Principles of Principals

Principles of Principals

Although nearly every handbook and many dictionaries warn against confusing words principle and principal, many people still do. Principle is only a noun; principal is both adjective and noun. I wish that all the principals (noun) will become an adjective that their names will be referred for the best. Principals are also teachers with an additional charge of administration. Since, they are not trained administrators, most often they fail to manage the group of teachers and students, eventually end up with principal (adj.) reason for poor performance of their institutes.In spite good natural resources and human resource, India fails to increase its GDP. To produce one professional graduate, country is spending Rs. 12 lakh on and 14-15 lakh on post graduate. Best brain (2-4%) will go waste as brain drain. Even while serving the other countries, some might contribute to the economy in one or the other forms, but it is unsustainable and causes disparity in the society.  The graduates in India about 8-10% will find job in their field of profession; 10-20% consciously chose different jobs and 60-70% graduates are unemployable and take up low paid jobs unwillingly.

Unemployment growth rate is about 7.8%. This population number can be converted into resources provided education institutes headed by right principals with right principles.

SWOT analysis

As soon as one become a principal of any given institute, they must do SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats) analysis of the institute and the people including themselves. Institute’s SWOT analysis can be done by involving the entire faculty including non-teaching staff and students. After carefully analyzing the SWOT, they must prepare a Gantt chart (Plan of action with time frame) and entrust the task to each of the faculty depending on their desire. In any institute, about 20% of the people will contribute 80% of the productivity and 80% of the people contribute only 20%. In a large democratic country like India, We cannot choose our colleagues. Many principals would like to project themselves as strict personalities and have grim face (adj. having a very serious or gloomy expression) always and shout at the people very often. It is a fearing strategy of a poor leader. A good leader will follow some of the following principles:

      Walk in other’s shoe…

It is an English idiom (A group of words in a fixed order that have a particular meaning that is different from the meanings of each word on its own). This infers that to spend time trying to consider or understand another person’s perspectives, experiences before making a judgment about them. Though we know that certain people can come across as selfish, but you must try to walk in their shoes before you dismiss them too quickly. Sometimes charging them in public makes them more arrogant. Once they get used to such sarcastic comments and insults, they happily live with it by killing your happiness. Have a fair idea about your colleagues’ family background, interests, hobbies, financial status and emotions. These things will help you to assess him and decide the management strategies.

Principal must identify the right people in the institute and teach them how to identify the gaps in the existing system, innovative approaches to fill the gap, resource mobilization, new branding strategies and economic resource planning in a competitive approach. This is possible when a principal works with his colleagues in a zero gradient level. 

Principals are facilitators…

No institute will be complete in terms of facilities, infrastructure. Faculties may give excuses. But remember, we are the fortunate ones who have got job out of 134 crore people. Many talented people are still searching for the jobs. Facilities do not make the institute big; it is the results. In spite of many shortcomings, we can reach our goals. Based on the priorities, principals must facilitate the team to achieve its best. There are many people who are willing to help. Only we must know how to tap them in a right time. Don’t blame the system, society or people in front of your colleagues. If the Government support takes a longer time, try to explore the donors around your vicinity. Some part of your earning you can contribute and fix the small issues in the institutes. This will encourage the others to fix the issues by themselves. Fix a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Reasonable and Time bound) targets and facilitate them to achieve it. You must know how to get the things lovingly. It is possible when we empower the people. If you want to become a role model, you should be good in many things. When you perform better, it is easy to command and expect. You must not depend on only one person; always have a plan B and alternatives. 

Fair and Equitable

Effective working relationships are critical to your success. Principal must be a fair and equitable person. Though there are written rules and guidelines in the Department of Education, one must use his wisdom while implementing them. Middle aged principals or teachers or any person in a normal society tends to be fairer towards female colleagues and happily discuss for hours and needless to say how they spend time with male counterpart. Never have relation at workplace. It will always be a backfire. Have a fixed behavior with everyone, so that others will not try to play with your emotions and weaknesses. 

Be an empathetic leader

Precision Aquaculture: IPAT

Precision Aquaculture: IPAT (Version 8.0)

Dr Shivakumar Magada

Professor of Aquatic Biology

shivakumarmagada@gmail.com

The Definitive Principles of aquaculture cannot be written in indelible ink. This science is a part of a continuously improvement program. Way back in 1960’s it was recommended to feed the carps with rice bran and oil cake, because they were available in cheap. After the realization that these organic feeds are poorly utilized by fish and the fact that nowadays these raw materials for many other beneficial and much more economical activities and with increased demand, the cost of these raw materials has increased significantly. As advised in classic aquaculture, if it is mixed in 1:1 ratio and fed to fish, the cost of production will be Rs. 99/kg. But now in many parts of the country, the farm gate value of carps (Rs. 80/kg) does not rise above the cost of production.  Till recently, carp seed rearing and farming at any scale was highly profitable because of the low cost for the inputs. But this is no longer true, as the cost of basic traditional inputs like cow dung, poultry manure, ground nut cake, rice bran and fixed costs of land; total input costs have increased many fold, while the farm gate value of the fish seed and market size fish remained almost constant. Though aquaculture production models are highly dynamic, unless we assess the economics and understand the scale of economy of any given activity, systems may not be economically or environmentally sustainable. In early sixties, most of the aquaculture production systems were extensive- that is using a low input extensive approach to production.   Rice bran, ground nut cake (GNC) and cow dung was available then at cheaper cost. The cost of GNC in 1983 was Rs. 3.80 and it is Rs. 40/kg in 2014. The cost of rice bran was Rs. 1.60 and it is Rs. 18-20/kg currently.

