Ghandi
Doss L.S.*
We make
decisions every day, large and small, some of which have life altering consequences.
Yet our choices are not irrelevant. The question always has been: how can we
discern the course to be run? The values of family, friends and mentors and
Faith point us to the realisation that what matters most in life is all wrapped
up in people.
The ability to
look beyond our disappointments is essential for our life and living. The way
we discern our course of action - irrespective of the area of our vocation -
can leave a deep imprint in the minds of some people and in the hearts of most
people. The way I perceived, understood, practiced, taught and conceptualised
social work revolves around this life changing choices. The lesson from my
parents has always been ‘get involved where ever you are and in whatever condition
you may enter into’
While, I was oscillating
between joining postgraduate course in Economics at the University of Madras
and attending the TISS interview, my two elder brothers saw to it in just six
hours’ time that I board train to Bombay for the interview. I just got into the
train with a shoulder bag only to return home after one year for vacation. Puzzled
and unprepared to join TISS with in four days, the Registrar Mr. Subramaniam
worked out a solution for me to stay and join the course. We had best teachers-cum-practioners
at that time. I was deeply attracted to Prof. Ramachandran’s Research Methodology
classes- a meticulous course planning, and ‘involving’ teaching methods. His
teaching approach had a triggering effect on my way of looking at social issues.
I fondly recall Dr. Vahia’s humorous classes on Psychiatry and passionate
teaching of law by Prof. Balsara. Though both were visiting faculties, no
student will ever forget both as teachers and impressive personalities. I
learnt PR skill from Prof. Kaikobad than the subject matters. The faculty and
TISS provided an ideal ‘environment’ to learn, internalise and contribute.
Bangalore University
and Karnataka gave me an excellent atmosphere to GROW. The National Institute
of Social Sciences was a hot spot when I landed. I was amazed the way students
had a strong bondage with Dr. K.V.Sridharan, the then Director of the Institute.
When I almost decided to quit teaching as we had so many invitations for work
in those days, Dr. KV’s affectionate persuasion made me to stay on. The bottom
line in his approach was “let the profession survive”. His exit from social
work was a great loss to the profession. Dr. Punekar and Ms. Indra Patel who
came for my selection as lecturer at the newly formed social work department at
the Bangalore University pointedly expressed what I can do to rebuild the profession:
Large number of TISSians in Bangalore and alumni of NISS together supported the
new department with unreserved enthusiasm. That was the visible second
foundation for social work in Bangalore.
I considered
always a rare privilege that learning was made easy through series of contacts
with senior educators at that time. Dr. Moses and TSN Pillai taught me with great
interest how to frame questions for examinations. Even, today, I stand out in
that. Prof. Rajendra Prasad of, University of Agra, from where I did my
doctoral degree, was a multifarious personality. Professors like M Z Khan of
Jamia, and Mirza, Goel and Surendra Singh from Lucknow were regular visitors to
NIMHANS. Dr. I.A. Sheriff had a ‘style’ of facilitating interaction with them. Perhaps
Dr. Olinda Pereira of Roshni Nilaya,
Mangalore is the most passionate person I met. Even today the best functional
Alumni association in the country is in ROSHNI. They have branches too. All of
them hold Dr. Pereira with ‘affection and esteem’.
Bangalore is a
home for many educators. Apart from Dr. K V Sridharan, Professors M V Moorthy
of TISS and Andhra University, Dr. Thomas of Indore School, and S.Pathak of
Delhi University opted to live in Bangalore . I always used to find time for
interactions with these seniors. Apart from interesting tales of their times,
each one is known for their stellar qualities. I and many consider Prof. Moorthy
as a walking encyclopaedia. His profound knowledge in philosophy, literature,
social work and personnel management is something to admire. A profound writer,
our relationship was an enduring one. I learnt to understand human
personalities though his knowledge on Shakespeare. I took more interest in both
Indian and English literature and applied in my teaching, and more so in my
practice.
