This page contains my personal perceptions about institutions where I have worked. These are being shared as academic writing and no references made here to persons or institutions are meant to defame them.
* NSS College of Engg, Palakkad * University of Kerala, * C-DIT * University of Korea
1. N S S College of Engineering, Palakkad (from 1987 to 1993)
The college and the hostels are located in a remote countryside against a beautiful backdrop of a chain of hills, a thin silver streak of water flowing down the top. It was a breathtaking sight at nights when the moon light pours like pure splendour on these hills illuminating its peak, nick named as 'nipple rock' for its striking resemblance. I used to spent time in night watching this marvel, while the raging Palakkad wind recited 'rudra_geethams' on the whistling trees in the campus and also in the morning, when the softened wind recited 'Bhoopala' on the same trees.
There was something in the air that made anyone romantic and it was there I met Hema who eventually became my wife (I taught her before that, but that wasn’t a noteworthy acquaintance!). We got married when I was working at Palakkad. We lived for a few months in a tiny house in the Railway Colony.
I remember the warm cordial relationships with colleagues and students in the campus and a hand written little magazine which we used to 'publish' and circulate privately containing innocent jokes on ourselves, the teachers. It was titled Electrical Times.
And also I remember the tranquility I experienced in the Hemambika Temple (where the lotus palm of Devi is worshipped) in the village where I used to sit all alone in the evening till the dusk darkens. If Trivandrum is my Ragam, then Palakkad is nothing less than my Taalam
The village, Akathethara, where the college is located, was once the 'capital' of Palakkad Rajas- the merciless history stripped them off powers and fortunes. Most of them are utterly penniless, and I still remember a 'Raja' working as a sweeper in the college hostel.
Many of my colleagues in Palakkad continue to be my good friends, Sreenadhan (who owns the copyright for the poetic lines in this writing !) later my PhD student, Vijayakumar, great and almost transparent Dr A Nirmal Kumar, K I Geetha, K Geetha, Swapna, Devi, N.N. Hariharan, EG Janardanan Potti (who was the first rasika of my music), colourful Prof. O M Neelakantan, Dr U Krishnakumar, Dr K S M Panicker, the Moustache Mani Chettan, omnipresent Madhavan from the college hostel (I was also an assistant warden in one of the hostels.), Ramanujam, Vijayakumar, Shobhana chechi, Venu in the college office…
2. Model Engg College (Under construction)
3. Uty of Kerala (Under Construction)
4. Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (CDIT)
In 2001, soon after I returned from foreign assignment in Malaysia (for a short while I taught in the University Engineering College), I was appointed Director of C-DIT, an autonomous centre of the Govt of Kerala. While teaching has been my most satisfying times, tenure at CDIT has been the most productive period in my whole life. C-DIT gave me the strength to trust in Technology. C-DIT made me realise the strength of human resources in Kerala. It also taught me some of the real problems of administering organisations in Kerala.
Sri P Govinda Pillai, Marxist thinker and critique was formerly director of C-DIT. He had always been a source of encouragement for my popular science writing and I had been associated with CDIT occasionally prior to 2001. The major association was when I wrote a book “Computer Parichayavum Prayogavum” for training the staff of local self-governments in connection with the people-planning movement – this book was published jointly by state institute of languages and CDIT. I also provided input and featured in some of their video productions.
C-DIT was established in 1988 by the Government of Kerala for advancement of research, development and training in imaging technology with an implied role in socially relevant science & development communication. C-DIT was conceived my Sri P Unnikrishnan, a brilliant engineer and a born leader who soon after completing his MTech from CET (coinciding with my days at CET), got attached to the Kerala State Film Development Corporation and launched CDIT as an offshoot. He ran the place and developed it well until there was a political change in the state Govt which saw him move out of CDIT and lot of scientists being frustrated and resorting to strikes. CDIT then became the typical political battle ground and rose to the rank of the most politicised institution in Kerala, ever since. When political colors changed again for the state Govt, as it happens with unfailing regularity in the past 25 years, Unnikrishnan was back at the helm with Govindapillai sir as director. This time however, problems were different. Rather than typical problems which have traditional political colors, this time there were problems from birds of the same feather which finally ended up with CDIT giving birth to Information Kerala Mission (IKM) which had the mandate to oversee and implement Panchayath Computerisation. C-DIT had no full-time director and a senior Deputy Director was in charge of the Registrar and C-DIT floated along with minor crises. In 2001 when I was appointed, many of my well wishers advised me against taking up the post (Some even told me that if I did, it would be the best example of fools rushing in where angels fear to tread !). I had however made-up my mind. That I was going to succeed P Govinda Pillai sir was too big an ego-satisfaction, and I had no strings attached to my appointments and I read that I might get a rare opportunity to contribute. It was Dr M R Thampan, former Director of State Institute of languages (who oversaw the publication of many my books) who proposed my name for the post to the minister in charge, Sri M M Hassan. Sri G Vijayaraghavan, former CEO of the Trivandrum Technopark seconded my name (he served as an executive committee member of CDIT during my tenure). On Nov 1st I joined CDIT on deputation.