USSEC Sponsored IPAT Program in India

            US Soy Bean Export Council invited different stakeholders related to aquaculture and organized two programs in India. One at Vishakapattanam on 17.05.2016 and another at Kolkata on 20.05.2016. Mr Umakanth and Dr Yadunandan, and the USSEC team were instrumental in bringing different stakeholders on one platform to discuss a new aquaculture technology. Mr George Fullerton, Auburn University, USA delivered a special talk describing Intensive Pond Aquaculture Technology or IPAT. It was simplified and technically narrated by Dr Vijay Anand, Director, Asia Sub Continent, for USSEC. The institutes like National Fisheries Development Board, Hyderabad, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin, Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai, College of Fisheries, Mangaluru, Aquafeed producers, progressive farmers, shrimp hatchery owners and others related to field of aquaculture were present. The concept was well received by the stakeholders.

Visit to China

In continuation with the above described program in India, the selected group of stakeholders was taken to China to visit farms which demonstrate show the successful IPAT models. See and learn is better than hear and learn. The team of 60 delegates from countries like India, Vietnam, Egypt, China and USA were there as participants. Dr Jesse A. Chappell, Extension Specialist,  Auburn University, Ms Deena Hansel, Aquaculture Program Manager, USSEC, Xiaoping Zhang, China Country Director, Mr Joe Zhou Enhua, Technical Manager-freshwater Aquaculture, USSEC, China, Dr Lee, USSEC, China, Mr. Jim Zhang, Program Manager-Aquaculture, USSEC, China, were moderating and technically facilitated the program.

Delegates were taken to a Government of Farm which is 70 km away from Shanghai City. Dr Chappell explained the concepts and immediately delegates were taken to the IPAT farm just few meters away from their office. Then everybody was able to actually see and learn from a real-world operating IPA system I had many doubts when I was listening to IPAT lecture at Vizag, India. Had I asked those questions, it would have been rude on my part for asking such questions. Thank god, I got a chance to see what they were telling in their lectures.

What is this IPAT?

Integrated Pond Aquaculture Technology (IPAT) developed by Auburn University and USSEC is trying to popularize this technology globally. It is just developing raceway structures within the pond system and creating river-flow within the system using only air! Remember those who are getting good fish or shrimp production with Mekong River using its robust natural flow. In an earthen pond say about 1 ha, the production raceway or cells having 6-9 inch thick walls and measuring 25 m X 5 m X 1.5 m. The total area of the cells will not cross 0.01.5% of the total area of the earthen pond. This means a 150 m² cell area is enough for 1 ha pond. Using air blowers at the inlet end, water is airlifted and taken through the raceway and subsequently to the pond. The last addition 3 m length of the cell is a solids or sludge collection point. Sludge is collected using simple pumps which move along the width of the cell. In 150 days, the grass carp production ranges from 140-160 kg/m³. In China, they were culturing grass carp, channel catfish, big head carp, etc. They were fed to satiation with soy based floating feeds using automatic feeders. The production cells are positioned at one corner of the ponds. The water gushes out from the cells is guided by a baffle till the opposite corner later by using aerators, water is guided and makes a circular motion and ultimately again reaches the inlet of the cells. The technology is based upon continually flowing water pushed around the pond by air-lifts.

Is it really Version 8.0?

Indian aquaculture started with stocking wild seeds (version 1.0), later moved  to  stocking  hatchery bred seed (Version 2.0) along with a manuring schedule (Version 3.0) which was natural food based. Slowly, farmers started feeding rice bran and ground nut cake (Version 4.0). With continued advancement in aquaculture technology growers began using aerators (Version 5.0) and use of sinking feed pellets (version 6.0). Floating feeds are now added to Indian aquaculture (version 7.0) and now IPAT as Version 8.0

 

Advantage IPAT

§  Entire crop is visible all the time

§  Uniform growth

§  Easy harvest

§  Disease management is easy and inexpensive

§  More production efficiency and output

§  Sustainable-financially and environmentally

§   Reduced organic load on the system

§  less labour per unit harvested

Challenges of IPAT

§  Electric Power is essential for 24 h; stand-by generator required

§  System Initial investment is little high

§  Round the clock monitoring may be required

Of course, there are solutions for these above said challenges; but at a cost. By looking at the economics, it is worth investing on the essentials that this system demands. Wherever, there are already ponds, they can immediately adopt and switch to IPAT. Before switching to this new concept, one must make sure that they can meet the demands of IPAT. The other issues like market demand, species selection, cold chain and such other related issues also have to be taken into consideration before venturing into commercial unit.

Why it is Precision Aquaculture?

            It is precision, because one can precisely know and monitor the growth rate, mortality, feed requirement, feeding, water quality, production, productivity, BC Ratio. Depending on the market demand, precise partial harvest is also possible. Using advanced technologies, water quality monitoring probes can be deployed in the cells and whenever the intended parameter varies beyond the specified range, the gadgets give signals to make changes. This can be linked to television at home/office or cell phones and take appropriate decisions to protect and contain the crop.

Other advantages of IPAT

            Pangasius farming is going on in India in about 40000 ha. But farmers are facing problem in marketing because of the yellowish color of the meat. In still water aquaculture, discoloration of meat is a usual phenomenon because of the stress related ammonia load in the system. If the pangasius grown in IPAT system, pangasius meat will have the whitish color that industry prefers. IPAT offers scope for;

§  Seed rearing

§  Stunted fingerling production

§  Live fish marketing

§  Aqua tourism

Disclaimer:

This article is a document of personal field experience of the author. Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries University, Bidar or any other institutions in India and abroad are not responsible for the content, data or opinions in this article. Farmers and entrepreneurs need to take author’s and other experts’ opinion before implementing it in the field.

