Dharwad: It was a
walk down the memory lane for hundreds of ex-students of
Karnatak College in
Dharwad on Sunday. They met their batchmates, senior and junior friends and moved around the campus, revisiting their favourite spots and recalling old and sweet memories. They also had an opportunity to meet their teachers some of whom are now in their eighties.
All this thanks to the management of Karnatak College which organised “Sangama-Sambhrama”, the alumni meet as part of the centenary year celebrations of the college, at Sriranga Open Air Theatre.
At the formal function, octogenarian poet and alumnus
Channaveera Kanavi spoke on the environs in the college which shaped his personality and helped him emerge as a writer. He read out some of his poems penned during the college days and presented the recent collection.
Past students expressed their gratitude to the college and offered suggestions to improve the institution. Most of them felt that there is need to reach out to the alumni spread across the world so that they can plan their trip to Dharwad to participate in the main centenary celebrations.
There were suggestions to improve the infrastructure and renovation of the badminton and tennis courts which are in dilapidated condition.
Presiding over the programme, vice-chancellor
Pramod Gai said the authorities are trying their best to implement all the suggestions, but paucity of funds has been a major hurdle. He said the
Siddaramaiah government had promised Rs 50 crore to the college for the development project, but after the change of guard has affected the plans. “So far, we have received only Rs 5 crore,” he said and appealed to the alumni to contribute to the centenary year.
Psychiatrist Anand Pandurangi, police officer Hanumanthraya, Valsang, journalist Gururaj Jamkhandi, Bhimashankar Patil, P H Neeralkeri, octogenarian Ramachandra Dhongadi, Shankar Kumbi, principals C F Mulimani, Rajeshwari Maheshwaraiah, Shantaram Hegde, Malimath, Mukund Lamani and Amrut Yardi also spoke. Vaibhav Bhat enthralled the alumni with his flute recital.