Autonomy hope

Medicos are looking forward to the first-ever batch of the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) after it was given autonomy by the state government last month.

The CBSE has declared its results and students will join the institute soon. However, the Jharkhand medical entrance results are yet to come. Students fear this would adversely affect the academic calendar.

“The session in our college is one year late and this is a major problem for students. Our batch-mates in medical colleges of other states have gone ahead of us as far as academic sessions are concerned. I think this is high time the government gives a thought on how to improve the session so that we don’t have to face difficulties,” said a student.

According to him, late entrance tests are delaying the academic sessions. “They (the state government) have not declared the results. It will probably take one more month for the entire process to be over. Then there will be counselling session. Classes of the first batch will not start before December. This session will definitely be delayed,” he said.

“We are planning to organise a grand freshers’ welcome for the newcomers. A large number of development projects are underway. Hostel rooms and toilets are being renovated. Boundary walls are being given a new look. RIMS will get a facelift in the near future,” said a final year student.

Besides late academic sessions, the students are facing many other problems. Many faculties do not have sufficient teachers. There is a shortage of staff at orthopaedics, paediatrics, medicine, pharmaceuticals and biochemistry departments. “Now that the government has decided to develop it on the lines of Delhi’s AIIMS, it should make an effort to strengthen the faculty. I have learnt that they are taking steps and I hope they do it fast,” said another student.

Back to basics

The students of Jamshedpur Women’s College (JWC) rolled back to the days when Sanskrit ruled Indian languages. The students got the taste of Sanskrit when they celebrated Sanskrit Day on the college premises recently.

Inaugurating the ceremony, chief guest O.P.S. Azad, principal KMPM Inter-college, expressed concern over the neglect of Sanskrit in the country. Speaking on the occasion, he rued that the language that originated in India is dwindling. He said the language is a source of extensive research in many western universities. There are universities in western countries which have included Sanskrit as a compulsory language, Azad added.

He said it is our duty to protect and popularise this fast declining language. The students put up a colourful cultural programme presented in Sanskrit. It comprised group song, Saraswati vandana or “Samvad paath.”

Later, the students also staged three skits— one highlighting the difference made between boys and girls and the other to welcoming the guests.

Notably, the central government has initiated a scheme “Sanskrit Sambhasan” with the human resource department’s support. The main objective is to revive the language. Ten students of the JWC, who underwent a month-long camp in Sanskrit, proved their dexterity in the language. The main feature of this camp is that all the participants would converse in Sanskrit only.

Freshers’ fracas

It was a chaotic situation at Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial College recently. Confusion reigned over the programme organised to welcome the freshers. Some student leaders of the Adivasi Chatra Sangh and Jharkhand Students’ Federation raised slogans in their bid to disturb the programme. The media and the invited guests waited for a little over an hour before the welcome ceremony began.

It was possible because college principal S.M. Razi asked the protesters not to create a ruckus. Apart from the guests, media, college faculty and some members of the Akhil Bharti Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), there was no one else inside the hall.

Even as principal S.M. Razi started his speech, the student activists entered the hall and started yelling slogans. The guests were confused and were short on ideas of what to do. Razi went on requesting the protestors to calm, but they seemed bent on creating problems. The programme concluded prematurely but not before ABVP’s Arvind Bhagat and former ABVP national president Dineshanand Goswami spoke their mind.

The activists said they were angry because they have not been informed about the programme. They asked where had the ABVP gone when the students of LBSM were facing problems.

Mass appeal

Mass communication students in Karim City College are gearing up for a busy spell. The department has lined up a number of activities.

Also, the college has prepared the academic calendar for the first, second and third year students. According to department officials, there would be no variations in the syllabus. The students, too, are happy because they can now at least know what is in the syllabus.

Besides the nitty-gritty of mass communication, the syllabus also has a place for sports and extra curricular activities. Officials said sports would not only freshen up the students, it would also break the monotony of the course.

Safe club

The Graduate School College for Women grabbed the opportunity of forming a SAFE Club of its own. They are already gearing up for the workshop to be organised on road safety.

Besides, they are also rehearsing for street plays. The management headed by principal Shukla Mahanty has come up with support for the club.Apart from the Graduate School College for Women, 40 schools have formed SAFE clubs.

Rafting glory

A 60-member Ranchi youths’ team of Hindustan Adventure Club participated in river-rafting contest organised by the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF). Group leader Amitesh Anand said the 30-km rafting along river Subernerekha began on August 8 from Joeda and ended at Domuhani.

Amitesh thanked mountaineer Bachendri Pal, who is also the chairperson of TSAF, for training them.