Organic Farming-Complex realities

Organic farming-

Complex realities

________________________

Dr Shivakumar Magada

Professor of Aquatic Biology

College of Fisheries, Mangalore 575 002, India

shivakumarmagada@gmail.com

Since the birth of the earth, the whole creation is evolving continuously. Otherwise evolution theory would not have born. But, science is not changing every day; it is our understanding. There was the time when somebody said that earth revolves around the sun, church people did not agree. People were not ready to accept that earth is round. At last, they bowed their heads in front of the science. Our ancients beautifully identified the food crops and taught us cultivation methods in controlled condition.  During those days everybody was farmer, everything was organic. The total arable land was sufficient to feed the population of that time. After the Second World War there was acute shortage of food in many countries. Growing demand for food with increase in population was the challenge to the scientists and the government. Due to the great efforts of scientists, who developed high yielding varieties, hybrids and usage of chemical fertilizers, India became self sustained with regard to food production. It was the need of the country. And now, we have left with no option but using chemical fertilizer and pesticides. We know the recipes of success of green revolution, but now we have to understand the ingredients of disasters of the same too. Food production means not just growing food for ourselves; we have to feed the hungry world. “Future threat to the human kind is not diseases, not war; it is hunger and sheer crush of humanity”-Magada. There is direct correlation between hunger and humanity. Hunger is biological base for all worlds’ problem. World population data sheet says that the Indian population was 1.5 billion in 2050; already it is 1.349 billion. Though, annual food production of India stands about 278 million tons (mt), 20 crores of people die of hunger and 14.5% of the population is under nourished, 3000 children die every day. Fortunate are those who die of starvation; unfortunate of those who survive starvation. In this context, organic farming has to be viewed critically.

Of course, what is organic? In fact, in the whole universe, everything is inorganic. Air, soil, plant, animals and even human being is inorganic. If you simplify anything, you get either elements or compounds. Whatever the food you ingest, it will be simplified into simpler forms and gets collected and utilized. Protein will become amino acids, complex carbohydrates will become simple sugars and fats will be divided into simple fatty acids. Even plants require the nutrients in the ionic forms. The requirement of the different nutrients by the plants is known scientifically. Irrespective of the origin of the nutrients, plants require certain nutrients which need to be supplied from external source. Only then you get higher yield. Soil is an independent, dynamic inorganic body of nature that acquires properties in accordance with forces which act upon it.  Hence the present packages of practice were designed to get more yields. In fact, agronomists have always advocated integrated nutrient management i.e. inclusive of high dose of organic manure. On the other hand, rampant and injudicious usage of many chemicals and pesticides at all levels i.e. from the farm till the produce reaches consumers, many problems have been raised. Foods are contaminated with many toxic chemicals. Infant mortality rate (IMR) is increased significantly. Kids are born with many deformities, new diseases started and spread of disease is faster than ever before. Hence, many realized to go organic.

Organic farming – is not a technique; it is a concept or movement. Everyone agree that, it is the solution for the better health and environment. Better health of how many people is the question. To save future, people realized that organic farming is the solution. But it is not so easy to adopt these concepts in a large scale. Because it raises many complex issues like yield reduction, food shortage, increased food cost, uneven distribution and hence causing social disparity. Is India ready to take up these challenges raised by the organic farming? In the present context, organic farming is an absurd concept but it has complex truth for the future. So, it is referred as paradox in this text. 

This is where scientists, farmers and policy makers should join together and understand the paradoxes of organic farming without any prejudices. On the other hand, scientists have to critically analyze the quantity of nutrients required by the plant, methods of application of chemical fertilizers, so that there will be minimal quantities of residue gets into the nature. Careful study on method of absorption & retention in soil, impact of leaching, percolation, surface run off and residual impacts and other subtler issues have to be evaluated thoroughly before advocating the benefits of any chemical. On the other hand promoters of organic farming have to go slow in implementing their ideology, since it is not so easy to adopt these concepts to the staple food crops of India i.e. wheat and rice. No doubt that organic farming concept can be easily adoptable to perennial crops, horticultural crops and plantation crops. Any fruits or meats that are being used as food can not substitute wheat or rice. So, the reduction in yields of these subsidiary foods may not make significant difference even there is short of supply. But, people are promoting organic farming for even food crops like wheat and rice. At present sustainable production and soil health are inversely related and it can not be reversed in a short period or it may not be possible. In the Indian context, the agricultural sector has been an important sector from the point of economic growth. This transition from chemical based agriculture to organic agriculture would depend on how well the Indian government handles this transition period.

An underlying assumption about organic farming in this paper is there would be great imbalance in the market because produce from organic farming can not be sold at the cheaper rates in the domestic market. It definitely reaches the stomach of small segment of the upper class. And many a times, it is intended or destined to the foreign market. One should be happy, because, at least some of our farmers get better price for their produce.  While appreciating the concepts of organic farming, we must learn to understand its impact on local consumers, domestic markets and agro-based industries.  The adequate supplies of essential agriculture produce for mass consumption is also a responsibility of the government. So, the impulse of market dynamics may be high during the initial years.  Agricultural export may bring good foreign exchange, but micro imbalances in domestic market due to variability in agricultural performances are also important factors. The links between different sectors with agriculture and their responses need to be thoroughly analyzed and then we must decide the rate of transformation from chemical to organic agriculture. The logical assumptions in this paper might look like it is against the organic farming; but not so. It is a cross sectional approach to understand and educate the people about organic farming.

