open letter march 2010

IGNOU OPEN LETTER | MARCH 15, 20102

Convocation Day is the most important and fulfilling day in thelife of any university. It marks the culmination of a year of hardwork and academic rigour for both students and faculty. At its

21st Convocation on March 15, IGNOU handed out Degrees, Diplomasand Certificates to 1,33,628 successful learners. As many as 6,000of them received these at our main campus in New Delhi, while therest received them at 43 Regional Centres where Convocations wereheld simultaneously. We also honoured 66 of our brightest learnerswith Gold Medals.

The Convocation was even moresignificant this time as the University is inthe midst of celebrating its Silver JubileeYear. It has been a landmark year in otherways too. IGNOU is now the world’slargest university, with over 28 lakhstudents on its rolls. It is, in the words ofUNESCO Director General Irena Brokova,“a living embodiment of the concept ofbuilding inclusive knowledge societies in aglobalised world”.

After successfully evolving uniquemodels of democratisation of education, training and capacity-buildingin the Open and Distance Learning mode, we are now also offering on-campus programmes.

IGNOU’s Community College Scheme, which aims to provide analternative system of education to those who have missed out onmainstream education, is a great success, with 271 such collegeshaving become operational. This number is expected to rise to 500 bythe end of this year.

Other initiatives such as Gyan Deep, in collaboration with the Army,the Convergence Scheme, the establishment of the RegionalInstitutes of Vocational Education and Training (RIVET) in associationwith Srei Sahaj eVillage, and the pioneering programmes launched forthe hearing disabled are a testimony to IGNOU’s commitment to reachout to the unreached, to take education to the doorsteps of learnersand offer inclusive education without barriers.

In this Decade of Innovation, IGNOU will strive to optimally utilisethe educational and training infrastructure as well as the intellectualcapabilities available in both the formal and informal sectors, be itprivate or public, to ensure we achieve our national mission ofsignificantly increasing the Gross Enrollment Ratio.

Our 21st Convocation was a great success, and I would like tothank the entire IGNOU community — faculty, administrative staff andstudents — for working tirelessly to ensure it was a grand event. Weare also grateful to the 50,000-plus academics, experts and staff ofscores of other institutions — both in India and abroad — who havecontributed to making IGNOU the success it is.

I thank Prof S.K. Joshi for accepting our invitation to be Chief Guestand delivering the Convocation Address. I congratulate all thesuccessful learners across the country and abroad, and wish themwell in their future vocations.

I also welcome the over 6,36,000 new students who have enrolledwith the University this year, and would like to assure them thatIGNOU is, and will remain, committed to the nation’s goals for highereducation: Expansion, Inclusion, Excellence.

6

CONTENTS

For Access, Equity & Quality

Beacons of Light

CONVOCATION ADDRESS: Research,equity, quality and values are essential ingredients of higher education, said Prof. S.K. Joshi, theChief Guest of the 21st Convocation

ODL GUARDIANS...........10

INTERACTIVE

EXHIBITION...................11

NEWS UPDATE..............12

REGIONAL ROUNDUP....15

STUDENTS’ CORNER.....15

MILESTONES ................16

GYAN DARSHAN............16

8 GOLD MEDALLISTS: These meritorious learners prove that ODL actually complements the conventional education system

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FROMthe vice chancellor

V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai

It reaches out to over 28 lakhstudents but is much removedfrom the hurly-burly of aconventional University campus.

On March 15, though, IGNOU hostedabout 6,000 students at its MaidanGarhi Headquarters in New Delhi.And, suddenly, the quiet campuscame alive.

Learners of all hues — middle-agedexecutives, proud degree-holdingmoms tending to their tiny tots, andyoung 20-somethings capturing theexcitement on their cameras —rubbed shoulders as they queued upfor degrees and diplomas, examinedthe stalls at the exhibition venue, and stood up to honour the academicprocession at the ConvocationCeremony. The flowers in themanicured lawns were juxtaposedbrilliantly against the sea ofsuccessful students donning black gowns.

The mind-boggling numbersnotwithstanding, the Convocationwas testimony to great planning andexecution — an air-conditionedpandal seating thousands, a timelystart, a timely conclusion, next-to-nilmicrophone glitches, and a warmhigh tea party for the gold medallists.A great shutterbug moment.�

