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Chairman's Corner
Chairman's Corner
The New Dean Cometh
The New Dean Cometh
Ravi Ramakantan
Ravi Ramakantan
In hushed voices spoken under cupped hands, or loud shouts across corridors - these days - that is the only gossip that you hear amongst staff and faculty…
In hushed voices spoken under cupped hands, or loud shouts across corridors - these days - that is the only gossip that you hear amongst staff and faculty…
“Who is coming?”.
“Who is coming?”.
Our lives here in the campus, the future of these institutions seem to depend very much on “Who is coming”
Our lives here in the campus, the future of these institutions seem to depend very much on “Who is coming”
But no one seems to know for sure.. I guess, most of us guess that he is coming… but is he…?
But no one seems to know for sure.. I guess, most of us guess that he is coming… but is he…?
I wondered about how we worry about who the new Dean is going to be.
I wondered about how we worry about who the new Dean is going to be.
Does it matter?
Does it matter?
After all, are GS and KEM too far above the ordinary that it matters not who the new Dean is?
After all, are GS and KEM too far above the ordinary that it matters not who the new Dean is?
The other day, it struck me that I have had the unique ‘distinction’ of being the longest “uninterrupted GSite faculty” in the campus today - having seen the reign of or worked under seven Deans – and interacted with five after I became the head of radiology. Many in the campus feel that it matters not who the Dean is “Ravi is always is in her/his good books”. Not necessarily.. No question, I have enjoyed good rapport with Deans, but it always came at a great price to me and to them - because we never agreed on everything and it is the graciousness of the Deans that they tolerated my unending criticisms and whining, open letters and Sounding boards - sometimes stoically, at other times emotionally. At one such particular moment, when I told a Dean, that people in the campus feel “You are throwing good money away on this construction” ”, the response was a volcanic eruption ‘Thumhara KEM gaya bhad mey; I am through with this place”. Thirty minutes later, I get a phone call : “Ravi, I am sorry at that outburst”. If that is the graciousness I do not know what is!
The other day, it struck me that I have had the unique ‘distinction’ of being the longest “uninterrupted GSite faculty” in the campus today - having seen the reign of or worked under seven Deans – and interacted with five after I became the head of radiology. Many in the campus feel that it matters not who the Dean is “Ravi is always is in her/his good books”. Not necessarily.. No question, I have enjoyed good rapport with Deans, but it always came at a great price to me and to them - because we never agreed on everything and it is the graciousness of the Deans that they tolerated my unending criticisms and whining, open letters and Sounding boards - sometimes stoically, at other times emotionally. At one such particular moment, when I told a Dean, that people in the campus feel “You are throwing good money away on this construction” ”, the response was a volcanic eruption ‘Thumhara KEM gaya bhad mey; I am through with this place”. Thirty minutes later, I get a phone call : “Ravi, I am sorry at that outburst”. If that is the graciousness I do not know what is!
It takes all types to become a Dean. For starters, there have men and women. Each is a different breed with different capabilities. The women have been cautious and sensitive or emotional and vindictive - all at different times. Where as some were master administrators, the other were a master at “fix-it” and yet another believed in “never try to fix anything that needs no fixing” . Whereas one was one was content in “whatever funds you gave”, the other went around gathering hundreds of crores for institutional development. Most called me “Ravi”; but, one particular Dean, insisted on calling me “Dr. Ramakant” – in spite of my reminding him several times, that my father has never been anywhere even near a medical school!!
It takes all types to become a Dean. For starters, there have men and women. Each is a different breed with different capabilities. The women have been cautious and sensitive or emotional and vindictive - all at different times. Where as some were master administrators, the other were a master at “fix-it” and yet another believed in “never try to fix anything that needs no fixing” . Whereas one was one was content in “whatever funds you gave”, the other went around gathering hundreds of crores for institutional development. Most called me “Ravi”; but, one particular Dean, insisted on calling me “Dr. Ramakant” – in spite of my reminding him several times, that my father has never been anywhere even near a medical school!!
I have said this to each of the last three Deans “Sir/Mm ; you must be crazy to occupy that chair, why would you want to do that?” – You all will readily agree with me on this – for over the years, the deans' post has degenerated from that of a Dean of a medical school to a highly over qualified Mukadam in the BMC. The common answer I have got for this is a simple “Ravi, most times what you say is true, but is the sparks that we see off and on that give us hope, we could do just that little bit for the institution: but, . I always wondered whether it was all worth it.
I have said this to each of the last three Deans “Sir/Mm ; you must be crazy to occupy that chair, why would you want to do that?” – You all will readily agree with me on this – for over the years, the deans' post has degenerated from that of a Dean of a medical school to a highly over qualified Mukadam in the BMC. The common answer I have got for this is a simple “Ravi, most times what you say is true, but is the sparks that we see off and on that give us hope, we could do just that little bit for the institution: but, . I always wondered whether it was all worth it.
The New Dean too probably thinks that it is worth it. He too feels it is a great honor to be the Dean of GS and KEM, he probably feels he can do a lot for these institutions which on the verge of a massive expansion plan over the next 5 -10 year – virtually to be reborn after 80- years of glorious service.
The New Dean too probably thinks that it is worth it. He too feels it is a great honor to be the Dean of GS and KEM, he probably feels he can do a lot for these institutions which on the verge of a massive expansion plan over the next 5 -10 year – virtually to be reborn after 80- years of glorious service.
We need a visionary,, we need a doer, we need a man who would leave his imprint on the next 100 years of these great institutions
We need a visionary,, we need a doer, we need a man who would leave his imprint on the next 100 years of these great institutions
Do we know who he is? I guess I do.
Do we know who he is? I guess I do.
Welcome Dr.Sanjay Oak …we are right behind you!!
Welcome Dr.Sanjay Oak …we are right behind you!!
September 2008
September 2008
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