The Hindu : Karnataka News : Gandhi, flora are themes this year

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 03, 2008
ePaper

Karnataka

Karnataka

Gandhi, flora are themes this year

Staff Reporter

Bangalore University launches two calendars in the Year of Mother Earth

— Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

FOCUSSING ON VALUES: Vice-Chancellor H.A. Ranganath releasing calendars brought out by Bangalore University in Bangalore on Wednesday.

Bangalore: Want to know the significance of January 9 in the Mahatma’s life? Or, are you curious to know the different varieties of medicinal plants that grow on the Bangalore University campus? Before you run to Google, check out the two calendars released by the Bangalore University to learn about these little-known facts.

Vice-Chancellor of Bangalore University H.A. Ranganath on Wednesday released two calendars — one on the flora of the campus and another on Mahatma Gandhi’s life.

Prof. Ranganath told presspersons that the calendar on the flora on the university’s campus was prepared by Prasaranga and Printing Press, while the calendar on Mahatma Gandhi was prepared by the Centre for Gandhian Studies.

“Both calendars are educative. While one gives details on the different varieties of endangered plants on the campus, the other gives facts about Mahatma Gandhi,” he said.

“The scientific fraternity has named 2008 as the Year of Mother Earth. We need to take steps to preserve what is rare and endangered. This way, we can educate people and expose them to the treasures of the university,” he said.

Sarvothama D. Kamath, director, Prasaranga and Printing Press, said the calendar on flora was different as it focussed on medicinal plants that flower on the university campus.

D. Jeevan Kumar, Director of Centre for Gandhian Studies, said the calendar on Mahatma Gandhi had rare black-and-white photographs that “were collected with difficulty”.

“This is the fifth edition. This year, the theme is ‘Mahatma — the true spirit of a nation’. Dates that were unique to his life have been highlighted. We take care not to repeat either the quotations or the themes,” he said.

He said the centre had started a postgraduate diploma in Gandhian Studies as an add-on course. “There has been good response to the course and we now have a full intake of 21 students.” To mark the 60th anniversary of the martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi, the centre has organised a two-day workshop on “The Gandhian Legacy”, in collaboration with the university’s National Service Scheme.

“We will release a compilation of 26 booklets on ‘Gandhians in our midst’ featuring personalities such as Amartya Sen, Rajendra Singh, H. Narasimhaiah, and Nittoor Srinivasa Rao,” he added.

Sanjay Vir Singh, Registrar; L. Radhakrishna, Registrar (Evaluation); and A.P. Ranganatha, University Syndicate member, were present.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News Update

Stories in this Section