IGNOU OPEN LETTER | MARCH 15, 2010 3

21ST convocation

...and the quiet campus comes alive


21st Convocation

Learners’ DayWhat makes IGNOU a living

testimony to social inclusionand democratisation ofeducation? “The success

story has been made possible owing tothe University’s huge national andinternational outreach, real-life academicprogrammes, flexible entry qualifications,diverse learner groups, walk-inadmissions, on-demand examinations andmodular programmes based on a creditsystem, among others, to help over 28lakh students enrolled with theUniversity,” said Vice Chancellor Prof V.N.Rajasekharan Pillai while inauguratingthe University’s 21st Convocation.Addressing a large and diverse

gathering at the University’s ConventionCentre in New Delhi on March 15, ProfPillai said that ensuring quality andstudent satisfaction are the hallmarks of

the IGNOU pedagogy today, which willfurther be honed to excellence.“The University has evolved into the

world’s largest, most diverse andinclusive institution in its 25 years,”stressed the Vice Chancellor whilewelcoming the Chief Guest Prof S.K.Joshi, former Director General, Council ofScientific and Industrial Research (CSIR);Guests of Honour at 43 Regional Centresacross the country; Pro-Vice Chancellors;Members of the Board of Management,Academic Council and the PlanningBoard; Directors of 21 Schools of Study;Gold Medal winners in their respectivefields of study; recipients of degrees,diplomas and certificates; IGNOU facultyand mediapersons.“IGNOU will further work to implement

the objectives of the National SkillDevelopment Mission,” Prof Pillai said.

1,33,628 learners received their Degrees, Diplomasand Certificates and 66 meritoriousstudents were honoured with gold medals at the 21st Convocation organised at theDelhi Headquarters and 43 Regional Centres

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.

In response to the recent UNConvention on Disability, “IGNOU, alongwith the International Centre for SignLanguage and Deaf Studies (iSLanDS)and Ishara Foundation, is planning todevelop a vision for a college for deaf,where Indian and international deafstudents could study a range ofundergraduate and post-graduate coursesin sign language,” he added. Prof Pillai also announced new

programmes in Mental Retardation,Visual Impairment, Hearing Impairmentas well as an M.Ed. in Special Educationand M.Sc. in Counselling and FamilyTherapy. IGNOU has already announced aB.A. in Applied Sign Linguistics, to beginfrom the July 2010 academic session. Nearly 24,000 students received

Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates inperson during the Convocation ceremony,telecast live on Gyan Darshan TV channeland broadcast by over 30 Gyan Vani radiochannels. Forty-three Regional Centresjoined the ceremony via video-conferencing. Around 6,000 learners werepresent at the Delhi campus and 18,000learners at 43 Regional Centres to receivetheir Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates. The golden moment came when 66

learners were honoured with Gold Medals.Apart from this, six gold medals wereawarded in special categories like BestResearch Paper, Best Service Centre,Best Overseas Partner Institution, etc.;two cash awards of Rs 10,000 each(Commonwealth Educational MediaCentre for Asia, or CEMCA, and the

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam award); Prof. RamReddy Memorial Gold Medal award andProf. Grover Award (for the best amongthe physically-handicapped meritoriousstudents), were presented by Prof Joshi.This year, 1,33,628 students received

Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates.“Today, IGNOU has 25 lakh students, anational network of 61 Regional Centres,over 3,000 Learner Support Centres anda presence in 36 countries. Over 636,000students have enrolled with IGNOU (thisacademic year) — a record for theUniversity,” Prof Pillai declared. The Gold Medal for Master’s Degree in

English went, for the fourth consecutiveyear, to the Jedda-based EducationalConsultant and Guidance Services Centre(ECGS), a Partner Institution of IGNOU.Its learner, Shahmida Mohammed,received the award. ECGS, run by RiazMulla, also received the Best OverseasPartner Institution award. Dhundup Dolma from Nepal earned two

Gold Medals — one for the best studentin Masters’ of Sociology and the ProfRam Reddy Memorial award. GaganGurung, also from Nepal, received theGold Medal for Master’s in RuralDevelopment programme. Anjali Kumari Singh received the

CEMCA cash award for the Best FemaleStudent in any Degree Programmepertaining to technology while the AbdulKalam award for the Gold Medallist inBachelors’ of Social Work went to VijayanM. Naresh Chand, B.A. (Ord.) receivedthe Prof. Grover cash award for the beststudent among the differently-abled.For Dolma, it was a dream come true.

“From working in a restaurant to sharingthe dais with top-notch Indian academicswas an enriching experience. My effortshave paid off and now I am lookingforward to pursuing a Ph.D. in Sociologyfrom IGNOU.” Gurung echoed her views.“The course material was extensive innature. The gold medal is a result of myhard work and I thank the University forhelping me reach this far.”The University also organised an

exhibition representing all 21 Schools ofStudy. The highlights of the exhibitionwere stalls from various NGOs/partnerinstitutions. IGNOU’s Tihar Jail StudyCentre’s stall displayed products made bythe prisoners, attracting many buyers.To ensure hassle-free commuting, the

University had arranged for mini buses tocarry thousands of students and visitorsfrom pick-up points in the city. The goldmedallists were provided lunch andsnacks during the Convocation, and thatended with a group photo with ViceChancellor Prof Pillai.�


“The University hasevolved into the world’slargest, most diverse andinclusive institution inits Silver Jubilee year...It will further work to

implement the objectivesof the National Skill

Development Mission.”

A section of the audience.

1,33,628 students received Degrees, Diplomas and Certificatesfrom the University.18,000 learners present at 43 RegionalCentres. 6,000learners received Degrees and Diplomas inperson at the Delhicampus. 66 learnersreceived Gold Medals fortopping their respectivefields of study.