CDIT is a very unique organisation. First, it is not a typical organisation which has any great respect for Govt style of functioning. I have never seen fat files at CDIT. Second, it is a creative organisation, it does not work with run-of the mill projects, due to its rare combination of human resources, a talented pool of creative personnel co-existing with technological work force Thirdly, it is very young, as far as its employee’s average age is concerned.
Its campus is simply beautiful, up in the picturesque Chithranjali (what a name !) Hills, with unique and simple styled buildings, quite close to Kovalam. There was no garden as such, which I constantly tried to solve, all the three years I was at C-DIT. In the new garden, I contributed two plants, Kari Nochi and yellow Bamboo. The yellow bamboo shoot which I brought from Omalloor in Pathanamthitta raised comments from employees. Some of them who were hard-core revolutionaries, prophesised that C-DIT will be ruined as Bamboos are belived to have such effect if planted in front of buildings. Old-fashioned and religious that I am, I acquired energy from this stand of the employees as I realised that in many matters I was more progressive than revolutionaries. My old fashioned ways were confined to personal matters including occasional rendezvous with astrologers who amuse me but have never impressed me. The garden remains green and cared, and I when one gardner gave me a bouquet made from flowers in the garden, on the day I left CDIT, it was really the most pleasant gift.
Meeting the young employees of CDIT I quickly realised what management was all about. They were capable, full of ideas and energy. They needed motivation, recognition and administrative support. Most of them realised themselves as creative persons and were never hesitant to claim special treatment in this regard. Even some of the administrative staff fell into this category. Happily my Registrar, K Asok Kumar was also a highly creative person. A writer, painter, sculptor and an unassuming and simple person, he was also techno-savy. I too boldly counted myself along, as a techno-person who could at least appreciate what creativity was all about. And the stage was set for the organisational dialogue that ensued.
CDIT had its woes, pressing issues of career advancement and permanency. Very strong unions led by stalwarts from mainstream politics made them a force to recon with. I had my difficult times with them. I learned from them and they learned about me too. I knew I was unreasonable when it came to branding me as LDF/UDF and also making me toe political lines. I was sincerely sympathetic to employee issues, but many of them were so complex and inter-related and the solutions existed partly in Secretariat. Even the day before I left, I made an attempt to thrash out some of the issues by stretching my powers as Director, but unfortunately did not succeed.
I had the great satisfaction of seeing C-DIT’s reorganisation taking place in a natural way. The “Teams & Themes” became the core focus of C-DIT. During 2003 it also evolved its mission and quality statements.
MISSION STATEMENT
To become the leading service provider and product innovator in new media information technology systems, tools, applications and content development with thrust on deployment of sustainable and appropriate imaging and imaging technology for science and development communication.
QUALITY POLICY
Quality in services and products offered by C-DIT is achieved and sustained when each concerned employee: scientifically approaches, continuously monitors and reviews, owns and enjoys tasks assigned to them and continuously strive to achieve customer satisfaction and establish a C-DIT brand image.
THEMES
The focus of C-DIT is based on certain themes in line with the changes in the realms of science, technology and the society at large
Cultural Customisation: Ensuring visual, audio and linguistic localization of information technology systems
Malayalam as Administrative Language: To evolve technology support for ensuring use of Malayalam as administrative language Digital Heritage Archiving: To develop and popularise tools and processes for archiving heritage information
IT for the Disabled: To evolve strategies to ensure that the disabled are not left out of the benefits of cyber revolution
Freedom in Software: To promote the technical, ethical and economic advantages of free software Media Convergence: To promote the seamless integration of different media formats, technologies and their delivery Edutainment: To realise convergence of library, laboratory and playground through possibilities of the new media Techno Creativity:To explore creative avenues in technological advancements
As regards the organisational set up, CDIT evolved one of the most unique charts, true to its creative tradition. The Director/Registrar did not sit atop the teams.
On the projects front, I could personally contribute to 3 projects – the Swathi Thirunal Web Site, Chithrakudukka Kerala Clip Art CD (Read an article on it here) and Akshaya IT Literacy CD.
Read more about CDIT from www.cdit.org. When time permits I would like to share with the public my further experiences in CDIT.
I close with an image of the best memory of CDIT –The coconut-tree tent:
4. Korea University
I was visiting professor in Korea University during Nov-December 2006 where I taught Hidden Markov Models to post-graduate students in the School of Electrical Engineering. Here are links to my Seoul Diaries Diary 1, Diary 2, Photo-diary.
5. Others
I have also worked with/attached to the following
1. LBS Centre for Science & Technology, Trivandrum (Trainee Engineer)
2. FTMS-Demontfort University Campus, Kualalumpur, Malaysia (1999-2001: Academic Head):
I would love to write sometime about my boss John Schagen and what I learned from KL. I couldn’t carry over my administrative experience to C-DIT as in KL all issues were debated based on merit, but in Kerala, all issued are debated politically. I consider Kulalumpur as one of the best places in the world for a Malayali to live. I had the best time in my family life when we lived in Kualalumpur)
3. DB University, Tokyo (1996 – Visiting Researcher)
4. Govt Engineering College, Kannur – Guest Lecturer
5. University College of Engg, Karyavattom – Asst Professor