalling the support lent by India, Pakistan, among the countries, while Bangladesh proposed the worldwide celebration February 21 each year as the International Mother-tongue Day, Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner to India Mohammad Imran said, “The researchers of both the Bengals can work in unison to formulate a standardized Bengali language”. Speaking at the inauguration of the week-long mother-tongue festival organized by the University of Calcutta (CU) on February 21 2006, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the festival, Imran dwelt on mother tongue being a national asset.
While the Calcutta University Students’ Union General Secretary Anupam Pramanik urged for the presence of Bengali along with English in the University nameplates, CU Registrar Samir Kumar Badopadhyay in his presidential address, declared his plans to make the presence of Bengali felt in the identification of the various photographs and paintings in the university premises, nameplates of the various campuses and halls under the university, and letter correspondences by the University within the state, within a year.
Speaking on the importance of the day from a historical perspective, West Bengal Library Minister Nimai Chandra Mal advocated lending equal importance to all languages. Emphasizing on the two-fold emotional and social relevance of celebrating the occasion, CU Vice-chancellor Prof. Asis Kumar Banerjee said in his welcome address, “Make others conscious of their mother tongue, alongside reminding yourself of the same always, to further social advancement”.
Hailing the mother tongue festival as “the University of Calcutta’s blossoming rose”, CU Deputy Registrar Nitish Biswas announced the involvement of the Dhaka and the Calcutta Universities in joint programmes in the future. Inaugurating a folder consisting of a poem composed by Biswas under the inspiration of the Bengali address delivered by the West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi on January 17 2006 at the inauguration the CU post-centenary golden jubilee celebrations, CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Prof. Suranjan Das said, “We have to take the precedent of Bangladesh where Bengali can now be used for administrative works”.
At a seminar on the use of mother tongue in administration, Bhabesh Moitra said that the financial, political and cultural dominances are detrimental for improvement of mother tongue, while Dr. Biplab Chakraborty said, “language is identity of people”, as he emphasized on translation for knowing others.
Urging the CU authority to introduce Bengali in a big way in the university administration, CU Employees’ Committee General Secretary Anjan Ghosh that the CU laws should occur in Bengali, as well as the university should issue advertisements in Bengali.
In the ceremony strewn by Bengali songs and recitations, other dignitaries gracing the occasion were CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Finance) Prof. Tapan Kumar Mukhopadhyay, CU Librarian Soumitra Sarkar, ex-parliamentarian and poet Prof. Chandrakala Pandey, among others.
While the Calcutta University Students’ Union General Secretary Anupam Pramanik urged for the presence of Bengali along with English in the University nameplates, CU Registrar Samir Kumar Badopadhyay in his presidential address, declared his plans to make the presence of Bengali felt in the identification of the various photographs and paintings in the university premises, nameplates of the various campuses and halls under the university, and letter correspondences by the University within the state, within a year.
Speaking on the importance of the day from a historical perspective, West Bengal Library Minister Nimai Chandra Mal advocated lending equal importance to all languages. Emphasizing on the two-fold emotional and social relevance of celebrating the occasion, CU Vice-chancellor Prof. Asis Kumar Banerjee said in his welcome address, “Make others conscious of their mother tongue, alongside reminding yourself of the same always, to further social advancement”.
Hailing the mother tongue festival as “the University of Calcutta’s blossoming rose”, CU Deputy Registrar Nitish Biswas announced the involvement of the Dhaka and the Calcutta Universities in joint programmes in the future. Inaugurating a folder consisting of a poem composed by Biswas under the inspiration of the Bengali address delivered by the West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi on January 17 2006 at the inauguration the CU post-centenary golden jubilee celebrations, CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Prof. Suranjan Das said, “We have to take the precedent of Bangladesh where Bengali can now be used for administrative works”.
At a seminar on the use of mother tongue in administration, Bhabesh Moitra said that the financial, political and cultural dominances are detrimental for improvement of mother tongue, while Dr. Biplab Chakraborty said, “language is identity of people”, as he emphasized on translation for knowing others.
Urging the CU authority to introduce Bengali in a big way in the university administration, CU Employees’ Committee General Secretary Anjan Ghosh that the CU laws should occur in Bengali, as well as the university should issue advertisements in Bengali.
In the ceremony strewn by Bengali songs and recitations, other dignitaries gracing the occasion were CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Finance) Prof. Tapan Kumar Mukhopadhyay, CU Librarian Soumitra Sarkar, ex-parliamentarian and poet Prof. Chandrakala Pandey, among others.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)