Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, an ideal meeting place for students, research scholars and faculty members, sprawling over a campus of about seventy acres of land in a verdant valley of lush green foliage and flowers, has an internationally-acclaimed scientist like Prof Dr Madhumita Das as its Vice-Chancellor. Possessed with a winsome personality, Prof Das, who took over charge in August 2017 has a distinguished and meritorious record of thirty-eighty years of teaching and research experience besides having supervised one D.Sc. scholar, nineteen PhD scholars and twenty-two M.Phil scholars during her eventful career. As a noted genius in Geology, she has delivered keynote addresses and presented papers of much value and interest as a university delegate in countries like Japan, China, the UK, Sri lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Portugal, Norway, Australia and South Africa in addition to her high-value research contributions at home. Her publications in Peer-Reviewed International journals stand at seventeen while papers published in Peer-Reviewed National journals are one hundred twenty. An author of seven monumental scientific books to her credit, she is also member of editorial boards of international journals like Journal of Sustainable Planet, Science Horizon, Journal of Env. and Earth Sciences. She is widely acknowledged as an educational administrator of excellence in very many institutions of repute besides being Vice-President, South Asian Association of Women Geoscientists, life Member of Association of Geoscientists for International Development, Member of Third World Organization for Women in Science, Italy, Corresponding Member of Commission on Geosciences Education and Training. She is committed to catapult this citadel of learning to a higher growth trajectory by 2020 on the national scenario. In an interview to The Pioneer, Dr Das spoke to Sugyan Choudhury at Bhubaneswar about the manifold avenues this fledgling university is going to unfold for aspiring intelligent youths.
How do you think to tone up the academic environ of your universityIJ
Fakir Mohan University was established in 1999 named after Vyasa Kabi Fakir Mohan Senapati, who is regarded as the father of Odia nationalism and modern Odia literature. The has eight regular Postgraduate Departments. Recently, 10 new departments have been sanctioned by the Government of Odisha. The university has innovative pedagogical practices, good infrastructure and multidisciplinary academic programmes at PG, M.Phil and doctoral levels. Being located in a rural area, it delivers education to talented students from diverse backgrounds and develops them into professional leaders.
What’s on your agenda for strengthening research and development programmesIJ
The university uses a 'learning-centred' approach in its programmes. This has enabled our institution to create an environment that graduates students with well-developed intellectual skills in their fields of specialisation. Research is the foundation for knowledge that makes innovation leading to application. So in many departments, research projects are carried out funded by ICSSR, UGC, DRDO, DST&DBT of Government of India. Some projects lay emphasis on the social, cultural, economic and environmental impacts.
How do you contemplate to translate dreams of Fakir Mohan SenapatiIJ
Mother tongue reflects one’s culture and ethnic backgrounds. Encouraging students to learn Odia language would help them develop confidence, self-esteem and a unique identity within a multicultural society. This university is the most appropriate place to promote and strengthen research in Odia literature since along with FM Senapati, there were many legends of Odia literature in Baleswar like Kabibara Radhanath Ray, Kantakabi laxmikanta Mohapatra, Kabi Dinakrushna Das. The university has Odia, English and Urdu courses under the Department of language and literature. So in the Choice-Based Credit System, a compulsory non-credit course is being taught in all Humanities and Science departments. Seminars and workshops on Odia literature and culture are organised regularly. The university organised a cultural programme at Kharagpur to establish a cultural bond with Odias living in the neighbouring States. Steps are taken to translate all the short stories of FM Senapati into English and other Indian languages.
Your university is singularly fortunate to have Applied Physics and Ballistics as a major discipline. How are the students reaping benefits out of itIJ
This is a unique subject in the country which was the brainchild of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. Ballistics and applied physics play a very important role in the system design and construction of rockets, missiles and such weapon systems. There is an acute shortage of manpower in this area of specialisation and domain. So, the students have a huge scope for research. The department has research collaboration with PXE and ITR under the DRDO, whose officials also give invited lectures to the students on a regular basis.
Higher Education Minister Ananta Das has expressed concern over the phenomenon of less number of Odisha students being selected for IAS, IPS and such other national competitive examinations. What’ your responseIJ
The FM University has recently started a Civil Service Coaching Centre funded by the State Government. Unlike other aspirants who can dedicate a full year for UPSC preparation, those who prepare parallel for UPSC along with their PG course have time constraints. So, classes are held beyond class hours and holidays. Sixty students are selected through an entrance test and imparted lessons in general aptitude, reasoning and other domain subjects by reputed resource persons and professionals from within and outside the State.
How would you like to ensure discipline at the university campusIJ
Attendance in classes as per university norms is strictly adhered to and is a prerequisite to fill up the forms and appear at examinations. The university has a non-negotiable academic calendar which is strictly followed. Mid-term exams. along with extracurricular activities keep the students engaged round the year. Timely conduct of examinations, publication of results and distribution of original certificates are maintained. Unlike other universities, there is no Students’ Union election in this university. There are elections of Athletic Secretary, Cultural Secretary and Editor, Students’ Magazine only. So, campus is extremely peaceful.
What are your initiatives on the anvil for the universityIJ
Opening of 10 new departments by the Government is a great achievement for the university. The departments are Education, Commerce, Mathematics, Botany, Zoology, Geology, Geography, Chemistry, History and Archaeology and Mass Communication and Journalism.The university has received IDG (Institutional Development Grant) of Rs 17.4 crore for five years from the World Bank under the Odisha Higher Education Programme for Excellence and Equity (OHEPEE). The broad area of research is “Bioresource Management and Energy Conservation”. The university has received Rs 36 lakh from the Union Ministry of Environment & Forests for development of a botanical garden. The research projects undertaken by the faculties include restoration of horse shoe crabs, biodiesel production from Jatropa plants, hematological response to stress in human beings and intrusion detection system. The university has adopted Nuapadhi village, where community development programmes are undertaken through the NSS.
What are your visions for the university to place it among the country’s top hundred institutionsIJ
The heart and soul of university life is the possibility of generating new ideas that can address the most fundamental problems of humankind. Our effort through the work of the interdisciplinary schools and the contribution of the outstanding faculty members and students is to promote research in all its manifestations. In the years ahead, we hope to consolidate our past experiences and invest greater resources and efforts to enlarge our research programmes, promote greater interdisciplinary research, incentivise research projects that emphasise social impact; encourage research efforts that engage directly with local societies in Odisha in general and Baleswar and Bhadrak districts in particular and strengthen collaborations with the Central and local governments and participate actively in global knowledge creation opportunities in various disciplines:.