The Autonomous Status Committee visited the college today in an effort to assess if the college has the necessary credentials to be granted autonomy. It is yet another step forward for the institution.

The panel interacted with the faculty and elucidated on the advantages and disadvantages of the autonomous status from the faculty's point of view. They sounded the warning bell that while a lot of freedom may come in the academic organisation, it may also entail more work, longer work hours and more effort from teachers...are we ready for the transition.

Well, having been through the long and arduous process of TEQIP, it was felt by all that this was a challenge that teachers could accept, albeit with a little hesitation and reservation.

However, there under TEQIP if the effort was more to improve the infrastructure, here the effort would be to learn to be dynamic leaders, administrators and constantly learning teachers.

Teachers here are the focus of attention, since on their shoulders rests the success of the autonomy status which offers students more flexibility and choice.

I feel that everything has to be given time to be assessed. Will autonomy be good? Or better still, effective? Time alone can be the best judge. In the meantime should I remember Tennyson's 'Ours is not to reason why, But to do and die? '

I keep telling this, but I cannot tell it but once more...the rainwashed campus is one of the most serene sights I have ever seen in Salem...and sometime back, one of the trees in the large open space between the admin block and the computer science block had bloomed and the fragrance of the flower laden tree made me think that there were some trees that were trying to commune through their fragrance. The fragrance on this tree was light, subtle and yet lingering...The road near the Metallurgy department was laid afresh. It looked so neat and clean.

I do believe the canteen fare is sometimes quite bland...this, in spite of the fact that at times, it offers delicious food ...sometimes...I think, the quality is compromised when quantity demands it.

The college is awash with drenched trees and open grounds. The damp smell and wetness is so refreshing, considering the fact that I live in an urban jungle.
The online examination went off with considerable comfort for the third year students. The exams were conducted from 7 to 10 for the lab sessions, owing to the power crunch faced by Salemites.
All practical examinations are going on in all departments. So, the campus is silent for the most part.

This Saturday has been a wonderful experience for me...I listened to one of the distinguished speakers in English - Dr. Noel Irudhyaraj of Bharathidasan University. He is a walking encyclopedia of English Language Theories. He took us through the entire gamut of syntax, pragmatics, competence, skills with respect to the reading skills. It was a revelation as to how knowledge gives a speaker the power to convince people. He knew etymologies like the lines on his palms; he knew the theorists as if they were reared in his home; he knew theories as if they were learnt at his mother's knee. Academics like these are a rarity and should be cherished for their knowledge.

All said and done, at the end of the day, the teacher depends on her/his own strengths and resources considered as best suited for the class he/she handles.

As for the campus, everything is quietening down for the exams. One sees students in droves running arund tying up all the loose ends of class work.

What one does not see this time of the year are the butterflies which used to move in thousands across the vast spaces of the college. What is happening? I hope some naturalist has an answer to this question. I really do miss this sight this year.