It was an interesting month overall as I look back at February, 2020. Starting with the panel discussion at ITC Maratha where I participated along with a few others from the industry on the topic Pillars of Growth-Innovation and Partnerships. That I won the Extraordinaire Leader Par Excellence Award is what I owe to my team who have the trust and belief in me. I am ever indebted to my Team REVA for this. At the panel discussion, for me, as both an entrepreneur and an edupreneur, it was quite exciting to talk about DivyaSree and REVA and focus on the domain of innovation in both construction and infrastructure and now education. As a young University REVA has been competing with larger Universities and yet we have been able to create a niche for ourselves in the higher education space. We are the Change bringers and throughout these 5 years we have strived to and have been successful in innovating and bringing about a new dimension in education. In my last blog, I wrote about the Traditional and the Technological as I focused on the Gurukul and contemporary pedagogy.
The last week of February, 2020 had us listening to Ganakalabhushana Vidwan, Dr R K Padmanabha and his team, who during the Aradhanotsava of Shri Purandara and Shri Tyagaraja enlightened us with gems from the pancharatna kritis. What a soulful rendition and peace it was in the Auditorium as we listened to these renditions. What is on focus here is the effort of REVA to revive the ancient Indian culture and heritage and sustain them for the new generation. The discipline and synchronization that the classical music and its orchestration is a true example of how working together works. By blending the old with the new is how we can sustain the essence of our rich and varied heritage and REVA has been one of the ardent promoters of Indian heritage and culture.
The spiritual retreat that we had with Swami Sukhabhodananda where he pondered over his two days retreat with REVA staff on Transforming Frustration to Fulfillment through the Gita, has been an annual event for us at REVA towards building Personal Excellence. Food for the body is what we always focus on but food for the soul is what these sessions have taught us. In this world where we are battling a pandemic like the Coronavirus and where we are witness to as we helplessly watch violence and vandalism, a retreat like this is what brings a difference in our lives. Am glad REVA has been organizing such sessions year on year.
The last day of February, 2020 had us witnessing the felicitation of Dr M R Doreswamy, Advisor-Education Reforms, Government of Karnataka. Dr Doreswamy kept emphasising on the fact that at so aesthetic and serene a campus as REVA we should be hosting a lot more foreign University students at our campus. Am so glad, REVA has been heading in the right direction as we have three of our Schools: School of Management Studies who will host students from IQS Barcelona, School of Architecture and Performing Arts who are hosting their Summer Schools and workshop Rasa Yana and Viraasat for foreign students in India. Besides, we have always had cohorts of Japanese and Afghan students being trained by UIIC at REVA. Way to go and am glad that we are progressing in the right direction and with the right might!
Dr P Shyama Raju
March 1, 2020
