Dear Friends,
Here I share some of the responses to my earlier two mails- Horror at Goa University and Goa Scholars calls for the battle. My thanks to all of you and request to be with me in this battle. Since some of you have expressed wish to meet up with the director and urged me to take appointment in this regard, I must tell you'll that director of Centre for Latin American studies, Goa University, Goa is exteremely secretive and does not tolerate any member of public questioning him. I have a humiliating experience twice, first when on 18th February 2005 he told my brother with me to get out of the office. It is only when I protested that I would walk out along with my brother that he was rendered helpless. Then he insulted and humiliated him as well. Then when my family decided that for the proposed meeting in the University on 7th March 2005 my brother too be along with me; the suggestion was not only shot down but also attempts were made to arm-twist him. Hence this meeting was boycotted.
In this situation I am in no position to take appointment on behalf of anybody. Here therefore I share some details with you'll to get across to the Director yourselves.
Prof. V. Shivkumar, Director, Centre for Latin American Studies, Goa University, Talegao Plateu, Goa 403 206 INDIA Phone: 91-832-2451347 Extn 244 Fax: +91-832-2451184
Residence Phone: 91-832-2452366 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Fight against Academic abuse in Goa has just began: express your thoughts, gather your courage and come forward.
My remaining fellowship amount of over 18,000/- is not yet released. My percentage for theory papers have been 67% and my thesis director claims is of 8th standard boy. And now claims he said it casually! Look at the quality of casual talk- absolutely sickening and not speak about demoraling agenda he carries along with as his life mission. It is now upto thinking and daring public teach this director a lesson sooner the better. Or else harrasment to young research scholars in the name of sancrosanct Academics will continue unabated.
In Solidarity, Sebastian Rodrigues, Research Scholar, Centre for Latin American Studies, Goa University, Goa. Phone: (R) 91-832-2272164 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Here are some responses I reproduce for further debate and action.
dear seby,
I am with you for your struggle for justice, I can understand the level of furstration that chokes thee, Academics is no longer a temple of knowledge, it's business time my friend ... the survival of the 'fittest manipulator.' Degrees are for sale including PhDs or come with a price to pay... and mind you i am not talking of hard labour. Registering for a PhD is akin to joining the slave market... judge this with the countless people mascarading with doctorates. They have learnt to crawl when meerly asked to bend. This way the best manipulators surive ... academicians welcome to the world of social butterflies. God help our education system, as for me i state that i was born intelligent but the education system has killed it.
regards
beethoven.
Dear Seby,
Work is thy duty, reward is not thy concern. This is what Krishna said to Arjuna at Kurushetra. You have to perform your duties of standing up to these people who have hegemonistic designs. You should not let these power mongers have a free time. And don't let such psycophants trample you. I can sense corruption and fraud in this university. There is definitely something wrong with this situation. How come this centre has produced only one Ph.d student in last so many years. why are they throwing tantrums in releasing your money (meant for "public" consumption). How come your '"8th standard thesis'' got "wiped out" from the computer, assuming everything else was intact. Why should knowlege be a domain of few "selected" people. Somebody has to standup to this unbridled fury. I'm happy, as usual, that you are the torch bearer. keep walking. Main Akela hee chala tha; Jaanib-e-Manzil Magar, Humsafar miltey gaye; Aur Kaarvaan banta gaya
(All alone I took the vagrant path towards my destined goal;But people kept joining me
And it became a caravan.) --- Majrooh Sultanpuri
Keep up your fight against this gross injustice. I am with you.
Happiness always,
Satish
Lets take stock of the use/misuse of funds.Trust that the current posture would bring in a discernible segment of the Goan Public to peep boldly into the innards of University functioning. Regards,
Gerry.
February 22 2005
Dear Seby,
Greetings !
Though I must confess that this is nothing new in academic institutions - temples of learning - in India but I am happy to know that people has not yet stopped responding to it. So, I must congratulate you for taking up cudgels against it and bringing it in public even at the cost of your own academic future. You know this is the story everywhere and sometime I wonder how are we going to get past this. This is one of the things killing the academics and teaching standards in India. And I think there is a need to open up this question in all walks of life. I have experienced this in functioning of NGOs who often talk about rights and fight for human values but fail to practice the same in their own organisations or homes. It brings me to the question of ethics and a culture of open space leading to greater transparency and accountability which would go a long way in building trust in society. I often wonder if we could something about it. I am sure you must be dwelling on it and this is one of the steps you have taken up. All the best.
In solidarity
Madhuresh
Dear Mr Rodrigues,
We, at University Today, have a procedure for accepting `news' (if news it is that you cared to send us).. Since we are not familiar with you we request you to kindly contact our authorised correspondent at the following address and we shall revert to you soon. Mr M K Jos 22, Municipal Market Dr Pissulekar Road Panjim (Goa) 403001 Phones: (0832)-224285; (0832)-223528 Send us all your papers if you have any.
Regards,
Sincerely,
C S Kalra
Editor
University Today
Dear Sebastian,
Interesting article
It would be nice to use it on the TGF website http://www.colaco.net <javascript:ol('http://www.colaco.net');>
if you grant permission. Could you please send me a small write-up & jpeg of yourself
and a bit more of the background to this situation
grateful
jc
Dear Sebastian
I remember at one time, the early eighties and late seventies, the School of Planning and Architecture was a crazy place under a similar mad leadership. We did have some good people, but they seemed to be pushed out or left out of choice. It seems that the issue that you raise in the Goa unvibersity seems to reflect how institutions fall into a mess and become the non-creative spaces and places than the opposite. Architecture studies, being so subjective and ideologically driven, often around a modenist theory, was very succeptible to such victamization. You might have seen "In which Anne Gives them Those ones/..." Arundathi was a year senior and hence I could identify with lot of the personalities she showed in the film. A request though, in all these difficult times, and I look forward to the views of Curt and Sadan on this, espicially if they differ. Can we keep such mails sent to our personal emails, rather than the general urban list? That way, the urban list can be focused on to issues of contest, of new economies posing new challlanges for politics, forms of surviellece in cities and other city based issus. I hope this is fine?
Cheers
Solly
Dear Solly,
Sebastian and Sadan, I would agree with Solly, in suggesting that Sebstian's recent postings be kept as personal circulations or re-directed to another mailing list that might address your concerns better. They are definitely of interest, but the Urban Study Group list is composed largely of architects, planners, students and others working on issues pertaining to Urbanism. I do not request this merely because the content of your postings is not appropriate to the subject to the list--I, above all, request this so that you may gather a better response to your postings in an online community that is invested in some of the important issues that you are raising. Solly and I both are extremely uncomfortable with silencing anyone on the list, but, Sebastian, I think there may be other lists that would address your concerns better. What do you think?
Regards,
Curt
Dear Curt and Solly,
Thanks for the responses. Could you'll suggest some lists on which this posting could go? I am yet to know the appropriate ones dealing with the issue that I have raised. I am sure you'll respond to me quickly!
Cheers!
Seby
Dear Sebastian,
I am not sure off the top of my head. But let me ask. Maybe Solly we will be more helpful in that regard.
Curt
Way to go, Seby! I'm inspired by the support you have garnered and the results you are reaping. Never again will I sink into apathy. Though one should never say never! If there's anything I can eventually do...
Your friend,
Anjoli
Dear Seby,
I would be glad to accompany you if you decide to meet the Director in person to seek a clarification in the matter for the purpose of factual record.Do give me some advance intimation on phone.
Regards,
Gerry.
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