Directorate of Technical Education is nearing its golden jubilee. Plans are afoot to make it a memorable year since technical education in Tamil Nadu has gone a long way in offering to the country quality engineers from its very humble beginnings. Committees are being formed to celebrate the academic and co-curricular achievements in a big way. Any suggestions from our alumni would be welcomed since they are one of the major strengths of GCE. The alumni can perhaps think about a Golden Jubilee Alumni Scholarship for the first rank holder among the freshers admitted to various disciplines. Merit cum Means might also be considered. Was just thinking aloud.

The principal today congratulated the two of us - Dr.Senthilkumar/EEE and me for the doctorates. It felt a little funny to be called Dr.Chitra Lakshimi. It sounded like someone else. Perhaps, I have to learn to accept it. The thesis was on material design for a Value Education Programme for engineering students using the Harry Potter books. Four main elements of the thesis were establishing that the witches and wizards of HP are innovative, identifying the entertainment values, identifying the educative values and finally designing model lesson plans to imbibe values through discussions, reflection, introspection etc. The teacher is here only a facilitator, infact, there just to keep the ideas rolling in. I believe democracy in expressing one's ideas will clarify one's values.

The Alumni of GCE is an active force and everyone of them who has received so much in life due to GCE wishes to give back something to their alma mater. Right now, under the stewardship of Mr. Rajkumar, lecturer in Civil Engg, and Placement Officer, the alumni are frequently being invited to the college. I am aware that they have contributed to the knowledge bank of students by camping at the college for three or four days before their placement activities begin, that is sometime in February to give intensive mock interviews and to groom them for their group discussions. They have also installed the massive hoarding of the college name last year. Financially, I am not aware if they fund any scholarships. There are some students who really need financial assistance and if some kind of help comes from the alumni it should be good. Also, like in other campuses, students who are well placed in companies must come forward to take up campus recruitment. That will be an excellent way to spread the good news about the excellence of GCEians.

GCE is all washed in the rains. First year exams are on. Am back in college after my viva and convocation. Seems strange that the Dr. will be appended to my name. Mr.Senthil Kumar of EEE has also obtained his doctorate from Anna University. It was a proud moment for both of us. I must thank GCE for the opportunity I got to take up doctoral studies and to pursue it these past four and a half years. I thank all my students and colleagues who were so encouraging and always wished well for me.

Exams are on and the first year kids are getting a little jumpy and nervous. My class rep, Hari is falling sick more often and has lost his smile. He looks grumpy and annoyed most of the time...must be the books that he is catching up with. :)
My class co-rep, Krithika is immensely talented and has done such fantastic posters for the Creative Assignments. I am sure that this child has her talents in the world of design and advertisemnts. God bless her.
I too am losing sleep over the impending doctoral committee meeting this week to fix the date for my viva. Am catching up with the Harry Potter books once again. It is really surprising how these books still hold my interest even after reading so many times. I feel it may be because an adult reader is constantly looking for new truths to emerge from these readings. Why cannot reading books be made a compulsory term assignment for all the engineering students?
Ever since newspapers were made mandatory at the hostel, I find students are indeed showing improvement, as one of my Civil Engg, students Raja confessed. He admitted that reading the Deccan Chronicle and the Indian Express has made him speak more confidently.