I had the rare
privilege of working with Dr. S P Srivastav of Lucknow University to host the All
India Criminology Conference in Bangalore as organising secretary. I used to
consider Lucknow University as the social work epicentre of north India. It
housed many scholars and writers. Some migrated abroad and the rest did their best.
Today it is in a distress state. The Madras School of social work similarly
stood quite high in the south. Prof. K N George the long served Director always
put himself on a high pedestal and he was proud of the school, faculty and alumni.
Dr. H M
Marulasiddaiah of Bangalore University and I.A. Sheriff of NIMHANS worked out
an academic platform for the educators of both the Institutions. Our periodical
meetings and sharing were exciting, but creating a strong bondage among the educators.
It could have been more inclusive and vibrant but failed to move too far. The dream
vanished without any trace.
The tribute to
expand and infuse a new dimension for social work educators must go to Dr. K V
Ramana (President), Prof. T.K.Nair (General Secretary) and their team under the
banner of ASSWI. They converted ASSWI from a ‘club house’ mode to an open
intellectual forum for young educators like me at that time. They received
active support from Dr.Francis Maria Yases of UN’s SWADCAP. First time all
educators had a platform to exchange, share, argue and enrich. It also provided
opportunity for practitioners to challenge educators on the social work
content. In all my encounters with educators, whatever may be their personal
style, I saw a deep conviction and certain values to which they identified and
acted. That is my greatest learning from all of them. I always felt, till
today, ‘I am learning to learn’
I stand out as
an educator who visited most of the social work institution from Rajasthan to Nagaland,
and Punjab to Kanyakumari in this country, and to some extent in many other
countries in one capacity or other. However my most satisfying memories are my
work with NGOs and communities in India and secondly my work as the Executive Director
of Bangalore Urban Poverty Alleviation programme (BUPP). All along, even today,
I am associated with many NGOS in south and north in training and evaluation.
It is a most enriching and rewarding experience to work with and learn from
common people. My source for authentic teaching is this connect. BUPP was a bilateral
project of India and Netherlands which gave me a rare opportunity to work with the
top bureaucracy of the state. I was directly reporting to the Secretary, Urban
Development and other top agencies for urban development. Within a year I was
delegated with so much of power and prestige, and was given the rare
opportunity of addressing all urban development secretaries of Indian states
and training many aid agencies’ personnel in infrastructure development of the poor.
Out of 11 slums entrusted with the project as a model programme, I was able to
covert 6 as low income living areas. Social work education uses two concepts
often: process and change. Today I have more insights on the dynamics of
‘process’ and ‘change’.
As an educator,
my continuous learning mirror was my students and family. The moral that change
always starts from me. I left a simple motto for my school: Be different; Be the difference. Often
social work professionals raise a question as to what social work should be for
India. I wish to requote what I referred in one my endowment lectures at Chennai.
If we raise a question as to where was social work the ‘day before’, my
metaphoric response may be a quote from Bible:
I was found by those who
were not looking for me
I appeared to those who
were not asking for me
As a listener to
my mentors as to how they commenced social work education and practice in their
region the cited quote summarises their approach. That is how they marketed
social work to people and to the trainees. Today the information on knowledge is
available on the finger tips, but learning the practice still needs mentors and
role models. Today all such personalities are available in our social system
than in the social work system.
No good teacher ever
walks into twilight at the end of their
carrier. Educators and students of social work in Karnataka showered their
affection on me. Grand farewell felicitation was there for me at the Bangalore
University Department for the first time since its inception. Prof, Vasanthy
Vijay was graceful in doing that. Almost
all educators, serving and retired, attended a similar farewell function for me
for the first time and perhaps till today at the Mysore University. Dr. YSS Gowda
did that in STYLE. Professional social workers’ association of Karnataka made
it possible to bring the Governor of Karnataka to felicitate me. Almost all Universities
across the state also honoured me, Therefore it is right to sum up
The treasurers of earth are not
mine
I hold not its silver and gold
But a treasure far greater is mine
I have riches of value untold
*Dr. L.S.Ghandi Doss, PhD.
Professor (Retired), Bangalore
University.
Email : ghandidoss@gmail.com
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