M. Yurreisim my Ph. D student from Gender studies defended his Ph. D thesis on, Narratives of violence against women in armed conflict a case study of Naga women in Manipur and was awarded his Ph. D and he became my 16th Ph. D student in both History and Gender studies to be awarded a Ph. D degree. However, I would place this viva in a different category for it was a new experience for me. Prof. Rosemary Dzuvichu from Nagaland University and a former director of the Women's Studies was appointed the external examiner and she had given the date earlier on in July and then on 6th August. The student had come to Hyderabad from Manipur and was waiting for the viva. . On, 3rd,I got a message from the examiner that due to some unavoidable reason she could not come and she was cancelling her tickets but she could conduct the via through Skype. I went into panic and this being a Saturday Sunday did not know what to do. Asking a new examiner would take again so much time. I rang up the Chief Examination officer as to what I should do and he informed me that the University had earlier passed a resolution in the AC and we could conduct the viva through Skype. I did not want to waste the time of the student and on Monday, I was told that I needed to get permission for this. I really feel very happy that our University has such a good and efficient system and does accept things even if they are not done in the old fashioned way. Since the viva was on Tuesday, I did not have time for the paper work and I just sent a mail to my VC, CEO and the Dean and decided to go ahead. I soon got a reply from the CEO that we can go ahead. Though every thing was set, I could not sleep during the night. I was having nightmares that suddenly during the viva voice, the current would go, the Skype connection will snap, or we could not connect to Nagaland and this could not be completed. I am very happy to report that every thing went very smoothly, and the whole proceedings were recorded, to be handed over to the examination branch. This was a new experience for me but at the end of it I am in two minds and not sure if I will prefer this method. Yes, this does save a lot of money, for the University did save the airfares, the accommodation, boarding and lodging expenses but as a supervisor, I was under a lot of tension. As the student kept presenting, I was afraid some thing may go wrong and the examiner would not be able to ask the questions and complete the viva. I wanted the student to finish his presentation fast and was very restless through out this time and could not enjoy his presentation. I also feel that through this method the student looses an opportunity to interact with the examiner on a one to one basis. These are students beginning their career and interacting with the expert who are very senior, having lunch with them gives them a lot of learning, an acquaintance and definitely a memory to cherish for ever. Technology does not give this personal touch. May be in future when Universities face resource crunch they will prefer this as a mode of examination but the human touch will be totally lost. So I would like to use this technology only as an exception, when there is no other way out but I would still vote for the old fashioned way where the examiner is present before you and you have an eye to eye contact and then you defend your thesis. Any way a great and new experience. The icing on the cake was when the examiner sent me this note on what's app after the viva, Prof Rekha I am glad .The scholar has done good work.Its very rare to have a Naga scholar in gender studies research and he has done good work.Not easy too to record those stories of violence and he has done it.We will meet up for sure. Welcome it was my pleasure.Regards.
Oh what a day!!!! It has drained me completely.
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