ADD-ON COURSE

Gandhian Studies

 Certificate course: Gandhi and Social Development

 I.            History :

The Gandhi study circle was started in 1961 with the idea of inculcating national values among the students.  Hence, the study circle formulated various programmes in which the students participate. Many members of the staff from varied departments have contributed to the success of this study circle.  To celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday on 2^nd October, students are informed well in advance of the essay writing competition to be held in the month of September.  Relevant books on Gandhi and nationalism are issued by the library well in advance so that students can prepare for the contest.   This exercise enables students to become aware of  Gandhi’s contribution to the nation. The outstanding essays are awarded prizes on the day of Gandhi Jayanthi.

In the year of 2005, when the NAAC  Committee  visited  the college, one of the members of the NAAC Committee Mr. Kuroop, Rt. Vice-Chancellor of Kerala University noticed the activities of the Gandhi study circle. He suggested the introduction of an Add-on course in Gandhian Studies.

Therefore on that recommendation the college authorities gave the approval to start a certificate course in Gandhian Studies. Under the initiation of Dr. T. Padma, Dept of Political Science, the Add-on course was inaguarated on 4^th September 2010. The inauguration took place in the HN Multimedia Hall and the chief guest was Sri. D.N.Anand. He laid the foundation for the Course by talking about Gandhian principles and its relevance in the contemporary scene.

II.            Present Faculty: 

Name of the Faculty : Dr.T. PADMA

Qualification:               M.A, Ph.D

University:                              BangaloreUniversity.

Designation:                 Lecturer. 

III.            Courses offered :

   Add-on course for students of I and III semesters of  BA/B.Sc/B.Com/BCA are eligible to join the Course.

IV.            Syllabus :

The syllabus is designed to give students a good knowledge about Human values and Gandhian Principles. This helps students to improve their attitude to Gandhi and his philosophy. It inculcates the right moral values in students. It teaches students to understand that doing Social service and field work is essential for self-development. It provides skills to handle Competitive exams like KAS, IAS.etc and equips them for higher education.

V.            Board of studies : 

Members of the BOS  in 2010 -2011

1. Dr. A.H. Rama Rao, President of NES                   Chairperson
2.  Dr. M.Leelavathi,  Principal, NCB                                    Course Director
3.  Dr. Padma, Dept. of Political Science                   Course Co-ordinator
4. Prof.H.K.Moulesh Controller of Examinations      Member
5. NSS Programme Officer                                        Member
6. Sri.D.N. Ananad, Vice President, NES,                  Member
7. Dr. P. Sadananda Maiya, Secretary, NES               Member
8. Dr. C.V. Venkatachalan                                         Member
9. Principal, NCJ                                                        Member

Special features of  the syllabus :

The Syallabus comprises two papers of 100 marks each. One is a theory paper and the other requires the students to make a dissertation.

     The syllabus focuses on Gandhi’s influence on Indian and Western thinkers, on the historical developments of Gandhi’s philosophy, on ethical issues, Gandhi’s moral, religious and social philosophy. The syllabus gives an over-all picture of Gandhi, as a writer, as a humorist, as a philosopher, as the maker of Modern India.

Social Work and Field work is an integral part of the course. Participation in social service and field work is compulsory for all students. Students are expected to submit a report on the basis of the field study which will be evaluated as an independent paper. The Camp is conducted during the mid-term vacation and it is a residential camp in a village over a period of a week, involving students in constructive activities. This camp brings about an awareness of the need for education and cleanliness. Students study the problems of the villages and they collect data which is evaluated later by them.  This dissertation report is evaluated for 50 marks and the field work will fetch the students 50 marks. 

Evaluation system :

Students are expected to present papers on given topics during the Course. Finally they have to appear for an examination to qualify in the Course. 

Activities of the Department :

             The Gandhi Study Circle has introduced several activities over the course of five years:

In collaboration with the Gandhi Memorial Trust of Karnataka, a lecture was arranged by the Gandhi Study Center of our College to promote Gandhian ideals. This was held on 19.09.2005. Lectures were held on the lives of great personalities and their works. Essay and Debate Contests were held and as a token of appreciation, prizes in the form of books written by Gandhi were presented to the students.(2.10.05) Our students also participated in the programmes of the Bangalore University Gandhi Study Centre.

In collaboration with the Karnataka Center for Communal Harmony, a lecture was arranged by the Gandhi Study Center of our College to promote Gandhian ideals. This was held on 02.10.2006.Essay and Lecture Contests were held and as a token of appreciation, prizes in the form of books written on Gandhi were presented to the students. (2.10.06).

The Gandhi Study Center of our College arranged several programmes to promote Gandhian ideals. Prof. T.R Shyam Bhat, Retired Principal of APS College, Bangalore delivered a lecture on ‘The Life and Views of Gandhi’ Students sang bhajans which were close to Gandhi’s heart.

The Gandhi Study Center of our College in collaboration with the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Centre for Science and Human Values, Bangalore arranged a Lecture Programme by the Karnataka State Police Commissioner, Dr. Ajay Kumar Singh on 18-09-08.The subject was ‘Police and Poetry’.

b) On the 139th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi a ‘Shramadhan’ programme was arranged on 02.10.2009. The participants were the students of the NSS of the college. The students recalled the memory of Gandhi by singing Bhajans which were immensely appreciated by Gandhi. 

Seminar and Projects  

Seminars conducted by eminent Gandhians and scholars :

• On 28^th September 2010 Dr. C.V. Venkatachalan, Rtd prof. of Socialogy, NCB, delivered a lecture on  ‘South African Experiments
• On 15^th March 2011 Dr. D. Jeevan Kumar, Director, Centre for Gandhian Studies, Bangalore University, delivered a lecture on
• On 30^th October 2010 the film show ‘ Dho Hankhe Bharah Hath’  was also shown which was based on Gandhian Principles

Collage Work :

• On Gandhi Jayanthi day 2^nd October 2010 and 2011 a collage competition on ‘Gandhian Life’ was conducted for which   the students were awarded many prizes.

Department library:

v  Around 5000 Books on Gandhi and National Literature are available in the College Library. Many of these books are taken by the Department to help students write papers and their dissertations.

 Student details:

Gandhian Certificate Course  is an  Add-on  paper for students for all streams.

Result:   (including BA, BSc, B.com students)

 Innovative teaching practices:

Students are made to work in Groups. This enables them to understand Group Dynamics. Students make presentations in the class.

Gandhian Principles were taught by screening movies.

Future Plan: 

To encourage more students to take the Course

To make use of the visual media