IN FIGURES


The most important challengebefore the IGNOU faculty is thatsociety accepts and recognisesthe degrees awarded by this

University to be of same value andstandard as from a good conventionaluniversity,” Prof Shri Krishna Joshi,former Director General, Council ofScientific and Industrial Research (CSIR),said during his Convocation Address atthe gala Convocation event on March 15. In a speech that highlighted the

contribution that distance eduation, andIGNOU in particular, was making to thehigher education requirements of thecountry, Prof Joshi made it a point tomention the need to maintain qualitystandards. “It is a common perception insociety that those who have pursuedopen distance learning are much inferiorin quality of training compared to thosewho have studied at conventionaluniversities. This puts a heavyresponsibility on IGNOU to develop qualitybenchmarks for Open and DistanceLearning (ODL). It may be desirable if the quality assessment of ODL is done bya reputed external agency,” the scientist

said. He further suggested that IGNOUshould open a centre dedicated to checkthe quality of distance learning.A Padma Bhushan awardee, Prof Joshi

described in great detail the impact ofIGNOU on higher education, and its largerimplications for the growth of thecountry. While Andhra Pradesh OpenUniversity was the first Open University inthe country, it was IGNOU, started in1985 with 4,000 students, that had laidthe strong foundations of ODL in India, hesaid. Today, the University, with over 25lakh students, accounted for 15 percentof enrollments in higher education in thecountry, Prof Joshi pointed out. Talking about IGNOU’s contribution to

access to education, he said, at themoment, only 13 percent of thepopulation in the 18-23 age group wasenrolled in higher education, as against83 percent in the United States. For Indiato advance economically, this figureneeded to go up to 20 percent, he said,adding that while more conventionaluniversities were definitely desirable inthis scenario, ODL could play acomplementary role. Also, while setting

ConvocationAddress

Even as IGNOUtakes education to the masses, the country’s premier Open and Distance Learning University shouldnever lose sight of quality, saysChief Guest Prof S.K. Joshi in his address

For access, equity

“IGNOU hasshown that

ODL can cater togroups from

rural and tribal areas. The

entry of these marginalised

groups into themainstream will

not only help our economic growth

but also makethis growth inclusive.”

up conventional universities would becostly, and would also entail a longgestation period, “ODL does not requirehuge physical infrastructure and thestudents do not have to commute to thecampus. Learners are allowed to accesseducation at their own place, at their ownlevel and at their own pace,” he stressed.

In the same vein, he touched upon theequity factor. “Higher education in ourcountry suffers from a variety ofinequalities. There are inequalitiesbetween social groups, inequalities basedon gender, inequalities between urbanand rural groups. The representation ofSCs, STs and OBCs in higher education isless than their proportion in population.” “ODL takes higher education to the

less privileged sections of society at areasonable cost. IGNOU’s experience hasshown that ODL can cater to groups fromrural and tribal areas, SC/ST students,minorities, women, jail inmates andpeople in low-literacy areas. The entry ofthese marginalised groups into theworkforce of our country will not onlyhelp our economic growth, but also makethis growth inclusive,” he said. There were some areas of concern he

touched upon, and urged IGNOU to payheed to these. Skilling of young India wasthe first pressing need that he discussed. Citing data that is now commonly

examined and discussed in almost everydevelopment discourse — that thecountry has 54 crore people below 21years of age and that by 2020 India willhave a surplus of 4.5 crore workers, asagainst a deficit of 4 crore workers indeveloped countries — he said that thechallenge was to identify skills whichwould make our young populationemployable. “This presents a challengefor IGNOU also. The University has to findout which skill-sets would preparestudents for jobs and then devisemodules of courses which will train themfor those skills properly.” He listed the programmes that the

University had already started to thiseffect — PG Diploma courses inintellectual property rights, clinicalcardiology, ophthalmology, hospitality,disaster management, nautical sciences,airport infrastructural and foodprocessing, among others. Environmental awareness was another

thrust area that Prof Joshi spoke about.He said, “We see here an opportunity forIGNOU, with its global presence, toconsider a post-graduate course insustainability science. Such a coursewould need multidisciplinary cooperation,because sustainability scienceincorporates concepts and developmentsfrom both natural sciences, engineeringand health sciences.” Congratulating the gold medallists,

Prof Joshi reminded them of theresponsibility that lay ahead. “Yoursuccess will convey to them (thecountrymen) that ODL has succeeded inequipping you to face the future.”�


Prof S.K. Joshi delivering the Convocation

Address at IGNOU’s Convention Centre

on March 15.

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Impressive Growth

1,33,628 learners got Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates.

