The Consulate General of the Republic of Turkey and his wife, Mrs Kubra Altinors invited us at a reception in connection with the 96th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Turkey. A lovely evening meeting many old friends and enjoying the vast spread of Turkish cuisine.
A very happy Deepawali to each and every one. I hope and pray the lights and diyaas of Deepawali dispel the darkness of ignorance and bring in the bliss of light to every one's life.
Delivered the key note address in the National Seminar on Post Independent India, A historical analysis, organised by the Departmental of History, St. Ann's College, Osmania University. It was nice to interact with Dr. Anuradha Reddy, the Convenor of INTACH, an old friend. Enjoyed listning to young scholars make their presentation. Very happy to see my scholar Rizwan and Maria Lizbeth Antony from the History Department making their presentation with a lot of Confidence. St. Ann's College for Women is a pioneer institution in the twin cities and it is a very interesting institution where the Management is Christian, the faculty Hindu and majority of the students Muslims. It is a true example of the syncretic culture for which Hyderabad is well known. I have had a long association with the College. Thanks Smita Asthana and Meeta Joshi for having me at the Conference.
The University of Hyderabad celebrated its twenty first convocation today, with Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology giving the convocation address. Very happy to see my student receive his Ph. D degree in Gender studies. Yuresim finally you did it man. Proud of you. Sai Kumar and Deepa congratulations. Met many others who got the degrees and gold medals. This year 1554 students graduated and 264 received their Ph. D degrees. Along with this were 162 medal winners. The convocation is the festival of the University and it was indeed an amazingly beautiful ceremony. The girls in their white sarees and the boys in the kurta pyjamas, some in dhotis and with the University Angavastram looked very elegant. The convocation takes me down memory lane where I have seen so many of my students get their degree. After this, I worry about how these students will be placed and then how they conduct themselves and work in the new place. Very happy to look back and see most of my students very successful. Eight of my students have permanent jobs and are teaching in different Universities in India. My history students have done well. Padma Akella, my first Ph. D student in history in 1996, is a well known Gender experts and worked with Mahila Samakhya and has published few books. MC Raja from 1997,teaches at Annamalai University. Remembering Sri Lakshmi who was a very upcoming scholar but lost her life too early after she moved to Canada.She had published a book after her Ph. D. Lavanya is teaching at Osmania University, Harish Srinivasa is at Allahabad University, Hmingthan Zuali is teaching at Mizoram University and I felt happy when in my last visit to the University I was told she is the Gender expert in their University. One faculty told me your Academic daughter (heard the term first time), is doing very well. My Gender studies students S. Jeevanandam and Archana are teaching in Sikkim University and Sankarsan is teaching at Behrampur University. Barnali Das is teaching at Dibrugarh University.Vitso is in a College in Nagaland, Sarmishta in a college earlier, Meenal with a NGO in Gauhati. Many others are working in Colleges and NGO's. Looking forward for the other students in the Que, Karan Palsaniya, Rizwan AHMAD, Pooja Chetry, Pabitra Sharma, Pavitra Molugu, Kishore, Urvijaya and Nimitha to submit soon and get your degrees fast and get settled in life.
