CAMPUS

DAMODAR COLLEGE, MARGAO
Tiny Campus, Supberb Show

THE campus is surely the epicentre of vibrant activity ensuing from the dynamic gathering of young minds with an avid quest for knowledge. Vidhya Vikas Mandal’s Shree Damodar College of Commerce and Economics at Comba in Margao teems with warm and youthful souls, harnessed and moulded under the hoary heads and experienced hands.

The trek to this, Goa’s wellknown, college takes off from the old bus-stand road, heading towards the railway track via the Loyola High School. Soon you will come upon knots of fashionable Damodarites chit-chatting about the lectures en route to the campus. The pretty girls generally prefer the salwars, jeans and platforms for dress comfort, particularly with the scooterette being the most popular model of their travel nowadays. The first panning of your gaze also catches the smart and hunky ‘guys’, quite a few of them practising football early in the morning.

Dr I Bhanu Murthy, the learned principal, took over the reins of the Damodar College at the start of the current academic year. Dr Murthy’s stress lies on the all-round development of his students. He confirmed this by declaring open the Career Guidance Cell of the college on July 15, 2000. He outlined the numerous activities planned for the entire year. Prof Joan Rebello flagged off the Cell with a special session on "Making Career Choices", and Prof Manoj Kamat conducted a detailed session on "Career Options in Commerce".

August 19, 2000, was definitely a memorable day, with the inauguration of the Students’ Council, Gymkhana and the Cultural Union for the year 2000-2001. Rev Fr Antimo J Gomes, Principal of Mapusa’s St Xavier’s College was the chief guest on the happy occasion. Fr Gomes complimented the students on the occasion and urged them to excel and strive to make the most of the opportunities coming their way. This was followed by Principal Bhanu Murthy administering the traditional oath to the Students’Council Members and G S Trevor.

Computer Lab & "Chetna" Release: On October 2, 2000, the Vice-Chancellor of the Goa University, Prof B S Sonde, inaugurated the new computer laboratory of the Shree Damodar College. Shree Ramnath G Kare, the president of the Vidhya Vikas Mandal, and the members of the Board of Management attended the impressive function. The occasion also served as a suitable forum to launch the information-packed in-house faculty research journal "Chetana".

N S S Reports: The Life-blood of Shree Damodar College is the N S S Unit, under the expert guidance of the Programme Officers, Prof Florence Rebello and Lira Gama. This year, the N S S unit conducted various programmes comprising of worthwhile activities like campus cleaning, educating of the street children, an anti-plastic drive, etc.

In an endeavour to make the college campus a non-smoking zone, the N S S unit undertook a programme called "The Ill-Effects of Tobacco", which will last till December 2000. Chief Guest Dr A Noorani, addressing the inaugural function of the Unit, dwelt on the harmful effects of tobacco, substantiating his point with audio-visual aids.

In the month of September, the N S S unit of the college undertook a "Love Animals" project. The chief guest and secretary of the South Goa Animal Welfare Trust, Smt Grace Kare, stressed upon the need to care for the animals and to treat them in a humane manner. Dr M Shawalli of Chowgule College, Principal I Bhanu Murthy, Programme Officers Prof Florence Rebello and Prof Edwin Baretto were also present.

On September 16, a "Malaria Awareness cum Exhibition Programme" was conducted in collaboration with the Malaria Research Centre of Panjim. The chief guest Dr P K Somodhan, a scientist at the Centre, elucidated the various aspects of Malaria and the measures necessary to prevent the disease.

On behalf of the Goa University N S S Unit, the Damodar College N S S Unit celebrated the N S S day. On this occasion, an all-Goa Inter-Collegiate Quiz Competition was held on the theme: My Community, My Native.

The chief highlight of the N S S was the annual camp held at Veroda in Cuncolim. ‘Towards a Corruption-Free Society’ was the theme of the interesting camp, with all the talks and activities centred around the theme. The enthusiastic volunteers conducted numerous activities at Veroda: plastic collection cum awareness, a socio-economic survey of the locality, sports activities for the children, etc.

Talks on ‘Anti-Corruption and Youth Involvement’ were delivered by Principal I Bhanu Murthy and Mrs Auda Viegas of the Bailancho Sad. The camp also highlighted personality development and art. The Individual Development Course was conducted by the JC invitees. Puppetry, vegetable carving, wealth-from-waste, etc, also formed part of the workshop. At the valedictory function, prizes were distributed to the best volunteers and groups.

Despite its tiny campus, Damodar College is equipped with a well-stocked and congenial library. The institution is proud of students and teachers with large hearts and broad intellects. As the year 2000-2001 progresses, we have a long way to go in order to achieve our motto "Aim at Excellence". As our college begins making the first cyber waves, we look forward to achieving greater heights in academics as well as co-curricular domains.

A report by
Ms Glenis M D’Souza
Dept of English