by N. Niranjan Nikam, Senior Journalist & Consultant, Centenary Celebrations 

It was an oft repeated utterance for the past one year. “We are on the threshold of celebrating the Centenary of the University of Mysore.” July 27 is the Foundation Day. It was on the same day in 1916, 99 years ago that the University of Mysore was founded. The day to herald the year-long celebrations had finally arrived. The hard work, dedication, devotion, sincerity and above all, commitment to the cause of the celebration of centenary on the part of the Vice-Chancellor Prof. K.S. Rangappa has made it possible.

The day dawned with a slight drizzle in the morning and we were worried. The clouds cleared at the right time. Hectic activity was going on to prepare the stage. Last minute instructions were flying back and forth. The countdown had begun for the arrival of the President of our country.

As the clock struck one, people started arriving. There was palpable tension in the air for most of us involved in organising the event. “Will the 10,000 seating capacity Amphi Theatre that was all decked up to receive the President be filled?” was the question uppermost in all our minds. However, the VC was fully confident that there would not be an inch of space left.

By 2’O clock, his predictions had come true. It was a sight to behold. The hard work of the past one year was paying off. I was worried whether the side wings would be occupied. But it was a joy to see every inch of space filled and also to see the real commoners and students sitting patiently for the arrival of the President.

Meanwhile, early in the morning, the names of the dignitaries who were to be seated in the front two rows had been identified and all their names pasted on the sofas. The students of the University College of Fine Arts, who were singing the Centenary Theme Song, came to the venue three hours before and rehearsed with the compere Prof. C. Naganna. The audio-visual team had set up their equipment and were testing. Lot of content had been provided to them to play while the audience waited for the function to commence.

The Police Band arrived well in advance and as the place for them was already earmarked, they went straight there and took up the position. Instructions were given to them that the moment the President arrives and walks to the centre of the dais to his designated chair, the National Anthem should be played.

Even as the clock ticked, came the news from the State Protocol Deputy Secretary that there would be a delay of at least half-an-hour as the President was visiting the Chamundi temple. It was also disclosed that he would change his dress at the Mandakalli Airport to dhoti and jubba to offer pooja to Goddess Chamundeshwari and then would change to formal dress at the Guest House of Abdul Nazir Sab State Institute of Rural Development (ANSIRD) on Lalitha Mahal Road. Hence, the delay was inevitable. We had no choice and hence we took the available time to fine tune the programme.

Backstage

First to arrive was R.V. Deshpande, Higher Education Minister and Pro-Chancellor, University of Mysore. Then the other dignitaries started arriving. All the six former Vice-Chancellors and Eminent Lexicographer Centenarian Prof. G. Venkatasubbaiah had arrived and were seated in the newly-furnished green room in the Amphi Theatre at Manasagangotri.

The messages were coming from the State Protocol Officer every ten minutes about the President’s convoy. Finally, the President arrived. The tall figure of Governor and Chancellor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala emerged from the car and I thought that the President would be coming next. But when the diminutive figure of the President, Pranab Mukherjee, neatly dressed in a close-collared coat stepped out from the same car, our joy knew no bounds, as at last our objective to have the function on the day the University was founded (July 27, 1916), had been achieved.

However, more drama was to unfold. The State Protocol Officer, the moment he arrived, announced that the Vote of Thanks had to be dropped, as the President was running late and he had to be in Bengaluru for the next function in the evening. The instructions to him had come in the form of a message from the President’s Secretariat. I had to run to tell the Police Band that they had to play the National Anthem the moment the President finished his address.

Just a few days before the function, the VC had to visit the Rashtrapati Bhavan to finalise the programme details with the President’s Secretariat. He told me, “I had spent a pleasant half-an-hour when I had gone to invite the President earlier. But sitting with Private Secretary, who was insisting on every minute details, made me sweat.” The VC had suggested two more names for the President to honour but it was turned down. Even though the VC had made a promise to the two prominent personalities, it had to be dropped.

Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, who was also to participate in the function, opted out at the last minute as he had to go to Delhi. The VC then wrote to the President’s Secretariat to include the name of Registrar Prof. C. Basavaraju. Incidentally, his name had been proposed along with other dignitaries to be included in the first list itself. The President’s Secretariat had, however, instructed us to drop his name to be seated on the dais. The permission was given at the last minute to seat the Registrar on the dais.

The decision to publish the book “Era of Enlightenment” (One hundred years of History of University of Mysore), penned by historian and former Vice-Chancellor of Goa and Mangalore Universities, Prof. B. Sheik Ali, was a really good one. However, the decision to also honour him was dropped as the President’s Secretariat said that there would not be enough time to do it as the list was already long. Hence, the VC had to reluctantly leave out his name.

It was also a momentous sight when the President saw the two centenarians Dejagow and Venkatasubbaiah. He looked at them open-mouthed as I escorted them and Prof. Rangappa briefed about their achievements.

The VC had asked the President’s Secretariat that Chief Minister Siddharamaiah should felicitate the President. But they were clear that the VC himself should felicitate the President.

In spite of the delay, the minute-to-minute programme was adhered to the last minute. One of those in the President’s Secretariat in the Navy Uniform, who was also giving instructions to us, told me in Hindi, “Kya Sir, aap itne buzurg log ko laye hain (referring to the two centenarians). Maine aisa function kahan be dekha nahin hoon.”

Even as the inauguration ended on a grand note by evening as we were mulling on the success, came the news that the former President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was no more.

The memories went back to 1995 when the Missile Man, and the Teacher as he would like to be remembered, was conferred the Honorary Doctorate by the University of Mysore.

Incidentally, Dr. Kalam was to inaugurate the Children Science Congress, in January next, during the Indian Science Congress to be hosted by the University of Mysore. Now, it is not to be.

NOTE: All things considered, it would have been most appropriate to have seated Prof. B. Sheik Ali on the stage since he was a Professor and Head of the Department of History in Manasagangotri, was the VC of two Universities; more than that he had authored the centenary remembrance book “Era of Enlightenment,” apart from being a venerable old man of 90 years age.— Ed

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / Friday – July 31st, 2015