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66 GEMSGOLD MEDALLISTS

Saira Banu MAH, Bangalore Gagan Gurung, MARD, International, NepalM Sai Ram, MBADOM, BhubaneswarAijaz Ahmad Shalla, MPBANK, SrinagarAnjali Kumari Singh, MCA, PatnaHomera Ansari, MCOM, LucknowShomnath Dutta, MEC, SiliguriShahmida Mohammed, MEG, International, JeddahK Arunasri MHA, Delhi-1Archana Gupta, MHD, LucknowMeera K, MPA, ChennaiAntony George Karikunnel, MPS, CochinDhundup Dolma, MSO, International, NepalMs Shikha Gupta, MTM, Delhi-2Sivakumar V. K., BA, CochinAfrin Khatoon, BCA, RanchiJyoti Saini, BCOM, Khanna (Punjab)Pasupuleti Sujatha, BED, HyderabadKesarkar Sonali Deepak, BHM, Delhi-1Prasanta Kumar Meher, BLS, ShillongNisha, BSC, Delhi-1Anu Priya Bali, BSCN, Delhi-1Vijayan M., BSW, CochinPawan Kumar, BTCM, Delhi-1Syed Sadiq Hasan Abidi, BTS, PuneRanjith Hari, PGDAPP, BangaloreNagalakshmi V.S., PGDCA, ChennaiDr. Mansi Kaushik, PGDCC, Delhi-2Dr. Manoj Kumar Dash, PGDDE, Delhi-1Sameer Babu M., PGDDE, CochinRaina R. Nair, PGDDM, CochinDeepali Ramkrishna Yeole, PGDDM, PuneSonal, PGDESD, PatnaSharmistha Niranjan Shaha, PGDFM, PuneAslam Anvarali Lalani, PGDGM, HyderabadDr. Pallavi Panchu, PGDHHM, BangaloreRuchi Adhikari, PGDHRM, AhmedabadMegha Kawatra, PGDIBO, Delhi-2Rahul Suresh More, PGDIM, PuneManish Kumar Choudhary, PGDIM, AligarhVikas Kumar, PGDIM, AligarhAnkita, PGDIPR, Delhi-1Seema, PGDLAN, Delhi-1R Solai Raj, PGDM (ISHE), BhopalNikita Jain, PGDMM, BhopalJigneshkumar Vinubhai Patel, PGDOM, AhmedabadDilip Singh Panwar, PGDRD, Delhi-2Sanjeeda Parveen, PGDRP, PatnaPriya Tyagi, PGDSLM, AhmedabadBrij Nandan, PGDT, Delhi-2Shashi Bhushan Nayak, PGJMC, BhubaneswarRajakumaran M, ADCIM, ChennaiSubhranil Saha, DAFE, KolkataShipra Gupta, DCE, Delhi-2Rajnarayanan, DCIM, BangaloreSantosh Kumar Singh, DCLE, DehradunVenkateswarlu Athili, DDT, HyderabadRajalakshmi, DECE, Chennai Dinesh Singh, DEME, BangaloreS. Raghavan, DIM, BangaloreSurjit, DIR, Delhi-1Vijayanaik C, DNA, BangalorePhairembam Roshni Devi, DNHE, DehradunPrabin Kumar Pradhan, DPE, RanchiHarish Chander, DTS, Delhi-2Neha Ashokkumar Dubey, DVAPFV, Ahmedabad

Certificates: 42347 Ph.Ds: 5Masters’: 17608

Bachelors’: 36968Diplomas: 36700

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12 IGNOU OPEN LETTER | FEBRUARY 15, 2010

21ST CONVOCATION

BEACONSOF LIGHT

n Dhundup Dolma of Nepal, with work experience in a restaurant and a PGDiploma in Human Resource Management, has not only won the GoldMedal for Sociology but also the Prof Ram Reddy Memorial Gold Medal forthe highest marks in any Master’s Degree Programme in Social Sciences.

n Vijayan M. of Kochi was pursuing chemistry but dropped out in the finalyear, to take up health services. This 42-year-old health inspector receivedthe Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam award for his Bachelor’s in Social Work.

n Shahmida Mohammed, a graduate in Physics from Kerala, a mother of aone-year-old daughter, and teaching kindergarten students at Delhi PublicSchool (DPS) in Jeddah, won a Gold Medal for M.A. in English Programme.

Sounds strange? Well, Open and Distance Learning (ODL) hasbroken umpteen barriers and notions about who should bestudying what, when, and till which level. Old limitations likelinking education to age, geographical proximity and availabilityof student for brick-and-mortar classes Monday to Friday arepassé, and the information-communication technology bonanza

from IGNOU is quenching the thirst for knowledge, excellence and careerprogression of thousands of learners in India, as well as abroad. And in theprocess, producing some surprise winners.

Shahmida Mohammed praises the study material, as well as the teachingquality. “The classes that we had with Savita Rahman (earlier topper fromJeddah and now a brand ambassador for IGNOU, Saudi Arabia) were reallyhelpful,” she adds.

Dhundup found the course quite exhaustive and ideal for civil servicespreparation — her immediate target.

Gagan Gurung of Nepal, associated with Save the Children, a non-profitorganisation, and who topped the Master of Art programme in RuralDevelopment, finds the University’s strict evaluation criteria impressive.Homera Ansari, an M.Com. topper from Varanasi and a lecturer in computerapplications, feels that the self-study regime was at the core of her success.