Like sudden stopping of medicines causes some disorders in human beings, sudden withdrawal of chemicals and fertilizers in agriculture also causes imbalance in the total production and productivity. So, we must withdraw usage of chemicals gradually. We must learn from history, otherwise we become part of it. Already, certifiers of organic farming, marketers, NGOs have established their foot in the movement of organic farming. They must ensure that farmers get the real benefit of organic farming. Otherwise, traders and middlemen will take away the major share without investing the sweat.  Marketers should make sure that they really sell organic foods at affordable prices. There are claims that some farmers are getting good yields with organic farming. In this spirit, it is not fare to blame the universities and scientists. Their contributions must be acknowledged. Agricultural Universities have some set systems and protocols to analyze and understand the new issues. Unless they study systematically for longer period, they cannot jump into any conclusion. Of course, they wish every farmer to get higher yields and better price for their produce.

In a large country like India, people do not realize unless there is a strong social problem. Since it is the beginning, it takes some more time to understand the dynamics of organic farming. Till such time researchers, policy makers and economists should not wait. They must be able to understand the possible positive and negative impacts of organic farming with special reference to staple food crops and draw conclusion on the rate and direction at which it should go.

 

Dr M C Nandeesha-in my eyes

ಮೈಮನವೆಲ್ಲಾ ಮೀನೇ..ಆದರೂ ನೀನಿಲ್ಲದೇನೆ..

