Two days of incessant rain has taken a toll on hostel inmates of Utkal University. While most the hostel residents have left for their home ahead of the summer vacation, some chose to stay on in order to either prepare for competitive exams or enjoy ongoing IPL and upcoming Football World Cup. However, the rain took them by surprise as rainwater has entered most of the rooms in the hostels and those who stayed back are now regretting their decision. Some windows were partly broken by the strong winds and water has been pouring in the rooms.

Take a bow

Ranjit Naik, a Plus Two second-year arts student of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), has been selected by the Archery Association of India for the Advanced Training Camp being organised by the World Archery Federation to be held at Bangkok, Thailand, from June 6-20, 2014. The camp will help him prepare for the forthcoming Youth Olympic Games to be held in Nanjing, China in August 2014. His coach, Rajesh Hansdak, from KISS will accompany him. Ranjit has been selected to take part in the third Tata National Ranking Archery Tournament (TATA NRAT)-2014 to be held in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh from May 26 to June 2, 2014. Representing Odisha, he will participate in sub-junior, junior and senior categories. Selection for senior and junior teams of India for forthcoming International events will be made from among these archers of this tournament.

A 21-day summer camp was organised by sports department of Rourkela Steel Plant. Participants, including both school and college-going students, display their boxing and hockey skills that they picked up at the camp that concluded earlier this week. Pictures by Uttam Kumar Pal

US calling

Jayanta Majhi, hailing from Odisha’s primitive tribe Dongria Kondh and student of KISS has been selected for the US Cultural Immersion Institute. It is a US department of state programme implemented by World Learning. Jayanta will travel to the US on May 31 and will be back on June 23. During his trip to the US Cultural Immersion Institute, he will attend workshops on leadership and global issues, a complete home-stay with a US family and visit US landmarks including the Statue of Liberty. US World Learning will take full financial responsibility for Jayanta during his stay. He got this opportunity by achieving success in the subjective examination of US embassy.

Vision for future

The newly appointed vice-chancellor of the Fakir Mohan University, Shiba Prasad Adhikari, has a big vision for the institute as well as for the district. Besides emphasising on strengthening of the university’s basic affairs, he also stressed on the developing entrepreneurship in the district. He said: “Balasore is known for paddy, marine fisheries and aqua culture. We have to infuse the technical know-how among the beneficiaries for the better output. The ICAR (Indian council of agricultural and research) is extending financial support for the growth of these sectors and currently focusing on the eastern zone of India. We could utilise the financial resources. I have a plan to take the literary works of Fakir Mohan to international sphere. There are many other agendas on my card,” said Adhikari, who had been a professor of biotechnology at Utkal University for 23 years before joining Visva-Bharti in 2009. He was instrumental in starting the department of biotechnology at Utkal University.

A good read

The newly appointed vice-chancellor of the Fakir Mohan University Shiba Prasad Adhikari

An initiative named Walking Book Fairs is trying to inspire more and more collegegoers to read books. In Bhubaneswar, it held a one-of-its-kind event for promoting reading on May 25 near Info City Road. The event was aptly called Asa misi padhiba bahi (Come let’s read together). Book lovers, mostly college students and fresh graduates, were invited to come together to read their favourite book in a public space to inspire passers-by to get interested in reading. It is an innovative initiative by young duo Satabdi and Akshaya. They have travelled to 19 districts of the state in their van with books loaded in it. In order to promote reading, they display books in public spaces such as streets, roadside pavements, bus stops and other places where more and more people can have a look at books and buy them at a good discount.

New avenue

The University Grants Commission (UGC) approved the establishment of a centre in the Sambalpur University for study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy last week. This is expected to open new vistas of academic excellence in the Sambalpur University. This was a long-standing demand from varsity administration, which has been finally approved by the UGC under the 12th plan. “This is a welcome decision and a significant move. The students of the university will be benefited with this move, as this is a job oriented course,” said Saniram Kerketa, a research scholar.

Trail of talent

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Bhubaneswar, held its second convocation on May 23 at KIIT Convention Centre. On the occasion, an exhibition of well-designed creations titled “Tantu-2014” was inaugurated that showcased the creativity and talent of the students. The dignitaries appreciated the collections. The graduating students wanted to show their last exhibition before bidding adieu to their alma mater. They also hoped to inspire their juniors and leaving behind a memento.

Mass bunking

Lecturers in People’s College Buguda in Ganjam district expressed concern over absence of students in regular classes. Principal of the college, Jaya Krushna Sahu, in the parent-teacher association meeting said that many students were leaving from their respective houses to attend regular classes in the college, but were not turning up at the college. The meeting was held on May 25. A similar situation is prevailing at Utkal University of Culture, Bhubaneswar, where the faculty members are perturbed with mass bunking of the students. This is hampering the studies of the sincere students as teachers often refuse to teach a handful of them.