When Dinesh Singh, an Armyman working with the Engineers Corps, marchedto the podium to receive his medal for topping the Diploma in Electrical andMechanical Engineering, there was instantaneous applause from the audience.“Life changes after such a course,” he says. Santosh Kumar Singh, a fellowArmyman who won the Gold Medal in Diploma in Civil Engineering, has thesame feeling. How will life change after the course? Besides better promotionprospects, their way of working will change, the duo reply.

Mohammed is keen to do a Ph.D. Dhundup and Ansari plan to take updoctoral studies. For Aijaz Ahmad Shalla of Srinagar, who won a Gold Medalfor MBA in Banking (Finance), IGNOU happened just at the right time. They,and several others, are the University’s true beacons of light.�

These meritorious learners prove that ODL is not only an alternative tothe conventional education system,but also actually complements it


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.

HALL OF FAME(From left) Dhundup Dolma from Nepal receiving Prof Ram Reddy Memorial Gold Medal award for highest marks inany Master’s Degree Programme in Social Sciences; Vijayan M. from Kochi receiving the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam cashaward for the Best Student in Bachelor’s in Social Work Programme; and Anjali Kumari Singh, receiving the CEMCAcash award for the Best Female Student in any Degree Programme Pertaining to Technology.

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).


21ST CONVOCATION

ODL GuardiansThe battery of IGNOU academics across the country has one thing in common: an inclusive vision of providing each and everylearner the best available ODL education


From left, Dr Pema E. Samdup of the School of Humanties and Dr Rekha Sharma Sen, Reader, Schoolof Continuing Education (Centre) receive the Gold Medals for Best Research Paper.

Dr Rakhi Sharma (left), Dr Rekha Sharma Sen (thirdfrom left) and a team member receive Gold Medals forExperimentation in Open and Distance Learning.

Riaz Mulla (left) ofEducational

Consultant andGuidance Services,

Jeddah, receives theaward for Best

Overseas PartnerInstitution.

Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai felicitates Chief Guest Prof S.K. Joshi.


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.

Dr. B.P.R.Narasimharao,Deputy Director, Centre for CorporateEducation, Training& Consultancy,receiving the GoldMedal for BestResearch Paper.

INTERACTIVE EXHIBITION

You might not get to meet them ona regular basis, but the Directors

of various schools of IGNOU werepresent at the stalls of their schoolson March 15, answering students’queries about career progression. Itwas not just about handing over ofinformation brochures, but actually acareer counselling opportunity forthose who cared to walk in. Whatbetter opportunity to interact withthe whole faculty of a school, seatedacross the table, answering yourquestions!

Each school — be it Journalismand Media Studies, Gender Studies orTranslation Studies — displayed itscourses, and ensured full facultypresence. Perhaps taking a clue frominternational trends, there were floralarrangements, and candies too. Andyes, who can forget the rich displayof pottery items by the School ofEngineering and Technology! After all, there’s technology in everyaspect of life!

Not just the schools, but someRegional Centres too participated,and were there to field questions. Thevarious divisions and centres werealso present in full force. Also ondisplay were products made bystudents at various centres, andunder special initiatives. The North-eastern centre had on display jute-and cane-based projects, includingfootwear, and one counter displayedhandicrafts work produced by inmates of Tihar jail.


WOMEN’Sday

Ethnic art from the tribal heartlandof the country is trying to strike achord 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 likefeminism, eco-awareness, culturalinvasion and urbanism to creep into theirwork because of the growing demand and new socio-economic dynamics,” saidDr. Vimal Thorat, Reader, ComparativeLiterature (with special reference to DalitWriting in Hindi and Marathi).Thorat was the convener of a

workshop-cum-exhibition titled ‘Art of the Marginalised Communities: Bhils andGonds’, on the IGNOU campus fromFebruary 15 to 17. Bhuri Bai identifies herself with Titki

Mata, a tribal forest deity, who protectsthe forests of Jhabua district in MadhyaPradesh. The petite Bhil artist from Pitol-Motabawri village is known for herdrawings of the flora and fauna of theregion. “I associate myself with the deitybecause women are the protectors ofnature. I draw nature, social mores andBhil gods and goddesses in the centuries-old Bhil style which is steeped in ethnicanimism and spirituality,” says the womanwith blue tattoos adorning her face.“I was the first tribal artist to paint

with a brush on canvas andpaper with water, oil andacrylic colours. But Icannot let go of ethnictraditions,” Bai says. She switched to paper

from the mud walls of hertribal home 25 years agoat Bharat Bhavan in Bhopalunder the tutelage ofJagdish Swaminathan, whoset up the art centreRoopanker, in BharatBhavan, in 1981. Nandkusia Shyam, a