ನನಗೆ ಒಂದು ಕ್ಷಣ ರದ್ದಿ ಅಂಗಡಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಿದ್ದೀನೇನೋ ಎಂಬ ಭಾವನೆ. ಬ್ರಿಸ್ಟಾಲ್ ಸಿಗರೇಟಿನ ಘಾಟು ಮೂಗಿಗೆ ಬಡಿಯುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ತೊಂಬತ್ತರ ದಶಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಥಿಯೇಟರ್‍ಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿನಿಮಾ ಶುರುವಾಗುವ ಮೊದಲು ಸೈಡ್‍ರೀಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಜಾಹಿರಾತು ಬರುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಒಬ್ಬ ಉತ್ಸಾಹಿ ತರುಣ ಬಾಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಗರೇಟ್ ಕಚ್ಚಿಕೊಂಡು ‘ನಾನು ಅಂದುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದನ್ನು ಸಾಧಿಸಿದ್ದೇನೆ, ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ನಾನು ಬ್ರಿಸ್ಟಾಲ್ ಸೇದುತ್ತೇನೆ; ಬ್ರಿಸ್ಟಾಲ್ ಸೇದಿರಿ ನಿಜ ರುಚಿ ಪಡೆಯಿರಿ’ ಅನ್ನುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ಅಂದುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದನ್ನು ಸಾಧಿಸಲೋ ಏನೋ ಅವರು ಸೇದುತ್ತಿದ್ದುದೇ ಆ ಬ್ರಾಂಡ್. ಅಲ್ಲಲ್ಲಿ ಹರಡಿದ ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳು, ಫೆÇೀಟೋಗಳು, ಫಂಗಸ್ ವಾಸನೆ..ಹುಡುಕುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಪೇಪರ್ ಸಿಗದಿದ್ದರೆ, ಒಂದು ಸಿಗರೇಟ್. ಕೆದುರಿದ ತಲೆ, ಯರ್ರಾಬಿರ್ರಿ ಇನ್‍ಶರ್ಟ್, ಅವರು ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದುದು ಹಾಗೆಯೇ. ಅದು ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಮನೆಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ ದಾಂಪತ್ಯ ಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಳುಗಿಹೋದ ಮೇಲೆ, ಸೂರ್ಯನೂ ಡ್ಯೂಟಿ ಮುಗಿಸಿ ಹೋದ ಮೇಲೆ, ಆರು ಗಂಟೆಯ ನಂತರ.
ನಾನು ಅವರಿಗೆ ಅವತ್ತು ಹೇಗೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕೆ ಅಂತಾನೆ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಆಗಿನ್ನು ಅವರು ನನಗೆ ಕ್ಲಾಸ್ ತಕೊಂಡಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಅದೆಲ್ಲೋ ಉದ್ದೇಶವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ನೆಡೆದು ಹೋಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಗ, ಅಚಾನಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಅವರ ಕೈಗೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿಹಾಕಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೆ. ಉಪಯೋಗವಿಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೂ ಹುಡುಗಿಯರು ಒಬ್ಬ ಸಣ್ಣ ಹುಡುಗನನ್ನೋ, ಹುಡುಗಿಯನ್ನೋ ಜೊತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕರೆದುಕೊಂಡು ಹೋಗುವ ಹಾಗೆ, ಇವರು ನನ್ನನ್ನ ಅವರ ಆಫೀಸ್ ರೂಮಿಗೆ ಕರೆದುಕೊಂಡು ಹೋದರು. ವಟವಟ ಅಂತ ಮಾತನಾಡತೊಡಗಿದರು. ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಗದರಿಸಿ ಹೂಂ... ಅನ್ಕೋ ಅಂದ್ರು. ಯಾವುದೋ ಮೀನಿಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದ ಪೆÇೀಸ್ಟರ್ ಮಾಡ್ತಾ ಇದ್ರು ಅಂತ ಕಾಣುತ್ತೆ. ನನಗೂ ಚಿತ್ರಕಲೆ ಅಲ್ಪ-ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಗೊತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಅವರಿಗೆ ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡ್ದೆ. ನಾನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಅರೇಂಜ್‍ಮೆಂಟ್ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಇಷ್ಟವಾಗ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಸಾವಿರಾರು ಜನರನ್ನುದ್ದೇಶಿಸಿ ಮಾತನಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಹಾಗೆ, ನನಗೊಬ್ಬನಿಗೇ ಹಲವು ವಿಚಾರಗಳನ್ನು ಮಂಡಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಅದೇನು ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಹಿಟ್ಕೊಂಡು ನೆಟ್ ಪ್ರಾಕ್ಟೀಸ್ ಮಾಡ್ತಿದ್ರೋ..ಅಥವಾ ಮಾತನಾಡುವ ಹುಚ್ಚೋ. ಒಂದೆರಡು ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಗೊತ್ತಾಗೋಯ್ತು. ನನಗೂ ಅವರಿಗೂ ಇರುವುದು ಒಂದೇ ಕಾಯಿಲೆ
-ಮಾತನಾಡುವುದು.
