Bhubaneswar, May 11: The Odia version of the book ‘Transforming Academic Institutions’ authored by Prof. Rajeev Sangal, eminent academician and former Director, IIT-BHU, Varanasi, was released at a program held at the SOA Deemed to be University here on Saturday.
The book, titled ‘Shikshanusthanara Rupantaran’, has been translated into Odia by Prof. (Dr.) Nachieketa K. Sharma, Professor of Physics and Director, International Relations and University Outreach Program, SOA, and Ms. Bishnupriya Pani.
Prof. Sangal, who is also the former Director of IIIT, Hyderabad and former acting Vice-Chancellor of BHU, delivered the keynote address on the theme ‘Transforming Educational Institutions through Compassionate Leadership and Human Touch’. Prof. Damodar Acharya, Chairman of SOA’s International Advisory Board, former Director, IIT Kharagpur and former Chairman, AICTE, and Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of SOA also spoke on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Sangal said any educational institution could be understood at three levels—systems, culture and values. “These levels are not separate, in reality, the factors of one level are connected with those at another and deeply influence one another,” he said.
Quoting the founder of BHU, Mahamana Madan Mohan Malviya, Prof. Sangal said the purpose of a university was not limited merely to producing engineers, scientists, doctors, businessmen or theologians. Rather, it was to create individuals of character, integrity and dignity whose daily conduct reflected the spirit of a great university, he said.
Prof. (Dr.) Sharma, the translator of the book, highlighted the challenges involved in translating scientific and technology related texts into Indian languages due to lack of standardization, limitations in equivalent terminology, and the dominance of oral traditions and commutative nature of Indian languages.
Stressing the need for linguistic openness, he observed that Odia, like English, should willingly adopt useful foreign words to enrich its vocabulary rather than searching for unnecessary substitutes.
Prof. (Dr.) Sharma pointed out that Odia had been selected as one of the six Indian languages under the Language Centre Project of the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) Division of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, with the project being entrusted to SOA Deemed to be University.
‘Shikshanusthanara Rupantaran’ was based on Prof. Sangal’s experiences and experiments as Director of IIT-BHU and acting Vice-Chancellor of BHU, he said adding it emphasized the importance of trust, respect, care, patience, generosity and service in shaping educational institutions and nurturing students with character and integrity. Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students’ Welfare), proposed the vote of thanks.