Gond artist from Patangarhvillage along the Narmadariver in Madhya Pradesh,also strikes a balancebetween traditional Gond

art and contemporary issues. “I love to paint animals in the

traditional Gond style, but my art oftenspeaks of changing tribal life,” saysShyam, a resident artist at Bharat Bhavanin Bhopal. The Gond community, whichlives in close proximity to nature, paintsits gods, goddesses, forests, animals andways of life as a means of creativeexpression and documentation. Tribal art is emerging from years of

insulation, felt the reticent artist. “It hasa market abroad and fetches good prices.But the government must encourage tribalartists,” he adds.�

With an aim to bridge the digital dividebetween rural and urban India, IGNOU andSrei Sahaj e-Village Limited, a subsidiary

of Srei Infrastructure Finance Ltd., have offeredfive 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 atan 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. By the end of 2010, the varsity promised to

make this on-line skill education available at 27,255common service centres, already existing in thestates 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 distancemode will reach the remotest corners of the country,empowering the rural poor. The IGNOU-Sahajpartnership will make advanced computer educationavailable to the villagers at their doorsteps.” The courses are Diploma in Advanced Computers,

Certificate Programme in HTML, CertificateProgramme in Java Script, Certificate Programme inSQL and Certificate Programme in Flash.

When tribal art meets modernism

Computer literacy for 10 crore rural youth

A work of art by Bhuri Bai from Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh.

Union Communication

Minister A. Raja.

“Artistes are allowing contemporaryissues likefeminism,cultural invasion andurbanism

to creep into their work because of new socio-economic dynamics.”— Prof. Vimal Thorat, Convener


NEWSupdates

factoids International Centre for Academics (ICA), the first IGNOU

Centre in Nepal, produced two Gold Medallists this year —

Dhundup Dolma (MSO) and Gagan Gurung (MARD).

The absence of organised translationactivity in literature and academiahas led to cultural and intellectualdistancing in Indian society,

believes eminent historian Mushirul Hasan. “This distancing has led to greater

regionalisation and, in some cases,appropriation of languages. The unity indiversity is lost. On a personal note, it hasled to a gulf between my students and me,”Hasan, a former Jamia Millia IslamiaUniversity Vice Chancellor, said on March 6.The academic, who has authored more

than a dozen books and 200 papers, wasspeaking at the inaugural session of a two-day National Seminar on Translationand Inter-Cultural Communication,organised by IGNOU’s School of TranslationStudies and Training at the Lalit KalaAkademi in the Capital.“While adopting a standard two- and

three-language formula in eduction,literature and society, we have not paidattention to building the country acrosscultural, linguistic and intellectual divides.We need translations to connect to the

world and to our own society,” Hasan said. “We have had a lot of tokenism — but

show me someone who is seriously tryingto popularise works in languages. There is a saying in Islam — ‘My beloved’slanguage is Turkish, but I don’t understand

Turkish’,” Hasan said, stressing the needfor quality translation. Vice Chancellor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai

said the University’s translation schoolwas committed to “inter-language”translation. It offers Post-GraduateDiplomas in Inter-languages and has anM.A. Programme in Translation Studies. “Translation is important in transmitting

culture from one generation to another —and from different cultures and language. Alanguage is enriched by its interaction withother languages and cultures. Moreover, welive in a global village,” Prof Pillai said.Former director of the Sahitya Akademi

and Nehru Centre in London, IndranathChoudhury, said credence should be givento different languages spoken across thecountry. “Centrality is a dangerous thingfor a country like India because it tends tohomogenise culture which in India isextremely diverse. Diversity is the essenceof our life. Hence, I would like to describeEnglish and Hindi as filter languages whichcan be used for better communication,”Choudhury added.�

Historian Mushirul Hasan at the National

Seminar on Translation in New Delhi.

‘Translations work as a bridge’

NEWSscanDynamics of Rural Labour

Abook titled‘Dynamics of Rural

Labour’ by Dr. Babu P. Remesh, Reader, School ofInterdisciplinary andTransdisciplinaryStudies, was publishedrecently by ConceptPublishing Company,New Delhi. The book

makes a critical study of the dynamics ofthe rural labour market in Kerala through acase study of tappers in the small holdingsector of natural rubber plantations.

Dialysis Medicine course

IGNOU will introducea Post-doctoralCertificate Programmein Dialysis Medicinefrom the July 2010session. “The post-doctoral course is ayear-long programmeand is being offeredthrough the Open andDistance Learning

mode. It is expected to fulfill the need oftrained health manpower in the field of dialysis at the district level,” said Pro-Vice Chancellor D.K. Chaudhary.

DEC cautions universities

Vice Chancellor Prof V.N. RajasekharanPillai, also the Chairman of Distance

Education Council (DEC), has cautionedopen universities and institutions fromgiving misleading advertisements innewspapers, stating that theirprogrammes must be recognised by the DEC. It is mandatory for allInstitutions, Centres and Directoratesoffering programmes through the distanceeducation mode to get their Degrees,Diplomas and Certificate programmesapproved by the DEC. The institutionsviolating these norms would be liable tobe de-recognised by the DEC, he added.

Dr Babu P. Ramesh

with his book.

Pro-VC Dr. D.K.

Chaudhary.