ಒಂದು ಮದುವೆ ಮುಗಿಸಿ ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ಐದು ಗಂಟೆಗೆ ಅರಸೀಕೆರೆಯಿಂದ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿಗೆ ಹೊರಟಿದ್ದೆ. ಅದೇ ಬಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಜ್ಯೂನಿಯರ್ ಒಬ್ಬ ಬಂದ. ಅವನ ಪಕ್ಕದಲ್ಲೇ ಸೀಟ್ ಖಾಲಿ ಇತ್ತು. ‘ಕೂರಲೇ..’ ಕೇಳಿದೆ. ‘ಕೂತ್ಕೊಳ್ಳಿ.. ಆದರೆ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನವರೆಗೂ ಮಾತನಾಡಬಾರದು’ ಅಂದ.  ನನಗೆ ಹಾಗೆಂದವನು ಡಾ. ರವೀಶ. ಗಂಭೀರವಾಗಿದ್ದು ಅದೇನು ಸಾಧಿಸಿದ್ದನೋ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ ನನ್ನದು ಮಾತ್ರ ಮಾತಾಡೊ ಬ್ಯುಸ್‍ನೆಸ್-ಪೆÇ್ರಫೆಸರ್..ಅವನು ಮತ್ತು ನಾನು ಓದಿದ ಕಾಲೇಜಿನಲ್ಲೆ. ಒಳ್ಳೆಯದಾಗಲಿ-ಅವನಿಗೂ ಮತ್ತು ನನಗು.
ಮಾತನಾಡದೆ ಇದ್ರೆ ನಾವು ಶೇ. 50 ರಷ್ಟು ಸೇಫ್. ಗ್ರಾಮರ್ ತಪ್ಪೇ ಆಗಲ್ಲ. ನನಗ್ಯಾಕೋ ಆ ತರಹ ಸೇಫ್ ಆಗಿರಲಿಕ್ಕೆ ಇಷ್ಟ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಏನೋ ಆಯಪ್ಪ ನನಗೆ ಬಹಳ ಹಿಡಿಸಿದ್ದ. ಕ್ಲಾಸ್ ತಕೊಂಡ ಮೇಲಂತೂ..ಇನ್ನೂ ಕ್ಲೋಸ್ ಆಗೋದ್ವಿ. ಪಾಟ ಮಾಡೋ ಸ್ಟೈಲು ತೀರಾ ಅನ್‍ಕನ್ವೆನ್ಷಲ್..ಕನ್ನಡ ಸೀರಿಯಲ್ ತರಾ ಎಳೀತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ, ಹಿಂದಿ ಸೀರಿಯಲ್ ತರ ರಿಚ್ ಅಲ್ಲ..ಸೀದಾ ಸಾದ. ಕಲಿಕೆಯ ಭಾಗವಾಗಿ ಒಂದದಿನೈದು ದಿನ ಶಿವಮೊಗ್ಗದ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಬಿಆರ್‍ಪಿಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದಾಗ (ಮೀನುಮರಿ ಉತ್ಪಾದನಾ ಕೇಂದ್ರ), ಅವರು ನನ್ನನು ಕೇಳಿದರು ‘ಮುಂದೆ ಏನ್ ಮಾಡ್ಬೇಕು ಅನ್ಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೀಯ ಶಿವಣ್ಣ’.  ನಾನು ಹೇಳಿದೆ ‘ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಎಂ.ಜಿ. ರೋಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಫಿûಶ್ ಕಲ್ಚರ್ ಮಾಡ್ಬೇಕು ಅಂತಾ ಇದ್ದೀನಿ ಸಾರ್’ ಅಂದೆ.
ಜೊತೆಗಿದ್ದ ಹುಡುಗರೆಲ್ಲಾ ಗಹಗಹಿಸಿ ನಕ್ಕರು. ಅವರು ನಗಲಿಲ್ಲ. ‘ವೆರಿಗುಡ್, ಮಾಡು. ¥sóÉ್ಲೈಓವರ್-ಅಕ್ವಾಕಲ್ಚರ್. ಇಟ್ ಈಸ್ ಪಾಸಿಬಲ್ ಐ ಸೆ, ಡೂ ಇಟ್’ ಅಂದರು. ಕನಸಿನ ಮಿತಿಯನ್ನು ವಿಸ್ತರಿಸುವವನಲ್ಲವೇ-ಲೀಡರ್. ಮುಂದುವರೆದು ಹೇಳಿದರು-
‘ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಳೆದ ಮೀನನ್ನು, ಅಲ್ಲೇ ಮಾರು. ಮಾರಲು ಸುಂದರವಾದ ನಾಲ್ಕು ಹುಡುಗಿಯರನ್ನಿಟ್ಟುಕೋ-ಕೇವಲ ಬೆಳೆಯೋದಲ್ಲ, ಮಾರ್ಕೆಟಿಂಗ್ ಸ್ಟ್ರಾಟಜಿ ಗೊತ್ತಿರಬೇಕು’.
ಹಾಗೆ ಅವರು ನನಗೆ ಹೇಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಗ ಸಮಯ ರಾತ್ರಿ ಮೂರು ಗಂಟೆ. ‘ಸಿಗರೇಟ್ ಬೇಕಾ’ ಕೇಳಿದರು. ಬೇಡ ಅಂದದ್ದು ನೆನಪಿಲ್ಲ.  ನಾನು, ಸಂಜು, ವಿನಯ್ ಮತ್ತು ಉಮೇಶ...ಒನ್ ಬೈ ¥sóÉÇೀರ್...ಮಾತಲ್ಲೇ ಮಹಲು, ಬೆಳೆಗ್ಗೆ ತನಕ. ಅವರೇ ಬಂದು ನಮ್ಮನ್ನ ಎಬ್ಬಿಸೋ ತನಕ. ‘ಏಳ್ರೋ..ಫಿûಶ್ ಎಗ್ ಡೆವಲಪ್‍ಮೆಂಟ್ ಅದ್ಭುತವಾಗಿ ಆಗ್ತಿದೆ, ಬನ್ನಿ ನೋಡಿ..ರಿಯಲಿ ಯೂ ಲವ್ ಇಟ್’ ಹಾಗಂತ ಹೇಳಿ ಫಿûೀಲ್ಡ್‍ಗೆ ಕರ್ಕೊಂಡ್ ಹೋದ್ರೆ, ಊಟ-ತಿಂಡಿಯೂ ಮರೆತುಹೋಗುವಂತೆ ಮಾತು. ಊಟಕ್ಕೆ ಒಂದು ಕಿಲೋಮೀಟರ್ ನೆಡೆಯಬೇಕಿತ್ತು. ದಾರೀಲಿ ನೆಡೆಯೋವಾಗ, ಸುಮ್ನೆ ಕುಂತಿರುವಾಗ, ಬಸ್ಸಲ್ಲಿ, ಎಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲೂ ಮೀನಿನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಭಾಷಣವೇ.
ನಾನು ಡಿಗ್ರಿ ಕಷ್ಟಪಟ್ಟು ಮುಗಿಸಿ ವಿಶಾಖಪಟ್ಟಣಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊರಟುಹೋದೆ. ಅವರೂ ಕೂಡ ಈಸಾನ್ಯ ದೇಶಗಳ ಕಡೆಗೆ ಪಲಾಯನ ಮಾಡಿಬಿಟ್ರು. ಅಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಕಟ್-ನಮ್ಮ ಒಡನಾಟ. ಊರೆಲ್ಲ ಸುತ್ತಿ ವಾಪಾಸ್ ಅವರು ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಯೂನಿವರ್ಸಿಟಿಗೆ ಬಂದ್ರು. ಕಾನೂನು ಅಡ್ಡ ಬಂತು. ಅವರನ್ನ ಕೆಲಸಕ್ಕೆ ಸೇರಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಕ್ರಿಯಾಶೀಲ ವ್ಯೆಕ್ತಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಕಾನೂನು ಅಡ್ಡ ಬರುವುದು ಪ್ರಕೃತಿಯ ಸಹಜ ನಿಯಮ. ರಾಜಿನಾಮೆ ಬಿಸಾಕಿ, ಮಣಿಪುರಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋದರು. ಅದು ಭಾರತದ ಒಂದು ಭಾಗವೇ ಆದರೂ, ಆಡಳಿತ ವ್ಯೆವಸ್ಥೆ ಹರಿದು ಹಂಚಿಹೋಗಿದೆ. ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡೋನೆ ಮೂರ್ಖ. ನ್ಯಾಯ-ನೀತಿ ಅನ್ಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದ ಇವರಿಗೆ ದಿನಕ್ಕೊಂದು ಜಗಳ. ಕೋರ್ಟ್‍ನಲ್ಲಿ ವ್ಯೆವಸ್ಥೆಯ ವಿರುದ್ದ ನೂರಾರು ದಾವೆಗಳನ್ನು ಹೂಡಿದರು. ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ಜಡ್ಜ್ ‘ಯಾರಿಗೂ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ನಿಮಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಯಾಕೆ, ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಅಡ್ಜಸ್ಟ್ ಮಾಡ್ಕೊಳ್ಳಿ’ ಅಂತ ಹೇಳಿದರಂತೆ. ಇವರು ಮಾಡ್ಕೊಳ್ಳಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ವ್ಯೆವಸ್ಥೆ ಇವರನ್ನು ವಜಾ ಮಾಡಿತು. ಜನ ಮೈಲ್‍ನಲ್ಲಿ, ¥sóÉೀಸ್‍ಬುಕ್‍ನಲ್ಲಿ ಸಪೆÇೀರ್ಟ್ ಮಾಡುದ್ರು. ಭವ್ಯ ಭಾರತದಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರು ಕೇಳ್ತಾರೆ ಅದನ್ನೆಲ್ಲಾ. ದೃತಿಗೆಡದ ಇವರು ಮುಂದೆ ತಮಿಳುನಾಡಿನ ಮೀನುಗಾರಿಕಾ ಮಹಾವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯದ ಡೀನ್ ಆದರು. ಎಂದಿನಂತೆ ತಮಿಳರ ವಿರೋಧ ಎದುರಿಸಬೇಕಾಯಿತು. ನಾನು ತಿರುನೆಲ್‍ವೇಲಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸೆಂಟ್ ಕ್ಷೇವಿಯರ್ ಕಾಲೇಜಿಗೆ ಅತಿಥಿಯಾಗಿ ಹೋಗಿದ್ದೆ. ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಎಂಬತ್ತು ಕಿ.ಮೀ. ಅವರು ಡೀನ್ ಆಗಿದ್ದ ಕಾಲೇಜಿತ್ತು. ಬಂದು ಹೋಗಿ ಅಂದ್ರು. ಕಾಲೇಜಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಡುಗರಿಗೆಲ್ಲಾ ಒಂದು ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ಏರ್ಪಡಿಸಿ ನನ್ನಿಂದ ಭಾಷಣವನ್ನೇ ಮಾಡಿಸಿದರು. ನಂತರ ಅವರ ಚೇಂಬರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನನಗೆ ಭಾಷಣ. ಮೀನುಕೃಷಿ, ಸರ್ಕಾರ, ತಮಿಳರ ದುರಭಿಮಾನ, ಮೀನುಕೃಷಿ ವಿಚಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದವರ ನಿರಭಿಮಾನ, ಪ್ರಾಜೆಕ್ಟು, ಒಂದೇ ಎರಡೇ..
ಇವರ ಬಯೋಡಾಟ ನೋಡಿ ಮಾನ್ಯ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳಾದ ಜಯಲಲಿತಮ್ಮನೋರು ಯಾರ ಮಾತಿಗೂ ಕಿವಿಕೊಡದೆ, ಕೆಲವರ ವಿರೋಧದ ನಡುವೆಯೂ ತಮಿಳುನಾಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಾಗಪಟ್ಟಣಂನಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾದ ಹೊಸ ಮೀನುಗಾರಿಕಾ ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾನಿಲಯಕ್ಕೆ ಇವರನ್ನು ಕುಲಪತಿಗಳನ್ನಾಗಿ ನೇಮಿಸಿತು. ರಿಪೆÇೀರ್ಟ್ ಮಾಡ್ಕೊಳ್ಳೋಕ್ಕಾಗಲೇ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಏಶಿಯನ್ ಫಿûಶರೀಶ್ ಸೊಸೈಟಿಯ ಚೇರ್ಮನ್ ಆಗಿದ್ದ ಅವರು, ಡಿಸೆಂಬರ್ 2012 ಮಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಆಯೋಜಿಸಿದ್ದ ‘ಜಾಗತಿಕ ಹಸಿವನ್ನು ನೀಗಿಸಲು ಮೀನುಗಾರಿಕೆಯ ಪಾತ್ರ’ ಎಂಬ ಅಂತರರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಕಾರ್ಯಗಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಲು ಚೆನ್ನೈ ಮುಖಾಂತರ ಮಂಗಳೂರಿಗೆ ಬರಲು ಚೆನ್ನೈನಲ್ಲಿದ್ದರು. ದೇಶ ವಿದೇಶಗಳಿಂದ ಅನೇಕರನ್ನು ಕಲೆಹಾಕಿ ಮಹತ್ತರವಾದುದೇನನ್ನೋ ಬದಲಾವಣೆ ತರುವ ಆಸೆ. ಅವರ ರೇಂಜಿಗೆ ಸ್ಪಂದಿಸದ, ಎಲ್ಲವನ್ನೂ ಗೌಪ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಹೊರಟ ಅವರ ಒಡನಾಡಿಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಶರಂಪರ ಜಗಳಕ್ಕೆ ಬೀಳೋರು. ತುಂಬಾ ಎಕ್ಸೈಟ್‍ಮೆಂಟಿನ ಮನುಷ್ಯ.. ಉತ್ಕಟವಾಗಿ ಪ್ರೀತಿಸದೆ, ಏನನ್ನೂ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಆಗಲೂ ನನಗೆ ಫೆÇೀನ್ ಮಾಡಿ ‘ಮೀನನ್ನು ಪ್ರಮೋಟ್ ಮಾಡಲು ರಾಯಭಾರಿಯಾಗೋಕೆ ಐಶ್ವರ್ಯ ರೈಳನ್ನೇ ಕೇಳೋಣ, ಅವಳೂ ಮಂಗಳೂರಿನವಳೇ..ಯಾಕೆ ಒಪೆÇ್ಪೀದಿಲ್ಲ, ನೋಡೋಣ. ನೀವು ಆಕ್ಟೀವ್ ಆಗಿ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀರಿ ತಾನೆ...ಯಾರು ಕರೆಯದಿದ್ದರೂ ಚೇರ್ಮನ್ ಆಗಿ ನಾನು ಕರೀತಿದ್ದೀನಿ, ಬನ್ನಿ. ಎನಿವೇ..ಅಲ್ಲೇ ಬರ್ತೀನಲ್ಲ..ಮಾತಾಡೋಣ’. ಅದೇ ಅವರು ನನ್ನ ಜೊತೆ ಮಾತನಾಡಿದ ಕೊನೆಯ ಮಾತು. ಏರ್‍ಪೆÇೀರ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲೇ ಎದೆನೋವು ಕಾಣಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆ ಸೇರಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ-ಮಲ್ಟಿಪಲ್ ಆರ್ಗನ್ಸ್ ¥sóÉಯಿಲ್ಯೂರ್. ಮೈಮನವೆಲ್ಲಾ ಮೀನನ್ನೇ ತುಂಬಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದ ಅವರು, ಸುಮಾರು 20 ದಿನ ಹೋರಾಡಿ ಡಿಸೆಂಬರ್ 27, 2012 ಕ್ಕೆ ಮಾತು ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿದರು. ಆಡದೇ ಉಳಿದ ಮಾತುಗಳೆಷ್ಟೋ..ಕೇಳೋಣ ಅಂದ್ರೆ ಅವರೇ ಇಲ್ಲ

