The new Commissioner of Technical Education, Shri. Kumar Jayanth, IAS, visited the college this morning. He spent some time in the Digital Library and then met the HODs and the Principal in the new conference hall. 

What I loved most about his informal interaction with the faculty was that he asked whether there were non-engineering books in the library and I was dying to tell him that we have some of the finest collection of good fiction, some of them rarely seen anywhere else. The long and short of it is that he urged teachers to encourage students to go beyond their text books and to develop a holistic attitude to life with a complete development of their personality. He wanted students to take part in sports and games. He suggested that students be given some awareness about making the right career choices and suggested that they be encouraged to take up research and  teaching as careers with a lasting value. 

Having come from a school that lays great importance to building lasting relationships with the faculty ( my school principals knew everyone in everyone's family and became one of the family for all of us), I used to find it an encouraging gesture when Commissioners interacted informally and desired to help us do our best. When a sense of loyalty and belongingness comes in one's teaching  job, then, I believe, only the best effort comes, much to the benefit of students. 

Today, the EEE students made their maiden ppt presentations. Some very interesting presentations were made...some of our students are naturals at facing an audience. There was Manikandan who simply gave some examples to explain inflation. There was a group that presented their guidelines for a wonderful college life that was as interesting as much as it was inofrmative. There was another group that presented their ideas on the 'sensational youths' as they called it...an amateur attempt that was sweet in its implicit trust in the ability of students to change the world. Only young people have this idealistic belief.

Powercuts are killing us in the college. We end up sweating and steaming through the classes, perhaps losing more water from the body as through a sauna. Hah...wish we had a cooler clime in Salem through the year.