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? '