ಡಾ. ಎಂ.ಸಿ. ನಂದೀಶ..

Van Gogh's visit to Mangalore

Dr Shivakumar Magada brought Vincent Willem Van Gogh to Mangalore

Van Gogh: A tale of love, Pain and Paint

A tragedy staged on 14.12.2018 at College of Fisheries, Mangaluru

Mangalore is famous for dances, music, art and theatre. Normally Mangalore theatre is dominated by social and comedy plays. Few professional troops occasionally perform absurd and experimental dramas. But a college team known as SCUBA-Students Cultural Union for Bringing Alchemy from College of Fisheries, Mangaluru enacted a play “Van Gogh: a tale of love, pain and paint” written and directed by Dr Shivakumar Magada, Professor at the same college. It is completely based on the autobiography of Van Gogh. Dr Magada wrote this play in 1992 when he was a final year degree student. With manuscript only it was staged in 1995 for Kannada Rajyothsava. In 1996 it was presented at youth festival at Bangalore created big news because of its subject, raw scenes and dialogues. Later, Magada moved to Mandya, Bangalore and working for University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore as Scientist. There again he directed the same with students of college of agriculture. In 2004, he came back to Mangalore to do his PhD on deputation.

It was staged in Town Hall, Mangalore in 2004

            On one fine day Dr Magada was travelling in Mangalore in city bus during 2004. When the bus was passing by town hall, he saw a banner where it was written “Sanketa” Professional theatre group of Mangalore presenting a play on Van Gogh which is scheduled next day. He was surprised to see his name on it. Out of curiosity, he went to town hall and saw the drama quietly. After the show he went on the stage and asked who the Shivakumar Magada there is? They said that they don’t know. He identified himself and they were shocked because they that the author of the play must be a matured grey haired man. But Magada was young looking like 23 old though he was 34. He was honoured by the artistes. The same team went to Mumbai and enacted the same and the lead and the director Mr Jagan Pawar won best actor and choice of critics’ award.

About Vincent Willem Van Gogh

Vincent Willem Van Gogh (30 March 1853 – 29 July 1890) was a Dutch Post Impressionist who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. In just over a decade he created about 2,100 artworks, including around 860 oil paintings, most of them in the last two years of his life.

They include landscapes, still lifes, portraits and self-portraits, and are characterised by bold colours and dramatic, impulsive and expressive brushwork that contributed to the foundations of modern art. However, he was not commercially successful and his suicide at 37 followed years of mental illness and poverty.

Born into an upper-middle-class family, Van Gogh drew as a child and was serious, quiet and thoughtful. As a young man he worked as an art dealer, often travelling, but became depressed after he was transferred to London. He turned to religion and spent time as a Protestant missionary in southern Belgium. He drifted in ill health and solitude before taking up painting in 1881, having moved back home with his parents. His younger brother Theo supported him financially, and the two kept up a long correspondence by letter. His early works, mostly still lifes and depictions of peasant labourers, contain few signs of the vivid colour that distinguished his later work. In 1886, he moved to Paris, where he met members of the avant-garde, including Émile Bernard and Paul Gauguin, who were reacting against the Impressionist sensibility. As his work developed he created a new approach to still lifes and local landscapes. His paintings grew brighter in colour as he developed a style that became fully realised during his stay in Arles in the south of France in 1888. During this period he broadened his subject matter to include series of olive trees, wheat fields and sunflowers.

Van Gogh suffered from psychotic episodes and delusions and though he worried about his mental stability, he often neglected his physical health, did not eat properly and drank heavily. His friendship with Gauguin ended after a confrontation with a razor, when in a rage, he severed part of his own left ear. He spent time in psychiatric hospitals, including a period at Saint-Rémy. After he discharged himself and moved to the Auberge Ravoux in Auvers-sur-Oise near Paris, he came under the care of the homeopathic doctor Paul Gachet. His depression continued and on 27 July 1890, Van Gogh shot himself in the chest with a revolver. He died from his injuries two days later.

Van Gogh was unsuccessful during his lifetime, and was considered a madman and a failure. He became famous after his suicide, and exists in the public imagination as the quintessential misunderstood genius, the artist "where discourses on madness and creativity converge". His reputation began to grow in the early 20th century as elements of his painting style came to be incorporated by the Fauves and German Expressionists. He attained widespread critical, commercial and popular success over the ensuing decades, and is remembered as an important but tragic painter, whose troubled personality typifies the romantic ideal of the tortured artist.

  

Van Gogh visiting Mangalore after a gap of 15 years.

            Dr Magada decided to play this drama of his won and expressed in front of art enthusiasts. They agreed and within 72 hours, students picked up the highly unusual literary and lengthy dialogues which are beyond their age and analysis. Just support them and boost their confidence, he decided to play a small role. He also convinced Dr S M Shivaprakash his professor to act in it. Overnight stage properties were prepared. Mr Ismail, a great technician and Mr Sukesh were contacted for light and music. They brought the European flavour on the stage. It was portrayed excellently in front of class audience who were drop dead silent for 60 minutes.

The costumes were almost matching to the original characters and real characters were displayed on a big screen which added the value of the tragedy.

Except me with a character Vincent William- Van Gogh’s brother Theo Van Gogh’s son, Mr Srinivas H Hulkoti (Van Gogh), Yashwini (Sien Hoornik), Shivani (Johana Willem) all were debutants for theatre, but they did not allow the audience to feel so. Ms Bhavanjali as Ursula Loyen, Praveen Joshi as David (Mine Worker) Amogh as Eugene Henry Paul Gauguin and Sushmitha as Janet played to their best.

  In the climax some of the serious theatre lovers said that they were struggling avoid tears and failed...what one can expect. The play left a deep thoughts and emotions among the audience. Using a Brecht (Bertolt Brecht’s concept of theatre is that it should educate people and make them rethink their assumptions. He wanted theatre to be mentally challenging) concept Magada came out of the character and by showing the figure towards artistes who were watching a play said that Van Gogh has reborn as Shivaprakash, Ismail, Ganesha Somayaji and ended a play in an abstract way.

            Dr Magada said it will be staged again during the golden jubilee celebration of the college during October 2019.