Standing tall at 90

9 decades of edn @ Koti Women’s College

Hyderabad: It was an unforgettable day for the students, teachers and alumni of the Osmania University College for Women (OUCW) as they celebrated 90 years of establishment of the college here on Wednesday.

Presence of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states Governor ESL Narasimhan added more grandeur to the celebrations. The audience was taken by surprise when the governor said he was happy for the catcall from the students during his inaugural speech.

“Wherever I go, people clap or say namastey (hello), but I never receive catcalls from any one. I am thankful to you for making me happy,” Narasimhan said with a grin on his face.

The governor said that catcalling and booing were a part of student life. He urged the students not to miss out the best part of student life. “You have to enjoy moderately and have to excel in academics as well. Once student’s life comes to an end, it’s hard to bounce back,” he added.

Narasimhan said women’s education was very critical in the country and he added that he was happy that the OUCW was devoted to women education. “If a woman gets educated the entire family and society gets educated. This college is doing an exemplary job in the field of education,” he added.

The governor confessed to the students that he had been the poorest student in physics and that had made him switch over to the political science stream.

Narasimhan said that teachers’ achievement comes when the students say that they were taught by their teachers in college. “No matter where you reach in life, you owe your achievement to your teachers. I am what I am just because of the foundation laid by my teachers in school and college,” he added.

He appealed to the students to have a positive attitude towards life. “Chalo yaar kya ho raha hai, kya hota hai attitude should be driven out of the mind. The youth needs to have a sense of pride, commitment and ownership as they are the future of the country. Students should never forget the institution that they have studied in,” said the governor. He requested the college management to have feeder school.

G Sateesh Reddy, director, Research Centre Imarat, said that the country was losing its grip in life sciences, physics and chemistry while focusing on specific fields only. “It is need of the hour that all the sciences should be equally given attention,” Reddy said.

He stated that there was no support from the institutions though defense organisations were making 90 per cent indigenous missiles.

“In the developed countries, core research takes place in the academic institutions. Universities should focus more on the research and knowledge base should be increased on daily basis,” Reddy appealed.

Prof. B T Seetha, principal, OUCW informed that various programmes have been arranged as part of the celebrations. She said that apart from the art and science exhibition, there would be competition for other women colleges.

“School students in the surrounding areas can go through the exhibits. The historical structures in the college will be illuminated. Classical dance, singing and other cultural programmes are scheduled for the three day celebrations which will conclude on Saturday,” she enlightened.