Deccan College Pune Seeks Funds For Renovation, New Courses In Bicentenary Year
Pune, 2nd October 2021: The Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute (Deemed University), is celebrating its Bicentenary valedictory on October 6, 2021.
Prof. Pramod Pandey, Vice-Chancellor of Deccan College shared this information while addressing the press conference and briefed about the details of the valedictory program. On this occasion, the institute has planned a few auspicious activities- in the main, the release of a Commemorative Postage stamp at the hands of Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Governor of Maharashtra State. Devusinh Chauhan, MOS, Ministry of Communication will join online by sending a message.
On this occasion release of a souvenir and few monographs, the first screening at the Deccan College of the website of Marathi Dialects Project, an announcement of students’ e-journal, etc. will take place.
Deccan College is run by the Deccan College Poona Trust and is supported for the funding of the salaries of its employees by the Government of Maharashtra.
Pune is known as a city of higher learning. The most important factor that is behind the revival of Deccan College is the support it has had from the royalty, the government, the industrialists and the intelligentsia of Pune since the time of its inception on 6th October 1821. We pledge to revive that link and participate in the growth of education in Pune, Prof Pandey said.
The University offers MA degrees in three subjects – Archaeology, Linguistics and Sanskrit. It also offers short-term self-financed courses in archaeology and linguistics. These courses are in demand as they have a considerable value of employability.
Considering the need and demand of such courses, the University proposes to offer the following Master’s degrees additionally:
- M.A./M.Sc. in Computational Linguistics
- M.A./M.Sc. in Environmental Archaeology
- M.A./M.Sc. in Heritage Sites management and Scientific Conservation
- M.A./M.Sc. in Museology
The eligibility of these courses will be an undergraduate degree (B.A./ B.Sc./ B.E./ B. Tech). The proposal for these degrees has approval from the Academic Council of the University and the Board of Management of the university. The institute is awaiting the approval of the Department of Education, Government of Maharashtra.
The Deccan College Poona Trust has also approved the formation of an Institute of Contemporary Indology on the campus.
The main fields of study at Deccan College today are Ancient Indian History and Culture & Archaeology, Linguistics and Sanskrit. The work that has been carried out and continues to be carried out in these fields is widely acknowledged to be of great significance. The work in the field of archaeology has not only contributed to the reconstruction of human cultures and societies in the Indic region, it continues to contribute to a deeper understanding of human cultures and cognition, using cutting-edge scientific analyses.
The Department of Linguistics has played a key role since the 1950s in the establishments of linguistics departments in the country, including the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysuru, apart from the study of a large number of languages from the different language families. The ongoing present project on Marathi dialects is a prestigious project, of use to the academic community. The Sanskrit Dictionary Project on Historical Principles is an acclaimed project that has been carried out since the 1970s and has brought out 35 volumes (only on the letter ‘a’).
Prof. Pandey said, “Our main concern today is the financial security of the university. Our goal is to work towards strengthening the national and international reputation of the Institute. We aim to lay stress on our academic potential and impact and to open opportunities for talented students by awarding fellowships and freeships. We are in urgent need of funds for the following:
- Library acquisitions, subscriptions, maintenance and upgrading of facilities
- Conservation of the archaeological findings for the past 83 years, since the revival of Deccan College as a Post-Graduate and Research Institute in the year 1939 and as Deemed University in 1994
- Renovation and conservation of heritage buildings, which range from 100 to more than 125 years
- Construction of foreign students’ Hostel and Foreign Visitors/ Faculty Guest House
- Upgrading of equipment of speech and linguistic analyses
- Upgrading of equipment for scientific analyses of archaeological findings
- Seed money for the maintenance of the heritage buildings and University campus
The press conference was attended by Prof. Prasad Joshi, Pro Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sonal Kulkarni-Joshi, Prof. P.D. Sable, Dr Trupti More, Dr Shrikant Ganvir etc.
