Key Note Address at Namchi, Sikkim

 On 15th Novemeber, 2016,  delivered the key note address at the Namchi Government College, Sikkim, in the National Conference on Changing role of women in post Independent Indian society.I am very impressed with the infrastructure of Namchi College and the dress of the students.All the boys and girls wear the same dress trousers and shirts which are tucked in .The faculty went out of the way and I am very humbled by the love and affection show.The principal Dr.Pradhan is doing a very good job.They have a beautiful choir. My student Jeevanandam  also came all the way from Gangtok to meet me. Most of the faculty is very young.It is heartening to see each and every faculty involved in the seminar be it organising, picking and dropping guests, organising sessions and food and tea etc. Every one in the college is involved as if it is a personal family function of theirs.One has so much to learn from these places and I am very touched.I enjoyed listening to the papers and getting to know about Sikkimese society and culture. The English of most of the students is very good and the papers were also of a high standard.

Conference in Shimla

 On 25th Novemeber, reached Shimla to participate in a Conference on Childhood in History.  The weather was sunny and cold and after the session was taken around the Vice regal Lodge for a tour. Bonded with the participants. Shimla is one of the best places to visit in India if you love the chill in the hills. There was no snow but it was very cold. 

The road to Namchi in Sikkim

 Namchi is in the south of Gangtok.It and about 75 Km from Gangtok. It was a beautiful  journey amidst lush green thick forests.We crossed many tea gardens in the way and the roads were lined with wild cherry blossom trees.The roads are now being made wide and the mountains are being cut and hence the journey is through narrow roads with lot of rubble, stones and uneven pathways.The faculty at Namchi kept calling me to find out when I would reach. I told them to give me the address of the hotel and I would reach there directly and not waste their time waiting for me.They refused to listen and I found six to seven of the young faculty waiting to welcome me.I am indeed very touched by this emotional welcome and their   hospitality.

Good Bye Gangtok

 On 13th Novemeber said Good bye to Gangtok. Great  stay, beautiful hotel, lovely people and fantastic food.Here we come Namchi, Sikkim.

Lecture in In Sikkim University

 I have come to Sikkim to give a key note address in a Conference organised by Namchi college. I used this opportunity  to give a lecture in the History Dept.of Sikkim University on 12th November , 2016. Here my student Jeevanandam is working as an  Assistant Professor.I was very impressed with the discussion and  questions that followed  and then many M.Phil and Ph.d students came up and said they wanted to have a separate discussion with me on their Research.I found the students very interactive and inquisitive and very eager to learn.I felt very happy to see the progress made by Jeevanandam and the hard work that he is putting in.It is such a wondeeful feeling which cannot be expressed in words when my own research students introduce their research students to me  and tell me   that they are training their students based on the training  they have received from me and treat their students just as  I had treated them earlier.It was very nice of the Dept.to organise a dinner and I could meet the few faculty of theirs.

Ph.D defence of Archana

 My student Archana gave a defence for her thesis on 9th Novemeber, 2016. It is really nice to see the progress of students.She got married has now completed her Ph.D and has been blessed with a lovely boy.Picture at home are courtesy Suresh Pande.