The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Despite being a Ph.D., he is struggling for survival

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 04, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Despite being a Ph.D., he is struggling for survival

Anil Kumar Sastry

KPSC thinks Ambanna Dhavalara
is not fit to be a lecturer

DIGNITY OF LABOUR: Ambanna Dhavalara issuing tickets.

BANGALORE: When people travelling by North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) buses in Sindagi Taluk, Bijapur District, buy a ticket, they may not be aware that the conductor has a Ph.D. in History.

Ambanna Dhavalara, M.A., M. Phil., P.G. Diploma in Dr. Ambedkar Studies and Ph. D. is working as a conductor in NWKRTC’s Sindagi depot. It is not as if he chose to remain a bus conductor, but sheer lack of opportunities and economic compulsions made him stick to his job.

Born at Khanapur in Sindagi taluk in 1968 to Mallappa and Maremma, Dr. Dhavalara had his early education in Khanapur, did his high school and PUC in nearby Golageri, his B.A. in Sindagi, and higher studies in Karnatak University, Dharwad. Amidst penury and hunger, he continued his education thanks to scholarships and hostel facilities offered by the Government.

Unlike many malcontents grumble, “what has our country done for us?”, Dr. Dhavalara admits he owed a lot to the Government which met his educational needs.

Right from his degree course in Sindagi till he completed his doctoral studies, he stayed in government hostels and received scholarships. As his was a child marriage, he had to sustain a family too all the while.

After completing his postgraduate degree in history, he got selected as a trainee conductor in NWKRTC in 1997. Soon he got an opportunity to pursue his doctoral studies under S. Rajashekhar of Karnatak University.

Although he had informed the NWKRTC management about this, he was dismissed from service in 2002. Upon his plea, the then NWKRTC Managing Director S.S. Sohrab revoked his dismissal in January 2003.

Mr. Sohrab in his order said that having an employee who had done Ph. D. was a matter of pride for the corporation.

“I have a large family to look after, including my parents, my brother and my wife and children. Despite having excellent academic qualifications, I am unable to get the right job and am continuing with this to sustain the family,” Dr. Dhavalara told The Hindu.

Although he appeared for an interview for the post of a degree college lecturer conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recently, he was not selected. “Younger and less qualified candidates got selected,” he said and he had requested the KPSC to “undo the injustice”.

“I work on routes within Sindagi taluk covering villages. Most passengers are unschooled and I attempt to educate them and keep them informed of the latest happenings around the world. This way, I am satisfying my urge to teach,” was what he had to say about job satisfaction.

For his attempts to use Kannada language and spread it, NWKRTC Bijapur Division presented him an appreciation certificate in 2004 on the occasion of Rajyotsava.

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

Karnataka