[www.keralites.net] Outgoing college heads leave an enduring legacy!

 

Outgoing college heads leave an enduring legacy Yogita Rao       Old Guard At Reputed Institutions Were In Class Of Their Own: Experts Principal Manju Nichani has seen around 40 batches of graduates in her long association with south Mumbai's KC College. Next February, along with graduating students, Nichani too will bid goodbye to the institution that has been her home for 16 years. Nichani is representative of a generation of academic administrators at well-known institutions who are bowing out.Earlier last year, Father Frazer Mascarenhas retired as principal of the iconic St Xavier's College and this August, HR College's principal Indu Shahani, also known for her stint as Mumbai's sheriff, called it a day .T Shiware of KPB Hinduja College and Harsha Mehta of Sion's SIES College, too, retired recently after over a decade at the institute. These principals have not only contributed to the betterment of their colleges, but left a mark on academia. St Xavier's autonomous status, granted during Father Mascarenhas's tenure as principal, was the first successful example of autonomy being accorded to an educational institution in the city , said MA Khan, registrar, Mumbai University . Father Mascarenhas is modest about it, though. He said the college's achievements were a result of the faculty's team efforts. "We set the trend for others by getting autonomy first. We found it really worthwhile in improving the quality of education," he said, adding it is good that the old guard is giving way to the newer generation. "We have made our contribution, now it is for younger people to take newer initiatives and take the institute to a newer level." Nichani, on her part, said she will miss students the most."I will leave a lot behind once I leave the campus but I am ready to take on new roles. Since education is my forte, I intend to start an NGO or get into fulltime education consultancy ." Khan said these principals have developed successful structures in their institutions."With limited resources, they have taken the institutes to a different level and set an example. Though these institutions will continue to function as before, there will certainly be a vacuum till the newer principals establish their own ground," he said. Sociologist Nandini Sardesai, who was with Xavier's for 28 years, said she has worked with five principals. "These colleges already have a certain tra dition and norms in place. These will not die as soon as the principals leave. Things will continue. But the principals have earned a certain reputation and there is always hope that the next person will be good too.Principals contribute a lot to the betterment of a college," said Sardesai. " After retiring from Xavier's, I have worked with several colleges, inclu ding KC. Manju gives freedom of flexibility to teachers and is very encouraging too." KC's alumni like filmmaker Vipul Shah and politician Ranjitsinh Mohite-Patil remember her contribution. Mohite-Patil, who was her student in the early 1990s, said she was known for her strict demeanour in class and her involvement in college events. Shah attributes the college's success to her initiatives. HR's Shahani, who is now chief mentor of the college, said she could have continued as its principal, but decided to move on. "I am very excited about the new role as the founding dean of the Indian School of Management and Entrepreneurship," she said. Harsha Mehta, who retired from SIES after 11years as principal, has been appointed as director of SIES institutions' social responsibility projects. Shiware has now moved to another institute as its director but continues to be chairman of the Principals' Association of Non-Government Colleges.

 

 

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