The country has not witnessed anypolice reforms in the past 60 yearsand there is a dearth of research on

policing in the country. The key here is toopen the gates of knowledge for a vastpool of policemen so that they can servethe community better, said MagsaysayAward 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 DelhiPolice and a veteran humanist, said: “Whoresearches policing, does the researchbecome public? No data is available onthe police, states have no resources andno budget to undertake this type ofresearch. IGNOU can play a major role inthe field of police research.”

Dr Bedi was delivering the third SilverJubilee Lecture, titled ‘Welfare, PreventivePolicing and Helping the Helpless,’ at theConvention Centre on February 25.It was the high-profile Tihar Jail in New

Delhi where the first IGNOU centre for jailinmates was opened in July 1994, owingto the efforts of then Inspector-General(Prisons) Bedi. Today, the University hasgiven the project a major impetus bydeclaring that the education it offers tojail inmates will, henceforth, be free. Dr Bedi urged IGNOU to also ensure

free and compulsory computer educationto the constables who constitute 75percent of the country’s police workforce.She advocated the inclusion of twoprogrammes on Domestic Violence andDrug Abuse Treatment in the University’sscheme of things for the future.IGNOU will soon start HR training

for police force to strengthen their humanresource capabilities and professionalknowledge, said Pro-VC Latha Pillai.�

NEWSupdates

‘Let IGNOU begin research on police reforms’

ICDL proposes Digital Library Network

In an effort to make learning aseamless process, library scientistsfrom universities and repositoriesacross the globe have proposed the

launch of Digital Library Networking — aninitiative that will ensure free access todigitised information and knowledge. The decision came at the Third

International Conference of DigitalLibraries 2010 (ICDL 2010), jointlyconvened by IGNOU and The Energy andResources Institute (TERI), which wasattended by over 700 delegates, includingheads of the top 65 libraries of the world.An expert committee chaired by Dr

Kalpana Dasgupta, chief of the CentralSecretariat Library of India, urgedparticipating governments to work fast toenact a Digital Library Act and develop aDigital Library Policy in each country. The committee urged member-states to

set up panels to discuss issues involvingDigital Library Networking. Among otherinitiatives, it sought open access to allgovernment publications, global access toinformation under common licensing, andstronger ICT infrastructure.The committee said digital libraries

must be created through inter-governmental and private-publicpartnership to ensure open, distance andtechnology-enabled e-learning. Such

libraries also help in the development of anational economy and a knowledge-basedsociety, as also reach out to unreachedstudents through seamless, borderlessand open modes. Once a new Act is in place and a

national policy evolved, digital librarieswill enable students in any part of theworld to access information in thespecified repository in a different countrywithout any obstacle or regulatorycontrol, fulfilling the long-felt demand forthe democratisation of education.

The Plenary Session on ‘Digital LibraryPolicy and Standards’ was chaired byIGNOU Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof ParvinSinclair. The Valedictory Address was made by

Jawahar Sarkar, Secretary, Ministry ofCulture. Special addresses were made byArmoogum Parssuramen, Director,UNESCO, and Prof Arcot Rajasekar of theUniversity of North Carolina. The vote ofthanks were given by Sudhir K. Arora,chief librarian at IGNOU, and Debal C. Kar of TERI.�

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.

Dr Kiran Bedi.

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 pub-

lic-private partnership

n Harness digital

library technologies for

e-learning and ODL


REGIONALroundup

IGNOU and Academy ofTrauma (Guwahati)organised a two-day

workshop on ‘TraumaManagement inDisasters’ at A.C. Duttaauditorium, CottonCollege, Guwahati, onDecember 11-12. The workshop was

inaugurated by Dr Indra KumarBhattacharyya, Principal, Cotton College.He expressed the need to make the youngergeneration aware of the natural and man-made disasters and their consequences interms of life and property losses.Dr Vardhini Bhattacharjee, Regional

Director, delivered the welcome address atthe event attended by 98 participantsfrom various institutions. She presented a

brief outline of variousinitiatives undertaken bythe Regional Centre toempower youth andwomen in the region. Dr D.S. Bhattacharyya,OSD, Institute forProfessionalCompetencyAdvancement of

Teachers (IIPCAT), was the Guest ofHonour. Referring to the problems ofinsurgency in North-East, he saidManagement of Trauma in Post-disasterSituations is a relevant programme whichcan help reduce causalities. Dr UtpalKumar Tamuli, Secretary, Academy ofTrauma, said the Academy is propagatingthe basic life-support skills to tackle theinjured at the site of the disaster.�

IGNOU is setting up the MahatmaGandhi Institute of Education andDevelopment (MGIDE) in Nagalandwhere 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 GandhiAshram (NGA) in Chuchuyimlang,Nagaland. The campus is coming up on20 acres of land donated by the VillageCouncil of Chuchuyimlang. The proposed campus will consist of

the School of Social Work, School ofAgricultural Development, School ofTeacher’s Training, Community College,Cultural Resource and Training Centre,and Naga Arts and Crafts and StudyCentre with a Gandhi museum. “A Face-to-Face post-graduate

programme, the MSW is expected to belaunched from the July 2010 session,"

said Vice Chancellor Prof V.N.Rajasekharan Pillai. The programme envisages an inter-

disciplinary approach to education anddevelopment. It will include ICT-enabledlearning and full- fledged library andregular faculty support from IGNOU’sEducational Development of the NorthEast Region Unit (EDNERU).�

Workshop on trauma management

MSW for Nagaland learners

STUDENTS’corner

My 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 DISCOVERelectricity.Einstein, I made you IMAGINErelativity.Darwin, I made you EXPLOREdiversity.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 whohas earned a Certificate in the

Teaching of English (CTE),B.A.(English), a Diploma in Creative

Writing in English (DCE) and aCertificate in Guidance from IGNOU

‘People’s University’

Lt Col Vias Gulati successfullycompleted his MBA (HR) from

IGNOU. For him, “This is the onlydistance learning universitywhich has not diluted itsstandards and values in amarket-driven highereducation scenario.”“I appreciate the Uni-

versity’s vision of ‘ThePeople’s University’ in anenvironment where most of the univer-sities are beyond the reach of a com-mon man,” adds Lt Col Gulati.

Lt Col ViasGulati.

The workshop in progress.

Empowered,enlightened!

The Nagaland Gandhi Ashram building.

factoids 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.

Prof elumalai invited to

advise Agriculture ministry

Professor K.Elumalai of

the School ofLaw (SOL) was in the team of expertsrecently invited by theAgricultureMinistry to

discuss the proposed amendments toMulti-State Cooperative Societies Act2002. Union Agriculture Minister SharadPawar presided over the meeting held atKrishi Bhawan, New Delhi, recently.

Noted economist Dr Y.K. Alagh wasalso present at the meeting.

Prof. Elumalai, who has been selectedto lead the UNDP Action Group Forum on‘Strengthening Cooperative Acts forFinancial Inclusion and Micro-finance,’made valuable suggestions for bringingqualitative changes in the CooperativeSocieties Act 2002 and submitted hisviews and suggestions in writing to theMinistry.

The Ministry informed Prof Elumalaithat his services may be further availedat the stage of drafting the Bill.�

travel concession for students

On-campus students will getconcessional fares for train travel

anywhere in the country, Vice ChancellorV.N. Rajasekharan Pillai announced onFebruary 24. “The Railway Board hasagreed to give travel concession withimmediate effect to students enrolled inFace-to-Face programmes and will placethem on par with their counterparts ofother central universities,” said ProfPillai. The move will positively impactenrollment in the next admission session.


MILESTONESONcampus

HIGHLIGHTS

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.

Borderless education

FRIDAYMarch 1908:00: NITTTR: 16mmmotion film projector16:00: IGNOU-SOCIS:BIT/ADIT -106 VE : Infor-mation System Security 20:00: UGC/CEC: PSYCHOLOGY: Counseling InterviewModule – I, Hypnotherapy – 1, Understanding Depression16:00: Introduction toDrug Chemistry

SUNDAYMarch 2105:30: UGC/CEC: Music, Arts & Culture:Bagh Cloth Printing: A Living Legend09:30: UGC/CEC: Career Watch: Disha – AirlinesGround Staff, CareerUpdate – Web Technology21:00: PHE-06, Applications of the First Law of Thermodynamics

TUESDAYMarch 2312:00: Bhasha Mandakini (Sanskrit):Sanskrit LanguageTeaching-82, Nyaya18:30: NIOS: 1. Profit & Loss2. Banking System (Hindi)21:00: IGNOU-SOCE: The Process involvedin Palliative Care forthe HIV/AIDS Infected21:30: IGNOU: Practical Music - Part-1

THURSDAYMarch 2508:00: NITTTR: CHD-228: Melody of rhythm 09:30: UGC/CEC: Language/Literature:Panineeya Astadhyay-eeki Adhyyan – VI, Chitra Kavita

SATURDAYMarch 2808:30: IGNOU-SOCE:Emergence of Profes-sional Social Work11:00: UGC/CEC: Career Watch: Conference Organizers:Young Entrepreneurs,Modelling as a Career

WEDNESDAYMarch 3109:30: CEC/UGC: Botany/Agriculture:Role of Algae in Bio-prospecting — II Mushrooms22:30: Growth And Development of MutualFunds in India

[Not to be

MissedWatch a special programme

on Women Empowermentat 21.00 p.m. on Wednesday(March 31). The passage of thehistoric Women’s ReservationBill in the Rajya Sabha, theUpper House of Parliament, is an inspirational trendsetterfor women’s empowerment.

]

Prof K. Elumalai

Forthcoming eventsn march 23: induction of B.ed. learners, Udaipur.

n march 22-27: national Workshop on ‘self-

Learning materials Development: Alternative

models of course Development in the chang-

ing 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.

open letter march 2010

Documents

inclusive education

onmainstream education

convocation day

ignou open letter

entire ignou community

year of hardwork

worldslargest university

great success