I am glad to learn that the former students of this college (RAGACOVAS) are forming an Alumni Association. Quite appropriately they are also launching an exclusive website for the RAGACOVAS Alumni Association.
I am immensely pleased with the efforts of the alumni and I earnestly hope that this website (www.laporteragacovas.com) goes a long way in forming a vibrant alumni network. I hope that the sense of belonging developed during the college years continues as people graduate and move along their career lines with the help of this network. The website should play the key role in ensuring that these relationships are further strengthened over the years and should attempt to plug the gap of time and space between alumni.
With the Alumni Association in place, I hope the members would willingly contribute their knowledge and share their insights with their almamater and provide inspiration and guidance to the budding graduates.
I would like to wish the alumni the very best in their efforts to reach the highest echelons in their chosen fields of interest.
G. Butchaiah,
Dean, RAGACOVAS
Let me at the outset congratulate the old students of the Rajiv Gandhi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences for forming the Alumni Association. My gratitude to them for remembering me on the occasion by seeking an expression of my thoughts.
Delving into the past of my professional life which began in 1962 as a Veterinary Surgeon in Kerala and ending in 1999 as the Founder Dean of the Prestigious Rajiv Gandhi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, fills me with a sense of extreme satisfaction and of course some pardonable pride pertaining to the last stage of it in successfully meeting the challenge of establishing a professional institution from scratch in a record period of time.
The Challenge came my way in 1994 when the Pondicherry Government picked me up by chance rather than by design to establish a Veterinary College in the Union territory of Pondicherry. When I took charge as the Dean of the Pondicherry Veterinary College Society on 16.6.94, there was a small room in the Secretariat, used by the "Officer on Special Duty" (OSD) appointed by the Govt. when it decided to start a Veterinary College. The good thing the Government did was that to register a society under the societies registration act, "Pondicherry Veterinary College Society" to establish the Veterinary College. This gave sufficient autonomy and freedom to the Board of Governors of the Society to act according to the ground realities. Being the member secretary of the Board, the founder Dean had such a heavy responsibility to convince the Board of the action and requirements for establishing the College keeping the highest standards of Academic quality as laid down by the Veterinary Council of India and layout a campus that will form a landmark in the small but beautiful territory of Pondicherry.
In such a circumstance, I needed support from all corners. When I meet the then Chief Minister Mr. Vaidyalingam on a courtesy call immediately after taking charge, I mentioned that “I think I can establish the College this year itself”. His response impressed upon me the gravity of the commitment. He said "No thinking Dr. Nair,you have to establish it this year itself ”. Since there was only less than four months of time left for a, programme to start in 94-95, I sought complete cooperation, support and finance and got the assurance.
On meeting the then animal husbandry minister Sri N.Rangasamy, the present chief minister, his advice to me was to “take the reigns in your hand and go ahead” the then chief secretary Sri.Arya and the then D.C. and later chief secretary the late Dr.R.Padmanathan also told me “you are the in the right track, go ahead”. There was no looking back after that. The Pondicherry veterinary college later named the Rajiv Gandhi college of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, was inaugurated on 14.10.1994 the Vijayadashami day, the day of initiation of the learning process, I think perhaps this is the only educational institution inaugurated on the day of Vijayadashami. On that day we had a faculty of seven, a student strength of 25, and the minimum supporting staff all recruited on warfootage and accessories such as college bus, small not adequate library, four laboratory rooms, a beautiful class room, office and annex by courtesy the milk marketing union of Pondicherry who benefited by way of rent paid on the facilities left behind by the Pondicherry Veterinary College Society when it shifted to its permanent location 2 years later. Originally the land allotted to the society was behind and on the side of KVK, the frontage with main entrance to the primitive Gopalan Kadai Road preventing view from the main road. In order to have a main road (Vazhudavur road) frontage it was necessary to acquire a part of the land frontage of the KVK . This was explained to the D.C, the late Dr.Padmanabhan who even though was the chairman of KVK agreed and convinced the KVK management and allotted the land where the main entry gate and the administrative building are located. I remember with pleasure the decision I took to make a silt tank of KVK into a pond with lawn around to raise fish and aquatic avians!. The layout of the canteen, deer park in the mango grove and the farm complex at the rear end where all visualized with the objective of the campus becoming one of the best landmarks in Pondicherry. Usually academic campuses fall into a concrete jungle setup, but the Rajiv Gandhi college campus was planned and designed to become a campus pulsating with life and nature. The foundation stone for the main complex was laid by Smt. Sonia Gandhi in a state function.
I now fondly remember and with gratitude remember the then Lt. Governor, late Dr. Rajendra Kumari Bajpai, the then Chief Minister Sri.Vaidyalingam, later Chief Minister Sri.Janakiraman, the then animal husbandry minister and the present Chief Minister Sri.N.Ranagasamy, the then chief Secretary Sri.Arya, the then DC and later chief secretary the late Dr.R.Padmanaban, the then Directors of Animal Husbandry Dr.Raghunathan and Dr.Unnithan, Mr.Pitchumani, the then E.E and his team of engineer, builders, vice staff and students who all without consideration to rank and status contributed to this great endeavour. Pioneers toil and fufill a dream so that posterity can comfortably relax and enjoy the success.
Some say we have been lucky in this endeavour. Luck is toil. Those who toil will be lucky.
My thoughts go back to the first batch of 27 students who joined me to build this great institution. One of them left early for his heavenly abode. His soul must have found peaceful solace in the success of his colleagues. I am proud to know that the alumni’s has distinguished themselves wherever they are located. The feedback I get makes me happy and content.
God bless you all.
R. Sabarinathan Nair
Founder Dean (Rtd),
RAGACOVAS