'Hardwork, commitment helped to excel'

Hardwork, commitment and support from teachers and parents have paid off for the gold medal winners at the 36th convocation of Mangalore University.

Shakunthala, MSc in Industrial Chemistry, has won two gold medals – ICRAIEST 2009 Gold Medal and Syngenta Gold Medal. She said it was only hard work and support from lecturers that helped her to achieve success. Hailing from a poor family in Brahmavar, with only her mother Kamala for support, she said she wants to take up research and will apply for Inspire Fellowship.

At present, she is serving as a guest faculty at the Department of Industrial Chemistry of Mangalore University. It is the passion for research that made her not take up any job soon after her studies and continue teaching.

Shakunthala had scored 98.3% marks in Chemistry in BSc. When she faced financial constraints, it was the teachers and a trust that came forward to help her pay the First Year fee. In the Second Year, it was A Sadananda Shetty who paid her full fee for the course.

Shakunthala said, "Just like the way help came in for me to complete my studies, I too want to help the needy." She is also good in extracurricular activities, especially dance.

Shreeshmal Bhavya who has secured two gold medals in MSc Physics at Mangalore University. It was a conducive environment at the hostel, support from teachers and parents and hardwork that helped her excel. She has also won the Nobel Laureate Sir C V Raman Prize, the Dr S N Bose Prize, the Dr Homi Bhabha Prize, the NSRP-7 prize and the Professor M I Savadatti cash prize.

She said, "I expected a rank as I had good marks both in the first and second semesters. There was tough and healthy competition in the class as well."

Expressing happiness over his daughter's achievement, Shreeshmal Bhavya's father Mahabala said, "Shreeshmal Bhavya has been a topper since the beginning." At present, Shreeshmal Bhavya has been teaching at Jnanasudha PU College in Karkala and wants to pursue higher education through PhD.

Bharath A C of Mangalore University PG Study Centre at Chikka Aluvara has secured two gold medals – the late Dr Paduru Gururaj Bhat Memorial Gold medal, and late Dr Gururaj Bhat Memorial Gold Medal – along with the Prof B Sheik Ali Felicitation Committee Cash prize in MA in History. He said, "As the PG Centre was situated just a kilometre away from my house, it was easy for me to pursue my studies in my native place rather than on Mangalore University campus at Mangalagangothri. I want to pursue my higher studies through research."

He has also secured the Late Dr Paduru Gururaja Bhat Memorial Cash prize and the Smt Vasantha S Ananthanarayana and Prof S Ananthanarayana cash prize.

Shrigouri S Joshi of Alva's College, Moodbidri, has secured the first rank in Mass Communication and Journalism. She has won two gold medals – the Dr TMA Pai Endowment Gold Medal and the Ramakrishna Mallya Gold Medal – as also the DK Children's Film Festival 1988 prize and the Public Relations Society of India Cash prize. She said it was her interest in the field of Journalism that made her pursue studies in the field.

Nishanth Rao of University Evening College has scored a rank in MBA. He used to work at the ICICI Bank during the day and attend classes in the evening. He wants to write and clear the UPSC exam.

After receiving the gold medals in MCom from the guests, Zareena Banu K had tears in her eyes. "My father, who worked as a coolie, spent his earnings for my studies. Before I could complete my degree, my father passed away. My father always supported girls' education which motivated me to study further. My mother helped me continue my studies by rolling beedis at home," she said.

Zareena is a student of SVS College, Bantwal.

'Poor sight no hindrance'

Chandanaa K S, who has secured one gold medal and five cash prizes as the topper in MA Kannada and is a student of Government First Grade College and PG Studies Centre, Thenkanidiyoor in Udupi. She is suffering from poor eye sight from birth with less than 50% sight in her right eye. "The love for Kannada made me chose studies in Kannada. I used to read only once on the day before the exam, as too much reading strains my eye," said Chandanaa.

"I used to read the works of Shivaram Karanth to Poornachandra Tejaswi in one stretch. Now, I wait for the novels of K N Ganeshayya. I use laptop for my studies," she said.

"We do not have TV at home. However, we have a lot of books to enrich our knowledge in our cupboards," said Saudamani, mother of Chandanaa.